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This year’s scholars include chemistry major Mimi Chen ’26; biochemistry major Tylor Lee ’26; and chemistry and Comparative Studies in Literature and Culture major Ian Terell ’26. Finalists were chosen following an interview with a committee of six Occidental faculty members.

Each Science Scholar receives $15,000 for research conducted during the spring semester of their junior year, the summer between their junior and senior years, and both semesters of their senior year. Scholars will also present their work at a professional conference as well as at ɫ����Ƶ's Summer 2025 Undergraduate Research Conference.

Chen is working with Fletcher Jones Foundation Professor of Chemistry Michael Hill on a project titled “Electromechanical Corneal Reshaping for Refractive Vision Correction.” Myopia (nearsightedness) is a leading cause of vision impairment worldwide. Severe cases can lead to serious eye problems, including retinal damage and corneal diseases that may require surgery. While popular treatments like LASIK reshape the cornea using lasers, they are expensive, invasive, and carry risks such as long-term vision issues and tissue weakening. 

To address these challenges, this research focuses on developing a safer, non-surgical alternative called electromechanical reshaping (EMR)—a technique that uses small electrical pulses to gently and precisely reshape the cornea without cutting or removing tissue. Research has shown that EMR can successfully reshape the cornea in rabbit eyes while keeping the tissue clear and healthy. Chen’s current work aims to fine-tune the process by measuring how much electrochemical dosage needs to be applied to safely soften and reshape the cornea—without damaging cells or affecting clarity. Her research will play an important role in helping to advance this technique to future clinical use.

“The advancement of electromechanical corneal reshaping holds promise as a safer and more effective approach,” Chen says, “one that also has the potential to improve affordability and accessibility of vision correction treatments.”

Working with Associate Professor of Biology Cheryl Okumura, Lee is pursuing a project called “Pediatric Reactive ɫ����Ƶgen Species Response to Group A Streptococcus Infections.” Group A Streptococcus (GAS), the bacteria that causes strep throat, can also lead to life-threatening infections that kill over 1,500 people each year in the U.S. The immune system usually fights off bacteria using reactive oxygen species (ROS)—powerful chemicals like hydrogen peroxide and bleach that are produced by immune cells. While many bacteria survive by making antioxidants to neutralize these ROS, GAS appears to take a different approach. Early findings from Okumura’s lab suggest that GAS avoids being killed by stopping immune cells called macrophages from producing ROS in the first place.

Children may be especially vulnerable to GAS infections because of their naturally high metabolic rates, which lead to more ROS—and, in response, more antioxidants to keep things in balance. If GAS already blocks ROS production and children have higher antioxidant levels, this combination could help the bacteria survive and spread more easily. To test this, Lee is comparing how macrophages from adults and children respond to GAS, measuring ROS levels, bacterial survival, and antioxidant activity. This research could help explain why GAS infections are more common and sometimes more severe in children.

“Antibiotics remain the first-line treatment for Group A strep infections; however, given the increasing threat of antibiotic resistance, developing a vaccine is critical for sustainable, long-term protection,” Lee says. “My research will contribute foundational knowledge for future vaccine development and provide novel insights into why Group A strep infections affect children and adults differently.”

Terell is working with Associate Professor of Chemistry Jeff Cannon on a project called “Stereoselective Alkylation to Auxiliary-Bound Amino Ketones.” Aminoketones are small molecules used in the creation of important drugs like amfepramone, bupropion, and ketamine. Although their structure is relatively simple, their wide use in medicine has led to ongoing research into creating them even more efficiently. Building on previous work from the Cannon lab—where a removable chiral auxiliary was used to guide chemical reactions—this study aims to apply that same method to aminoketones. 

Currently, the project is focused on making the starting materials and developing the key reaction. The researchers have successfully synthesized a compound called N-tert-butanesulfinyl acetone to test their approach, and early experiments show that the reaction works. The next steps involve studying how selective the reaction is and optimizing the conditions to improve performance. Once refined, Terell will test this method on a variety of aminoketones.

“With the ability to build biologically active molecules comes the responsibility to do so sustainably,” Terell says. “My work advances efficient, greener ways to create vital pharmaceutical compounds like amino ketones.”

The deadline to apply for next year’s scholarship is November.