By Jonathan Park ’12

HANOVER, NH–I am currently a summer research fellow in the Biochemistry Department at Dartmouth Medical School. I am trying to better understand the cell cycle by using the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the same yeast used to make beer and bread, as a model system. Since the yeast genome is evolutionarily similar to the human genome, we can better understand the mammalian cell cycle as it pertains to human disease and cancer by studying how it works in yeast. This is my first time undertaking extensive research and will be working alongside Dr. Mike Wolyniak while utilizing many molecular biology research techniques including genetic engineering, GFP labeling of nuclear membrane proteins, florescence microscopy, and PCR reactions. Though it is my intent to go on to the medical field I feel as though my time here will serve me well, gaining valuable experience which will help me in any and all future medical endeavors.

preparing an experiment

on the college green in front of the library

at the entrance to the med school