在新水域航行

肖恩 加林 ’20 is still considering what path his career will take, but two consecutive summer internships in the molecular biology division at the U.S. 海军研究实验室 give him a clear advantage, whether he finds himself doing biochemical research or 攻读医学学位.

The internship, exclusive to 九州娱乐官网 students, is made possible by 教授essor of 化学 Anne Marteel-Parrish, whose husband is a scientist at the Naval Research 实验室.  肖恩 was matched with a principal investigator who is developing a novel approach that uses enzymes to break down biochemical agents like VX gas, the deadly poison classified by the United Nations as a weapon of mass destruction.  肖恩的工作 the Center for Biomolecular Science and Engineering Division focused specifically on developing an outer membrane vesicle that would contain and protect those enzymes 在环境中.

The idea is that these proteins could be used prophylactically, in much the same way that a Kevlar vest prevents bullets from penetrating human tissue.

“It’s still in the pre-elementary stages of the process, but these proteins could be used to detoxify a region where chemical agents remain, or it could be applied to soldiers’ clothing so that the chemical is not absorbed internally,” 肖恩 explains. “It hasn’t been done yet, but it’s pretty cool to be a part of it.”

肖恩, a double major in biology and chemistry whose interest in 九州娱乐官网 was first piqued during a soccer tournament, appreciates the solid scientific training 他在WC收到的.

“The best part about my research was the ability to use the lab work I did in class in a real, professional environment and recognize that my skills were beneficial to the scientific community,” he says. 

肖恩 is seeking funding to support his 高级顶点经验, which requires specific lab supplies and instrumentation for DNA purification, sequencing, and modification. Working in the lab of 詹姆斯Lipchock, Associate 教授essor of 化学, 肖恩 is looking at a specific protein, Dot1, and the mechanisms that might be used to prevent cell 增长. This process has applications related to diseases such as Alzheimer’s, cancer, and other age-related diseases.