We are SC INBRE: Francis Marion University

Farouk Chatila, a senior pre-medicine major mentored by Dr. Jennifer Lyles, is a keen undergraduate research student at Francis Marion University. Together, they’re investigating how Adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors function differently in undifferentiated versus differentiated cells. Their focus is on the AAV vector genome’s structural changes during cellular differentiation, using C2C12 murine myoblast cells that transform into myotubes under specific conditions. By observing AAV vector genome configurations at each stage of cell differentiation, Farouk and Lyles hope to uncover key insights into viral vector stability across cell types.

As he looks toward graduation in the fall of 2024, Farouk is excited to share his findings at the 2024 South Carolina Branch of the American Society for Microbiology (SC ASM) meeting and Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Scientists (ABRCMS) in Philadelphia, with the support of a full travel award. He’s also received invitations for two medical school interviews (MUSC and USC Columbia) —an exciting step toward his goal of becoming a physician. 

SC INBRE funding has been instrumental in Farouk’s journey, enabling him to conduct research and attend national conferences, where he’s connected with other scientists and discovered the value of collaboration in STEM disciplines. SC INBRE support also provided Farouk with a summer internship where he gained hands-on experience in DNA isolation and antimicrobial disk diffusion techniques.

Outside the lab, Farouk is a powerlifter! Competing in four weightlifting events, he’s found a welcoming and supportive community, including in an event dedicated to suicide prevention. In addition to his studies and athletic pursuits, Farouk works with the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service on wastewater purification, amassing over 1,500 lab hours. 

Farouk’s mentor, Dr. Jennifer Lyles has recently received an award from Francis Marion’s Honors committee for her dedicated service to undergraduate honors thesis mentoring – an award well earned given her students’ successes.