Sydney Shuster
Biophysical Chemistry Graduate Student
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Group Member Since 2022
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B.A. in Chemistry, Middlebury College, 2019
Research Interests
Optical Photothermal Infrared Spectroscopy in Living Systems
Sydney’s PhD research centers on transforming optical photothermal infrared microspectroscopy (OPTIR) into a practical, high-resolution tool for investigating live-cell biology. OPTIR uses the intrinsic vibrational signatures of molecules to identify and image biomolecules such as proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. Unlike traditional microscopy, which often relies on fluorescent labels that can perturb biological systems, OPTIR enables label-free or minimally labeled imaging, offering a major technological advance for observing complex cellular processes as they unfold in real time. The central impact of my work is in bridging the gap between physical spectroscopy and biological discovery. Sydney has developed new methods and molecular probes that make OPTIR viable for live-cell applications, unlocking its potential for broad use in biomedical research. Sydney’s work has enabled OPTIR to visualize metabolic flux and protein quality control—two fundamental cellular processes implicated in a wide range of diseases.
More About Me
Before graduate school, Sydney worked as a postbaccalaureate fellow at the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute under Dr. Jennifer Lee. There, she used Raman microspectroscopy and other biophysical tools to understand the aggregation and phase separation of TDP-43, the hallmark protein of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. In undergraduate, she worked with Prof. Sunhee Choi to understand how glycation, a nonenzymatic reaction between sugars and proteins, contributes to toxicity in Alzheimer’s Disease. Outside the lab she enjoys hiking (especially in US National Parks), running, skiing, and working on her vegan cookbook.
Publications
Shuster, S.O., Curtis, A.E., Davis, C.M. Optical photothermal infrared imaging using metabolic probes in biological systems. Analytical Chem. 2025 April 11.
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Shuster, S.O.*, Castillo, H.B.*, Tarkegn, L.H., Davis, C.M. Oleic acid differentially affects lipid droplet storage of de novo synthesized lipids in hepatocytes and adipocytes. Chem. Commun. 2024 Jan 30.
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Sivadas, A.*, McDonald, E.F.*, Shuster, S.O., Davis, C.M., Plate L. Site-specific crosslinking reveals Phosphofructokinase-L inhibition drives self-assembly and attenuation of protein interactions. Adv. Biol. Regul. 2023 Sept 15.
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Shuster, S.O., Burke, M.J., Davis, C.M. Spatiotemporal heterogeneity of de novo lipogenesis in fixed and living single-cells. J. Phys. Chem. B. 2023 March 28.
Shuster, S.O., Lee, J.C. Watching liquid droplets of TDP-43 CTD age by Raman spectroscopy. J. Biol. Chem. 2021 Dec 23.
Shuster, S.O., Lee, J.C. Tryptophan Probes of TDP-43 C-terminal domain amyloid formation. J. Phys. Chem B. 2021 April 9.
Shuster S.O.*, Fica-Contreras S.M.*, Hedges J.S., Henning N.J., Choi S. Comparison of the reaction of methylglyoxal (MGO) with murine and human amyloid beta (Aβ): Insights into a mechanism of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 2020 Dec 17.
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Fica-Contreras, S. M.; Shuster, S. O.; Durfee, N. D.; Bowe, G. J. K.; Henning, N. J.; Hill, S. A.; Vrla, G. D.; Stillman, D. R.; Suralik, K. M.; Sandwick, R. K.; et al. Glycation of Lys-16 and Arg-5 in amyloid-β and the presence of Cu2+ play a major role in the oxidative stress mechanism of Alzheimer’s Disease. J. Biol. Inorg. Chem. 2017 Oct 16.
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*authors contributed equally
Selected Presentations
[Invited Talk] Shuster, S.O.; Curtis, A.E.; Davis, C.M. "Optical photothermal infrared imaging using metabolic probes in live biological systems." EurO-PTIR Meeting, Krakow, Poland, June 3-4, 2025. Oral Presentation.
[Poster Award] Shuster, S.O., Davis, C.M. Visualizing Protein Degradation in Neuronal Cells using Optical Photothermal Infrared Microscopy. Gordon Research Seminar & Conference: Vibrational Spectroscopy, Smithfield, RI, Aug 2024. Poster.
[Speaker Award] Shuster, S.O., Davis, C.M. Spatiotemporal heterogeneity of de novo lipogenesis in fixed and living cells. Yale Biophysics and Structural Biology Symposium, New Haven, CT, May 2023. Oral Presentation.