September 8, 2025
Aydin Wells is a Ph.D. student in the Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) department at the University of Notre Dame. He completed his B.S. in Physics and Mathematics at Northeastern University. Before entering his Ph.D. program, he was a Lead Data Specialist at Leidos, Inc. under the Security Detection and Automation (SD&A) division.
His research interests lie at the intersection of biology, computer science and physics. His current work combines complex network approaches with complementary omics data to shift the motivations of network biology from species-level studies to personalized-level applications. Aydin is passionate about redefining computational biological technology from a “one-size-fits-all” philosophy to a “one-size-fits-you” reality. Beyond his research, he works on small-scale Arduino/Raspberry Pi projects and entrepreneurial endeavors.
What or who inspired your research and its applications to society?
My academic interests lie at the intersection of biology, computer science, and physics, with a focus on applying complex network approaches to protein folding dynamics. I first pursued this line of research as an undergraduate at the Center for Complex Network Research (CCNR) at Northeastern University, where I analyzed protein-protein interaction data for applications in personalized medicine. Building on that foundation, my current work aims to advance our understanding of the protein folding process and to contribute to our understanding of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
What is the most valuable lesson you’ve learned about collaboration from working with people outside of your field?
The most valuable lesson I’ve learned is the importance of establishing a common language — translating complex ideas across disciplines in order to foster deeper understanding and to ensure that diverse expertise can be effectively integrated toward a shared goal. In addition, I have come to appreciate the importance of adaptability, since productive interdisciplinary research requires adjusting methods and frameworks to align with the diverse approaches of different domains.
How has the Lucy Family Institute contributed to your development as a research scholar?
The Lucy Family Institute has contributed to my development as a research scholar by providing an interdisciplinary environment and collaborative resources to refine my research approaches, expand my computational methodologies, and translate my work into real-world applications.
To learn more about the Lucy Graduate Scholars program, please visit the webpage.