LV Life

Scholar eyes pharmaceutical future

Junior Mohammed Ghonim is majoring in chemistry with a biology minor. "I'm in it because you learn new stuff everyday and it's a great career move." Ghonim plans to attend USC and join their doctor of pharmacy program after graduating from La Verne. / photo by Summer Herndon
Junior Mohammed Ghonim is majoring in chemistry with a biology minor. “I’m in it because you learn new stuff everyday and it’s a great career move.” Ghonim plans to attend USC and join their doctor of pharmacy program after graduating from La Verne. / photo by Summer Herndon

by Angelica Martinez
Arts and Entertainment Editor

Junior Mohammed Ghonim, whose motto is to “help people,” has certainly helped the University of La Verne in gaining recognition among Ivy League schools such as Harvard and Yale.

Ghonim, a chemistry major and biology minor, was recently inducted into Alpha Chi Honor Society.

Two requirements which helped him were his impressive grade point average of 3.91 with all upper division science courses, and his background in numerous research projects.

“Two Saturdays ago, we [Alpha Chi] had regional conferences,” said Ghonim. “Student representatives for the National Council were selected by seven different regions — ULV falls into the seventh region.

“Students were to complete a presentation and discuss themselves and their involvements outside of academics. Elections for the regional representatives then took place.”

Dr. Alfred Clark, assistant vice president for academic affairs, recommended Ghonim because “he is an excellent student.

“He has done some of the most advanced research I’ve seen than any other student at ULV,” said Dr. Clark.

Those students who are elected attend an Alpha Chi national conference this year, as well as another conference next year. Both conferences will take place in New Orleans, and are scheduled in April.

“We are all new student representatives,” said Ghonim.

He, along with six other representatives, will be preparing research to present at April’s conference.

“I think I will be discussing the research on heart disease I did at UC Davis,” he said.

According to Ghonim, Alpha Chi and the regional conferences are all “very organized.”

In fact, he said the minutes for April’s conference have already been made.

Since the conference will be taking place in New Orleans, students’ transportation will be provided for. Through the mail, they will receive material to help them prepare for both conferences without any problems.

Ghonim, who previously presented extensive research on “‘Synthesis of Nucleoside Derivatives and Nucleoside Analogs for the Study of DNA Oxidation,'” has a long list of research he has already done to help his career.

“It’s basically DNA mutations. We are studying the possibility that DNA mutation may be taking place,” he said.

Ghonim has been researching at the University of California, Los Angeles once a week, for nearly 15 weeks.

Karie O’Neill, senior chemistry major, says Ghonim is “always willing to help. No matter what, he takes time out of his schedule to help anyone.”

After his first research presentation, Ghonim was asked to discuss more about himself and his interests.

Tutoring about 20 hours a week, he says he loves to tutor classmates “not for the sake to help out. My attitude is to help people do better.

“I want people to be happy. I like helping them get that,” said Ghonim.

Ghonim, whose parents did not receive a higher education, feels proud of the impressive resumé he has already acquired through ambition and hard work.

“I’d like to get my Pharm. D. [doctor of pharmacy],” he said.

That would allow him the opportunity to “interact with doctors” when prescribing drugs and will also allow for the “development of new drugs.”

“[It is] kind of like pharmaceutical design,” he said.

“I study, tutor and do research,” laughed Ghonim. “I like it [science] because I’m not just a lab rat, I get involved and develop theories which help me understand it better.”

Alpha Chi is great according to Ghonim because “there is not much recognition for smart students.

“Alpha Chi gives you a goal. It means more to me because I’m not just a member, I’m getting involved. I’m getting something out of it,” he said.

Angelica Martinez, Arts Editor
Angelica Martinez
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Summer Herndon, Photography Editor
Summer Herndon
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