Aulane Mpouli

Aulane Mpouli Preferred 02.17.21
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Aulane Mpouli graduated from Eastern Washington University in spring 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. Her research interests include analytics, biological chemistry, and catalysis, and at EWU, Aulane worked on a biochemical research project analyzing the successful ways in which the substrate Inosine Triphosphate (ITP) binds to the enzyme Inosine Triphosphatase in order for it to perform its enzymatic function and prevent the accumulation and over concentration of ITP, an intermediate in the formation of Purines which help make up DNA. The accumulation of ITP could cause mutations in the DNA causing cancers and other detrimental effects to the body. Aulane also works as a Teacher’s Assistant for the Quantitative Analysis, BioChem for Health Sciences, and General Chemistry courses where she grades lab reports, prepares unknowns for students, and helps with calculations and clarifications. In the summer of 2020, Aulane conducted further research as an EWU McNair Scholar under the mentorship of Dr. Yao Houndonougbo Associate Professor of Chemistry at EWU.

Mpouli received her Associate’s Degree in Chemistry at Green River College (Auburn, WA) as a high school student. During her free time she likes to shop online, spend time with her two younger brothers or go on a run. She participated in Track and Field for most of her high school and undergraduate years and was a Hepthathlete on Eastern Washington University’s Track and Field team, but in Spring 2020, with the quarantine, she discovered a new passion in baking. Aulane enjoys traveling around the world, discovering new people, places, and cultures. Places she has visited include: New York, Montreal, London, Paris, and Puerto Rico. Her favorite destination was London where she lived for one year and had a view of the Windsor Castle right outside her window. Aulane is a very driven young woman who is dedicated to her craft and living her best life.

For graduate school, she was accepted into the PhD Program in Chemistry at Ohio State University, the PhD Program in Chemistry at the University of Utah, the PhD Program in Chemistry at the University of California San Diego, and the PhD Program in Chemistry at Duke University, where she began attending in Fall 2021.



2020 McNair Faculty Research Mentor:
 Dr. Yao Houndonougbo

Research Title: Molecular Docking Study of ITPA Protein Substrate Complex

Presentation Poster

Abstract: ITPA is an enzyme that is responsible for maintaining a proper level of nonstandard nucleotides in cells. The enzyme is associated with adverse drug reactions for thiopurine or ribavirin therapy. The prediction of drug interactions sites in ITPA protein is important for modulating ITPA-related drug toxicity. There are a vast number of tools available to predict molecular interactions between receptors and ligands. The methods utilized in this study include computational docking to explore bound conformation and energy in the binding of ITP to ITPA protein. The docking results reveal how well ITPA and ITP bind together in comparison to the native complex. The root-mean-square-deviation, rmsd, is computed to analyze the similarity of the docked structures as well as the binding free energies and ligand efficiencies to rank the structures. The significance of this research study is to understand the mechanism of ITPA binding. The importance of this research pertains to visualizing operative configurations of a protein-ligand complex that will cleanse nucleotide pools and repair damaged DNA.


McNair Alum Illuminate the Graduate School Experience

What a joy to see the faces of 6 former EWU McNair Scholars all on the same screen this summer! As a part of the culminating weeks of our intensive McNair Summer Research Internship that includes daily graduate school application and preparation seminars, these brilliant alumni joined us to share their insights and experiences as … Read more
12 McNair Scholars Present at EWU’s 2021 CSTEM and McNair Spring Research Symposium

12 EWU McNair Scholars Present at EWU Virtual Symposium

In June 2021, EWU held the CSTEM and McNair Spring Research Symposium. This online event offered a chance for McNair scholars to present their research, as well as attend the Social Justice in Research Panel of EWU McNair alumni now working in academics and education.  The mission of the federally-funded TRiO Ronald E. McNair Post-baccalaureate Achievement … Read more

7 EWU McNair Scholars Participate in Gabriel E. Gallardo Research, Student Leadership, and Advocacy Symposium

EWU McNair Scholars Rachael Pentico, Lizeth Bañuelos, and Malachi Chukwu presented last week at the virtual Gabriel E. Gallardo Research, Student Leadership & Advocacy Symposium hosted by the University of Washington. Four other EWU McNair Scholars attended: Alexandria Coronado, Wendolyn Martinez, Christina Hudson, and Aulane Mpouli. This was the first annual Gabriel E. Gallardo Research, … Read more
Article for Aulane Mpouli

EWU McNair Scholar Aulane Mpouli Awarded Sloan Scholarship at Duke

Congratulations to EWU McNair Scholar Aulane Mpouli. Aulane was selected to receive a Sloan Scholarship, an award offered jointly by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and the Duke University Center of Exemplary Mentoring (UCEM). Sloan Scholarships are extended to a highly selective group of admitted graduate students. The Sloan Foundation was created in 1934 by industrialist Alfred … Read more
Congratulations to Aulane Mpouli

EWU McNair Scholar Aulane Mpouli Accepted to Fourth PhD Program

Congratulations to EWU McNair Scholar Aulane Mpouli. Aulane has been accepted by the Chemistry PhD Program at the University of California San Diego with full funding. This is in addition to her acceptances in Chemistry PhD programs from Duke University, Ohio State University, and the University of Utah, all with full funding! Aulane is majoring … Read more
Congratulations to Aulane

EWU McNair Scholar Aulane Mpouli Accepted to Duke University PhD Program

Congratulations to EWU McNair Scholar Aulane Mpouli. Aulane has been accepted by the Chemistry PhD Program at Duke University with full funding! This is Aulane’s third acceptance. She was also accepted by Ohio State University and the University of Utah, both for a PhD in Chemistry with full funding. Aulane is majoring in Chemistry and … Read more
Congrats to Aulane

EWU McNair Scholar Aulane Mpouli Accepted to the University of Utah PhD Program

Congratulations to EWU McNair Scholar Aulane Mpouli. Aulane has been accepted by the Chemistry PhD Program at the University of Utah with full funding! This is in addition to her acceptance for a PhD Chemistry program at Ohio State University. Aulane is majoring in Chemistry and plans on specializing in Analytical Chemistry. Her research interests … Read more
Congratulations to Aulane Mpouli

EWU McNair Scholar Aulane Mpouli Accepted to Ohio State University Chemistry PhD Program

Congratulations to EWU McNair Scholar Aulane Mpouli. Aulane has been accepted by the Chemistry PhD Program at Ohio State University with full funding! Aulane is majoring in Chemistry and plans on specializing in Analytical Chemistry. Her research interests include analytics, biological chemistry, and catalysis. Last summer Aulane was accepted into a Summer Research Program by … Read more

EWU McNair Scholar Aulane Mpouli Completes Summer Research Internship

Congratulations EWU McNair Scholar Aulane Mpouli for completing her EWU McNair Summer Research Internship! Aulane’s study is titled Molecular Docking Study of ITPA Protein Substrate Complex. The project is an extension of the work that mentor Dr. Yao Houndonougbo has been doing to apply computational chemistry methods to study protein–ligand interactions and the property structure … Read more

Representation Matters: McNair Chemistry Research Intern Aulane Mpouli

Aulane Mpouli understands from experience why representation matters in STEM fields. As an EWU McNair Scholar and Chemistry and Biochemistry major, Aulane is currently applying to chemistry PhD programs with the goal of conducting bench to bedside translational cancer research. Interested in mechanisms to evaluate protein-ligand interactions, as well as chemical biology, and enzyme dynamics … Read more