Being the Change – Jazmine Richardson ’22
Research in chemistry professor John Franck’s lab centers on how water interacts with protein and lipid molecules, examining nanoscale dynamics that could ultimately have implications for human health and the development of lifesaving drugs. Students focus on different components of the research. Jazmine Richardson ’22, a biotechnology and African American studies major in the College of Arts and Sciences, has most recently been working to develop a new instrument to streamline part of the protein expression process.
Richardson is appreciative of the academic opportunities that the Honors program offers, as well as the sense of camaraderie it fosters.
“In the Honors program, I found a community that really helped me feel comfortable.” Jazmine Richardson ’22
A native of Buffalo, New York, Richardson is the youngest of 10 siblings in a blended family. Having witnessed several loved ones struggle with cancer, she initially set her sights on becoming an oncologist and started her college journey in the biochemistry department. She was paired with Franck’s lab through the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) program, which aims to increase the number of students from underrepresented populations in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. She was drawn to biotechnology for its interdisciplinary nature and to African American studies for its context of culture and history. She looks forward to applying her education to addressing issues of inequity in health care
