Amy Lai

Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Amy is taking part in the pre-med advising program, which helps her connect with other students interested in a career in medicine, as well as prepare for med school applications and take classes that cover subjects found on the MCAT.

How did you find out about the pre-med program?

I found out about the pre-med program through the involvement fair my freshman year. I was introduced to our American Medical Student Association and soon after started getting involved with the club. I was further informed about the program through pre-health seminar, a class offered by the school.

How did you get started?

I started getting involved with the pre-med program by joining AMSA my freshman year and participating in the events and activities that the club held. I decided to run for secretary my sophomore year and am currently the Vice President of the club. I honestly think it was one of the best decisions I have made thus far.

What has been the most valuable part of your experience?

The most valuable part of the pre-med program is making connections with my fellow pre-med peers through AMSA. AMSA has become a community of students who share the same passion so it’s a nice place to be surrounded by peers that have the same interests and support you. AMSA is also a great place for lower classmen to get “tips and tricks” from upperclassmen that have experience with upper division science course, MCATs, and med school applications.

Have you taken any research or internship opportunities?

Through our former organic chemistry professor, John Tannaci, I was able to partake in a clinical internship with UCLA where I shadow medical practitioners. I have been shadowing two UCLA pulmonologists consistently since the summer of my freshman year. This experience has been an eye-opener to not only how hard it is to be a doctor, but how worthwhile this profession is. Seeing the patients each week brings me great joy and has solidified my desire to become a doctor.

In addition, I started research during the summer of 2015 under the mentorship of my biochemistry professor, Dennis Revie, in the field of Hepatitis C. Even though I know that I will not pursue research in the future, my interest towards virology has grown and I find myself constantly fascinated by this virus that a cure has yet to be found for. I constantly find myself excited in research when my fellow researchers and I find that our cells have successfully been infected or our methodology for our fluorescent microscopy yields clear images.

Do you have any advice for future pre-med students?

My biggest advice to future pre-med students is to get involved in anything and everything they find. I advise them to find internships as soon as possible. The first thing I tell any pre-med student I meet is to discover if this is really the field you want to pursue by working in clinics or the hospital because I always say, “How can you know that you want to be a doctor if you have yet to experience what it’s like to be a doctor?”

Also, start early. There are so many things to do and so little time. You need to start making a story for yourself at the beginning of freshman year. I do not say this to scare pre-meds away, but it is very important to start thinking about what you want your experiences to tell about you because that’s most likely the first thing interviewers for med school will ask you about. Also, find your passion. Once you find an area of medicine that you love, it’ll be easier to persevere towards that goal.

That’s it for now. Good luck, pre-meds!

Tristen Burt

Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Minor: Music

Research Mentor: Dr. Chad Barber

What was the focus of your research?

My research was focused on identifying mutations in common canine cancers and examining how they relate to human cancers.

An additional focus of mine is on screening these canine cancers to an array of anti-tumor drugs to determine their response and suitability for use in other mammalian models.

How was your research experience?

The fellowship granted me the opportunity to see where I’m going and what I want to be doing in 10 years. The experience really solidified a passion in me for biological and biomedical research. Hopefully one day I will get the opportunity to work just as hard with patients in this same manner.

What’s next?

A graduate program in medicine. My goal is to become a physician, and this program gave me a glimpse into what a medical career could be like.

Sam Theis in the lab at Cal Lutheran

Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

My name is Samuel Theis, I graduated from Cal Lutheran in 2014 as cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, with departmental honors. Lengthy, I know – it’s the official name of just one degree though, not two separate degrees!

Sam Theis at LECOM

Where and what are you studying now? What’s your end goal?

Currently, I’m attending the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) and living in Erie, Pennsylvania.

I’m an OMS-I at LECOM pursuing a degree in Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.). I am also funding my education through a military – sponsored medical scholarship as a Second Lieutenant in the US Air Force (which I highly recommend to any aspiring docs, by the way). As a physician, I plan to serve in the Air Force on base somewhere for 4 years post-residency, which will conclude my obligation to the scholarship. After that, I have no clue where my path will take me, but I’m looking forward to finding out.

 How did Cal Lutheran help to prepare you for your current career path?

Everything about Cal Lutheran is small – except for how much the faculty care about their students’ success. Many of the faculty run an open-door policy, and are extremely friendly and accessible. Additionally, many classes are powered by discussions, which serve two purposes – they encourage you to read ahead of time to get an idea of the material, and allow the student to hear different ideas or approaches. This is the essence of a liberal arts education, and in my opinion is what distinguishes CLU from other large-scale universities. The science program is rigorous, unique, and highly influenced by new technologies: some of your courses may even take place in a computer lab where your job is to program molecular structure, or decipher and analyze strings of DNA. The Cal Lutheran science department is moving more towards a practical hands-on learning environment that takes the student outside of the traditional learning environment for the sake of real-world experience, which translates to more success in industry and future academia.

 What advice would you give to the current or prospective students of your major?

As a student, remember that your job is to study. The transition from high school to college is going to present itself as a big obstacle, and you want to make sure that you start out on top and ahead, instead of falling behind. Treat your peers and faculty with respect, as they will be your strongest advocates at going places after college. I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to be respectful to your professors in all circumstances, especially in an increasingly impersonal world. Those relationships that you establish now will follow you for a long time!

That being said, take time to enjoy yourself as well! The relationships that you develop here (professional or otherwise) will stay with you for a lifetime, so take time to live a little and socialize – it may be the last time you’ll get the chance before the real world!

Don’t pigeonhole yourself! If you are pursuing a career in medicine, but feel more at home in a different club (say, CLU’s American Chemical Society Student Chapter), join it! Employers and graduate schools are more interested in what you got from your experiences, not where you got them. Being a member of AMSA but having nothing interesting to say about how it influenced your undergraduate experience does nothing towards making yourself an attractive candidate!

What do you miss the most about being a Cal Lutheran student?

I miss seeing all of my friends on the West Coast, and the weather there of course.

Brittany Smolarski in the lab

Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Research Mentor: Dr. Jason Kingsbury

Brittany participated in full-time research during the summer of 2014 through a Swenson Summer Research Fellowship and through a John Stauffer Research Fellowship in Chemical Sciences in 2015. Both grants are awarded through the Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Studies.

Why participate in the Swenson Summer Research Fellowship?

The Swenson Summer Research Fellowship has provided me with the opportunity to not only expand my organic chemistry knowledge, but to also delve into the world of scientific discovery and grow as a student, researcher, and a person.  I believe that the work I did this summer has prepared me for the demands I face in pursuing medical school by allowing me the opportunity to develop the skills to interpret data, analyze information, and drive the intellectual process.

What is the name of your project? How would you describe it to fellow students of all majors?

DANPY-1 Fluorescing Under UV Light

My project is entitled: “Optimization of a Scalable Synthesis of DANPY-1 and Variants, Novel Dye Molecules for High-Impact Biological Imaging”

Intracellular fluorescence staining, a common microscopy technique used to enhance image contrast, utilizes dye molecules for DNA visualization and study. Currently, ethidium bromide is the most widely used biological stain, however, it is extremely toxic and requires involved procedures for its use and disposal, pressing the need for other non-toxic dyes that stain DNA as efficiently. Our collaborators at the University of Washington identified a molecule, DANPY-1, which demonstrates dye characteristics similar to that of ethidium bromide. The difference is that DANPY-1 is bench stable and non-toxic, making it much safer than other dyes, including ethidium bromide. The first generation synthesis of this dye molecule was very low yielding. I like to compare this to baking cupcakes. We had a recipe that worked, but only made about eight cupcakes. The problem is that we were planning to host a party of over two hundred people and wanted everyone to be able to have at least two cupcakes, if not more. So we needed to drastically improve our recipe, in the case of DANPY-1 by using different organic chemistry reactions and techniques, so that we could make a lot of cupcakes for our party! Thus, the aim of our study was to develop and streamline a highly efficient synthesis in order to facilitate further study of the fluorescence and biological applications of this molecule. Additionally, we created a variant to DANPY-1, called DANPY-2, that is slightly different in structure, but is also being further studied.

What did you learn doing your project? What was your key takeaway?

My key takeaway from my research is that doing something you love and something that interests you never feels like work. I know it sounds cliché! But during this project, I’ve learned that I love research and all the prospective future implications it brings to the table. There were days over the summer where I worked from 8 am to 8 pm, not because I was ever forced, but because I was happy to be there working on this project, learning new techniques and knowledge from Dr. Kingsbury and trying to create a molecule that I believe has tremendous impact for future research and development. I also learned that there are always setbacks and issues that arise, but that every obstacle teaches you something about what you’re working on. No result is ever a bad result! For all of these reasons, I am certain that I want to continue research throughout my medical career and work to advance the field of surgical medicine. In this manner, my project has helped me to define the intricacies of my future career goals.

What has surprised you about your experience at Cal Lutheran, inside or outside the classroom?

I came to Cal Lutheran as a freshman, expecting it to be a very straightforward, checklist-type educational experience. I was surprised to discover that education at Cal Lutheran is really what you choose to make of it. What you put in is what you will get out.

My story began as I learned more and became extremely interested in chemistry. All I had to do was ask about chemistry research and I was invited to observe the researchers’ lab over the summer, try my hand at it, and continue if I liked it. I loved it, and as my knowledge of Organic Chemistry grew, I began talking more and more to Dr. Kingsbury about his projects. Towards the end of my sophomore year, Dr. Kingsbury told me he had a specific project he wanted me to work on, and I spent my entire summer working in the lab, working hard, gaining more knowledge and having more fun than I had ever expected. In addition to that, I gained a mentor who supports my ever-growing desire for more chemistry knowledge as well my future goals.

At Cal Lutheran, if you’re interested in something, the faculty are there to speak with you one-on-one, fuel your interests, and provide you with the necessary outlets to help you grow your knowledge and experience. I think that is what makes Cal Lutheran so unique and such a wonderful place to gain a college education. The best part is that while this is true especially of the science faculty, it’s also true of all of the faculty in all the various divisions I’ve encountered in my time at CLU – from philosophy, to sociology, to psychology faculty – they’re all amazing and eager to help you learn about what interests you most!

 What is your goal after graduation?

After graduation, I’m hoping to immediately begin medical school. My career goal is to become a surgeon and be able to utilize my research experience to further the field of surgical medicine. I’ve got quite a few more years of schooling ahead of me, but because of the experience and knowledge I’ve gained at CLU, I feel prepared and more excited than ever to begin that journey.

Michael Mayers hiking in Nevada

Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

What are you up to now?

I’m in my first years of PhD studies in Biochemistry at The Scripps Research Institute. I’m studying the microbiome, which is just a fancy word to describe the bacteria that live in a person’s gut.  The project focuses on proteins produced by these bacteria about which not much is currently known.  Our lab has developed a method of isolating and identifying proteins that carry out specific types of functions, like specifically for me, protease activity, which is a class of protiens that cut up other proteins into smaller pieces.  By comparing the activity of these types of proteins in the gut microbiome of healthy mice and mice with Ulceritive Colitis, we hope to discover new proteases that may be potential targets for drugs that would fight colitis and colon cancer.

How did Cal Lutheran help to prepare you for your current career path?

The greatest preparation for grad school that I received from Cal Lutheran came from working under a Darling Summer Research Fellowship.  Working in the Organic Chemistry lab, doing both computational studies and wet chemistry, I got a taste of graduate level research and learned first-hand about the hard work and dedication is required to make progress.  Especially over time-frame as short as a single summer.  This has certainly made the transition to graduate school easier.

I would also say that the small size of Cal Lutheran allowed me to build close relationships with my professors which is very important in the scientific field.  Collaboration is essential to progress, and being able to drop by my professors office at any time and discuss ideas either from class, lab, or my research certainly helped me to refine a scientific way of thinking.

What advice would you give to the current or prospective students of your major?

Get involved and try to take in as much as you can.  If you’re interested in graduate studies, research is very important and the more experience you have, the better.  Even as a freshman, you can ask your professors how you can get involved.  However, research isn’t the only path you can take.  There are so many great resources available to you as a Cal Lutheran student, from your professors, to the library resources and staff, and even your textbooks.  All this knowledge is concentrated in one place and just waiting for you to take advantage of it, so go out and do it!

Why was Cal Lutheran the right school for you?

The small size of the school really allowed me to thrive.  I enjoyed getting to know all of my classmates and professors which made for some great conversations and hangouts.

What do you miss the most about being a Cal Lutheran student?

I miss all the great, random campus events.  From big ones like homecoming and Monte Carlo night to the random off-campus food events, these fun events kept things interesting, especially over the summer!   These were the times that I got to have great conversations all the friends I had made, as well as an opportunity to make some new ones.