Hannah Yi
cellular Biophysics
Hannah Yi
Chemistry Graduate Student
MS in Chemistry, University of Chicago, 2017
BS in Chemistry, The George Washington University, 2016
hannahyi@uchicago.edu
Research Interests
insulin trafficking/ image analysis/ microscopy
I am studying insulin transport in healthy and diseased pancreatic beta-cells. The biological pathway for insulin and blood glucose regulation is widely studied for applications in preventative diabetes mellitus. Yet on a smaller scale, how insulin is stored and trafficked within beta-cells is less understood. We are interested in studying intracellular insulin transport to identify mechanistic deficiencies which could lead to secretion or signaling defects. I use fluorescent microscopy to measure fluorescent protein labeled insulin vesicles (granules) within live cells. This is interesting from a technology perspective because our lab is always developing or optimizing our microscopes for dynamic imaging of small ~200nm targets. Most recently, we are using Multifocal Microscopy for fast volumetric imaging. I develop custom image analysis approaches to quantify and analyze the videos that are recorded on our conventional and home-built systems.
Recent News
Dean’s Advisory Council- Chemistry Rep
Hannah Yi is one of two students selected to represent the Chemistry Department on the PSD Dean’s Student Advisory Council.
Department Ombudsperson
Graduate student Hannah Yi is voted as a department ombudsperson for the 2019-2020 academic year.
Harvey Plotnick Fellowship
Graduate student Hannah Yi is one of two students awarded a Harvey Plotnick Fellowship from the Physical Sciences Division.
Wayne C. Booth Teaching Prize
2nd year graduate student Hannah Yi is awarded a 2018 Wayne C. Booth Graduate Teaching Prize from The College! Congrats!
Passed Quals!
Graduate student Hannah Yi passes her qualifying exam.
New Year, New Students!
1st year chemistry graduate students Maya Cutcosky, Emmanuel Valenton, and Hannah Yi join the Scherer Lab!