Michael Zhu
Greenwood Village,CO
Overview
4
4
years of professional experience
Work History
Research
Cherry Creek High School
08.2024 - 05.2026
- Learn new techniques by analyzing data.
- Write research papers to summarize lab results.
- Researched PFAS substance levels in small scale experiment.
Member
Cherry Creek Chess Club
08.2022 - 05.2026
- Manage club resources and expand social media presence.
- Lead club lessons.
- Tracked club recruitment.
Volunteer
Children's Hospital
08.2025 - 12.2025
- Volunteer at Children's hospital.
- Create art projects for kids.
- Created club slideshows for meetings.
- Helped Spread Social Media Presence.
- Hospital Anschutz Medical Campus
Research Internship
University of Denver
05.2025 - 08.2025
- Led team project that examined how cell organelle interactions changed due to varying conditions.
- Mastered new laboratory techniques.
- Imaged Cells.
Service Waiter
Shanghai Kitchen
08.2024 - 12.2024
- Served food and drinks and cleaned the restaurant.
- Worked as the cashier and managed customer orders.
Vice President
Cherry Creek High School
08.2023 - 12.2024
- Recruit new members.
- Invite guest speakers.
- Advertise club activities, manage social media accounts, and oversee tournaments.
- Led 20 students in RC.
TA to Chinese Kindergarten
Denver Chinese School
08.2022 - 05.2023
- Led 20 kindergarten students in group activities.
- Helped teach and assist students while developing better Chinese skills.
Education
High School Diploma -
Cherry Creek High School
Englewood, CO, USA05-2026
Skills
- Cell imaging
- Laboratory techniques
- Customer service
- Volunteer coordination
- Team leadership
- Data analysis
- Research writing
Additional Information - Co Authored Abstract
Molecular mechanisms of TRPML1-3 permeation and selectivity, Braden E Rue, Anna M Dischler, Lyndsie A Salvagio, Michael Zhu, Gabriel Xu, Patrick Flores, Chelsea Donovan, Xin Liu, Taylor F Minckley, Brooke Agulnek, Yan Qin, The endolysosomal TRPML (transient receptor potential mucolipin) channels play key roles in regulating lysosomal trafficking, signaling, and function. While mutations in TRPML1 cause mucolipidosis type IV (MLIV), the functional consequences of many disease-associated mutations remain unclear. In this study, we used live-cell confocal imaging in HeLa cells to comprehensively characterize the subcellular localization and cation (Ca²? and Zn²?) permeability of TRPML1-3, ten TRPML1 MLIV patient-derived mutants, and engineered pore mutants. We showed that TRPML1 and TRPML3 permeate both Ca²? and Zn²?, whereas TRPML2 conducts only Ca²?. Subcellular localization analyses revealed that TRPML1 and TRPML2 localize predominantly to lysosomes, while TRPML3 is preferentially localized to the ER. Among the ten patient-derived TRPML1 mutants, nine exhibited severely impaired agonist-mediated Ca²? and Zn²? permeability, indicating severe functional loss. In contrast, the F408? mutant, associated with a milder phenotype, retained partial ion permeability and was the only mutant capable of constitutive Ca²? permeation without agonist stimulation. Interestingly, we found that non-functional, lysosome-localized TRPML1 mutants are associated with more severe disease phenotypes than those retained in the ER, suggesting that lysosomal localization of non-functional TRPML1 may have dominant-negative or toxic effects. Finally, through structure-guided mutagenesis, we generated a metal-selective TRPML1 mutant, I468V, that is permeable to Ca²? but not to Zn²?, providing a new tool for dissecting the distinct physiological roles of Zn2+ and Ca2+ in TRPML1-mediated processes. Together, these findings provide new insights into how TRPML1 mutations disrupt subcellular localization, ion permeability, and selectivity, which contribute to the variable clinical spectrum of MLIV.
Timeline
Volunteer
Children's Hospital
08.2025 - 12.2025
Research Internship
University of Denver
05.2025 - 08.2025
Research
Cherry Creek High School
08.2024 - 05.2026
Service Waiter
Shanghai Kitchen
08.2024 - 12.2024
Vice President
Cherry Creek High School
08.2023 - 12.2024
Member
Cherry Creek Chess Club
08.2022 - 05.2026
TA to Chinese Kindergarten
Denver Chinese School
08.2022 - 05.2023
High School Diploma -
Cherry Creek High School