• Undergraduate Molecular and Cell Biology student at University of California, Berkeley

• Joined Riley Research Group in June 2024

• Email: vrt (at) berkeley.edu 

I grew up in Sunnyvale, a suburb in the San Francisco Bay Area, California. My interest in science began when I was gifted a book featuring a cartoonish DNA molecule that “narrated” how cells work. Growing up, I greatly enjoyed reading mystery books, and loved learning how chemical biologists acted as molecular detectives to probe and investigate biomarkers of cancer and cardiac disease. My early college education started around the time when large datasets and compute resources became widely available, which led me to train as a computer scientist with an emphasis in machine learning. With the Riley Research Group, I’m excited to begin my journey as a basic science researcher in glycoproteomics and contribute to computational projects involving the analyses of glycopeptides. Outside of the lab, I play a musical instrument known as the harmonium and my favorite activity is going to petting zoos!  

• Undergraduate Chemistry Student at University of Washington

• Joined Riley Research Group in April 2025

• Email: abwang55 

I grew up in Richland, Washington, known for its connection to the Manhattan Project and being the site of a national lab. Growing up with a scientist dad fostered my interest in chemistry and a curiosity for how the world works. I love investigating the small scale interactions that make up our universe and asking questions from why is the sky blue to how does plastic get its properties. I’m excited to dive into glycobiology here at the Riley lab and am especially interested in studying the role of glycans in disease progression and immune response. Outside of the lab, I love hiking, watching football with my family, and pushing Seattle's public transit to its limits in search of good food. 

• Undergraduate Chemistry Student at University of Washington

• Joined Riley Research Group in April 2025

• Email: zx062504 

I was born and raised in Beijing, China, where my interest in biology and chemistry began. I realized that chemistry plays such a crucial role in the life cycles of organisms, and, to better understand what we are, it is important to study the chemical reactions that take place in us. I was so amazed by processes such as DNA replication and protein synthesis, and I became aware of the diseases that can occur when these processes go wrong. I am interested in employing knowledge in biology and chemistry to come up with effective medications to treat them. To that end, I would like to get some experience with analyzing the chemical properties of cells, which is why I applied to join the Riley Research Group. I like how the work of the Riley Research Group includes a good mixture of biology and chemistry, which closely aligns with my interests. I look forward to gaining some insight into the patterns of cancer cells and translating this knowledge into better strategies to combat them. Outside of science, I enjoy taking a walk on the Ave and reading newspaper.