Innovating Protein–Protein Interactions
Meet Thu Nguyen, a Ph.D. candidate in Chemistry at New York University, conducting her research in the laboratory of Professor, and immediate Past President of APS, Paramjit Arora. Her work sits at the interface of chemistry and biology, with a particular focus on the design and synthesis of peptide-based molecules that modulate protein–protein interactions. By developing new strategies to interfere with these critical cellular processes, Thu’s research opens pathways toward innovative therapeutics for diseases that remain difficult to treat with traditional small molecules. Presenting this work, she earned first prize in the 2025 Dr. Elizabeth Schram Award for Young Investigator Oral Presentation at the American Peptide Society’s biennial symposium in San Diego.
The 2025 Dr. Elizabeth Schram Award for Young Investigator Oral Presentation winners with presenters. From left to right: Professors Jean Chmielewski and Eileen Kennedy, Doctors Emel Adaligil, James Checco, and Michael Bertucci, flanked by the 1st prize winner Thu Nguyen, NYU, and 2nd prize winner Kira Podolsky, MIT.
Within the Arora lab, Thu explores new methods to trap intrinsically disordered protein domains. Traditional views of the structure–function paradigm emphasize static interactions between stable protein partners. Yet many proteins operate without fixed three-dimensional structures; these intrinsically disordered proteins, IDPs, engage multiple binding partners and often drive disease progression, particularly in cancer and other conditions marked by dysregulated signaling. Thu’s project envisions synthetic receptors that stabilize one of the conformations accessible to an IDP. Her approach integrates synthetic chemistry, structural biology, and biophysical methods to create molecules that bind with high affinity and selectivity, candidates that hold the potential to evolve into therapeutic leads.
Outside the lab, Thu enjoys hiking and camping in upstate New York, spending time with her cats, experimenting with new recipes, and connecting with friends. Now in her final year of doctoral research, Thu is preparing for the next stage of her career, whether in academia or industry, guided by her passion for science.
