Congratulations to Jesse Brewer ’18 who won a Princeton University Thesis Prize in Molecular Biology for her work, “The Molecular Biology of SARS-COV2 and its Evolution within the Princeton Community.” Brewer graduated with honors from the University’s Molecular Biology department last month.

While a Lawrenceville student, Brewer was a Hutchins Scholar in Science Research, a program which recognizes Lawrenceville’s most outstanding science and provides them with substantive research experiences so that they qualify for leading university science programs and are inspired ultimately to pursue science-related careers. Brewer says the program did exactly that for her.

“Lawrenceville prepared me for Princeton by providing me with a solid foundation in the sciences and mentors that took the time to explain difficult concepts in accessible ways. Specifically, the Hutchins Scholars program enabled me to learn modern lab techniques, design and execute my own experiment, and participate in a summer internship at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Research Center,” she explained. “I could not have made it [at Princeton] without it.”

The molecular biology (pre-med) major worked in the laboratory of Dr. Daniel A. Notterman (professor of the practice, molecular biology/senior advisor to the provost for biomedical affairs), studying the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak at Princeton University. “I developed a CRISPR-based fluorescence detection assay for strains of the B.1.1.7 Lineage,” she explained.

Brewer will next work on a research project for The Atlantic while applying to medical schools.

For additional information, contact Lisa M. Gillard H'17, director of public relations, at lgillard@lawrenceville.org.