When it comes to unraveling the mysteries of life at its smallest scale, biochemists like NC State alumna and master’s student Katy Klein ’25 know that every molecule of the human body tells a story. Biochemistry bridges biology and chemistry to decode how cells grow, heal and sometimes turn against themselves — a field demanding equal parts curiosity, precision and persistence. 

What started as a knack for balancing equations quickly evolved into a passion for understanding the chemistry of life — how enzymes drive biological processes, how proteins can misfold into disease and how a single reaction can mean the difference between health and heartbreak.

Undergraduate Research

When asked what first drew her to biochemistry, Klein laughed and admitted that it started with a simple realization in high school: She was outstanding at chemistry.

“I took a few chemistry classes in high school, and I said, ‘Hey, I’m pretty good at this. Let’s study that in college,’ but I actually started off at UNC-Chapel Hill,” Klein said. “They didn’t have a biochemistry degree. They just had a chemistry degree with a biochemistry concentration.”

Klein said she felt a lack of engagement during her studies at Carolina, which is why she transferred to NC State. “I switched over to biochemistry once I got to NC State because it aligned more with my interests,” she said. “Most universities don’t have a biochemistry major. I’m very passionate about it because I want to go into studying research for health care.”

“Most universities don’t have a biochemistry major. I’m very passionate about it because I want to go into studying research for health care.”

That decision opened a door that, for Klein, is deeply personal. Autoimmune disorders run in her family — her grandmother struggles with lupus, her mother has celiac disease and Klein herself manages food allergy anaphylaxis, a severe and potentially life-threatening allergic reaction to a trigger, and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, an autoimmune disorder that can affect the heart. 

Those connections fueled her undergraduate research with Dr. Guozhou Xu, an associate professor for the Department of Molecular and Structural Biochemistry, where she studied biochemical pathways tied to inflammation associated with overnutrition, which can lead to autoimmune disorders and even certain cancers.

“I’ve seen and experienced firsthand how these diseases affect people, so I decided I would research these pathways to see if I can help,” Klein said.

“I’ve seen and experienced firsthand how these diseases affect people, so I decided I would research these pathways to see if I can help.”

“Katy is an exquisitely inquisitive young lady with a profound inclination toward new ideas,” Xu said. “I’ve always been impressed by her motivation when it comes to our work. Katy is not only an excellent student but also a personal delight to one and all. I believe she will be very successful in her future STEM research and educational pursuits.”

As a teaching assistant for NC State’s introductory biochemistry lab course, Klein gained numerous advanced technical skills through hands-on lab experience, such as performing enzyme assays and protein purification.

“Being a TA was very impactful,” she said. “I had to relearn and repeat techniques constantly as a peer mentor. That experience really prepared me for my graduate-level work.”

Klein, as an undergraduate, also scored advanced proficiency on her American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology certification exam— a distinction earned by fewer than 18 percent of test-takers attempting to gain the prestigious accreditation.

Master’s Research

Now, Klein is pursuing her master’s studies under Dr. Bob Rose, another associate professor for the Department of Molecular and Structural Biochemistry. Together they investigate thermophilic enzymes, or proteins that normally only function at extremely high temperatures, which, if reengineered to perform at room temperature, could one day produce assets like chemically pure pharmaceuticals for use in the medical industry.

The specific enzymes that Klein works with, however, are for use in carbon fixation. “Dr. Rose has explained that if we can readapt these enzymes, it could help us mass produce biofuels and contribute to more environmentally sound solutions for our country’s ever-increasing power consumption as well,” she added.

Klein’s path through the department’s accelerated bachelor’s/master’s degree program gave her an early advantage. Starting graduate-level classes as a junior exposed her to research papers, experimental design and advanced concepts years ahead of schedule.

“By the time I formally entered my master’s program, I already knew how to interpret research, design my own experiments and think critically about advanced biochemistry problems,” she said.

A Familial Path

Looking ahead, Klein plans to earn her doctorate with a focus on protein structural analysis. Her grandfather, Wayne Kennerly, passed away in late 2024 from ATTR amyloidosis, a rare and devastating protein misfolding disorder.

“It was really hard to watch him suffer like that, but it aligned directly with what I was studying,” Klein said. “Now, I want to keep working with proteins and hopefully contribute to new treatments. The medicine my grandfather was prescribed to treat his ATTR amyloidosis was only approved for its first treatment two years ago. There’s so much work to be done, and I don’t want other families to go through what mine did.”

“There’s so much work to be done, and I don’t want other families to go through what mine did.”

Klein’s twin brother, Joshua, shared about the importance of his sister’s work in pursuing a future free of degenerative disease, and what it means to their family after having struggled with autoimmune disorders for generations.

“Katy’s work in a field as difficult and significant as autoimmune research is nothing new to us in the Klein family,” he said. “Pride is an understatement of how we feel about her and her work, and her impact on our family’s perseverance through medical hardship cannot be denied. She is the pinnacle of our entire family, and her constant drive for success continues to push our family forward. We will always have the undeniable belief that she cannot fail.”