Growing up in Pittsburgh, Amy Aloe watched as a younger cousin struggled with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, or DMD.

"He was only nine months younger than I was, but it looked like he was three or four years younger because of the impact of DMD," remembers Aloe, who is majoring in molecular biology. "That's why I've wanted to work on DMD since I was only eight."

Aloe got the chance during her first year at Kenyon, when she enrolled in "Introduction to Experimental Molecular Biology," taught by Assistant Professor of Biology Karen Hicks. In the course, students are given the opportunity to design their own independent research project. Aloe chose to focus on DMD, which is caused by the lack of a muscle-related protein. One way to combat DMD is to reintroduce a good copy of the protein gene into the body. But the protein is often too large, so scientists are working to truncate it while ensuring that it remains functional.

Aloe decided to try to replicate a segment of groundbreaking DMD research taking place at the University of Washington. She e-mailed Jeffery Chamberlin, the lead scientist on the project. "It was nerve-racking, because I thought he'd be too busy to deal with an undergraduate," Aloe remembers. "But he was very responsive and very helpful." Chamberlin even shipped DNA samples to Aloe and provided advice during the research project. Eventually, he invited her to take a summer job in his lab.

Aloe hopes to spend another summer in Gambier, as part of Kenyon's Summer Science Scholars Program. About 30 students participate every year, working intensively on research projects under the close guidance of faculty mentors, and earning stipends for the work. "One of the reasons I chose Kenyon was the opportunity to do research as an undergraduate," Aloe says. "Now I have the chance to get paid for something I always dreamed about doing."