What attracted you to the Seifert Scholars program?
I was very interested in doing a summer internship with Dr. Kerry Smith. His research was different from what I was currently doing, but I thought it was fascinating and wanted the opportunity to diversify my research experiences. The Seifert Scholars program provided me the necessary means to pursue this opportunity and fund my work in Dr. Smith’s lab for the summer.
What is your research?
I have been working on a project titled “Enolase is a target for Cryptococcus neoformans growth inhibition.” Our preliminary studies have identified promising biochemical inhibitors that limit Cryptococcus neoformans growth. Baicalein, which targets the glycolytic enzyme enolase, has been found to cause notable growth inhibition and can be studied under a variety of conditions to ensure its efficacy as a potential treatment option. A C. neoformans enolase deletion strain is being concurrently developed to confirm and compare the phenotypic effects of targeting enolase directly. By investigating these C. neoformans inhibitors, we may unveil several potential therapies that can be clinically tested in hopes of introducing a more reliable and accessible treatment option for cryptococcal meningoencephalitis (CME) patients. Identifying a new viable treatment option could be greatly beneficial for the communities that are most heavily burdened by CME.
What has been the impact of the Seifert Scholars on your career?
My Seifert Scholars program experience has completely shaped the trajectory of my research and career. It was shortly after my participation in Dr. Smith’s lab that I knew I wanted to pursue a PhD. I am still in Dr. Smith’s lab and have begun working on my senior departmental honors project. I have realized that my primary interest lies in therapeutic science and drug discovery, and I may never have come to this realization without the Seifert Scholars program. I am deeply appreciative of everything that the program did to facilitate my research and expose me to new research topics.
What is the next step of your career?
I am in the process of applying to PhD programs with the hopes of developing cancer therapies! Long-term, I hope to lead my own drug discovery research at a pharmaceutical company.