Prize Recipient

Nathan Oken Hodas
Williams College

Citation:

"Oligo-RNA Optimal Binding Calculation."

Background:

Nathan attended Williams College, where he graduated in 2004 with Highest Honors in Physics, along with being awarded the Howard P. Stabler Prize in Physics. At Williams, he engaged in numerous research projects in theoretical biophysics with his advisor, Prof. Daniel Aalberts. His work included developing a polymer physics model of single-stranded stacking in nucleic acids, creating a fast RNA binding algorithm, and explaining asymmetries in the tertiary structure of RNA pseudoknots. Along with research at Williams, Nathan conducted summer research with Prof. Anand Jagota, now at Lehigh University, creating an interactive, real-time, multi-lane highway traffic simulation. He is currently pursuing his Ph.D. at Caltech, where he was awarded an Institute Fellowship. He plans on continuing his research in biophysics.