Funded by Pfizer, student puts Fresno State
on drug firm's map
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With a grant from Pfizer, Fresno State chemistry student Felix Perez spent his summer in the lab. |
By Kristen Hoverman
The Collegian
After 12 weeks of study for
the pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, Fresno State chemistry student Felix
Perez successfully presented his research findings earlier this month
in La Jolla.
Perez was one of five students in California who received a $5,000 grant
from Pfizer. The grant paid for the work and lab materials as the students
researched their original proposals on their home campuses.
Other campuses represented were UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara and California
Polytechnic University at Pomona.
Along with such scientific institutions as UC San Diego and UC Santa Barbara,
Fresno State is now recognized by Pfizer as a school with scientific ability,
Perez said.
“This experience should encourage other undergraduates to apply
for internships,” he said.
Last spring semester, Fresno State associate professor of chemistry Dr.
Saeed Attar received a solicitation from Pfizer asking for candidates
to participate in the company’s program. The company offers various
fellowships to students in order to promote ethnic diversity in the pharmaceutical
sciences workplace, Attar said.
“The program provides motivated and interested undergraduate students,
from under-represented ethnic groups in chemistry, the opportunity to
gain experience and hands-on skills in modern chemistry research,”
he said.
The program began six years ago, and started with two students, said Indrawan
McAlpine, principal scientist of the Medicinal Chemistry Department in
La Jolla.
To be a candidate for the program, a student must be a science major from
a minority group, have taken at least one year of organic chemistry, lecture
and lab, and have the support of a faculty member.
“Felix was a student in my organic chemistry class the last two
semesters,” Attar said. “His enthusiasm was just obvious from
the beginning. In my lecture classes he was among the top three students.
I knew he would be a perfec candidate for research.”
Perez’s topic had to do with breaking compounds down into alcohol,
and watching the reaction.
“What Perez was trying to accomplish was new methods in the application
of making compounds, including pharmaceuticals,” chemistry department
chair Marhenke said.
Perez said such research might make drug manufacturing easier, which could
eventually lead to lower drug prices.
Perez worked in the chemistry lab at Fresno State for his research, where
he had access to a Gas Chromatograph/Mass Spectrometer, which, Marhenke
said, is “a big fancy instrument used to mix and identify mixtures.”
Perez’s research was unique in its character, Attar said, because
it was simple, inexpensive and has practical applications.
“Felix followed a known procedure to prepare an inexpensive catalyst,
starting with a readily available starting material,” he said.
Perez met with the other awardees and student interns while at the Pfizer
facility in La Jolla. There he met another intern who studied a different
ruthenium-catalyst, and had arrived at similar results.
“It was exciting to compare my research with other interns and to
find that we were obtaining comparable results,” Perez said.
Perez is pursuing a degree in chemistry with a minor in math. He said
he will continue his research throughout the year with Attar.
Perez plans to apply for an internship with Pfizer in the spring and to
graduate in May 2007. After graduating he will pursue a Ph.D. program,
but is undecided on schools at this time.
Attar said this experience will solidify Perez’s postgraduate plans,
and will also give Fresno State recognition.
“This experience has opened Fresno State’s name at Pfizer,”
Attar said. “Even though we’re far away, we have very enthusiastic
people. We have a lot of talented undergrads here. Good students keep
you busy.”
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