09/05/2017
Each summer, Saint Louis University hosts the Doisy Scholar program to give undergraduates
from SLU and other universities experience conducting laboratory research. Named after
Nobel Prize winner and chair of biochemistry at SLU Edward A. Doisy, faculty members
from the departments of biochemistry and molecular biology, pharmacology and physiology
and pathology mentor students as they conduct research in their laboratories.
In addition to conducting research, students give presentations at the end of the
program highlighting their projects, complete team assignments and learn about career
paths related to basic and biomedical research. This year, the aspiring scientists
visited Cortex, St. Louis’s tech and bioscience research district, and the research
and development facility of life science company Millipore-Sigma. Read more about
the program here.
Click through the photo story below to learn more about the students' experiences.
Dorota Skowyra, Ph.D., associate professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at
SLU, is pictured with the 2017 Doisy Scholars: Greer Gurwitz, Alex Bess, Sumrah Khan,
Sophia Joseph, Hayley Stiers, Stephen Plassmeyer and Matt Jellinek. Photo by Ellen
Hutti.
Alex Bess, a biochemistry and chemistry student at the University of Iowa, presents
her final project at the end of the 10-week Doisy Scholars program. Bess worked for
John Walker, Ph.D., assistant professor of pharmacology and physiology, doing research
in pharmacology and drug discovery. This program provided her with the opportunity
to see a project from start to finish, including planning, data collection and analysis.
She was able to put theories she learned in the classroom into practice in the lab.
Photo by Ellen Hutti.
Sophia Joseph, a junior at Saint Louis University, prepares reaction mixtures in the
lab of Jacki Kornbluth, Ph.D., professor of pathology at SLU. “Positive results will
come after lots of unsuccessful results,” Joseph said. “By the end of the program
it felt good to have achieved something.” Joseph will continue working in the Kornbluth
lab during this school year and plans to continue research until her graduation. Photo
by Ellen Hutti.
Greer Gurwitz, a biochemistry and writing student at Washington University in St.
Louis, presents her final project at the end of the summer-long Doisy Scholars research
program. With aspirations to attend graduate school and become a researcher, Gurwitz
worked in the lab of Alessandro Vindigni, Ph.D., professor of biochemistry and molecular
biology at SLU. Gurwitz studied DNA breakage and repair in Vindigni’s lab. Photo by
Ellen Hutti.
Matt Jellinek views results from an experiment on a computer in the lab of Ángel Baldán,
Ph.D., associate professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at SLU. Baldán and
his research team study lipid metabolism and liver disease. In his first real foray
into research, Jellinek followed in the footsteps of his grandfather, Max Jellinek,
Ph.D., who was a researcher for Saint Louis University School of Medicine in the biochemistry
department. Photo by Ellen Hutti.
The Doisy Scholars visit life science company Millipore-Sigma’s research and development
facility to learn about possible career paths. They were joined by current SLU graduate
students working in basic science laboratories. Submitted photo.
Stephen Plassmeyer, a rising senior studying chemistry and biology at Truman State
University, entered the Doisy Scholars program because he is interested in a career
as a researcher. Plassmeyer worked with Nicola Pozzi, Ph.D., assistant professor of
biochemistry and molecular biology at SLU, and learned about the patience required
for research. “Nothing works the first time around in the lab,” Plassmeyer said. Working
for Pozzi has taught him that patience, creativity and imagination are essential to
being a good researcher. Photo by Ellen Hutti.
Hayley Stiers, a biochemistry student from the University of Missouri – Columbia,
spent her summer as a Doisy Scholar working with mentors Gina Yosten, Ph.D., assistant
professor of pharmacology and physiology and Willis Samson, Ph.D., professor of pharmacology
and physiology. She plans to pursue a career in research and enjoys the challenge
of continual learning in science. Photo by Ellen Hutti.
Interested in exploring career options in the sciences, Sumrah Khan, a senior at Saint
Louis University, spent the summer working for Jinsong Zhang, Ph.D., associate professor
of pharmacology and physiology at SLU, studying leukemia proteins. During her time
in the lab, Khan reports that she has learned new lab techniques, how to be persistent,
and has observed and engaged in the constant learning required for research. ”The
best feeling is when something goes right in the lab, which makes the research worth
the constant hard work,” Khan said. Photo by Ellen Hutti.
The 2017 Doisy Scholars and their mentors. Pictured from left, are Stephen Plassmeyer,
Noemi Arias Rueda, Nicola Pozzi, Ph.D., Jacki Kornbluth, Ph.D., Sophia Joseph, Willis
Samson, Ph.D., Hayley Stiers, Alessandro Vindigni, Ph.D., Greer Gurwitz, Sumrah Khan,
Alex Bess, Matt Jellinek, Jinsong Zhang, Ph.D., and Dorota Skowyra, Ph.D. Photo by
Ellen Hutti.
*SLU student Ellen Hutti contributed to this story.
