Maria Antonieta Sanchez Farran

Fulbright Fellow

Email: mfarran@engr.psu.edu

Office address:
115 Fenske Laboratory
Pennsylvania State University
University Park, 16802

In the group since: Fall 2007

Undergraduate degree
Major - Chemical Engineering
BSc Chemical Engineering, Universidad de Concepcion, Chile (1997-2003)
MSc Production Engineering, Universidad de Concepcion, Chile (2004-2006)

Hobbies and interests:
Play and watch soccer, art crafts, read books about ancient history and global economics, listen to music, and most importantly have a nice time with friends!

Research Summary: Protein aggregation and neurodegenerative diseases
My work focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms by which proteins aggregate in the brain. Protein aggregation is the main hallmark of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimers, Parkinsons, Huntingtons among many others. I plan to use a combined approach of molecular dynamics simulation and neutron scattering experiments in order to study the mechanisms of formation of early amyloid-? aggregates, which are thought to involve the toxic structures that are found in the brain of Alzheimers disease patients.