Austin’s research revolves around the intrinsically disordered protein Tau and how its pathology leads to neurodegenerative diseases. To elucidate the folding mechanism that forms neurofibrillary tangles in the brain, Austin will utilize spectroscopic techniques to observe the structural dynamics of Tau fibers that are developed using hydrophobic surfaces such as liposomes and lipid nano droplets. Aggregation with these biological cofactors will provide a pathway to resemble the formation of fibers in vivo.

• 2013- 2017: A.S., Chemistry (Major), Butte Community College
• 2018- 2020: B.S., Chemistry (Major), California State University – Chico
• 2020- present: Graduate Student Researcher, Chemistry, University of California – Santa Barbara (Advisor: Prof. Songi Han)

• 2016 – 2017: Chemical Stockroom Technician, Butte Community College
• 2017 – 2019: Organic Chemistry Tutor and Teaching Assistant, California State University – Chico
• 2018 – 2019: Undergraduate Researcher, California State University – Chico

• 2013-2019: Pell Grant Recipient
• 2016: Undergraduate Research Scholarship
• 2017: Recipient of the Carl Wolf Scholarship
• 2019: Chemical Summer Internship Scholarship
• 2020: Postbaccalaureate Incentive Award
• 2020: Student Award for Research and Creativity
• 2020: Chemistry Department Recognition for Outstanding Performance in Instrumental Analysis