My name is Ashleigh Purvis, and I am currently a fifth year at Yale University in pursuit of my PhD in chemical biology. During my time at Yale, I have had the privilege to work on many diverse projects spanning the space between biology and chemistry under the advisement of Dr. Sarah Slavoff. I primarily focus on utilizing existing chemistry to targeted canonically “undruggable” proteins to map their transcriptional landscape. I also leverage my background in solid phase peptide synthesis to make synthetic mass spectrometry standards for other members of the lab. I am heavily involved in the chemistry department at Yale through my work as a liaison, co-chair, and mentor for various events. I am also a member of the diversity, equity, and inclusion steering committee at Yale’s west campus. Prior to attending Yale, I obtained my BS in Biochemistry at High Point University (HPU) in High Point, North Carolina. During my time at HPU, I mastered the foundations of solid phase peptide synthesis in a collaborative project aimed to uncover defensin peptides in plants. I also spent time optimizing a photo-catalyzed thiol-ene click reaction utilizing traditional synthetic techniques. Outside of school, I am passionate about ceramics, golf, and choir. In the future, I would like partner with others who are passionate about innovation to troubleshoot some of the leading issues in biotech and beyond through a career in consulting.