College students can sometimes end up finding their chosen field in unexpected places. Elizabeth Duselis recalls figuring out which field she wanted to pursue as an undergraduate.
“I actually started college as an engineer, but by the time I was a sophomore, it was chemistry for me,” Duselis said.
That was a couple of years ago. Now, in her first year in the University.’s Ph.D program, Duselis is still pursuing her passion for chemistry, with a focus on biochemistry.
“Somebody once described biochemistry to me as the physics of the 21st century, and I think that’s what it’s going to be in our lifetime,” Duselis said.
Just as physics was the cutting-edge field of the 20th century, with the work of researchers like Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking keeping the field fixed in the major headlines of the day, Duselis is intrigued by the cutting-edge research which she believes makes biochemistry, “the physics of the modern day.” As participants in an ever-expanding field, biochemical researchers are constantly finding innovative solutions to problems. Students interested in research may find this an especially exciting area.
“In particular, I think the researchers’ approaches to problems are ingenious, and they are very
creative,” Duselis said.
Additionally, Duselis’ research has significant implications for drug discovery and analysis.
“The lab I’m in does bioanalysis with mass spectrometry,” Duselis said.
Bioanalytical research seeks new and innovative ways to measure amounts of specific molecules, such as DNA or a drug, in a given sample. Through mass spectrometry, researchers can identify specific molecules by exposing them to radiation. This enables doctors to quantify drug levels in patients and determine their properties, including the amount of time it takes certain drugs to act.
While pursuing research, Duselis continues to inspire undergraduate students. As a teaching assistant in an undergraduate chemistry lab course aimed at pre-med students, CHEM 1421, she teaches students aspiring to be doctors and researchers.
Looking to the future, Duselis said she will most likely continue researching in her current field.
“I would like to stay in research, maybe in an industrial or government lab,” Duselis said.
Read More
U.Va. Health faculty demand removal of health system CEO, School of Medicine dean
By Grace Thrush and Ford McCracken | September 5, 2024The letter states that leaders in U.Va. Health have dismissed, punished and silenced those who have followed U.Va. reporting protocols.
Board of Visitors’ Health System Board approves University Medical Center contracts and credentials
By Lexie Stadler | March 3, 2024The University requested approval from the Board on proposed contracts with Cardinal Health LLC, a pharmaceutical company that will provide CAR T-cell therapies — a therapy used to treat cancer.
Virginia Senate passes bill to legalize medically-assisted deaths in 21-19 vote
By Zackary Holt and Caroline Hagood | February 26, 2024The House, which also holds a democratic majority, has referred the bill to the Committee for Courts of Justice for further consideration.
