Melany Contreras
The University of Chicago
Department of Chemistry
5640 South Ellis Avenue
Chicago, IL 60637
Phone: (773) 834-7392
Email: contrerasm at uchicago edu
Former Graduate Student
Education
- B.S. Chemistry with Honors and Mathematics Minor, East Carolina University (2021)
- B.S. Physics, East Carolina University (2021)
Areas of Interest
- Investigation of exoplanet formation and exoplanet evolution using ab initio simulations
Experience
- 2021 – Present: Ph.D. student in Chemistry, University of Chicago
- 2019 – 2021: Undergraduate Researcher at East Carolina University,
Dr. Anne Spuches: Molecular Dynamics Study of Divalent Cadmium
and Lead Bound to Human Cardiac Troponin C
- 2020: Research Intern, RISE at Rutgers Internship at Rutgers University, Dr. Lu Wang:
Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Peptides and Proteins
Awards and Academic Achievements
- University of Chicago McCormick Fellowship (2021)
- Outstanding Senior Award in Chemistry, East Carolina University (2021)
- NASA NJ Space Grant Consortium Award (2020)
- American Chemical Society Scholar (2018 – 2021)
