Published on July 22, 2024
The Cherng Summer Scholars program allows Honors College students at the University of Missouri to explore their passions through research projects aimed at questions they are interested in analyzing. Students who are accepted into the nine-week program participate in projects that are individually designed, with the support and mentorship of a Mizzou faculty member.
This year, there are 12 Cherng Summer Scholars. Meet Kylie McHargue, a senior ancient Mediterranean studies and biochemistry double major.
Question: Which faculty member are you working with on your research?
Answer: I work in Xiao Heng’s lab. Dr. Heng is an associate professor of biochemistry.
Question: What is the focus of your research?
Answer: I am focusing on the effects of differing polymerase speed on HIV RNA structures.
Question: What interested you in this specific project?
Answer: I have always been interested in disease. I find it fascinating to learn about this force that is the most powerful driver and shaper of human society, but also how humans learn to recover from disease. HIV has plagued humanity for over 60 years, leading to millions of deaths and millions of lives changed. Seeking to understand HIV, as my lab does, does nothing but improve our chances of one day being able to eradicate it, and it is so wonderful to be a part of that.
Question: How nice has it been to be part of the Cherng Summer Scholars program?
Answer: The Cherng Summer Scholars program has provided an opportunity for me to dedicate all of my time to research, which is an invaluable experience. I have become completely independent in my lab, something I look forward to carrying over into the semester. I get to work as well as teach and advise new undergraduates in my lab, which is a rewarding experience. The Cherng Summer Scholars program has allowed me to more fully understand and participate in my chosen field of research, and the gratitude I feel for being selected is immeasurable.