Author: Davis Luke Campbell      Majors: Computational Physics, Biochemistry, Applied Mathematics

Photo of me during my (online) thesis defense

My research was over urushiol, the natural complex of molecules involved in the reaction caused by contact with poison ivy, called “urushiol-induced contact dermatitis.” The literature states that the reaction occurs through the binding of urushiol to some sort of carrier protein within the human body which is then a large enough complex to create an immune response within the human body. There has been recent work done by previous undergraduates that suggest the mechanism of reaction of urushiol within urushiol-induced contact dermatitis shown in the literature is not correct. My research was to further investigate this reaction and to attempt to find evidence either for or against the prevailing theory for this reaction. Through analysis of a model system version of this reaction with various human body compounds, I found compelling evidence to support the idea that urushiol does not bind with a carrier protein and instead binds with a nucleophile such as glutathione and cross-links between other urushiol molecules in order to become large enough to illicit an immune response.

My process of finding my topic and research mentor for this project was somewhat different from the standard method of choosing. I had already finished one undergraduate thesis in physics, and I therefore had a large amount of research experience. This research experience made it very easy for me to find a lab to work in. I had individual meetings with about six different professors about what I might be able to do in their labs. I asked about what projects available, what level of autonomy I would be allowed, and so on. I eventually settled on working on the urushiol project with Dr. Wesley Stites because of the autonomy I would be allowed in my work. I really enjoyed this work because I was given so much freedom in how to solve the problems that were presented by the research. Although as much help as I needed was always available through either Dr. Stites or the graduate students in his lab (and that help was used significantly in every project), I was allowed to create, design, and run my own experiments as much as I desired to move the research forward, similar to experience of being a graduate student. This was incredibly valuable to me because I plan to incorporate research heavily into my future medical career, and any extra experience I can get with working on my own is incredibly helpful for my future career.

I successfully defended my thesis over this work at the end of April, and I received Summa Cum Laude honors for my thesis and biochemistry degree. For me, the next step is medical school, and I plan to heavily incorporate research into my medical education, both in the next four years and in the residency and fellowship years that come after that. This experience in research has set me up well to be able to do well in my future endeavors in medical research.