RESEARCH
Biochem Undergrad Highlights Experiences Working in Research Lab
Gaurav Sharma ’22 — the URECA researcher of the month for August 2021 — is a biochemistry major in the Honors College and recipient of the Kenneth M. Nicholas Undergraduate Research Fellowship, which is an award given annually to an outstanding URECA applicant involved in research in the Department of Chemistry.
Since February, Sharma has been working in the research group of Chemistry Professor Elizabeth Boon, studying virulence and biofilm formation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, in particular researching the connection between the NosP/NaHK pathway and quorum sensing pathways. Sharma is also in the combined BS/MS Degree Program in Chemistry, and plans long-term to pursue a medical degree.
Sharma first gained research experience as a Bronx High School of Science student working in the Dephoure Lab at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City. He was eager to do research at Stony Brook and joined the Matus group (Biochemistry and Cell Biology) during his sophomore year of college, but his research activities were disrupted in 2020 due to COVID restrictions.
On campus, Sharma has been involved as a writer/peer reviewer for Stony Brook Young Investigators Review, as a Red Watch Band CARE Team member in the Center for Prevention Outreach, and as a member of the Phi Delta Epsilon International Medical and the South Asian Student Alliance. Since the start of the year, he has also worked at Stony Brook Medicine as a COVID Vaccine POD employee who aids in registration and data entry, and has also aided as a COVID testing observer.