肖恩 at the US Naval Research 实验室
肖恩 at the US Naval Research 实验室

在新水域航行

肖恩  加林

Class of 2020 • Fairfax, Virginia
肖恩 加林 ’20 is still considering what path his career will take, but two consecutive summer internships in the molecular biology division at the U.S. 海军研究实验室 give him a clear advantage, whether he finds himself doing biochemical research or 攻读医学学位.

The internship, exclusive to 九州娱乐官网 students, is made possible by 教授essor of 化学 Anne Marteel-Parrish, whose husband is a scientist at the Naval Research 实验室.  肖恩 was matched with a principal investigator who is developing a novel approach that uses enzymes to break down biochemical agents like VX gas, the deadly poison classified by the United Nations as a weapon of mass destruction.  肖恩的工作 the Center for Biomolecular Science and Engineering Division focused specifically on developing an outer membrane vesicle that would contain and protect those enzymes 在环境中.

The idea is that these proteins could be used prophylactically, in much the same way that a Kevlar vest prevents bullets from penetrating human tissue.

“It’s still in the pre-elementary stages of the process, but these proteins could be used to detoxify a region where chemical agents remain, or it could be applied to soldiers’ clothing so that the chemical is not absorbed internally,” 肖恩 explains. “It hasn’t been done yet, but it’s pretty cool to be a part of it.”

肖恩, a double major in biology and chemistry whose interest in 九州娱乐官网 was first piqued during a soccer tournament, appreciates the solid scientific training 他在WC收到的.

“The best part about my research was the ability to use the lab work I did in class in a real, professional environment and recognize that my skills were beneficial to the scientific community,” he says. 

肖恩 is seeking funding to support his 高级顶点经验, which requires specific lab supplies and instrumentation for DNA purification, sequencing, and modification. Working in the lab of 詹姆斯Lipchock, Associate 教授essor of 化学, 肖恩 is looking at a specific protein, Dot1, and the mechanisms that might be used to prevent cell 增长. This process has applications related to diseases such as Alzheimer’s, cancer, and other age-related diseases.

肖恩的四年计划

第一年

最具影响力教授詹姆斯Lipchock

肖恩 came to WC intending to major strictly in biology, but 詹姆斯Lipchock, whose teaching and research take an interdisciplinary approach, was influential in his decision to add a second major in chemistry. 教授. Lipchock is now his faculty advisor.

第二年

九州娱乐官网U.S. 海军研究实验室

肖恩 began working on a project that, in the event of biochemical warfare, could potentially 挽救成千上万的生命.  肖恩 was matched with a principal investigator in the Center for Biomolecular Science and Engineering Division who is using enzymes to break down biochemical agents like VX gas, the deadly poison classified by the United Nations as a weapon of mass destruction.  肖恩’s work focused specifically on developing an outer membrane vesicle that would contain and protect those enzymes 在环境中.

三年级

找到平衡校足球

 肖恩’s mental intensity finds physical release on the soccer field, where he plays defense in one of the most competitive D-III conferences in the country. 的Shoremen expect to close the 2019 season above .500.

年4

期待高级顶点经验

 肖恩 will begin experimentation soon, looking at a specific protein—Dot1—and the 细胞生长机制.  Working under the direction of 教授essors 詹姆斯Lipchock (chemistry) and Jennifer Wanat (biology), 肖恩 will conduct DNA modification to determine how the protein could prevent cell 增长. This process could ultimately be used for the treatment of Alzheimer’s, cancer, and other age-related diseases.