Summer Research Opportunity Points Tulane Scholar to Ph.D. Path

Last summer, Tulane University Posse Scholar Micquel Downs, then a junior, contributed to biochemical research at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center. For the second consecutive year, she was invited to work in Dr. Sunyoung Kim’s lab thanks to funding from the National Science Foundation’s competitive Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program.

Micquel originally connected with the lab in 2015 and was one of only 11 undergraduate students chosen to participate in the program at the LSUHSC lab. As a member of Dr. Kim’s lab, Micquel contributed to research on ATP hydrolosis and reaction rates in cell division.

“My experience with the lab helped me identify that I really like research and I want to go down the Ph.D. route in chemical engineering,” say Micquel, who is majoring in chemical engineering and gender and sexuality studies.

After graduating from Tulane, Micquel hopes to work in chemical engineering for a few years before pursuing a doctorate. She hopes to eventually work in consulting and research for private engineering firms.