University: Smith College
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
NIH Research Project:
Synthesis of Trimeric gp41 Analogs
Mentor: Carole A. Bewley, Ph.D.
Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
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I recently received a B.A. in chemistry from Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts. Ever since I was a child, I have been fascinated with mysteries; this and my love of science have since led me to pursue a career in research.
My first research experience at Smith was in geochemistry. I collected and analyzed water samples from the Mill River in Massachusetts to determine the presence of various ions. After taking organic chemistry, I conducted research with Dr. Maureen Fagan, who studies new synthetic methods in organometallic chemistry. These methods utilize transition metals to catalyze organic reactions.
I completed my honors thesis with Dr. Cristina Suarez, who looks at how ring size affects the amount of energy needed for rotation about an amide bond, a specific bond within the compound. This research is relevant to understanding how biological molecules gain enough energy for rotation, activating pathways within the body. My thesis focused on using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and theoretical calculations to determine these energies.
Being a UGSP Scholar has been a blessing because it has provided me with a support network of world-renowned scientists at the NIH. For the past two summers I have worked with Drs. John W. Daly and H. Martin Garraffo, identifying and spectrally characterizing biologically active alkaloids found in the skins of frogs. This summer I am training with Dr. Carole Bewley, synthesizing compounds that may inhibit cell fusion by preventing interactions between HIV-1 envelope and target cell receptors.
This fall, I will begin my Ph.D. in chemistry at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. |
