About Max

Hometown:
San Francisco, CA

University Partner:
Princeton University

Degree:
A.B. in Molecular Biology, 2007

Grant Partner:
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory

Senior Mentor:
Dr. David Jackson, Professor

"The Steamboat experience might not make me wealthier, more influential or more distinguished. But in ten short and difficult weeks, it has made me more honest with myself, and that I trust is what Steamboat Foundation was after all along."

Scholar Background

Before his undergraduate studies at Princeton even began, Max scored a perfect 1600 on his SATs, captained his high school's varsity baseball and soccer teams, and was an Intel Science Talent Search semi-finalist for his research in developmental neurobiology. At Princeton, Max graduated with honors and was awarded a Department of Molecular Biology Senior Thesis Prize for his research with Dr. Coleen Murphy studying the genetic regulation of aging in the roundworm C. elegans. Outside the classroom, Max helped found and later direct the Princeton chapter of Let's Get Ready, which provides 50 high school students each year with free SAT tutoring and college admissions guidance.

Internship Description

In Dr. David Jackson's laboratory at Cold Spring Harbor, Max attempted to identify a gene encoding a structural component of plasmodesmata, which are pores that connect adjacent cells in plants. Such research has implications for basic understanding of plant physiology and engineering of higher yield crops.

Where are they now?

Max received his Ph.D. in Cancer Biology at Stanford University in May 2010. He has received fellowships from the National Science Foundation and the Stanford Graduate Fellowship. He is currently attending UCSF Berkeley in pursuit of his MD.