Story and photos by Logan Jackson
- Zach Wright – sophomore biochemistry major
- Mentor: Dan Bergstralh, associate professor of biological sciences
Zach Wright’s freshman year at the University of Missouri was full of firsts and included a major milestone – he was able to get his first experience as an undergraduate researcher. Wright, who will be a sophomore this fall, plans to pursue medical school after finishing his biochemistry degree and was interested in seeing what research opportunities were available to him at Mizzou. He was able to join the Finegan-Bergstralh Laboratory, which studies how animal tissues acquire and maintain their shape, as well as what happens when that shape gets disrupted.
“I’ve always loved science and understanding how things work,” Wright said. “It’s really exciting to me to be able to ask questions and learn more about a topic. I knew when I got to Mizzou that I wanted to be involved in research in some way, and being part of the Finegan-Bergstralh Lab has been great.”
Wright has been able to lead his own project this summer, through the Cherng Summer Scholars program. A nine-week research or creative scholarship program for Mizzou students who are pursuing the Honors Certificate, the Cherng Summer Scholars program allows students to participate in individually designed projects under the mentorship of a Mizzou faculty member. The program is supported by a gift from Peggy and Andrew Cherng and the Panda Charitable Foundation.
There are 15 Cherng Summer Scholars conducting research across campus this summer.
“It’s awesome to see so many different perspectives, and I’ve enjoyed hearing about what other students are interested in,” Wright said. “I’m very thankful to be part of the program.”
Wright has spent his summer studying how epithelial tissues are formed and maintained in animal bodies. Epithelial tissues are the most common tissues found in animal bodies.
“I’m looking at how epithelial tissues divide,” Wright said. “These tissues have a very rigid structure, so when they divide, that structure has to break for the other tissues to expand. I’ve been studying the tissues as they break and how they then are reformed.”
Wright is using a western blot, a lab technique that allows individuals to identify specific proteins within a sample, to conduct his research. Wright also uses immunostaining – a technique used to detect specific proteins – dissection and image analysis to conduct his research. He’s performing literature reviews in between running his experiments.
“I extract the proteins and use a machine that will separate those proteins by how long they are,” Wright said.
This is the second straight year that a Cherng Summer Scholar has conducted research in the Finegan-Bergstralh Lab. Hannah Rice, also a biochemistry major, worked in the lab last year.
“All of my experiences in this lab have been fantastic,” Wright said. “I’m learning a lot, and I know this will prepare me as I move forward in my academic career.”