Grace Pugh
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐢𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦?
I was attracted to the Seifert Scholars Program because of the way the program allowed me to continue the research I had been working on during the school year under Professor Whitehead in the Organic Chemistry labs.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡?
My research project, “Understanding Structure-Activity Relationships of Antiparasitic Diazacyclobutenes”, consists of synthesizing diazacyclobutene (DCB) heterocycles by different reactions, and purifying them in order for them to be tested as antiparasitic compounds against Trypanosoma brucei, which is known to cause African Sleeping Sickness. Much of my daily work included running a variety of reactions, using primary products to conduct further reactions, purifying final products and using 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR to confirm the desired product had been made. We also used trends seen in the data of reactions to try new reaction pathways by slightly changing certain variables.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐢𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫?
The Seifert Scholars program has been extremely impactful by encouraging my time investment in high-level research alongside incredible professors and graduate students. During the academic semester, it is difficult to spend ample time in the lab each week, but participating in the Seifert Scholars program gave me the opportunity to really dive into the research I had already been doing and further develop my fine motor skills. The program also helped me to picture myself furthering my education post-undergraduate.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧?
The next steps following my graduation in May of 2025 will include attending dental school and pursuing my career as a dentist!