Matteo on what drew him into his research<\/cite><\/footer>\n<\/blockquote>\nNow working in Professor Eli Lee\u2019s lab, Matteo studies protein condensates \u2014 dynamic, fluid structures formed when proteins separate from their surrounding solution, similar to oil separating from water. These condensates form through weak interactions between proteins, constantly assembling and disassembling.<\/p>\n
His research asks a deceptively simple question: How does protein structure affect the properties of these condensates?<\/em><\/p>\nUnderstanding this process may help scientists uncover how cells transport membrane proteins and how lipid \u201crafts\u201d may form around specific sites in the cell membrane. It\u2019s a complex system \u2014 always in equilibrium, constantly shifting \u2014 and Matteo is fascinated by its elegance.<\/p>\n
His work will take him far beyond campus. This year, he will present at the Biophysical Society Annual Meeting in San Francisco and at the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology conference in Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n
Looking ahead, Matteo plans to pursue a Ph.D., with long-term interests in origin-of-life research, exploring how chemistry first gave rise to living systems.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve worked in industry, and it\u2019s great for building technical skills,\u201d he says. \u201cBut I want to work toward big, long-term scientific questions.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n
Last year, Matteo took first place at Montclair\u2019s Science Slam \u2014 not by listing data points or presenting dense slides, but by telling a story.<\/p>\n
Science Slam challenges students to communicate their science stories in an engaging, and accessible way. For Matteo, it was transformative.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn lab reports, you just present the facts,\u201d he says. \u201cBut Science Slam taught me that people understand stories better than lists of information. Science communication needs narrative.\u201d<\/p>\n
His winning presentation centered on a hummingbird that migrates from New Jersey to the Dominican Republic for the winter \u2014 a rare but real phenomenon. The story unfolded from the hummingbird\u2019s perspective, guided across the ocean by a protein in its eyes that detects Earth\u2019s magnetic field.<\/p>\n<\/div>
\n
\n
Matteo watching as his classmates give their slam presentations<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
Unable to see land but knowing exactly where to go, the bird eventually arrives in the Dominican Republic,\u00a0 landing beside Matteo and his grandmother.<\/p>\n
The metaphor mirrored his own visits to family from New Jersey to the Dominican Republic and connected deeply with audiences.<\/p>\n
\u201cScience isn\u2019t just logic,\u201d he reflects. \u201cThere\u2019s an emotional component. We\u2019re not just calculators. If you want people to care about science, you have to make it compelling.\u201d<\/p>\n
He credits the experience with strengthening his graduate school applications and helping him learn how to frame his research as a cohesive scientific narrative.<\/p>\n
Having attended multiple institutions, Matteo says Montclair stands out.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a place where opportunities feel within reach,\u201d he says. \u201cPeople know you. Professors and administrators are responsive. They advocate for you.\u201d<\/p>\n
He points especially to Montclair\u2019s Summer Research Program, where students immerse themselves full-time in research, live on campus, and engage in professional development while presenting their work to peers.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re doing research all day! It\u2019s like a full-time job, but it\u2019s so fun,\u201d he says. \u201cIt\u2019s a no-brainer opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n
His advice to other students?<\/p>\n
\u201cTake every opportunity and see what sticks.\u201d<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t Miss This Year\u2019s Science Slam<\/h2>\n Inspired by Matteo\u2019s story? You can experience Science Slam<\/a> for yourself on Monday, February 23rd, from 3\u20135 p.m. Whether you\u2019re a student considering competing, a future scientist refining your communication skills, or simply someone who loves a good story, Science Slam is your chance to see research come alive.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"When Matteo transferred to the University in the spring of last year, he wasn\u2019t starting over,\u00a0 he was refining his direction<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":34,"featured_media":212948,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[40,16,7,54],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-212947","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-awards-recognition","category-chemistry-biochemistry","category-research","category-csam-students"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/csam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/212947","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/csam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/csam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/csam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/34"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/csam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=212947"}],"version-history":[{"count":19,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/csam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/212947\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":213105,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/csam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/212947\/revisions\/213105"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/csam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/212948"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/csam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=212947"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/csam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=212947"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/csam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=212947"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}