Justin Elkhechen '15
Justin Elkhechen has long been fascinated with the workings of the human body. A former high school baseball and soccer player, he says his love for sports fuels his desire to understand the intricacies of how we function, especially in the cellular and molecular realms.
That thirst for exploration has led Elkhechen, a biochemistry major from Fort Lee, N.J., to perform research at the Syracuse Biomaterials Institute (SBI) and at the Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine, where he spent summer 2013 as an Amgen Scholar, part of a prestigious national program that promotes undergraduate research.
Q: How did your love of and experience with sports play a role in deciding what you wanted to study at Syracuse University?
A: The human body is so remarkable on so many levels. I wanted to explore that here in much more detail.
Q: What got you interested in the research you are involved with?
A: The catalyst for me was the interdisciplinary course Stem Cells in Society; it motivated me to dig deeper into the topics we were covering. Through that course, I met Professor (James) Henderson. I learned more about his research at the Syracuse Biomaterials Institute and joined his lab as a sophomore.
Q: What are you currently working on?
A: Right now, I am working on Honors research project that involves understanding how changes in the fiber alignments of shape-memory polymers can influence the migratory patterns of breast cancer cells and murine stem cells. In the lab, I develop fibrous polymeric scaffolds that, when exposed to temperature shifts, change shape during cell culture, providing the opportunity to study how the cells respond to alterations in the fibers. Those arranged in one direction, for instance, can facilitate cancer cell migration to surrounding tissue, leading to metastasis. Likewise, a random alignment can inhibit cell movement. The research I’ve done is really valuable to me. It is a real privilege to be involved in it.
Q: How was your experience with the Amgen program?
A: My time as an Amgen Scholar helped me to further elevate my research skills. My mentors at Stanford, Dr. Marius Wernig and Dr. Sean Wu, involved me in a collaborative research project designed to generate Purkinje fibers, which are responsible for the heart’s conduction system. The program was a phenomenal experience; it was a highlight of my college career.
Q: While performing research has been a priority for you during your undergraduate studies, what other things have defined your Syracuse experience?
I enjoy the balance of academics and social life at Syracuse. I am an avid Orange sports fan, and I have also worked for SU Ambulance, served on the College of Arts and Sciences Dean’s Team and the college’s Academic Integrity Board, and am president of Shadows of Health, which links students interested in the health field with health professionals.
Q: What are your plans after graduating from Syracuse in May?
A: My research experiences with the Syracuse Biomaterials Institute and at Stanford University as an Amgen Scholar have inspired my plans to go to medical school next fall with a long-term goal of focusing on orthopedics.
My parents have been an endless source of encouragement and inspiration. They came here as immigrants [his father is from Lebanon; his mother, Venezuela]. They worked as hard as they possibly could to establish themselves in this country. They inspire me to be the best I can in something I’m passionate about.