Today we visited the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry and were able to learn about three different research labs within the facility. Specifically, my favorite lab discussed their work on the mTOR pathway for cell growth and apoptosis. In this lab, researchers were studying how different cellular environments affect the response of the pathway and, in return, how that impacts protein levels and translational regulatory proteins within the cell.
Additionally, another member of the lab was researching lysosomes and their ability to recycle damaged cell elements. What interested me the most was how everyone in the lab had their own individual project, but each one still connected back to the overall study of the pathway. It showed how important collaboration is between many researchers working on different pieces of the same problem.
The visit also made me realize how engineering connects to biochemical research through problem-solving, technology, and precision. Many of these projects rely on accurate and calibrated equipment, detailed analysis, and carefully designed experiments, which all require engineering concepts to support scientific discoveries. I look forward to learning more about this lab’s research.
Swanson School of Engineering 