Degree: Bachelor of Science in Chemistry with Specialization in Biochemistry 
Research Professor: Professor Robert Grainger

Biography

Merly Konathapally is from Virginia Beach, Virginia and graduated from Ocean Lakes High School. She is graduating from U.Va. with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry with a Specialization in Biochemistry and a minor in Psychology. 

Merly joined Dr. Robert Grainger’s lab in the Department of Biology during fall 2018. Her project was focused on developing an understanding of the six3 mutation in Xenopus and the role of transcription factors in signaling development at embryonic stages. Her research aimed to further understand the role of six3 in signaling eye development by using mRNA probes to indicate downstream targets. She researched lens development through a variety of methods, including in situ hybridization, microscopic imaging, and PCR. Her work also analyzed the use of mRNA injections to rescue lens phenotypes. 

In addition to research, Merly worked as a medical scribe in the UVA Emergency Department and as a TA for the organic chemistry lab. She also served as the Senior Resident at Brown College and volunteered with the daycare program at Madison House. She also spent a summer conducting research on water quality in South Africa through a grant from UVA’s Center for Global Health. After graduating, Merly will be completing a one-year program for a Master of Public Health (MPH) at UVA.