Biochemistry Major Shares Her Summer 2023 UBRP Experience: Asia Richardson

This past summer, I continued my work for Dr. Jon Njardarson's organic chemistry research group as a part of the Undergraduate Biology Research Program (UBRP). This allowed me to get paid for full-time work in my lab, and I’m really glad that I was able to devote a whole summer to research as an undergraduate.

I enjoyed getting to know everyone better too, and I got to learn more chemistry techniques and practical knowledge that I’ll use throughout my career.

One project that my lab is working on is the total synthesis of the Parkinson’s medication, Apomorphine. Total synthesis refers to synthesizing a larger compound (like Apomorphine) from smaller chemical building blocks. This allows scientists to selectively modify the structure of a medication along the way while making it, and to potentially reduce some of its undesirable side effects.