Congratulations to our ENIGMA undergraduate researcher Harry (Yihao) Ma who presented at the 2025 Fall Semester undergraduate semi-annual poster session hosted by co-investigator Adam Arkin’s Lab at the Innovative Genomics Institute Building at UC Berkeley on Monday December 1 2025.
Harry joined ENIGMA to study Cupriavidus necator’s response to environmental fluctuations and the role of PHB in its survival strategies. Introduced to the project by his mentor Joshua Jiaqi Huang (graduate student, UC Berkeley Comparative Biochemistry Dept, Arkin Lab) during his freshman year, he became fascinated by the potential of engineering microbes for biodegradable plastic production, leading him to pursue a Data Science minor alongside his Biology major. This experience not only enhanced his understanding of C. necator metabolism but also inspired him to explore the molecular mechanisms behind PHB production, potentially advancing applications in industrial biotechnology.
During the poster session, ENIGMA undergraduate researcher Harry presented their research findings, shared their work with a wider audience, and received feedback from peers and other research staff.
These poster sessions provide a reliable platform for undergraduate researchers to receive recognition for their work and constructive feedback from colleagues and experts. Poster sessions are also a valuable opportunity to improve research and presentation skills, both of which are crucial to success in graduate school and STEM careers.
Quality undergraduate research experiences are only possible with quality mentors. Thank you to Josh (Jiaqi) Huang for serving as a research mentor and empowering ENIGMA undergraduate researchers.