Early in his journey at Ohio Northern University, Max Sutherland recalibrated his career goal from pharmacist to drug researcher.
“ONU’s pharmaceutical and biomedical sciences major offered a path more suited for me,” he said. “It allowed me to continue to study pharmacology, but in a research-centered fashion.”
An academic standout, Max is also pursuing a secondary major in philosophy with minors in biochemistry, ethics, and public health.
This summer, he’s building on that interdisciplinary foundation with a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) at Miami University of Ohio. He’s working in the Lorigan Lab, which conducts NIH- and NSF-funded research focused on the structure and function of membrane proteins, which are critical biological components that are still not fully understood despite their abundance and importance.
This isn’t Max’s first foray in advanced research. Two summers ago, he completed an REU at Purdue University. He’s now excited to be working in a chemistry/biochemistry lab.
“I’m working on a project investigating the interactions of an antimicrobial protein found in bacteriophages and investigating how it interacts with lipid bilayers,” he explained.
Max has come to respect the complexities of research in a real lab.
“Learning to troubleshoot unexpected outcomes, refine methods through trial and error, and accept setbacks is just part of the process,” he said. “I’m learning to be adaptable and a problem solver.”
Every challenge, however, is worth it when it yields new insights that may advance medical science, he added.
“To know you’ve discovered something that no one else has found before, and are able to put new knowledge into the world, is really fulfilling and enjoyable.”
