Madeline Merriman
5th year, Defended
Chemistry
Previous educational background: B.S. Chemistry and Biology; Westmont College
Research Project: My research project focuses on identifying and characterizing metal binding compounds, termed chelators, to improve our current antifungal therapies. I’m interested in understanding how the chemical speciation state of the compounds in a complex solution impacts toxicity, as well as in understanding how treatment with compounds impacts the fungal metal homeostasis. Techniques my project employs include cellular assays, UV-visible and EPR spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry.
Personal Bio: In my free time, I like to go on hikes and walks, coffee with friends, hang out with my three-legged cat Kitty, work on my fantasy novel, and write poetry.
Publications:
Merriman, M. A.; Denning-Jannace, C. A.; Hurtado, A. B.; Vaccaro, F. A.; Sung, Y.-S.; Tomat, E.; Franz, K. J. Prochelators modulate azole activity against Candida albicans in a metal-dependent manner. RSC Chemical Biology 2026, 10.1039/D6CB00073H. DOI: 10.1039/D6CB00073H.
