Steven Castellano

Steven graduated from Columbia University with a B.A. in Biophysics and Mathematics. While at Columbia, he worked in the Yang Lab studying the structure of Transient Receptor Potential channels, a class of ion channels in the brain. He also mentored underclassmen and wrote policies as the Academic Affairs Representative that created an honor code for the university and addressed mental health issues impacting students. His dedication to the student body was recognized by the Alumni Achievement Award, given to the member of the graduating class "judged to be most outstanding for qualities of mind, character, and service to the college." He since worked in antibody design at Boehringer-Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, where he engineered antibodies with pH-dependent binding properties, and subsequently started an MD-PhD at Duke University. Steven hopes to use his experiences during the program to make connections between diverse fields.