Luke+Ward

Howdy, my name is Luke Ward. I am a 5th year biochemistry student in Vickie DeRose's lab at the University of Oregon. I spent the first 22 years of my life in the beautiful Oak tree filled woods of the Ozark Mountains in Missouri. After getting my BS in Biochemistry from the University of Missouri, I figured it was time for a change and so I headed out west. A fan of the classic computer game The Oregon Trail, it was only fitting that since the pioneers of that particular game set out from Independence, MO and ended up in the Willamette Valley, so too should I go to greener (or at least different) pastures.

In the DeRose lab, I study the mechanisms by which RNA enzymes (also called ribozymes) catalyze chemical reactions important for biology. Specifically, I am trying to figure out how magnesium ions help the Hammerhead Ribozyme break bonds.

Besides thinking about science, I like to climb rocks and mountains, grow food in my garden, ski, play soccer, and try to build bikes. Ooh, I love music too. Especially bluegrass.

This is my first year as a GK12 fellow and I am thrilled to get to go to Ferndale, OR and get people excited about asking questions about the world around us.