Olivet biochemistry major Jon Zatorski of Crown Point, Indiana, presents at national conference

2018 Apr 16

Presenting at a national meeting is no easy feat, both before and during. Recently, Jon Zatorski, a senior biochemistry major at Olivet Nazarene University, had the opportunity to share with professionals about his undergraduate research project. He is a resident of Crown Point, Indiana (46307).

The 2018 American Chemical Society national meeting, held in New Orleans, hosted more than 15,000 people. Accompanied by Dr. Bruce Heyen, chair of Olivet's Department of Chemistry and Geosciences, Zatorski enjoyed his experience and the introduction into his future career.

Zatorski's oral presentation was on "Effect of an Arginine-to-Isoleucine Active Site Mutation on Escherichia coli Malate Dehydrogenase Enzymatic Activity." It covered the research he performed with Dr. Heyen at Olivet during summer 2017. A Pence-Boyce research grant from Olivet funded their project.

Zatorski will enter a Ph.D. graduate program at the University of Virginia this fall.

"The opportunity to present research at a national meeting as an undergraduate is both an honor and a reflection of the quality of Jon's work," Dr. Heyen says. "Jon represented Olivet well. The experience of attending a national meeting and presenting his own research has helped solidify his choice to pursue graduate work and become a scientist."