Navya Nair
The DaRin Butz Foundation supports the Illinois Scholars Undergraduate Research (ISUR) Program at The Grainger College of Engineering, funding undergraduate women to engage in impactful research in science and engineering. Navya Nair, a sophomore in physics from Kerala, India, is one of this year’s DaRin Butz Foundation Research Scholars, spending her summer advancing her research in biophysics at UIUC.
"My work in the Selvin Lab involves studying how the shape and distribution of proteins related to memory change in Alzheimer's disease. I am currently testing new fluorescent dyes to see how well they can label specific proteins. This will help us create high-resolution images from microscopes where each tiny structure is shown in different colors, making it easier to study how they interact with each other. The project aims to deepen our understanding of Alzheimer's at the molecular level," explains Navya.
Navya began her research when she joined the Selvin Lab as a freshman, where she has been studying structural differences in dendritic spines between healthy and Alzheimer’s-affected mice. Her current project, which started in early June, involves testing new techniques to enhance the resolution of microscopic images. Her scholarship will run from early June to mid-August.
Navya shares her experience as a DaRin Butz Scholar, stating, "This scholarship has allowed me to immerse myself in my biophysics research without the distractions present during the academic year. The project I’m currently undertaking is significantly improving my knowledge of various super-resolution microscopy techniques. My research advisor has allowed me to shadow my lab mates, providing me with exposure to a wide range of research activities, from experimental to computational work. The DRBF scholars have monthly update meetings, where we enjoy lunch and share updates on our individual projects. I am so grateful for the financial support from DaRin Butz to pursue summer research since it has truly opened my eyes to what a career in experimental science could look like."
Navya is also a James Scholar, has recently made the Dean’s List, and serves as the Membership Chair of UIUC’s Society of Physics Students (SPS). She looks forward to continuing her studies and is excited about her future in graduate research. In addition to her academics, Navya enjoys learning new ideas in biophysics and wants to continue contributing to the field of experimental science.