Author: Sebastian Boysen | Major: Chemistry | Semester: Summer

My name is Sebastian Boysen, and I am a Chemistry major conducting research within the Greene Lab at the Exercise Science Research Center. My research involves determining why cancer patients lose so much of their muscle mass—a deadly syndrome known as cachexia. To do this, I looked into the biochemical differences over time between healthy mice and mice with advanced stage cancer. I found that dysregulations are present on the protein levels for male mice only, in both inflammation and energy production pathways.

I have recently been honored to present a poster of this work at the International Biochemistry of Exercise (IBEC) conference in Limerick, Ireland. IBEC is globally known as a premier conference for the physiology of exercise, muscle, and associated chronic diseases like cachexia, so attending this conference was an incredible opportunity to showcase my findings and engage with the community of experts in my field of research. The conference was an intensive three days of talks, poster sessions, and social networking events.

Sebastian standing with his poster

During my poster session, many seasoned researchers and fellow students showed great interest in my findings. As I spoke with other attendees, I received plenty of helpful feedback. Many of them study the same pathways analyzed in my project and were able to offer theories based on their own experience and findings. These conversations gave me ideas to explore new questions I had from my results—like why females appeared to be more resistant to cachexia. I was also approached by a number of new post-docs and graduate students who were just starting similar projects to mine. They came to my poster with questions about my experiences or to chat about challenges they had encountered with the same techniques I used. I found it incredibly valuable to possibly help them with their research, something which also sparked new ideas for mine. Although I am graduating this summer, our lab plans to leverage my findings for further research activity. Thus, these conversations were useful for brainstorming future approaches with the lab before my graduation.

In addition to presenting my poster, I was fascinated by the work presented by other attendees. The primary reason I came to the Greene Lab was to merge my interests in chemistry, medicine, and exercise, so it was awesome to be immersed an environment where everyone shares these interests. In true Irish fashion, I also had the pleasure to share a pint at the local pub with the other attendees. I was surprised at how may had variable career trajectories. Hearing these unique perspectives and reflecting on my own aspirations, I found these informal conversations to be as insightful as the formal ones.

I am so gracious to the Honors College for continuously supporting my research and making my trip to IBEC possible. Although my future research may shift outside of the field of muscle physiology and chronic disease, the skills I developed in experimental techniques, critical thinking, and scientific communication—now refined through my presentation at IBEC—will remain invaluable. In the coming year, I will continue to explore my passion for research, including continuing my clinical research internship in Chile and later working on a clinical trial in Romania. As I continue with my academic development in medical school and in my career, I know I will reflect on the research I conducted at UARK as a fundamental foundation which strengthened my commitment to integrating scientific investigation to my professional journey.