Ryan Mehlem
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐢𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦?
I was excited about the opportunity to really focus on my research projects and other involvements on campus this summer. It is much easier to make a lot of progress when I do not also have to balance schoolwork and other commitments! The Seifert Scholars program is a great opportunity for anyone who is involved with research at EPIC, and I am grateful for the generosity of the Seifert family, which has made this possible.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡?
My research this summer has focused on exploring some of the genetic and epigenetic basis for increased drug resistance in Aspergillus fumigatus. Our current model suggests that thermal tolerance adaptation leads to drug resistance in Aspergillus fumigatus. I am testing the effects of various drugs including cell wall stressors in strains that are adapted at increased temperature to understand the mechanisms behind these adaptations.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐢𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫?
The summer research program has allowed me to focus on my research and delve deep into the scientific questions. As the research is time intensive, the Seifert Scholars program has allowed me to focus on research which would have been otherwise challenging.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧?
While I still have two years left until graduation, I aspire to matriculate into an MD-PhD program upon the completion of my bachelor’s degree at Clemson. During my time here, I will continue with my coursework and research, and hope to also see some of my other initiatives take off, such as a non-profit that will provide exciting STEM experiential learning for underserved rural communities across the state!