MC's science students complete impressive internships

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 6, 2008
Written by: Rachel Sharp, Communications Assistant
865.981.8207; karen.eldridge@maryvillecollege.edu

The summer of 2008 brought great opportunities for Maryville College students majoring in the natural sciences: jobs, thesis revisions, and internships with very prestigious institutions.

William Alexander, a chemistry major from Knoxville, Tenn., who is minoring in physics and mathematics, not only was accepted into the selective Rice Quantum Institute (RQI) Research Experience for Undergraduates held at Rice University in Houston, Tex.; he was recognized with an award for outstanding work.

Alexander, who is now a junior, won a $500 award from the Schlumberger Institute (an international company focusing on oilfield solutions) for his summer study entitled “The Relationship Between Lipid Bilayer Saturation and the Conformation of the Secondary Structure in Cell Penetrating Peptides.” The award was announced following the 22nd annual RQI Colloquium, where Alexander and other undergraduates, as well as post-doctoral students and graduate students, presented their current research.

“My research this summer was in the field of biophysics, which is at the interface of biology, chemistry and physics,” the student said. “I studied cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs), which are peptides that can carry molecules into cells. In particular, I studied how the structure of CPPs is affected by the types of lipids in a membrane.”

Participants in the RQI are chosen based on grades, courses taken and recommendations.

Dr. Mary Turner, assistant professor of chemistry and Alexander's advisor, encouraged him to apply for the summer internship. A graduate of Rice's doctoral program in chemistry, she knew that the RQI experience would benefit Alexander tremendously, and she knew that her student's background prepared him well for 10 weeks in a biophysics lab.

“William has taken many courses in math, physics, chemistry and biology,” she said. “Usually, students do an internship between their junior and senior years. William was exceptionally well prepared and earned a position after his sophomore year.

“Since science is so interdisciplinary now, I encourage all of my advisees to take as many science courses as possible in as many different areas as they can,” she added. “The really interesting questions can't be pinned down to one field. It isn't enough anymore just to know chemistry. You have to be able to speak the language of mathematicians, biologists and physicists.”

Turner said she encourages any student interested in a career in scientific research to complete an undergraduate research internship.

“The federal government is very interested in educating our future scientists and has created numerous educational opportunities for students to choose from. Many are funded by the National Science Foundation, but there are other government agencies involved, including NASA, the Department of Defense and the National Institutes of Health,” she explained. “Many larger companies also offer summer student internships. Students can usually find something that is tailored to their interests.”

Junior Brandon Todd and seniors Kara Whitlock and Nina Verevkina spent the summer as research interns for different studies at St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital in Memphis.

Biochemistry major and rising senior David Sullivan interned at Tufts University's Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences in Boston, where he researched craniofacial and dental tissue development and regeneration.

Other institutions where Maryville College students interned this summer included Emory University and Oak Ridge National Laboratories.

Alexander said it was exciting to participate in current research with real-world implications, adding that internships like his also enable students to “develop an understanding and respect for the process of research in general,” and, at the same time, get a glimpse of what he may encounter in graduate school and careers involving scientific research.

“During these internships, an in-depth knowledge of the topic is acquired in addition to various skills,” he continued, “such as instrumental techniques and computer programming.”

For his internship, Alexander was teamed with Dr. X. Liu and Dr. Huey Huang, who is well known for his work in membrane biophysics.

“It was humbling as well as challenging to get to work with researchers who are experts in their field,” Alexander said.

Maryville College's Center for Calling & Career (CC&C) is the channel through which many students find internships and resume help, as well as career planning assistance. The CC&C views internships as “a valuable professional experience that is meaningful to both employer and intern. In effect, it is a work experience which can provide students with a competitive edge in today's job market and which will give students practical experience.”

Student internships can range from helping non-profit organizations to scientific achievements like those of William Alexander.

Maryville College is ideally situated in Maryville, Tenn., between the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Knoxville, the state's third largest city. Founded in 1819, it is the 12th oldest institution of higher learning in the South and maintains an affiliation with the Presbyterian Church (USA). Known for its academic rigor and its focus on the liberal arts, Maryville is where students come to stretch their minds, stretch themselves and learn how to make a difference in the world. Total enrollment for the fall 2009 semester is 1,103.