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Trustee Scholar Brad Wertheim ’07 (Martinsville, N.J.) has held a lifelong interest in becoming a doctor.
His mother, who was a biology teacher, cultivated his curiosity in science and biology. He furthered this interest in the medical field by becoming an Emergency Medical Technician for the Martinsville Volunteer Rescue Squad and by majoring in biochemistry at Lafayette.
Wertheim says an EXCEL project he has worked on for the past three summers and an upcoming shadowing experience at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, N.J., are helping to further solidify his career choice.
As a freshman, he began research on a biological method to reduce earthquake damage with Laurie Caslake, assistant professor of biology; Mary J.S. Roth ’83, professor and head of civil and environmental engineering; and Blaire Banagan ’05, who graduated with a B.S. civil engineering.
The project, which was funded through a National Science Foundation grant, examined what happens when bacteria are introduced into the soil beneath buildings weakened by earthquakes. In experiments with sand-filled model tanks, the researchers found that the bacteria form a biofilm, which acts like a glue and reinforces the sand. They are currently compiling their results for publication, hopefully by the end of the year.
While the topic is not directly related to the medical field, the extensive lab work is critical for students hoping to attend medical school. Wertheim says the skills and techniques he has acquired will help him accomplish his goals.
“Certain aspects of research are universal,” he says. “Whether you are studying a soil engineering problem or enzymes for Alzheimer’s, it is equally applicable for a possible diagnosis.”
The shadowing program at Robert Wood Johnson will also provide real world exposure for Wertheim. The two-week experience begins July 24 and will place him with medical staff in the hospital’s department of infectious diseases.
He says this opportunity will be particularly valuable as it will give him a taste of what to expect in medical school.
Caslake believes Wertheim is very capable of entering the medical field.
“Brad is persistent and dedicated, and he always does what he says he is going to do,” she says. “He understands the importance of the project and takes very careful consideration for the data and experiments.”
Wertheim is in the process of applying to medical schools and believes that Lafayette’s attention to undergraduate learning is a vital piece to being accepted to the school of his choice.
“Research is one of the great things Lafayette has going for it,” he says. “If I had to single out something that really helped me prepare [for medical school], it would be the ability to do research and to see your professors outside of the classroom. We have great access to faculty here and I really feel better informed because of it.”
Wertheim is a member of the Outdoor Club and serves as student government representative to the Student Conduct Committee.
Selected from among Lafayette’s top applicants, Trustee Scholars like Wertheim have distinguished themselves through exceptional academic achievement in high school. They receive from Lafayette an annual minimum scholarship of $7,500 ($8,000 effective with the Class of 2009) or a grant in the full amount of their demonstrated need if the need is more than $7,500.
In Lafayette’s distinctive EXCEL Scholars program, students conduct research with faculty while earning a stipend. The program has helped to make Lafayette a national leader in undergraduate research. Many of the more than 160 students who participate each year share their work through articles in academic journals and/or conference presentations.