{"682472":{"#nid":"682472","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Peptides, Persistence, and Publication","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EWhen Marielle Frooman joined the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/mcshanlab.com\/\u0022\u003EMcShan Lab\u003C\/a\u003E, she brought a strong passion for chemistry, but no lab experience. Today, the fourth-year Georgia Tech biochemistry student is the first co-author of a groundbreaking malaria study published in\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41598-025-92191-6\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EScientific Reports\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, a\u0026nbsp;\u003Cem\u003ENature Portfolio\u003C\/em\u003E journal. Through extensive experimentation coupled with computer modeling, Frooman led a team of undergraduate and graduate researchers that uncovered eight peptides that can help the immune system recognize and fight the malaria parasite.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cMalaria kills over 500,000 annually with the mortality rate substantially higher in Africa,\u201d says Frooman. \u201cOur research explores how specific peptides bind to proteins that trigger immune responses.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EFrooman originally hoped the research would help her learn how to think like a scientist and gain basic lab knowledge.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EShe gained those skills and more, quickly becoming recognized as an exceptional researcher.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cMarielle is one of the most passionate and talented undergraduate researchers I have ever worked with,\u201d says\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/chemistry.gatech.edu\/people\/andrew-mcshan\u0022\u003EAndrew McShan\u003C\/a\u003E, McShan Lab principal investigator and associate professor in the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/chemistry.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESchool of Chemistry and Biochemistry\u003C\/a\u003E. \u201cShe is also a caring mentor and motivated future leader who wants to change the world. Her malaria research has the potential to provide\u0026nbsp;real therapeutic outcomes, including better designs for vaccines and immunotherapy.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFrom curiosity to contribution\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EFrooman\u2019s journey into undergraduate research began with persistence. After a year and a half of searching for lab opportunities, she attended a School of Chemistry and Biochemistry research showcase. She approached several graduate students and professors with no success, until she met McShan.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cOur first meeting was so relaxed and friendly that I didn\u2019t even realize Professor McShan was the principal investigator,\u201d admits Frooman. \u201cThat\u2019s how it all started.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EOnce she officially joined the lab, Frooman contributed to every stage of the research, including designing experiments, performing computational and wet lab work, analyzing data, and writing and presenting the paper.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELessons in resilience\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe team faced several challenges.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cThe research was delayed by failure after failure,\u201d says Frooman. \u201cBut each setback taught us something valuable.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe team\u2019s biggest challenge involved trying to grow crystals of the peptide\/HLA (protein) complexes to determine how they fit together. They spent two years attempting various methods, but nothing worked.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EGuided by McShan, Frooman and the team then came up with the idea of using computational modeling to enable a deeper understanding of how the peptides and proteins interact at both biophysical and structural levels.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cUtilizing the computational modeling enabled us to see the best bindings and turned into a game-changing insight for our research, potentially leading to the design of more effective malaria treatments and vaccines,\u201d explains Frooman.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EShe is quick to credit Georgia Tech and McShan for providing her with such a valuable learning experience.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cAt many universities, undergraduates rarely do meaningful research, but at Tech, it\u2019s a priority,\u201d explains Frooman. \u201cI\u2019m extremely grateful for the opportunity to grow in such a supportive environment, and to learn from mentors like Professor McShan who lead by example and make time for every student.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EHer advice to other undergraduates entering research?\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cEmbrace your failures. They make the successes even more rewarding,\u201d shares Frooman.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EOutside the lab\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EOn campus, Frooman is president of the Student Affiliates of the American Chemical Society and Cleanup Crew at GT, a member of Alpha Phi International Fraternity, and a campus tour guide who serves on their executive board.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EShe especially loves being a tour guide as it allows her to share her love of Georgia Tech\u0026nbsp;and its people:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cEveryone is unapologetically themselves and fully invested in their major or interests. As someone who loves chemistry, I enjoy being surrounded by people who are just as dedicated to their passions.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EFrooman is a recipient of the Chance Family Scholarship, presented to two School of Chemistry and Biochemistry upperclassmen, recognizing their academic excellence, research contributions, and potential for career success in the field.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003ERecently, she shifted her research focus to organic synthetic chemistry and now works in the\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gutekunstlab.com\/\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;Gutekunst Lab\u003C\/a\u003E. Her career goals include earning a Ph.D. in Chemistry with an emphasis on natural product synthesis, the lab-based creation of complex chemical compounds found in nature.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cI\u2019ve seen what university labs can do,\u201d says Frooman. \u201cI hope to one day lead my own lab, advancing impactful research and mentoring the next generation of scientists.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"Marielle Frooman\u2019s Undergraduate Research Path"}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EFor her first undergraduate research experience,\u0026nbsp;Marielle Frooman did more than work in the McShan lab \u2014\u0026nbsp;she helped lead research that could shape the future of malaria treatment.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"For her first undergraduate research experience, Marielle Frooman did more than work in the McShan lab \u2014 she helped lead research that could shape the future of malaria treatment."}],"uid":"36607","created_gmt":"2025-05-20 14:23:34","changed_gmt":"2025-06-10 18:50:11","author":"ls67","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-05-20T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-05-20T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"677093":{"id":"677093","type":"image","title":"\u0022I\u0027m passionate about this research because of its potential for worldwide impact,\u0022 says Frooman.","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u0022I\u0027m passionate about this research because of its potential for worldwide impact,\u0022 says Frooman.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1747751096","gmt_created":"2025-05-20 14:24:56","changed":"1747759733","gmt_changed":"2025-05-20 16:48:53","alt":"a woman in a lab coat","file":{"fid":"260957","name":"33466402-2DE7-4116-8AFC-F2EB90676614_1_105_c.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/05\/20\/33466402-2DE7-4116-8AFC-F2EB90676614_1_105_c.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/05\/20\/33466402-2DE7-4116-8AFC-F2EB90676614_1_105_c.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":159264,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/05\/20\/33466402-2DE7-4116-8AFC-F2EB90676614_1_105_c.jpeg?itok=Ffgeg5p0"}},"677099":{"id":"677099","type":"image","title":"Frooman\u0027s Georgia Tech honors include the President\u2019s Undergraduate Research Award and the Judith Priddy Award, given to a Panhellenic woman with demonstrated high scholarship and leadership.","body":"\u003Cp\u003EFrooman\u0027s Georgia Tech honors include the President\u2019s Undergraduate Research Award and the Judith Priddy Award, given to a Panhellenic woman with demonstrated high scholarship and leadership.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1747760188","gmt_created":"2025-05-20 16:56:28","changed":"1748441123","gmt_changed":"2025-05-28 14:05:23","alt":"Young woman posting with Georgia Tech mascot Buzz.","file":{"fid":"260968","name":"froobuzz264920A4-D6F4-4A68-A1FB-C4363C192C36.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/05\/20\/froobuzz264920A4-D6F4-4A68-A1FB-C4363C192C36.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/05\/20\/froobuzz264920A4-D6F4-4A68-A1FB-C4363C192C36.png","mime":"image\/png","size":14783219,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/05\/20\/froobuzz264920A4-D6F4-4A68-A1FB-C4363C192C36.png?itok=zeqKCU4E"}}},"media_ids":["677093","677099"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/news\/new-frontier-immune-research-andrew-mcshan-awarded-career-grant-protein-lipid-research","title":"A New Frontier of Immune Research: Andrew McShan Awarded CAREER Grant for Protein-Lipid Research"},{"url":"https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/news\/undergraduate-anu-iyer-leads-parkinsons-research-study","title":"Undergraduate Anu Iyer Leads Parkinson\u2019s Research Study"}],"groups":[{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"85951","name":"School of Chemistry and Biochemistry"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"},{"id":"141","name":"Chemistry and Chemical Engineering"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"134","name":"Student and Faculty"},{"id":"8862","name":"Student Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"192259","name":"cos-students"},{"id":"48951","name":"featured student research"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"7629","name":"malaria"},{"id":"166928","name":"School of Chemistry and Biochemistry"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWriter: Laura S. Smith\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["laura.smith@cos.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}