Olga
Lavinda
Stern College for Women | Yeshiva University
Office: 549, Chemistry Department
245 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Olga Lavinda is a computational biochemist and translational health researcher whose work identifies overlooked connections across biological dimensions – cross-reactivities, secondary effects of common supplements, and mechanisms that single-variable analyses miss. She is a recipient of the NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award and the Eugene M. Farber Award from the Society for Investigative Dermatology, and a member of the Coalition for Health AI (CHAI).
Her current research uses AlphaFold, AutoDock, and in silico mutagenesis to model the human diamine oxidase (hDAO) enzyme and predict how supplement-derived compounds compete with histamine for enzymatic clearance, with experimental validation via DSC and enzymatic activity assays. This work has direct applications in histamine intolerance, inflammatory skin conditions, and maternal health. A parallel project uses AlphaFold 3 to model the architecture of the melanogenic enzyme complex (TYR–TYRP1–TYRP2), including metal coordination, N-linked glycosylation, and in silico mutagenesis of oculocutaneous albinism variants — the first AF3-based structural investigation of this complex. She also applies chemometrics and machine learning to food authenticity and consumer product safety using NIR, IR spectroscopy, and colorimetry.
Dr. Lavinda integrates AI literacy into science education through the Prompt Ladder, a classroom study on critical evaluation of AI-generated scientific content. She teaches Organic Chemistry, General Chemistry, and Essentials of Chemistry at Stern College for Women, and serves as Faculty Advisor for the YU ACS Student Chapter.
ORCID: 0000-0003-3577-5984
Eugene M. Farber Award — Society for Investigative Dermatology, 2018
Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NIH NRSA) — NIH, 2017 & 2019
Henry M. MacCracken Fellowship — New York University, 2011
Kramer Stipend for Outstanding Incoming Student — New York University, 2011
CUNY Pipeline Stipend for Outstanding Academic Achievement, 2010
Award in Recognition of Outstanding Academic Achievement — Golden Key International Honour Society, 2009
Selected Presentations & Invited Talks
Invited Talk — MolSoft ICM User Group Meeting, San Diego, CA, November 2018
Invited Talk — Naval Research Laboratories, Washington DC, April 2016
Invited Poster — Regeneron, Tarrytown, NY, June 2018
Montagna Symposium on the Biology of Skin, Gleneden Beach, OR, October 2018
21st Annual Dermatology & Cutaneous Biology Research Day, New York, NY, April 2019
20th Annual Dermatology & Cutaneous Biology Research Day, New York, NY, April 2018
42nd National Organic Chemistry Symposium, Princeton University, NJ, June 2011
240th ACS National Meeting & Exposition, Boston, MA, August 2010
New York Theoretical and Computational Chemistry Conference, CUNY, January 2010
PUBLICATIONS
ORCID: 0000-0003-3577-5984
- Lavinda, Olga; Aharon, Tiferet; Cohen, Netanya; Dube, Ntobeko; and Muyambo, Tinashe Rabson. AlphaFold 3 Reveals the Architecture of the Melanogenic Enzyme Complex: Metal Coordination, Glycosylation, and the Structural Basis of Oculocutaneous Albinism. Invited interactive digital iPoster presented at the American Chemical Society Fall 2026 Meeting, Committee on Science (COMSCI) Innovative Program Symposium, Deep Learning Co-Folding Models versus Computational Physics-Based Models of Protein-Ligand Interactions, Chicago, IL, August 24, 2026. Presentation subtitle: Deep-Learning Co-Folding versus Physics-Based Docking in the Human TYR-Family Complex.
- Lavinda, Olga; Aharon, Tiferet; Cohen, Netanya; Dube, Ntobeko; and Muyambo, Tinashe Rabson. AlphaFold 3 Reveals the Architecture of the Melanogenic Enzyme Complex: Metal Coordination, Glycosylation, and the Structural Basis of Oculocutaneous Albinism. Poster presented at the American Chemical Society Fall 2026 Meeting, Division of Biochemistry and Chemical Biology (BIOL), Current Topics in Biochemistry and Chemical Biology, Chicago, IL, August 26, 2026. ACS Paper ID 4532671.
- Lavinda. Ingredient-Level Comparative Analysis of Infant Formulas for CMPA Management: A Multi-Dimensional Safety Assessment. Zenodo, 2026. doi:10.5281/zenodo.19391415.
- Lavinda. Beta-Glucan as a Galactagogue: A Critical Review of Source-Specific Mechanisms, Oral Bioavailability, and Unexamined Safety Dimensions in Postpartum Women. Zenodo, 2026. doi:10.5281/zenodo.19389747.
- Ramig, et al., including Lavinda. Thermochromicity in Wool Dyed with 6-Bromoindigo. Heritage 2023, 6, 672–680.
- Lavinda, Witt, and Woerpel. Stereoelectronic Model for Seven-Membered-Ring Oxocarbenium-Ion Intermediates.Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2022, 61, e202114183.
- Lavinda, Manga, Orlow, and Cardozo. Biophysical Compatibility of a Heterotrimeric Tyrosinase-TYRP1-TYRP2 Complex. Front. Pharmacol. 2021, 12, 354.
- Lough, Sherman, Becerra-Flores, Lavinda, et al. Triazolo[4,5-d]pyrimidines as GCN2 Kinase Inhibitors Reduce Growth of Leukemia Cells. Comput. Struct. Biotechnol. J. 2018, 16, 350–360.
- Ramig, Islamova, Scalise, Karimi, Lavinda, et al. Effect of Light and Dye Composition on Tyrian Purple Components. Struct. Chem. 2017, 28, 1553–1561.
- Beaver, Buscagan, Lavinda, and Woerpel. Stereoelectronic Model for Seven-Membered-Ring Reactions. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2016, 55, 1816–1819.
- Ramig, Lavinda, et al. Nature of Thermochromic Effects in Indigo and Bromoindigo Dyeings. Dyes Pigments 2015, 117, 37–48.
- Lavinda, Tran, and Woerpel. Effect of Ring Strain on Stereoselectivity of Nucleophilic Addition. Org. Biomol. Chem. 2014, 12, 7083–7091.
- Lavinda, Mironova, Karimi, et al. Singular Thermochromic Effects in Tyrian Purple Dye Components. Dyes Pigments 2013, 96, 581–589.
- Greer, Cosgriff, and Lavinda. Curtin-Hammett Process in Bergman Cyclization of an 11-Membered Enediyne. J. Phys. Org. Chem. 2012, 25, 1293–1298.
- Szalda, Ramig, Lavinda, et al. 6-Bromoindigo Dye Crystal Structure. Acta Crystallogr. C 2012, 68, o160–o163.
- Ramig, Lavinda, and Szalda. Stereoselective Decarboxylation Giving Halothane. Tetrahedron: Asymmetry 2012, 23, 201–204.
- Greer and Lavinda. Bergman Cyclization of Diethynyl Nitrotropylium Ion. J. Org. Chem. 2010, 75, 8650–8653.
Stern College for Women | Yeshiva University
Office: 549, Chemistry Department
245 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10016