Richard Leach, Ph.D., 1999, Molecular and Cellular Biology, OHIO University

After earning my Ph.D. through the Program in Molecular and Cellular Biology at Ohio University, I accepted a position as a research scientist in the Division of Experimental Therapeutics at the Walter Reed Army Institute Research (WRAIR) in Washington, DC. Although the research environment at a large federal research facility like WRAIR is quite different than OU, I feel that I was well prepared by the MCB for the rigors of my new job. The training I received in molecular biology and biochemistry have definitely been put to work in the diverse set of projects I lead now. At Walter Reed I collaborate on bioinformatics with scientists from the Center for Information Technology and the National Cancer Institute at NIH to characterize the molecular pathology of Staphylococcus enterotoxin B in humans. Together, we are trying to generate an understanding of the molecular events that take place when people are poisoned with this potent biological toxin. I am also studying the genomics of Plasmodium falciparum, with the end goal of identifying new drug targets to combat the incipient fatal malaria caused by that organism. In addition to these projects, I am conducting molecular biology research that is related strictly to the development of defenses against biological and chemical weapons. I really like my position at WRAIR, and I feel that Ohio University and the MCB opened the door for me to take advantage of this great opportunity