David Roy , CBS 2007
Aluscidate of the Sesquiteripene Pathway in Omphalotus
Major
Chemistry
Mentors
Claudia Dannert-Schmidt, Chemistry
Brief Bio
I want to go to Medical School.
Future Plans
Medical School
Why Research?
I have always been interested in biochemistry and the metabolism in organisms relating to the treatment of disease.
What Did I Get from Research?
I have developed skills for future research projects, improved my lab techniques and applyied what I have learned in class.
How Did I Start?
I started in the lab doing directed research for credit. My mentor and Idecided I should do a UROP project in her lab.
My Advice for Another Student:
Get out there and do it. It is a big step, but you’ll find the faculty is very accommodating. Give it a try, and you will find it will work well.
Research Summary
I am cloning the genes from mushrooms that produce an interesting chemical that is hard to produce synthetically in a laboratory. I am reproducing that compound in EColi. It is a precursor to an anti-cancer drug. Cloning the genes in EColi is a scaffold for creating other anti-cancer drugs. It provides a better understanding of the interesting chemistry going on in organisms.