Morgan Opp

About Morgan Opp

I am a senior at Syracuse University with majors in Medicinal Chemistry and Biology and a minor in Applied Statistics with a focus in economics. At SU, I am involved with research that primarily focuses on the conjugation of various small molecules to a library of peptides as potential treatments for type II diabetes and obesity. Outside of the lab, I am involved with many clubs and organizations, such as the Orange Experience at Syracuse University Synchronized Skating team and Alpha Chi Sigma, a professional chemistry fraternity. In the fall, I will begin my doctoral studies at Yale University School of Medicine within the Translational & Molecular Medicine, Pharmacology, and Physiology track. Before attending SU, I graduated from Wayzata High School in Minnesota. There, I was heavily involved with service organizations, such as National Honor Society. I also had the amazing opportunity to volunteer at the University of Minnesota’s Schulze Diabetes Institute, where I worked with an incredible team dedicated to curing Type I Diabetes. I have a skillset and perspective that allows me to understand both the scientific and business sides pharmaceuticals. This unique position has allowed me to have a greater appreciation for the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. I hope to use my passion for medicinal chemistry to develop life-changing medications for people who need them most. I believe that healthcare is a basic human right, and I want to be able to help give people that right through chemistry.

Experience

1. Amgen Scholar

   Amgen Foundation

   May 2024 — Present

   Conducted research with Dr. Rebecca Berlow at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics. Here, I expressed, purified, and covalently tagged a mutant version of the transcriptional regulator CITED2. The goal of this research was to first fluorescently tag CITED2 in order to conclusively observe, in vitro, liquid-liquid phase separation. The second goal was to use an NMR tag on an N-15 labeled version of the same protein to observe and understand the dynamics and ensemble, including liquid-liquid phase separation, at the residue level.

Education

• Syracuse University College of Arts and Sciences

  Bachelor of Science - BS

  2021 — 2025