Student Research at Duke

In contrast to what a lot of my peers have said about the film And the Band Played On, I think it was wise for Ronald Reagan not to immediately get involved in the AIDS conflict. Research should be as free of government regulation as possible (as long as it is safe and “ethical”) to optimize discovery. Labs will naturally gravitate their interests towards research topics that are essential and critical for human health and proliferation because of the rewards (both monetary and honorary) they receive for doing this type of research. In the 1980s, labs began (or strategically should have begun) research on HIV because that was where the money was. It is easy to blame the president for everything that goes wrong in the country but I respect the government for not dictating to universities and industries what projects to work on and leaving it up to the institutions themselves.

Dr. John D. Simon is my PI, a George B. Geller Professor of Chemistry, Chemistry Department Chairman, and Vice Provost for Academic Affairs at Duke University. His lab does work primarily in the field of biophysical chemistry, and current projects include structure, function, and metal binding of neuromelanins and the amyloid beta peptide. He was a professor of chemistry at UCSD for a while before coming to Duke. He spends most of his time at work in the Allen Building doing administrative stuff. He has published 209 journal articles and 4 textbooks. He enjoys playing with his kids and spending time with his family. Derek Bush is a 6th year graduate student in my lab working on the amyloid beta projects. He majored in chemistry at Furman University where he was on the cheerleading team. He lives with his wife near Southpoint mall. Lian Hong and Jean Hatcher are post-docs in the lab. Weslyn Ward is a 6th year graduate student. Dana is a second year graduate student.