What attracted you to the Seifert Scholars program?
The Seifert Scholars program was an incredibly attractive summer opportunity to me because it allowed me to continue my established research, while also remaining in a collaborative lab environment. As I become more exposed to different lab environments, I have become increasingly aware of how welcoming and supportive EPIC is. I was able to take advantage of this academic community through the Seifert Scholars program.
What is your research?
Over the summer of 2023, my primary project was “Inhibition of Enolase in Naegleria fowleri for Therapeutic Drug Identification”. The Morris lab had previously hypothesized that enolase inhibition in N. fowleri would prove catastrophic to the amoeba. Despite the potential identification of a potent N. fowleri ENO (NFENO) inhibitor, further evaluation was required to develop the inhibitor into a form of treatment. The Seifert Scholars program provided the funding for me to optimize NFENO protein production for its use in future metabolite inhibition studies.
What has been the impact of the Seifert Scholars on your career?
My time spent in the Morris lab as a Seiffert Scholar was not spent making grand discoveries or designing revolutionary therapeutics. However, working as a fulltime scientist provided me with the invaluable opportunity to learn how to think. Designing experiments, forming hypotheses, and overcoming research complications require a level of critical thinking and patience, both of which have proven beneficial in my academic and personal life.
What is the next step of your career?
I am currently at MUSC under the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP).