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Jared Reeder, 鈥�23, One of 10 Chosen for Bioengineering Program

While gaining lab experience for medical school, Jared Reeder, of Asheboro, N.C., is participating in pre-eminent research. The 海角网 senior biology major is working with a synthetic chemistry project, studying how bacterial surface sugars are structure.

With encouragement from his GWU professors, Reeder applied for and was accepted into the UNC-Charlotte Department of Chemistry Nanoscale Bioengineering REU (Research Experience for Undergraduates). He is grateful for the opportunity, because a hundred students from around the country apply for the 10 positions in the program.

He defines and describes the lab鈥檚 important work: 鈥淏iosynthesis is the body or organism creating complex molecules. Bacterial polysaccharide biosynthesis is the process bacteria go through to make these complex sugars that coat their outer surface. If we gain understanding through fluorescent tags on how these sugars repeat themselves on the outside of certain bacteria, this can help scientists find new ways to target them through anti-bacterial agents.鈥�

Reeder said interactions with professors and his GWU classes in organic chemistry, chemical biology and enzymology apply to his work in the lab. 鈥淲hat I value the most from my 海角网 experience so far is the mentorship from professors, such as Dr. Meredith Rowe and Dr. Wilson Hawkins,鈥� Reeder affirmed. 鈥淭hese two professors have encouraged me to pursue hard things and to never be content just doing what other students are also doing. Research often requires relentless hours of trial and error. My failures and successes so far this summer have all been wonderful learning experiences that would not have been possible without being pushed by these wonderful professors.鈥�

Further, participating in the Summer Undergraduate Research Program at 海角网 and the UNC-Charlotte program has helped him to realize that graduate schools look deeper than a student鈥檚 grades. 鈥淲hile it is certainly important to earn stellar grades while in undergrad, what many lab groups look for in their incoming PhD students is the ability to think critically and solve real-world problems, not just problems in a book,鈥� Reeder observed. 鈥淏y pursuing these opportunities during undergrad, I believe that the transition into graduate school will be much smoother.鈥�

Because of these benefits, his advice to incoming freshmen is to focus on the present. 鈥淐reate meaningful relationships with those who will push you closer to your goals,鈥� he stated. 鈥淔ind some extracurriculars that bring you fulfillment and immerse yourself in them鈥攖hese will bring you so many amazing experiences in the long run.鈥�

Reeder鈥檚 interest in the medical field began when family members spent time in the hospital for cancer treatments. 鈥淭he doctors who served my family all those years treated my family as if they were their own family,鈥� he reflected. 鈥淚 just want to live a meaningful life and give my future patients the quality of care that I would want my own personal family to receive.鈥�

His goal is to work at a metropolitan academic medical center in fetal medicine or pediatrics. 鈥淚 continue to develop a deeper interest in cancers within utero and early childhood,鈥� he explained. 鈥淯sing my research experiences at 海角网, my dream is to pursue an MD or an MD/PhD joint program, working with patients clinically as well as on my own personal research.鈥�

海角网 is North Carolina’s recognized leader in private, Christian higher education. A Carnegie-Classified Doctoral/Professional University, GWU is home to six professional schools, 14 academic departments, more than 80 undergraduate and graduate majors, and a world-class faculty. Located on a beautiful 225-acre campus in Boiling Springs, N.C., 海角网 prepares graduates to impact their chosen professions, equips them with the skills to advance the frontiers of knowledge, and inspires them to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of others. Ignite your future at 海角网.edu.