Reem Al Buzz

I am a chemical engineering student at the University of Texas at Austin and I joined Dr. Nicholas Peppas' Lab of Biomaterials, Drug Delivery, & Bionanotechnology this year. Dr. Oliva Lanier has been my mentor since I joined and over the summer we worked together for 20-30 hours every other week. I assisted with her work that focuses on developing siRNA oral drug delivery systems for treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. Dr. Lanier taught me many things such as the synthesis of nanoparticles, cell culture, and how to use the machines at the lab such as the dynamic light scattering machine, which measures many things including the size and charge of the nanoparticles. After teaching me the basics of the lab, she encouraged me to do more independent work. As a result, I am currently working on finding a solution to help the nanoparticles pass through the stomach to the intestines under her supervision.

 

 Dr. Lanier always explains everything in detail and spends a lot of her time to make sure that I succeed in this lab. She provides me with resources to learn more such as giving me some of the books she owns and sending me any research papers that she thinks are helpful. She always discusses and shares opportunities for my growth such as suggesting to write review articles and making sure that I am on track to get my goals in the lab achieved. She has meetings with her undergrads to discuss their goals and what they have done so far in the lab and what plans they have to achieve these goals. Also, she has been a great friend who pushed me to be the best version of myself on a professional and personal level.