Summer 5Q: McChensey Conducts Horticulture Research at UK Agriculture Science Center

David McChesney (Boyle, ’11) is currently wrapping up an eight week summer research experience at the University of Kentucky’s Agriculture Science Center North. McChesney has been performing full-time research since the summer break began in mid-May with Dr. Seth DeBolt from UK’s Department of Horticulture.

DeBolt said that McChesney’s project seeks to explain how regulation of cellulose synthase occurs by phophorylation in the primary cell wall, opening the door to discovery of processes that may regulate the dynamics of assembly, turnover, activation or stoichiometry of this important yet difficult to study protein.

McChesney received a Gatton Academy Research Internship Grant, which is a grant available to Gatton Academy students in the summer between their junior and senior years to support students during research experiences.

David recently took a break from his research to answer some questions about how his summer experience has been going:

1. Tell us a little about the project or program in which you are participating this summer that the Research Internship Grant is funding.

I am assisting the DeBolt lab in sequencing an important part of the DNA of plants including Sorghum, and the Arabidopsis plant, a common weed that is being investigated as an alternative to corn as a biofuel. We are working on identifying the parts of the DNA that allow the most amount of cellulose to grow, therefore increasing the amount of biofuel that can be produced per plant.

2. What is the part of the summer experience you are enjoying most?

I think that it is really neat that I can be a part of the search for alternative fuels. There is great potential for the results that we get. I can’t help but think that there is the chance that we will have an answer to help the energy crisis.

3. How is this different from the way you think most high school students spend their summers?

I know that if I were not doing research I would be probably be bored wasting my time at home or spending time with friends. It’s helpful to have something to look forward to every day, and I enjoy staying busy.

4. Will you be using this research experience as a launching point for any particular applications, competitions, or scholarships?

I would like to enter my results into the Siemens Competition, and this is an excellent opportunity to be searching for a potential job in the future.

5. How does this research experience or internship fit into your educational and professional goals?

It is really neat to be able to apply everything that I have learned in class to a real world experience. It is nice to be able to understand exactly what everyone is talking about, and I am sure that I will get excellent recommendations for college, since I have been in a college/work environment.

6. What are you looking forward to the most about your second year at the Academy?

I’m excited about going on in science and math and being able to take a wider variety of courses. It will be nice to get out of the general education classes.

David McChesney