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As a child, Leodis “Champ” Gupton dreamed of being a surgeon. His third-grade science teacher further instilled a fascination with the subject into Gupton whose love for animals later had him consider a career as a veterinarian. It wasn’t until he took microbiology his sophomore year of college that Gupton’s interest in research emerged. “Microbiology changed how I looked at science,” he says. “ I became interested in understanding the precise mechanisms by which organisms evolve and the molecular side of organisms’ actions.” The class so impacted Gupton that he recommends it to non-science majors to satisfy their science credit. “It pertains to SARS, the bird flu and all the other diseases we hear about in the news,” he says. “It’ll make you realize that humans cause these problems. We are a huge factor in regards to the spread and the drug resistance that these diseases develop. Taking the class will help prevent mass hysteria because you’ll understand what’s going on. I believe microbiology could be a class that is more globally beneficial to non-science majors.” After graduating from the University of Missouri, St. Louis, with a major in biology and minors in biochemistry and biotechnology, the Arkansas native came to Austin whose hilly greenery reminded him of home. Gupton joined Dr. Scott Stevens lab where he studies the structure and function of the spliceosome, which is the beginning point for gene expression. Certain cancers have been linked to improper splicing. “We’re trying to understand how the actual machinery that does the splicing mechanism works,” he says. Additionally, the goal of the research in the Stevens lab is “trying to understand the complex molecular precision and the many interacting proteins which govern the spliceosome function. Understanding these details may provide us with possible therapeutics for many disease states.” During Gupton’s four years at UT, he’s enjoyed the diversity of research. “The cell and molecular biology program encompasses several departments,” he says. “I knew that if I came here I would be cross trained in several different disciplines and would therefore make myself more marketable when applying for a post-doctorate or whatever career I pursue after grad school.” Gupton is not limiting his potential profession to academia, though working as a teaching assistant for one class was an enjoyable experience he believes every graduate student should try. One of the careers he’s contemplated is science writing. “There is so much you can do with a PhD in the biological sciences,” he says. If Gupton becomes a professor, he hopes to be a part of the “pipeline” of influence on those who discover the cure for diseases. “I’m not so idealistic as to think I’m going to be the person who finds the cure for cancer, but I do see myself doing great things in science and contributing a lot,” he says. “I wish to somehow pass on great things to students so they can do great things in science and cure diseases. I would feel very rewarded if I could say, ‘I knew that person when they didn’t know much about science and look at what I taught them.’” To be a success in the PhD program, Gupton believes students must have a genuine passion for science. “It’s not just the cool stuff like on CSI where they solve problems in 20 minutes,” he says. “It’s a lot of hard work so you have to be self-motivated and determined and humble because research can humble you very quickly. Know who you are and love what you do.” |
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