Andreas Langen
CA
Summary
Cum Laude, University of Southern California, 2022
Overview
6
6
years of professional experience
Work History
Graduate Student
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, California
07.2023 - Current
- Advisor: Dr. Balyn Zaro
- Chemical proteomic profiling of arginine-reactive covalent warheads; discovery and optimization of ninhydrin-based electrophiles for selective arginine targeting. Uncovering drivers of arginine reactivity.
Staff Research Associate
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, California
05.2022 - 06.2023
- Advisor: Dr. Balyn Zaro
- Investigated the axis of self-nonself recognition in macrophages through phagocytosis cell sorting assays and mass spectrometry. Investigated the activity of Bruton’s Tyrosine Kinase inhibitor and probe analogs through click chemistry and chemical proteomics. Worked with over 20 collaborators to prepare various mass spectrometry samples including whole cell, cell surface, immunoprecipitation, and Bio-ID proteomics.
Undergraduate Researcher
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California
01.2020 - 12.2022
- Advisors: Dr. Matthew Pratt
- Worked alongside graduate students to characterize the interactome of O-GlcNAc modified heat-shock proteins. This was accomplished through recombinant expression, solid-phase peptide synthesis, and native chemical ligation of wild type and modified peptides and proteins. Synthesized PCA-biotin, a chemical tool to capture and enrich for proteins of interest.
Education
Doctor of Philosophy - Chemistry and Chemical Biology
University of California, San Francisco
06-2027
Bachelor of Science - Biochemistry
University of Southern California
12-2022
Skills
- Teaching Assistant, UCSF CHEM223 (Chemical Biology) Fall 2024, led discussion sections, graded student research proposals, and coordinated faculty lecture sessions; supported first-year graduate students in developing experimental design and scientific communication skills
- Orientation Panel Leader, UCSF New Student Orientation (NSO) 08/24, led panel discussion for incoming graduate students focused on mental health, wellness, and navigating graduate training
- Graduate Student Mentor, UCSF 2025-present, mentored students in chemical proteomics techniques, experimental design, and data interpretation
- Undergraduate Research Mentor, UCSF 2022, trained and supervised undergraduate researcher in cell culture and chemical proteomics workflows
Publications
- Isas, J. M., Langen, A., Isas, M. C., Pandey, N. K., & Siemer, A., Formation and Structure of Wild Type Huntingtin Exon-1 Fibrils., Biochemistry, 2017
- Javed, A., Johnson, O. T., Balana, A. T., Volk, R. F., Langen, A., Ahn, B. S., Zaro, B. W., Gestwicki, J. E., & Pratt, M. R., O-GlcNAc modification of HSP27 alters its protein interactions and promotes refolding of proteins through the BAG3/HSP70 co-chaperone., Protein science, 2024
- Perr, J., Langen, A., Almahayni K., Nestola G., Chai P., Lebedenko C., Volk R., Caldwell R., Spiekermann M., Hemberger H., Bisaria N., Tzelepis K., Calo E., Möckl L., Zaro B., Flynn R. A., RNA binding proteins and glycoRNAs form domains on the cell surface for cell penetrating peptide entry., Cell, 2025
- Boucher J., Banerjee S., Joshi M., Wei A., Nalley M., Huang M., Lei S., Ciranni M., Condon A., Langen A., Goddard T., Caradonna I., Goranov A., Homer C., Mortensen Y., Petnic S., Reilly M., Xiong Y., Susa K., Pastore V., Zaro B., Madhani H., Phenotypic landscape of an invasive fungal pathogen reveals its unique biology., Cell, 2025
- Karner, H., Mittmann, T., Chen, VW., Borah, AA., Langen, A., Yousefi, H., Fish, L., Zaro, B. W., Navickas, A., Goodarzi, H., Integrative analysis of mRNA stability regulation uncovers a metastasis-suppressive program in breast cancer., Science Advances, 2026
- Montaño, J. L., Tejus, V. R., Xu V., Condon A. C., Ecker, A. K., Langen, A., Leung, K. K., Zaro, B. W., An interactive resource mapping the proteome and reactive cysteine landscape across the NCI-60 reveals cell and tissue-specific profiles., Cell Chem Biol., 2026
- Ecker, A. K.*, Langen, A.*, Fields, C. S., Montaño, J. M., Tran, M., Seiple, I. B., Zaro, B. W., Ninhydrin is a Covalent Warhead for Chemical Proteomic-Enabled Discovery and Selective Engagement of Reactive Arginines., BioRxiv, 2026 *Equal Contribution
Community Service
- Outreach Session Leader, UCSF Teen Wellness Connection, 02/25, taught brain anatomy using preserved specimens and led discussions linking neurobiology to mental health
- Outreach Session Leader, UCSF Summer Teen Mental Health Summit, 07/25, taught interactive neuroanatomy session with preserved brain samples and light microscopy; facilitated conversation on mental health
- Science Outreach Experiment Leader, USC Science Outreach (SCout), 2018-2020, led weekly hands-on science demonstrations for elementary school students in south central Los Angeles, emphasizing curiosity, discovery, and accessibility in science education
Timeline
Graduate Student
University of California, San Francisco
07.2023 - Current
Staff Research Associate
University of California, San Francisco
05.2022 - 06.2023
Undergraduate Researcher
University of Southern California
01.2020 - 12.2022
Doctor of Philosophy - Chemistry and Chemical Biology
University of California, San Francisco
Bachelor of Science - Biochemistry
University of Southern California