Preparing to present before thousands of attendees from across the country.
Author: Samuel Lannutti | Major: Chemistry | Semester: Spring 2025
In the Spring of 2023, I joined the Kumar Research Lab and started a project on identifying the stabilization properties of a new protein called “FGF1-FGF2.” The goal of my research was to focus on a specific region of the protein called “SB12,” which is theoretically responsible for the overall stability of FGF1-FGF2. This protein has promising potential as a drug designed to treat non-healing wounds, such as diabetic foot ulcers. My name is Samuel Lannutti, and I’m proud to have represented the University of Arkansas Honors College at the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Annual Meeting (ASBMB). I am currently finishing my BA in Biochemistry and my two minors in Biology and Medical Humanities. My plans are primarily focused on attending medical school after this cycle.
My trip to Chicago was focused on attending a conference for the largest molecular science organization in the United States – The ASBMB. With over 2,500 students and professionals in attendance, my purpose was to gain as much insight from the leaders in molecular sciences, as well as present the high-level research going on at the University of Arkansas. As I pursue a life-long career in medicine, I will conduct additional research with more understanding than I had before.
I spoke briefly with Reinhart Reithmeier, Professor Emeritus at the University of Toronto, who guided me toward advocating for my own success and figuring out what kind of person I perceive myself to be compared to how others perceive me. His feedback on my research showed me the types of questions that truly matter to others, such as the application, methods, and impact of my research. Others focused on why we performed certain experiments, with suggestions for improvement. I found that critiques were not criticism and functioned to help me learn how to show my research better. Overall, I spoke and connected with numerous brilliant researchers from universities such as Yale, Cornell, and Tufts.
As the current Co-President for the ASBMB Student Chapter at the University of Arkansas, I intended to connect with other student chapters to replicate their success. Fortunately, I was given tremendous feedback on providing outreach activities for the community of Northwest Arkansas. I will be using this information to help students at the University of Arkansas find ways to become more involved by serving.
With the conclusion of my research, I am focused on pursuing a career as a physician. I currently hope to specialize in Oncology, as my mother battles her lung cancer. I am determined to find another lab for research while I attend medical school, with preference to any cancer-related topics.
For students interested in pursuing graduate school for science or medicine, I highly recommend becoming involved in research. Not only will you become specialized in a specific topic, but grants are also awarded to help present your expertise to the world. The University of Arkansas is an R-1 institution, meaning there are plenty of chances to get involved. Research is the backbone of science, and we will stagnate without more support.
Many students find issues with finding a research lab. Fortunately, Dr. Reithmeier provided insight into becoming affiliated with an investigator. “Read the researcher’s previous articles, respect their research, and find ways that it applies to you. Sending an email is a great way to express interest, but researchers are often busy and miss messages. Wait for two weeks, send a follow-up, and wait once more. If you do not hear back, the researcher is unlikely to reply, and you should move forward.” With these instructions, I hope that undergraduates will find comfort that they are doing the process according to other researchers.