Finding Hidden Structure in Protein Sequences

Not all proteins reveal their function through visible structure alone. Some must be understood directly from their sequence. This project introduces a computational framework for identifying meaningful modular regions within protein sequences using residue-level properties such as hydrophobicity and charge. By detecting local environments without relying on known secondary structures, the work provides new tools… continue reading

Where Cold Creates Power: The Ice Worm Advantage

Most organisms slow down in the cold. Glacier ice worms do the opposite. Living on permanent ice, these organisms generate unusually high levels of adenosine triphosphate, the molecule that powers nearly every cellular process. Truman Dunkley investigates how evolution may have rewired cellular energy production in these extreme conditions, identifying a small protein modification that… continue reading

Modeling Water Transport Across Spider Egg Sac Membranes

Can a porous membrane reduce water loss without blocking essential gas exchange? That question sits at the center of research exploring how organisms regulate moisture across biological surfaces. This project examined spider egg sacs as a model system to better understand how water vapor moves across porous membranes and what truly controls evaporation. The research… continue reading

First-Generation Excellence Recognized Across Rutgers–Camden

There are moments on campus when individual achievement becomes collective momentum. The recent induction ceremony for the Beta Mu chapter of the Alpha Alpha Alpha Honor Society – Tri-Alpha – was one of them, as graduate students from Rutgers Graduate School–Camden stood alongside undergraduate peers from across Rutgers–Camden to be recognized for academic excellence as… continue reading

Using Light to Trigger Drug Release in Nano-Polymersomes

Controlling when and where drugs are released inside biological systems remains a central challenge in targeted therapy. This work investigated how light-responsive nano-polymersomes could enable precise, on-demand cargo release by using pulsed laser irradiation to disrupt vesicle membranes with high spatiotemporal control. The research was presented at the Graduate Poster Exhibition during the 2025 SPARK!… continue reading

A First-of-Its-Kind Writing Week for Doctoral Candidates

Before the semester gathered speed, doctoral candidates were welcomed into the cozy confines of the Graduate School House for a week that brought dissertation writing to the center of campus life. Representing Public Affairs, Computational and Integrative Biology, and Childhood Studies, participants arrived at a stage where dissertation defenses can be measured in weeks and… continue reading