Congratulations Eastern Washington University student Aulane Mpouli! Aulane has been selected as an EWU McNair Scholar and awarded a summer research internship. McNair Scholars must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher and are first generation college students and low-income and/or underrepresented students. They are selected for their promise as scholars and commitment towards attaining a PhD.
Aulane Mpouli is a student-athlete majoring in Chemistry, specializing in Analytical Chemistry. She has participated in Track and Field for 11 years and is a Hepthathlete on Eastern Washington University’s Track and Field team. Aulane enjoys traveling around the world, discovering new people, places, and cultures. Places she has visited include: New York, Montreal, London, Paris, and Puerto Rico. Her favorite destination was London where she lived for one year and had a view of the Windsor Castle right outside her window.
Aulane’s research interests include analytics, biochemistry, and catalysis. Aulane is currently working on a biochemical research project analyzing the successful ways in which the substrate Inosine Triphosphate (ITP) binds to the enzyme Inosine Triphosphatase in order for it to perform its enzymatic function and prevent the accumulation and over concentration of ITP, an intermediate in the formation of Purines which help make up DNA. The accumulation of ITP could cause mutations in the DNA causing cancers and other detrimental effects to the body. Aulane also works as a Teacher’s Assistant for the Quantitative Analysis, BioChem for Health Sciences, and General Chemistry courses where she grades lab reports, prepares unknowns for students, and helps with calculations and clarifications.
She has already completed fall and winter courses preparing to be a McNair Scholar and is currently enrolled in EWU McNair’s Research Methods and Analytic Writing courses, on top of her regular classes. This will not only strengthen her skills for graduate school, but also set the groundwork for her 2020 EWU McNair Summer Research Internship under the mentorship of Dr. Yao Houndonougbo Associate Professor of Chemistry at EWU. Originally Ohio State University also awarded Aulane a summer research internship and while this was cancelled due to COVID-19, Aulane will be participating in an online summer research weekly webinar series with OSU on top of her research with EWU McNair.
We’re so excited to have Aulane join us as a McNair Scholar!
