Natesan Mani

About Me

My research expertise as a doctoral student at Northeastern centers on elucidating protein dynamics and allostery through atomistic molecular dynamics simulations, with the goal of extracting mechanistic insights to improve therapeutic efficacy. Recently, I have leveraged physics-based computational methods to guide the design of high-affinity antibodies.

At Genentech (Summer 2025), I worked as an intern with Jen Hofmann to develop AbACUS, an integrated workflow incorporating coarse-grained simulations and comprehensive analytical workflows to predict the high-concentration biophysical properties of diverse antibody formats.

From September 2023 to April 2024, I completed an internship at Amgen under the supervision of Alla Polozova, where I modeled the IgG1 Fc–CD16a interaction mediating immune responses. The project focused on rational engineering of Fc glycosylation to enhance binding affinity while elucidating the underlying structural mechanisms through molecular dynamics simulations. This work remains ongoing and is a part of my doctoral dissertation.

During the initial phases of my PhD, I investigated the conformational dynamics of viral spike proteins from SARS-CoV-2, HIV, and Influenza, with applications toward optimizing existing therapeutic strategies.

I have also explored the intersection of AI and drug discovery through a hackathon project that culminated in F.A.D.E: A Fully Agentic Drug Engine. This initiative aims to democratize access to computational drug discovery methodologies. The work has been presented at the Broad Institute (2025) and the American Chemical Society Spring Meeting (2026).

Beyond research, I am committed to advancing engineering leadership, a passion cultivated through the Northeastern LEADERs program. This commitment has led me to assume leadership positions including Treasurer of the Chemical Engineering Graduate Student Council and Founding President of the Northeastern Biophysical Society.