Jaynie Criscione, Junior
Brewster, NY
Jaynie Criscione is a Junior from Brewster, NY. She is majoring in materials science and engineering with a concentration in Biomaterials.
How did you get interested in materials science and engineering? What interests you the most about the field?
When I was applying to college, I knew I wanted to pursue an engineering major but couldn’t decide between the three major scientific categories (chemistry, physics, biology). Materials Science and Engineering (MatSci) is a combination of all three disciplines, specifically in the solid state. The field is broad, yet has a solid foundation in theory. My particular interests are in biomaterials, which encompasses polymer chemistry and tissue engineering.
What made you decide to come to Johns Hopkins?
I chose JHU for the opportunities. I was attracted to the collaborative environment, which contrasted with the toxicity at other top-ranked schools. The availability of cutting-edge research, with ~70% of undergraduate participation, was a huge aspect. Also, the urban location, flexible curriculum, and the ability to play sports were a part of the package.
Are you involved in any research? If so, what’s your role?
I perform research in Professor Kalina Hristova’s lab. One of my graduate mentors, (now) Dr. Nuala DelPiccolo was featured earlier. My research is on a novel receptor protein that localizes in endosomes. This protein is associated with several cancers, including lung, leukemia, breast, and prostate. Classified as a receptor tyrosine kinase protein, this protein deviates from the standard membrane location. I perform experiments to measure the thermodynamics of the protein to better explain its behavior.
What impact do you hope to make through your research?
Through my research, I hope to better understand the mechanism of action of the protein I work with. By characterizing the behavior of the protein, we can predict the protein’s involvement in cancer. The protein could then become a target for cancer therapeutics.
Outside of lab and class: what are you involved with (groups, organizations, intramurals, etc.)?
My largest time investment goes to fencing; a sport I started just last summer. College athletics have definitely impacted my experience by instilling discipline, time management, and commitment. Additionally, I am Regent (president) of the co-ed professional engineering fraternity, Theta Tau. Theta Tau has been the backbone of my academic, social, professional, and service experience at JHU. I joined my freshman year and the fraternity has become my family away from home. I volunteer with a lady who has MS. I’m incredibly grateful to have her in my life! She brings a humorous and humbling outlook and has taught me more about compassion and positivity than any class ever could.
What sort of impact do you hope to have either as an engineer or in a STEM field?
I’m undecided on where my place will be in the STEM field, but I have a feeling it might be down the MD/PhD path. Though different from my current research, I hope to optimize regenerative tissue engineering and biomaterial scaffolding. Having myself undergone an ankle repair surgery last year, I would love to work on orthopedic tissues. I made a complete recovery but decided to prevent further injury by quitting the track team. My vision is to improve the recovery rate of patients and to promote the return to full function by engineering devices and methods to increase healing efficiency.
What are your plans or goals for the rest of your time in the program at JHU?
For the rest of my time at JHU, I aim to complete an impactful senior design project and further investigate the broad field of biomaterials. Additionally, I’d like to complete my pre-med requirements! Overall, I strive to become a resource for future undergraduates to seek out when in need of advice or a mentor. Other than that, graduating!