"Finding backbone substructures that match an arbitrary query structural motif, composed of multiple disjoint segments, is a problem of growing relevance in structure prediction and protein design" -- Gevorg Grigoryan.
Gevorg's lab built a tool called Method of Accelerated Search for Tertiary Ensemble Representatives MASTER, which is essentially a partial distance search engine for the Protein Data Bank.
I took on building a PyMol module and a server API component as a weekend project to allow his lab at first but then others to be able to use his _MASTER_ search database for building proteins.
Crafting 3D paper pop-ups can yield complex, expressive geometries, and can help develop spatial reasoning skills. However, designing the cuts and folds is often a frustrating process due to the strict geometric constraints. Foldlings is a tool that assists in this exploratory process, allowing a user to draw lines and be guided in creating well-defined pop-ups. We simulate the pop-up in 3D, allowing users to quickly preview their design before printing or laser cutting. We created an iOS app written in Swift, and performed informal user tests with 23 undergraduate students.
I had wanted to play/hack a Kinect so I completed an independent study project researching motion detection techniques, physics reconstruction, and geometry sculpting. I implemented a program to sculpt some 3D geometry with your hands using the Kinect.
