Category: Articles

Amherst College Science Center

Fighting a fungal pathogen by inspecting the genome

My name is Skyler Sung, a rising third-year Neuroscience major. I look forward to sharing my reflections as a part of the National Institutes of Health Summer Internship Program (NIH SIP). Through this program, students select a lab from one of the many Institutes and Centers (ICs) to work in and are able to participate…

The very hungry amoeba: Studying kinases involved in macropinocytosis

Hello everyone! My name is Grace Lee, and I am a rising sophomore majoring in Biology. This summer, I am conducting cell research through SURF at Amherst in the Edwards Lab. Using the model organism Dictyostelium discoideum, the Edwards Lab studies cell migration. Though the overall goal of the lab is to understand how cells…

“Heading” towards a new understanding of animal evolution

Hello! My name is Phillip Zhou, and I’m a rising sophomore at Amherst College majoring in biology and mathematics. I love learning about developmental biology, applied mathematics, and evolution. Two weeks ago, I started work with the Gibson Lab at the Stowers Institute for Medical Research, where I will be using the starlet sea anemone…

Spill the T: Psychology Research Into Anti-Trans Attitudes

My name is Sarah Lapean, and I am a rising junior English and psychology major. I am spending part of my summer working remotely with Professor Rebecca Totton of the psychology department as a research assistant. Professor Totton has several ongoing studies within her research into anti-trans attitudes. This is my first research experience outside…

Brilliant Bones

Our lab is especially interested in the spongy region, also known as trabecular bone. Hi! My name is Amritha, and I’m a rising senior majoring in Biochemistry/Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering through the Dual Degree Program. This summer, I am working in the Bone Bioengineering Lab (BBL) at Columbia University through the Amgen Program, under Dr….

Protein Research and Being Human in STEM: Professor Jaswal wins 2021 Carl Branden Award

The Protein Society presents the Carl Brändén Award to an outstanding protein scientist who demonstrates dedication to service and education. Professor Sheila Jaswal received this year’s award for pioneering Being Human in STEM (HSTEM) at Amherst in addition to her research on protein structure and dynamics. I had a lovely discussion with Dr. J about…

Mind Over Matter: Heather Scott Thesis Spotlight

The following was adapted from an email interview between Sarah Lapean and Heather Scott. Tell us a bit about yourself. What life experiences influenced you to write a senior thesis? I am a psychology and English double major from a small town in central Illinois. I came to Amherst knowing that I was interested in…