2012-2013 Luce Scholar

Lauren Buckley grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with her father and two older brothers. She attends the University of Wisconsin – Madison where she intends to graduate in May 2012 with a B.S. in chemistry, biochemistry and French. She plans to pursue a Ph.D. in biochemistry after working abroad, and is particularly interested in global public health. Though she entered college with too many interests to list, her freshman chemistry professor – Mahesh Mahanthappa – inspired her to enter scientific research. In his laboratory, she developed syntheses of new biodegradable polymers. In fall 2009, she joined Professor Cox’s lab to explore biological research and study the DNA repair mechanism of a phenomenally radiation resistant bacterium. After discovering she thinks like a chemist but wanted to study disease, she joined Professor Strieter’s group where she uses chemical tools to decipher intricacies of the DNA damage response. In summer 2010, she interned with Professor Fujimori at UC San Francisco through the Amgen Scholars Program, conducting research on a project related to work in the Strieter group. Though she dedicates much of her energy to research, she also loves teaching and communicating science. Specifically, she volunteered at WiCell Research Camp, led Science Olympiad events at Edgewood High School, performed large chemistry demonstrations at UW-Madison’s annual Engineering Expo, taught hands-on science lessons at Biocore Science Nights in Madison elementary schools, helped boy and girl scouts earn chemistry badges, and performed in a scientific play – NO – by Carl Djerassi. She tutors chemistry and serves as president of UW-Madison’s American Chemical Society. Aside from science and language, she loves outdoors adventuring, dancing, volleyball and creative writing. She finds it impossible to meet too many new people, and has a severe case of wanderlust, which leads her to explore as many parts of the world as possible.