Noura Mohamed

Hi I'm Noura Mohamed! I'm a junior student from Revelle College, majoring in Chemistry & Biochemistry and minoring in Computer Science & Engineering.

Which UR programs and/or research conferences have you participated in?

I participated in TRELS Summer Program and the Summer Research Conference.

What are you researching (area of research)?

My research, under Dr. Gulcin Pekkurnaz, examined the spatial regulation of glycolytic enzymes on mitochondria - particularly, that of hexokinase. The brain is the organ with the highest risk of injury due to mitochondrial dysfunction and/or stress, due to the fact that it consumes the highest energy of all organs, more than 90 percent of which is provided by mitochondria. Mitochondria role as the powerhouse of the cell has implicated it in many neurodegenerative diseases, and thus understanding the molecular regulation mechanisms maybe the next step in unlocking the neurodegeneration challenge.

Why did you decide to get involved in undergraduate research?

Being part of undergraduate research is essential to my understanding of how the scientific process works, and to coming closer to what I would like to do in the future. Additionally, I have no doubt that this experience is invaluable for future applications, whether it being graduate school, professional school, or even a career as a research scientist.