Mina Farag
Program: Biomedical Engineering
Current advisor: Rohit V. Pappu, PhD
Undergraduate university: Johns Hopkins University
Research summary
As a member of the Pappu lab, Mina studies the roles of intrinsically disordered proteins in macromolecular phase separation using a variety of theoretical and computational methods. Currently, Mina is working to understand how proteins behave at the surface of biomolecular condensates, and how this behavior can be connected to physiological and pathological functions of condensates. Specifically, using LASSI, a Monte Carlo simulation engine developed by members of the Pappu lab, he can simulate full biomolecular condensates comprised of proteins. By analyzing these simulations using multiple novel techniques, he can draw inferences about the organization and interfacial features of real-world condensates.
Graduate publications
Martin EW, Holehouse AS, Peran I, Farag M, Incicco JJ, Bremer A, Grace CR, Soranno A, Pappu RV, Mittag T. 2020 Valence and patterning of aromatic residues determine the phase behavior of prion-like domains. Science, 367(6478):694-699.