Honors College student featured on JPUR cover
Nov 9, 2016

By Emma Alexander,
Honors Communications Intern

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Honors College student Kenny Nguyen has been purposefully prying since before he even applied to Purdue University. As a junior in high school, Nguyen got involved with research at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Ohio. Although this experience inspired Nguyen’s passion for research, it was only the beginning of a much greater journey.
Nguyen’s Purdue research began as early as his second semester of freshman year, and he has worked in the lab of Dr. Peter Hollenbeck of the Department of Biological Sciences ever since. In addition to conducting research during the school year, Nguyen spent his first summer break continuing his work through the Purdue Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF). Last summer, Nguyen took his work to the next level by conducting full-time research at the National Institute of Health as a Summer Research Fellow. He has also taken the opportunity to share his research with the community by presenting posters and publishing. Most notably, Nguyen received first place at the Purdue Undergraduate Research and Poster Symposium last spring, and his work has been published in the Journal of Neuroscience as well as the Journal of Purdue Undergraduate Research (JPUR).
However, Nguyen has contributed more than a manuscript to JPUR; this fall, his photo graces its cover. In the cover photo, Nguyen showcases a vile of Drosophila, more commonly known as fruit flies. These are not the common fruit flies you may find yourself swatting at in your kitchen. No, these particular fruit flies have Parkinson’s disease, and Nguyen uses them for his research on The Degeneration of Neuronal Mitochondria in Parkinson’s Disease. You can read more about his research in JPUR: http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/jpur/vol6/iss1/7/
Having had such an exceptional research career thus far, I asked Nguyen what advice he would share with his younger peers. Nguyen’s first piece of advice is to get involved in research as soon as possible. He mused, “I learned early on that research offers scientists creative control and opportunities to explore undiscovered frontiers.” What’s more, his professor explained to him during his freshman year, that being young is not a disadvantage. Rather, it is a blessing, as you have more time to learn and develop your project.
“Purdue offers many opportunities for its researchers, including poster presentations, internships, and ways to publish,” Nguyen shared. “I would advise anyone interested to take full use of these opportunities. Presenting and publishing did not only help me develop communication skills, but also to become a better researcher.”
Nguyen is not the only honors student featured in the 2016 edition of JPUR. It hits the stands soon, so be sure to pick up and peruse your copy, and prepare to be inspired! Little by little, day by day, our Honors College community is changing the world.