My name is Michael Jones and I've just completed my second year of Chemical Engineering at Queen's University, specializing in the Bioengineering stream. Growing up on a farm in Simcoe County, I've always had an interest in living systems, especially soil microbiology. After conducting science projects on the biological activity of fields and naturally occurring insecticides, my research interests shifted to microbiology and chemical discovery with medical applications. This is what led me to chemical engineering and the Amgen Scholars program.
My current research interests include the fields of tissue engineering and drug delivery. As I progress in my academic career, I plan to study the interaction between biomaterials and living tissues in the human body. While finding the best materials for a therapeutic application may take a long time, the inherent potential draws me to this research.
Outside of school and research, I enjoy getting involved in the Queen's community as an Orientation Executive and a member of the Queen's Biomedical Innovation Team. I also like exploring downtown Kingston and playing intramural volleyball.
I am honoured to join the Amgen Scholars community and excited to have a strong start to my work in biomedical research. For me, this program represents an opportunity to learn from top researchers and connect with like-minded peers from across North America. I cannot wait to see what this summer has in store, and I look forward to applying this experience to my future coursework and research.