One Big Thing: Plastic Becomes Medicine |
USC researchers have found a way to transform discarded plastics into chemicals that help produce medicine. How they did it: Travis Williams, professor of chemistry, and Clay C.C. Wang, professor of pharmaceutical sciences, broke down plastic trash into chemical groups. They then fed these chemicals to a lab-raised fungus, which produced several drugs, including antibiotics. Why it matters: The world is grappling with a massive overload of plastic waste. |
- Annual garbage build-up could reach 1.1 billion tons by 2040.
- Finding ways to reuse this waste could turn garbage into gold. Plus, it could be very cheap.
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¡°If you look at the biological cycle, that efficiency is very exciting because the process will be cost-sensitive. We¡¯re going to make the products in bulk quantities,¡± says Wang. What¡¯s next: The team is working with researchers at the University of Kansas to find out if the method can work on a mixture of different plastics. |
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BUGS Puts Undergrads in the Lab |
The Bridge Undergraduate Science (BUGS) Summer Research Program pairs students with research mentors to give the students hands-on laboratory experience. |
Why It Matters: BUGS gives undergrads deep, practical experience in lab research and rare insight into what a successful career in a science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) field requires. |
- STEM-based careers have grown by nearly 80% since 1990 and are set to grow another 11% by 2030.
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Bonus: STEM education prepares students to be curious, critical thinkers and problem-solvers. |
- These traits give them an advantage in applying for jobs or graduate school.
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Testimonial: ¡°The BUGS experience not only deepened my research and critical thinking skills, it allowed me to contribute to the scientific world.¡±— Catie He, chemistry major USC alumni Neeti Dang ¡¯00 and her husband, Sandeep (BS ¡¯97; MD ¡¯01), were so inspired by BUGS that they made a generous gift to support it. In Their Words: ¡°Society constantly needs new scientists who do innovative research to help propel forward health care and other fields,¡± Neeti Dang said. ¡°BUGS shows students how to get there.¡± |
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Pro baller turns to medicine |
Former South Bay Lakers point guard Marcus Allen looked to a USC Dornsife pre-med program to further his dream of becoming a physician. |
- Allen, 28, played for the Los Angeles Lakers¡¯ G-league team.
- Looking for a new career track, he pivoted toward medicine — but needed an assist.
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Opportunity: USC Dornsife¡¯s postbaccalaureate premedical program is designed for students with little to no science background. |
- The program prepares students for medical, dental, veterinary or pharmacy school.
- Students can finish in four to five semesters over two years.
- A third, ¡°glide¡± year offers help with medical school applications and any extra coursework.
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Why It Matters: According to its director, Chiho Mak, the program helps ¡®career changers,¡¯ working adults who realize later that medicine is their calling. |
Allen aims to be a team doctor but also hopes to address health care disparities in underserved communities. |
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Students Engineer Microbes to Cleanup Water |
A group of USC Dornsife undergraduates created ¡°Toxi-Gone,¡± a sustainable method to remove medicinal drugs from the water supply. |
- A genetically engineered yeast detects estradiol, a toxic chemical that threatens the growth and behavior of humans and other species.
- The yeast releases a biochemical signal that triggers nearby engineered bacteria to degrade the toxin.
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Why It Matters: In developing countries with contaminated water systems or minimal wastewater treatment infrastructure, Toxi-Gone could clean water for agricultural use or human consumption. |
- Toxi-Gone might also serve as a filter to limit the escape of contaminants from industrial sources.
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The students presented their water-cleaning method at the International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) Grand Jamboree, a global synthetic biology competition. In Their Words: ¡°Being a part of this iGEM team gave me more confidence as a young scientist,¡± says project participant Nicolette Romo-Zelada, a sophomore majoring in biological sciences. |
- She said the experience solidified her plans to pursue a research career.
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