PhD, The Murphy Group
Awards: American Chemical Society Presidential P3 Medal for Graduate Research Excellence
Activities: Student Wellness Coalition and the Department of Chemistry’s Joint Safety Team.
Research: Synthesizing gold nanoparticles with synaptic vesicle mimicking surface chemistries and using them as a platform to improve our understanding of a certain brain protein called alpha-synuclein which is implicated in the development of Parkinson's disease.
“Alpha-synuclein is believed to interact with synaptic vesicles as part of its normal function, so the goal of my research is to systematically study how changes in synaptic vesicle properties such as chemical composition, surface curvature, and mechanical properties could influence alpha-synuclein's progression between normal and pathogenic state,” McClain said.
Future: She defends this summer and after that McClain will pursue a career in the field of technology transfer.
“I want to play a role in protecting intellectual property associated with new inventions coming out of research institutions and moving these innovations along the path to commercialization,” McClain said. “The journey to get to this point has been full of growth and discovery and I am looking forward to the accomplishment of that final milestone!”
Secret to success: Realizing that graduate school is meant to be a learning experience and new graduate students are not expected to come in knowing all the answers helped McClain to be successful in the graduate program.
“In other words, recognizing that asking questions and seeking out help are not signs of weakness, but in fact are the best way to gain knowledge and develop the skills necessary to become a successful researcher and scientist,” she said.
Advice to new graduate students: “Seek out opportunities to stay involved in your hobbies and pick up new ones. Having these activities outside of the lab has given me a place to decompress when things get stressful or are overwhelming and it’s critical in cultivating a healthy work life balance. It is also a great way to meet new people both inside and outside of the department.
Why Chemistry at Illinois? “There were a handful of factors that came together to make Illinois the right place for me to pursue my PhD. I was really excited about the research taking place across the department, there were amazing state-of-the-art core facilities and instrumentation available for student use, and the community felt very welcoming and supportive when I came for my visit weekend. The geographic location was also advantageous, allowing me to remain relatively close to family.”
PhD highlight: “The best part of my experience has been the professional connections and lifelong friendships I have made during my time here. My lab mates and colleagues have been an invaluable source of support, encouragement, and guidance during my grad school career. I couldn't have done it without all of them!”