Dr. Danith Ly

Professor

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Biography

Danith Ly is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Carnegie Mellon University and the Director of the Institute for Biomolecular Design and Discovery (IBD). He has a secondary appointment as a Professor at the University of Pittsburgh in the field of Molecular Biophysics and Structural Biology. Ly completed his Ph.D. at the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1999 and undertook postdoctoral fellowships at the University of California, Berkeley, and the Scripps Research Institute. His research is focused on bioorganic chemistry and chemical biology, particularly gene regulation, protein engineering, and the design of molecular self-assembly tools. Over the past five years, his work has centered on developing molecular tools for regulating gene expression and probing protein localization dynamics in human embryonic stem cells. His team aims to dissect the genetic blueprint of human embryonic stem cells to address fundamental questions regarding cellular origins of cancer. Furthermore, he explores areas like protein design and tissue engineering, leveraging his department's strengths in biopolymer synthesis. Ly has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals, contributing significant findings in molecular therapy and nucleic acid research.

Research Interests

Experience

Professor

2015-01-01 — Present

Carnegie Mellon University • Pittsburgh, PA

Teaching and conducting research in Chemistry.

Director

2018-01-01 — Present

Institute for Biomolecular Design and Discovery • Pittsburgh, PA

Directing research efforts focusing on biomolecular design.

Associate Professor

2009-01-01 — 2015-01-01

Carnegie Mellon University • Pittsburgh, PA

Conducted research and taught Chemistry courses.

Assistant Professor

2001-01-01 — 2006-01-01

Carnegie Mellon University • Pittsburgh, PA

Initiated teaching and research in Chemistry.

Awards

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Julius Ashkin Teaching Award

2012-01-01
#

Innovative Research Award

2002-01-01
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Emerging Researcher

2000-01-01

Requirements for Carnegie Mellon University

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3.5
GRE General
Verbal
Required:158
Quantitative
Required:149
Analytical Writing
Required:4
Overall
Required:4
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree in Psychology or related field Research experience/publications
Application Checklist
  • Online application
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Transcripts
  • GRE scores (optional but reported in profile)
  • English Proficiency (TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo)
Specialization Notes

Admission is extremely competitive with no strict GPA cut-offs; holistic review is used.