Chemistry and Medicine

How do antibiotics work, and how do bacteria survive an antibiotics assault? To explore this question, we examine the chemical structure of antibiotics and discover an enzyme that bacteria produce to disable the antibiotic. To understand the dynamics of this attack and countermeasures, we learn about molecular structure and bonding, organic functional groups, chemical reaction rates, and enzymes. During the next five weeks of the workshop, students pursue a research project to apply their new knowledge to medicine. It begins with each student choosing a patient for collecting data and examining the biochemistry of disease and medical treatment.  This might be an older family member taking at least three medications for chronic conditions or a relative who has undergone surgery for acute disease.

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Eureka Alumni from this program have received admission offers to University of Chicago, Duke University, University of Southern California (USC), and other top US universities.

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Alumni from this program have gone off to pursue majors in Financial Economics, Computer Science, Biology and Applied Mathematics.

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The research experience and skills students receive at the Eureka Program have helped students win prestigious awards like the Regeneron Science Talent Search Scholarship. Many alumni from this program have received top awards like Scholastic Art & Writing National Awards, S.T. Yau High School Science Awards, U.S. Presidential Scholars Awards, and many others. 

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Many students from this program are also very engaged in their communities, sharing in volunteering activities and starting non-profit organizations to help the community. During COVID-19, several students have started organizations to help obtain and distribute health supplies. 

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The below sections will provide more insight into the students that have attended this program and share their experiences and successes. 

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