Spotlight: Jake Reed

Jake Reed, a senior undergraduate student at GRU and double major in chemistry and biology, discovered his love for research two years ago after engaging in a chemical synthesis project for Dr. Stephens. His success there carved the path for continued research with Dr. Stephens, this time on Human Herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) antivirals. Jake has worked on synthesizing groups of compounds similar to antivirals made to fight against HHV-6, which has associations with various neurological diseases such as muscular dystrophy. Through his research, he has had the opportunity to present at conferences such as Phi Kappa Phi (PKP) and The Southeastern Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society (SERMACS) and even work in a research lab in Belgium where he tested his compounds against influenza. Jake plans to continue his education and receive his M.D., Ph.D. in immunology, specializing in infectious disease or pathology. "If you have a field that peaks your interest, find someone in that profession. Talk to them," he advised for anyone interested in getting into research. "Not only will it help you in your classes, but it will also help you determine what you want to do in your future."