Three Hampden-Sydney College students and McGavacks Professor of Biology Michael Wolyniak co-authored a peer-reviewed article published in Essays of Biochemistry.
Impressive scientific achievements are a hallmark of Hampden-Sydney, as students and faculty engage in significant, contemporary research. This collaborative approach consistently allows for research opportunities in coursework, enriching the professional and academic experience for both students and faculty. Last semester, Henry Loehr ’24, Bo Frazier ’26, and Pierce Gemborys ’25 collaborated with McGavacks Professor of Biology Michael Wolyniak to co-author an academic article published in the journal Essays in Biochemistry.
“This article was the collaborative effort of these three students enrolled in Genomics and Bioinformatics (BIOL 313 A),” Wolyniak said. “This enabled me to make the research and writing a part of the course, which was a fantastic way for these students to get a unique perspective on how scientific communication is formally done. We are always striving to include our students in our formal scholarly activity, so it was exciting to be able to do this with them.”
In addition to his role as a professor, Dr. Wolyniak serves as the director of the Office of Undergraduate Research, dedicated to facilitating and supporting students in conducting and sharing impactful research. By integrating research into coursework, it enables students to gain valuable experience, equipping them with the knowledge and skills the College aims to provide.
“Natural science research at Hampden-Sydney is unrivaled,” Bo said. “Here, you are not a research assistant in a graduate student lab; you lead your own projects. That means your name is on the front of published articles, not the back, demonstrating how undergraduate research at Hampden-Sydney is at the forefront.”
Here, you are not a research assistant in a graduate student lab; you lead your own projects. That means your name is on the front of published articles, not the back, demonstrating how undergraduate research at Hampden-Sydney is at the forefront.
Bo Frazier ’26
The research carried out at the College showcases the commitment to nurturing a hands-on learning environment, where students are active contributors to impactful scientific topics. Participation in real-world scenarios exposes students to future possibilities while integrating the College deeper into different research fields and memberships.
“This article is part of an entire issue of Essays in Biochemistry being written by members of the MDH CURES Community (MCC), a consortium of which Hampden-Sydney has been a member since 2017,” Wolyniak said. “The MCC uses malate dehydrogenase as a model protein to design course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) for students at each consortium school. This project allows Hampden-Sydney students to engage in a large-scale protein biochemistry research project with collaborators from across the nation. Our article is among the few in the collection where undergraduate authors made direct contributions to both research and writing.”
As undergraduate research thrives at the College, new and exciting avenues for collaborative research abound. With committed faculty and ambitious students taking charge, the potential for knowledge and achievement is unlimited.
Impressive scientific achievements are a hallmark of Hampden-Sydney, as students and faculty engage in significant, contemporary research. This collaborative approach consistently allows for research opportunities in coursework, enriching the professional and academic experience for both students and faculty. Last semester, Henry Loehr ’24, Bo Frazier ’26, and Pierce Gemborys ’25 collaborated with McGavacks Professor of Biology Michael Wolyniak to co-author an academic article published in the journal Essays in Biochemistry.