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Ph.D. Student Uses Research to Wage War On Tuberculosisby Glenn Jochum

Stony Brook Chemistry Ph.D. student Meng Yang ofEast Setauket, N.Y., received the 10th annual Dr.Mow Shiah Lin Scholarship in a ceremony atBrookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) on October2. The scholarship, which provides a one-time awardof $1,000, is named after the esteemed BNLscientist, who passed away in 2003 at the age of 62.

While at BNL, first as a senior scientist and later as aprincipal investigator, Lin had mentored more than100 students who went on to become outstandingscientists in their own right. He had published 85papers, received nine patents and won manynational honors, including the 2001 R&D 100 award.

“Dr. Lin spent his entire life pursuing the secrets of science, which has inspired andencouraged me to do the same,” said Meng. “I have been very productive sinceenrolling in Stony Brook’s Ph.D. program — I’ve had two papers published and I’mnow working on a third.”

Meng, who had earned a bachelor of science degree in chemical biology at XiamenUniversity in China before coming to Stony Brook, has quickly distinguished herselfwith research on the evolution of protein structure and function.

Her advisor, Department of Chemistry Chair Nicole Sampson, described theimportance of Meng’s research. “Meng is investigating what is different between thecatalysts in tuberculosis bacteria and the catalysts in humans,” she said. “Thestructural differences she has identified hold the key to developing drugs that willkill tuberculosis bacteria without killing the human infected with the bacteria.”

Meng, who joined Sampson’s research group in February 2012, said she is eagerto understand the molecular basis of diseases and drug interactions.

“Drug research is an interdisciplinary field that includes chemistry, biology, physicsand pharmacology,” she said. “I am pursuing my Ph.D. degree at Stony Brook sothat I can make a contribution in drug research at a biopharmaceutical companysomeday.”

Meng said she has benefited from working alongside scientists at BNL, where sheperforms x-ray protein crystallography to study protein structures.

“I am fortunate that Stony Brook is very close to BNL and that the advancedtechniques used there are easily accessible to Stony Brook students,” she said.

Through her association with Sampson, Meng has become involved in severalcommunity service projects, such as organizing science fairs at SetauketElementary School, East Setauket, N.Y. and making research presentations atWilliam Floyd High School, Mastic Beach, N.Y.

“These projects helped me foster my science communication skills in dealing withnon-scientists,” Meng said. “While challenging, it is a lot of fun to watch students’faces light up with excitement as they see science taking place right in front ofthem.”

She said she is determined to learn and grow as a scientist: She regularly attendssymposia and conferences throughout the United States to stay current, learndifferent strategies from other researchers and build her network in the scientificcommunity.

“Meng is both talented and hard-working. Her joy in discovering new insights aboutthe molecular world motivates her work,” Sampson said. “At the same time, Meng’spursuit of discovery is practical in that she aims to help humanity with newtreatments against the TB bacterium, which infects one-third of the world’spopulation.”

It’s no surprise that Meng’s love for chemistry fuels her scientific curiosity.“Chemistry is everywhere in our daily lives,” she said. “Our world is composed ofatoms and molecules, and the magic of chemistry helps our society to moveforward.”

Sampson is effusive in her praise for her protégé. “Meng always thinks about thenext steps to take and her experimental skills are exceptional,” she said. “Thecombination of these traits will serve her well in her continuing research career.”

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