David Nemer Wins Undergraduate Research Award

David Nemer, a senior in the Department of Biological Sciences, won an Honorable Mention Award at the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Conference in New Orleans in April. Nemer was one of three finalists in the systems biology division of the society’s 13th annual undergraduate poster competition during the conference.

Nemer’s research focuses on the matrix protein, which is critical for replication of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1). “It plays a role in virus assembly and budding,” he says. “It’s absolutely required for viral replication. Therefore, we are studying it to assess its potential as a novel therapeutic target.”

Nemer, who plans to go to medical school, says the conference was a valuable opportunity to interact with other researchers and understand the breadth of activity in the field. Some 150 undergraduates from 75 colleges and universities participated. Other competition categories were DNA, proteins and enzymes, and cell biology.