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Members

Nathan Gomes

Biomedical Engineering (BS)
(Option: Cellular and Biomolecular)

Education

I attended Clements High School in Sugar Land, TX, a suburb of Houston. Many UT students come from there. National Merit Scholar. I am a Biomedical Engineering major and will graduate in May 2006. I am also completing the Business Foundations program. As a BME and premed, I have taken a number of science and science-related engineering courses.

Research

Fall 2004-present: Paid research assistant in Vishy Iyer's lab (Genetics professor) in the Molecular Biology Building. I create DNA microarrays from glass slides using an intensive procedure. The arrays are made for many different organisms and are used by several lab groups on campus. Keep an eye out; maybe you'll use them sometime and can let me know how I'm doing. I'm slowly starting a project, but microarrays involve a lot of steps and RNA, so I need to get the busy grad students to teach me the ropes. If you didn't know, microarrays are useful for studying gene expression on a genomic scale. It's a neat technology, and I see prospects for it in future healthcare.Summer 2003: Medical research at UT Houston Med School. Worked in medical genetics under an MD, PhD. Used PCR to amplify and analyze microsatellite blood DNA from related individuals in a family pedigree. Tracked a connective tissue disease through generations and tried to identify the responsible locus in the genome. Promised co-authorship, but I don't see it materializing.Spring 2003: Evolutionary research in Patterson under Ulrich Mueller. Studied symbiosis and co-evolution between leaf-cutter ants and the fungal gardens they cultivate for food. Extracted DNA from many previously harvested ant colonies from several Latin American countries, then amplified using PCR and sequenced. Never got around to performing phylogenetic analysis; decided to seek another lab with more medical pertinence.

Extracurriculars

I played tennis in high school and was once decent. I have since not been able to play as much as I want to, but I hope to start again in my senior year. I frequent the Greg gym for weights and ping pong. I enjoy video games and have masterful skill, but this has succumbed to time constraints for some time now. I love business and am constantly looking for opportunities to hit it big, including investing and the stock market. I am always working on a book (no fiction except Potter) and can often be seen listening to audio books on earphones. I do not watch TV save The Apprentice, tennis, occasional special features, or programs shown in the gym. As for music, I like alternative and trance. My favorite food is Fuddrucker's and burgers generally.In my time with SURGe I have tried to devote a lot to see it attain greatness. I feel swell when I see the club progressing, and conversely any problems trouble me. I perform the typical secretarial duties and attempt to do more as opportunities present themselves.

Aspirations

In addition to medical school, I plan on obtaining an MBA to use business as a means of furthering medicine. This may entail a career in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, consulting, venture capital, or entrepreneuring. I am currently interested in pathology as a specialty, but many things can change over the years. I envision myself guiding and leading researchers, which is why I enjoy participating in SURGe. Wow, I have left few stones unturned in this profile--I would like to hear from any of you if we share any common ground.

SURGe has plenty of great members. Check out other interesting people at the committees home page.