MIT
Chemistry & Chemical Biology
Biotechnology & Bioinformatics
NSF Fellow
Emerson Consequential Scholar
Maysa Ilamanova
About me
Chemist. Data Scientist. Builder.
Bridging molecular biology, machine learning, and analytical chemistry to understand how chemical damage to DNA shapes human biology.
MIT Chemistry PhD candidate with 6+ years of interdisciplinary research experience spanning experimental science and computation. Curious by nature and interested in turning scientific questions into discoveries and tools for human health and wellness.
Education
PhD Candidate in Chemistry
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Exp 2027
Advisor: Peter Dedon
Base Excision Repair as a Determinant of DNA Adduct Landscapes Across Human Cell Types
NSF Graduate Research Fellow.
BS, Biochemistry
University of Massachusetts Boston, May 2022
Advisor: Béla Török
Environmentally Benign Synthesis of Medicinally Relevant Scaffolds
Summa Cum Laude · Honors in Biochemistry
Current Research · MIT Dedon Lab
2024 – Present
Base Excision Repair & DNA Adductomics
- Leading studies investigating how base excision repair shapes DNA-adduct landscapes across human cell types and DNA-repair gene knockout lines.
- Built nomad, an automated Python/Bash pipeline that parses, normalizes, quality-filters, and annotates untargeted LC–MS DNA-adductomics data using adaptive isotopomer detection, salt and artifact removal, and database matching; reducing end-to-end analysis time from 8–12 hours to ~10 minutes per sample (>97%), including post-analysis QC.
- Implementing ML methods for retention-time alignment and shift correction in LC–MS across instruments, users, and acquisition conditions.
- Applied ML and statistical analysis methods to reveal patterns in DNA repair capacity across different human cell lines, including DNA repair-deficient cells; generated reproducible QC reports and visualizations and benchmarked automated peak detection against manual analysis.
- Leading a collaboration with the Engelward Lab at MIT to quantitatively profile N-nitroso-induced DNA lesions in wild-type and Aag-deficient MEF cells using a targeted LC–MS workflow..
Technical Skills
Computational
Analytical
Synthesis & Biology
Research Intern
Pfizer
Sep 2024 – Jan 2025 · Cambridge, MA
Benchmarking Phosphonate Azides against DADPS Biotin Azide in Mass Spectrometry-based SiteID Analysis.
Research Intern
Novartis
Sep 2023 – Jan 2024 · Cambridge, MA
Automation and Implementation of a Plasma Protein Binding Assay for Pharmacokinetic Studies.
MIT × Industry
Sarepta Therapeutics
Nov 2022 – Jan 2024 · Cambridge, MA
Peptide-Mediated Enhancement of Antisense Oligonucleotide Delivery to the CNS for Spinal Muscular Atrophy.
Academic Research Experience
MIT × Pentelute Lab
2022 – 2024
- Synthesized peptide–PMO conjugates via fast-flow solid-phase peptide synthesis of peptides and nucleic acids for antisense oligonucleotide delivery
- Purified and characterized peptide–PMO constructs by chromatography and evaluated cellular uptake and exon-skipping activity in HeLa EGFP-654 cells.
- Collaborated with Sarepta Therapeutics on Spinal Muscular Atrophy targeting; scaled peptide-PMO construct production for in vivo studies.
Northeastern University × O'Doherty Lab
2021 – 2022
- Pioneered a cross-institutional collaboration and completed multistep de novo asymmetric synthesis of 7-oxa- and 7-aza-phomopsolide E analogues and stereoisomers.
- Conducted stereochemical structure–activity relationship studies and characterized products using NMR, MS, IR, polarimetry, and TLC.
- Evaluated anticancer activity across NCI cancer cell lines via MTT assay.
UMass Boston × Török Lab
2020 – 2022
- Optimized environmentally benign alkylation of nitrogen-containing heterocycles using CO₂ from carbonated water; evaluated substrate scope, activity and yield.
- Co-authored 2 peer-reviewed publications; presented work at seminars and symposia.
Publications & Presentations
nomad: An Automated LC-MS/MS Pipeline for High-Throughput DNA Adductomics
Cell-Type-Dependent DNA Adduct Landscapes and Base Excision Repair Capacity in Human Cell Lines
Base Excision Repair Enzymes Shape the DNA Adduct Landscape and Govern Genome Stability in Human Cells
Heterogeneous Metal Catalysis for the Environmentally Benign Synthesis of Medicinally Important Scaffolds, Intermediates and Building Blocks
Microwave-Assisted Flow Chemistry for Green Synthesis and Other Applications
Poster Presentation at Amgen Biotech Day 2025
Poster Presentation at MIT Polymer Day Symposium 2023
Honors & Awards
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship
MIT Chemistry · 2024
Emerson Consequential Scholar
Emerson Collective × Sutter Hill Ventures · 2026
MIT Department Head Summer Fellowship
MIT Chemistry · 2023
Emil Fischer Book Award
UMass Boston · 2022
UMass Boston Award for Biochemistry
UMass Boston · 2021
Turkmenistan Chemistry Olympiad
Winner · 2014–2017
Leadership & Teaching
MIT Biotech Group
Co-Director, Industry Initiative Jan 2023 – Present
Co-lead an MIT mentorship initiative connecting students and postdocs with industry leaders through workshops and executive panels.
Organized biotech seminar series, featuring academic and industry leaders, and coordinate industry site visits for MIT community.
Emerson Collective x Sutter Hill Ventures
Emerson Consequential Scholar Jan 2026 – July 2026
Entrepreneurship program for PhD researchers focused on translating technical research into real-world impact through commercialization, venture strategy, and a network of scientists, founders, and investors.
MIT
Teaching Assistant & Peer Mentor Sep 2022 – May 2025
Mentored undergraduate and graduatestudents in experimental design, data interpretation, and scientific communication.
UMass Boston
Supplemental Instruction Leader & Subject Tutor Sep 2022 – May 2024
Led one-on-one and group tutoring sessions in organic chemistry, general chemistry, biology & biochemistry; partnered with faculty on lectures and assessments.
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