Mark Hays Email and Phone Number

During my time studying chemistry/biochemistry at GSU, my main accomplishments included 3 President's List awards, 2 Dean's List awards, and a Global Scholar award. Additionally, I scored in the top 1% nationally on the ACS organic chemistry final exam. From Summer 2021-Spring 2022, I held a research position with Dr. Nadine Kabengi in Geosciences. In Spring 2022, I was mentored by a graduate student in Dr. Binghe Wang's research group, an organic synthesis lab with drug design applications (carbon monoxide-releasing molecules as anti-cancer agents), in the Chemistry Department. Also in Spring 2022, I started tutoring organic chemistry at the STEM center on campus, eventually tutoring all levels of organic chemistry, survey of chemistry, and biochemistry until my graduation in Spring 2024.Skills learned from organic chemistry labs included: recrystallization, distillation, IR spectroscopy, Mass spectrometry, gas chromatography, chemical tests, determination of melting points, NMR spectroscopy, along with general synthetic techniques, and more skills. My analytical chemistry courses implemented the use of titrations, UV-Vis spectroscopy, separation of compounds via gas (GC), thin-layer (TLC), and high-performance liquid (HPLC) chromatography methods, and others, as applied to chemical analysis.Many of these skills were further explored in my research opportunities.The biochemistry curriculum additionally required a molecular cell bio lab, in which the isolation of proteins (via ion-exchange chromatography, SDS-PAGE, and Western blot), Polymerization of target DNA sequences using PCR, analysis of protein/DNA solutions using spectrophotometry, subcellular fractionation, microscopy, and several other skills were covered.Research and lab courses heavily emphasized practices in lab safety, proper up-keeping of lab notebooks, and the ability to work in groups effectively, as well as the compilation/organization of data into lab reports. My elective courses included Microbiology, Medicinal Chemistry, and Drug Discovery, relevant courses to my dream career. I intend to earn a PhD in organic chemistry, to specialize in organic synthesis, so that I may use my skillset as a medicinal chemist in the development of therapeutic molecules. In the meantime, I hope to put my degree to use and gain valuable work experience as an industry chemist, participating in a science I have great passion for.