CBC Alumni Spotlight: Sean Chen

Alumni Spotlight on Sean Chen, who was named a NSF GRFP Fellow! 

"I received my Bachelor's of Science in Biochemistry in 2025. I wrote my undergraduate thesis on soft matter effects on rhodopsin activation with Dr. Michael F. Brown. My current work in the Ozturk Lab at Caltech represents a deep dive into the fundamental mysteries of the molecular asymmetry of life. I am investigating the origins of homochirality—the curious phenomenon where life consistently utilizes "left-handed" amino acids and "right-handed" sugars—by developing high-throughput experimental systems to observe the exact moment symmetry breaks during crystal nucleation. This research sits at the sharp intersection of physics and chemistry, requiring me to bridge the gap between theoretical thermodynamics and hands-on engineering. 

On any given day, I am as much an engineer as I am a chemist. My time is divided between optical engineering, computational analysis, robotics, and automation. I transform pictures of crystals into thermodynamic information. 

I am grateful for the University of Arizona and specifically Dr. Michael F. Brown for providing the multidisciplinary toolkit that makes this work possible. Dr. Brown’s mentorship gave me the technical know-how and curiosity needed to navigate the complexities of soft matter systems. The rigorous training I received at U of A laid the groundwork for my current transition into the world of origin-of-life research." ~ Sean