Allie Batka (she/they) is a Ph.D. candidate in Chemical Biology through the Department of Chemistry at UC Berkeley. Allie graduated from the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor with a B.S. Chem. and M.S. in Chemistry in 2020, where they worked in the lab of Prof. Nicolai Lehner on electrocatalytic nitric oxide production for therapeutic applications. She currently researches metalloenzyme kinetics and mechanisms in Prof. Michael Marletta’s lab. Specifically, their work focuses on copperdependent polysaccharide monooxygenases and metal-dependent proteases. With support from the CEND, Allie will continue to characterize proteases in Vibrio cholerae that play an essential role in the formation of pathogenic multicellular colonies, which will inform the development of new treatments for the disease cholera. In addition to her passion for science, Allie also loves video games and ice cream.