Thamiya Vasanthakumar, PhD

I’m a science communicator and structural biologist based in Seattle. For the past decade, I've worked at the intersection of research and storytelling, translating complex ideas in biochemistry, cell biology, and cancer research. I currently write for the Fred Hutch Science Spotlight newsletter and conduct postdoctoral research on immune cell signaling in the Campbell Laboratory.

Writing

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Scientific Illustration

Kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus particles are studded with glycoproteins (blue) that can engage host cell receptors (pink) to enable viral entry. Neutralizing antibodies (green) can block this interaction to prevent infection. Image created in Blender.
A stylized depiction of a reference landscape for pediatric brain tumor gene expression. Image created in Adobe Illustrator.
Centromere DNA (blue) wraps around specialized histone proteins (orange), forming a foundation on which kinetochore components (green) assemble to facilitate cell division. Image created in Blender.
The broadly neutralizing antibody F25.S02 (yellow) binds to envelope proteins on the surface of Zika virus (blue). Structural studies revealed that the antibody bridges neighboring envelope proteins, locking them together and preventing the rearrange
Promotional graphic for Raw Talk Podcast's live-streamed YouTube series. Image created in Adobe Illustrator.