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Alessandra Beelen

Alessandra Beelen

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Education: B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of California-Davis, 2022

From: Hangzhou, China

Joined David Lab: June 2022

Outside of lab: I enjoy watching sports, such as F1 and basketball, and travelling!

Research in the lab: Although much of the research in the David lab focuses on MUTYH and its ability to recognize and repair OG:A mismatches, we are also curious in its role beyond identifying such lesions. MUTYH has shown to mediate cytotoxicity with various chemotherapeutics and UV light. These MUTYH-dependent sensitivities in the cell may also vary depending on the mutant variants of MUTYH. My project involves using both in vitro and cell-based assays to better understand the molecular basis behind this process.

Previous Research Experience: During my time at Davis, I worked in the Niño Lab studying honey bees. I was involved in three different projects involving a mixture of lab and field work. The main goals of these projects were to see if we could increase honey bee health and longevity to better support beekeeper’s needs or determine bee stocks that are more suitable in California’s Central Valley Mediterranean climate. I also joined the David Lab and worked with Melody on synthesizing transition state that are incorporated in oligonucleotides to serve as inhibitors of base excision repair glycosylases.

RSS Science Daily News

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  • A mysterious mineral in asteroid Ryugu may rewrite planetary history June 28, 2025
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  • World’s largest camera just snapped the Universe in 3,200 megapixels June 27, 2025
    The LSST camera at the Vera C. Rubin Observatory has released its jaw-dropping first images, each capturing 45 times the area of the full moon in one shot. Over the next ten years, this cosmic giant will scan the southern sky in ultra-HD, helping scientists uncover everything from asteroids to the secrets of dark energy.

Contact:

Dr. Sheila S. David
ssdavid@ucdavis.edu
(530)-752-4280

Department of Chemistry
One Shields Ave.
Davis, CA 95616