Student Spotlight: Jordyn McNeil
Jordyn McNeil is a junior in the Department of Chemistry, with a focus in Biochemistry. Jordyn came to the University of Alaska Anchorage as a transfer student. Since joining the College of Arts and Sciences, Jordyn has been involved in various research projects, working closely with Chemistry Professor Patrick Tomco and Biological Sciences Professor Jonathan Stecyk. Last summer, Jordyn collaborated with Dr. Tomco and Dr. Stecyk on a project involving anoxia response in turtles, and in the process, she developed a new method for assessing metabolic changes in turtles as they survive in environments without oxygen. The results of this research were significant and allowed Jordyn the opportunity to present on this work at the American Chemical Society National Conference in San Diego. That same summer, Jordyn worked on a project funded by the Arctic Domain Awareness Center that investigates the toxicity of spilled crude oil and compares it to spilled crude oil that has been remediated through dispersion or by burning. This project is designed to provide information to the US Coast Guard, who oversees oil spill response contingency plans. This coming summer, Jordyn will be working on a new NMR metabolomics project that assesses the toxic response of copepods to burned crude oil.
Jordyn McNeil recently sat down with us to discuss her various research endeavors, her recent conference presentation, and her success here at UAA.
You are a transfer student, having shifted to attending the University of Alaska Anchorage after a few years at another university. What led to your decision to attend UAA?
"I am originally from Palmer, Alaska, a small town where the first thing someone wants to do when they graduate is go somewhere else. I had the opportunity to go down to a university in the lower 48. Unfortunately with the ongoing COVID situation, I could not justify paying out-of-state tuition for online school. I really could not justify it, so I decided it would be financially better for me to come back to UAA. When I came to UAA, I was pleased to see that the Chemistry department was Biochemistry based."
What are some advantages for you coming to UAA? What is it about UAA that stands apart from other universities?
"Coming back to UAA, I was worried about the level of education and that the research opportunities might be less than my other school. I was wrong, because the research opportunities up here are greater than the research opportunities down in the lower 48. In terms of the Chemistry Department at UAA, for anyone that is interested in chemistry, it is a small department here at UAA. This means that you really get that one-on-one time with professors. Because you are making closer relationships with professors, they are more approachable. There are so many opportunities at UAA and not as many people realize that these opportunities are within the school. All students have to do is reach out, and they will find something to get involved in. I would say UAA is a good place to be able to reach out and get opportunities, especially in the research realm. The professors have made it worth it for me to be at UAA. I have been given plenty of opportunities in my chosen career field."
Several of the Chemistry Faculty members mentioned that you are involved in quite a few research projects. Can you talk to us about those opportunities and projects?
"One of my research projects is centered on the ventricle of a turtle's heart. I look at how the metabolism in turtles are different and differ between different exposure groups. Since we are looking at anoxic (live without oxygen) tolerant species, one thing that this research can potentially lead to is finding better ways to prevent or help damaged tissue from heart attacks. I am working under Dr. Tomco on a couple projects. As a metabolomic-spaced researcher, Dr. Tomco is having me do statistical work on a fluridone (a chemical/pesticide that is used to kill off invasive plant species). We are looking at what a fluridone does to the metabolic responses of different types of fish. I also did stats work on a project that focused on the metabolism of muscles and how their metabolism differs due to different exposures of oil clean ups. Come summertime, I am going to be doing metabolomic-based toxicology looking at copepods."
One of these research projects is associated with the United States Coast Guard, and you gave a presentation of the results to them. What was that like?
"The statistical analysis work regarding the muscles. I started doing research here, Drs. Stecyk and Tomco. Dr. Tomco recommended that I work on his stats project over the summer, since I had already done stats for my turtle project. Once I had all of the data and had given it to him, Dr. Tomco said that the coast guard was coming in to check out all of our stuff, and he asked me to give the presentation. I showed them around the lab and then I showed them the stuff that I had been working on for close to four months at that time. Since I had been working on it for so long, the presentation came out naturally."
You recently presented one of your research projects at the American Chemical Society National Conference in San Diego. Was this your first conference? What was your experience at the conference?
"Yes, this was the first time I had ever gone to a conference. It was a bit overwhelming, for sure. I did a presentation, although not a traditional presentation. I put my poster up, and people came around and talked to me. I presented with a mixture of doctoral students, doctors, and undergrads, so it was just a big melting pot of different degree levels. I was able to explain my poster to people that have been in the field longer than me and get their feedback/praise. The poster presentations were really unique, because you got to see all different types of chemistry. I am a chemist, and I understand some chemistry, but I don't know anything about physical chemistry, not my forte. It was overall a really fun and enlightening event!"
Thank you, and keep up the great work Jordyn!