Thando is a chemistry Ph.D student joining the NarangLab in the Fall of 2024. She graduated with a B.A. in Computer Science and Italian with a minor in Chemistry from Bowdoin College in 2023. As an undergraduate, Thando completed computational chemistry research projects at Bowdoin College, Northeastern University, and Brookhaven National Laboratory, working under Dr. Allison Dzubak, Dr. Mary Jo Ondrechen, and Dr. Hubertus Van Dam, respectively. Her research interests range from machine learning for protein active site prediction, performance optimization in NWChem, and software development for exascale computing. Currently, she serves as a Fulbright research grantee in Italy at the University of Padua, completing her project entitled An Investigation of Selenium-based Compounds that Inhibit SARS-CoV-2.

At UCLA, she will focus on quantum algorithm development. She is a recipient of the DOE Computational Science Graduate Fellowship.

In her free time, Thando enjoys playing guitar, running, and volunteering for Black Girls Code.