- Former ChE undergrad Sydney Antal has entered NYU’s Tandon School of Engineering Ph.D. program.
- Her CRISPR‑based diagnostics, developed under Piyush Jain, enable high‑sensitivity pathogen detection in low‑resource settings.
- Antal’s journey showcases UF’s focus on leadership, communication and cutting‑edge research.
Sydney Antal, a former undergraduate researcher in the Department of Chemical Engineering, is now a member of a prestigious New York University Ph.D. program, where she is continuing her work on novel molecular systems to improve global health.
Last year, Antal was accepted into the NYU Tandon School of Engineering Ph.D. program; she’s pursuing a degree in biomedical engineering under Roy Maimon, Ph.D.
Antal’s innovative work on multiplexed CRISPR diagnostics allowed for high-sensitivity pathogen detection intended for use in resource-constrained settings, said her UF mentor, Piyush K. Jain, Ph.D., ChE’s Exxon Mobil Gator Alumni Faculty Endowed Professor.
Those constraints are most often seen in low-income or rural communities and disaster zones. They can include limited healthcare and economic or technological resources that can result in substandard services.
“Sydney embodies the absolute best of UF chemical engineering students. From co-authoring seminal publications in genome editing to winning top honors while serving as a supervised undergraduate tutor, her drive and work ethic set her apart. NYU is gaining a stellar young researcher, and we are immensely proud to see her take this next step toward her Ph.D.,” Jain said.
Antal’s undergraduate research at UF yielded co-authored publications in Nucleic Acids Research and Nature Communications. She presented at the American Institute of Chemical Engineers’ annual meetings and completed a National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
At UF, Antal was involved in the UF Chemistry Club, the Society of Women Engineers, Engineering Ambassadors and peer advising.
“Since I joined the Maimon Lab at NYU Tandon,” she said, “my work has focused on neural stem cell engineering, specifically looking at how we can reawaken and reprogram dormant neural stem cells in the brain to form new neurons. The lab’s broader goal is to turn this into a therapeutic strategy for neurodegenerative diseases like Huntington’s.
Since settling in New York, she’s had time to reflect on her experiences at UF.
What was your favorite part about UF?
I got to meet younger and older students across all majors in the college through my involvement with Engineering Ambassadors, engineering peer advisors and undergraduate research.
What courses had a significant impact on your education?
Intro to Biomolecular Engineering was one of my favorite courses. It sparked my interest in CRISPR and genetic engineering. What I learned there directly informed the research I later did in Dr. Piyush Jain’s lab.
What are the most important lessons you learned at UF?
The value of work-life balance. With a time-consuming degree like ChE, it can be hard to step away from coursework to participate in clubs or social events. Over the years, though, I’ve found that staying involved actually helps my studies. It gives me a chance to take breaks and come back to my coursework with renewed motivation while also helping me avoid burnout.
How did UF help you develop valuable skills?
I developed skills such as leadership, communication and research. Communication skills have been the most valuable, helping me present my research, talk with professors and collaborate with peers in classes and in research.
What advice would you give to current students?
That’s simple: Just go for it. ChE has applications across a wide variety of fields, so it gives you plenty of options.
How did your experience here influence your life?
UF ChE brought me some of my closest friends, and professionally, it helped me reach the next step in my career goals: graduate school.
What are the most valuable lessons you learned after graduation?
Chasing your dreams can be scary, but that doesn’t mean it’s the wrong thing to do. Moving to New York City to pursue this kind of research had been a long-time dream of mine, and stepping into it for real was intimidating at first. But I’ve learned that the discomfort of chasing something big is usually a sign you’re doing something worthwhile.