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Laura Jennings works
in a lab in the MU Chemistry Department. Photo by Brian
McNeill
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Zeal for Science
By Brian McNeill
Someday the pills you take at night or in
the morning may have a University of Missouri connection.
Laura Jennings, a senior at MU with majors
in mathematics and
chemistry, is well
on her way toward a future in medicinal drug design. “Science
is my ‘thing,’” she says. “My goal is
to obtain a medical degree and a doctorate in medicinal chemistry.
With that I then hope to research and develop better drug therapy
treatments.”
Last summer Jennings worked as a researcher
in enzymology — the study of enzymes — with the
National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates
at Texas A&M University.
This summer she’s interning at the Mayo
Clinic in Rochester, Minn., as a researcher analyzing the
physiological effects of small molecular drugs that may be used
to treat certain cancers.
“I never would have had these opportunities
without the help I’ve received from scholarships,”
Jennings says. “They’ve basically paid for my education
here, and that’s helped me save money for graduate and
post-graduate studies.”
As one of only 300 national 2003 Barry
Goldwater Scholars — named in honor of the late Arizona
senator — Jennings received $7,500 for one year’s
tuition. That’s in addition to her four scholarships at
MU: a Curators Scholarship Award, a “Bright Flight”
Missouri Higher Education Academic Scholarship, a College of
Arts and Science Award of Excellence scholarship and an Arts
and Science Quadrangle Scholarship.
Jennings says she chose to attend MU because
of her brother. “We’re only 17 months apart, so
we’re really close,” she says. “He came to
school here, and I followed. That’s one of the best decisions
I’ve ever made. I couldn’t see myself going anywhere
else.”
Originally Jennings planned on studying
engineering, but an organic chemistry class with Professor John
McCormick changed her mind. “The class was phenomenal,”
she says. “After that class I became interested in how
medicinal chemicals affected the human body, so I decided that
chemistry was a perfect major. I call math my ‘fun’
major because it’s just something I’ve always been
interested in. It’s logical, and everything is either
right or wrong. And that’s how I think.”
Jennings says her switch in majors is a
perfect example of the depth and quality of academic programs
at Mizzou. No matter what career path students choose, she says,
they are assured of a great education.
As a member of Kappa
Alpha Theta sorority and last year’s Homecoming Steering
Committee, Jennings is equally impressed with Mizzou’s
school spirit. “This is one of the most spirited schools
in the Big 12,” she says. “It’s incredible
to see how attached alumni are to MU.”
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Last Update:
November 15, 2007
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