Graduate Student Spotlight: Jordan Bench
Chemistry Graduate Student Jordan Bench describes his research and answers 20 random questions as part of the Graduate Student Spotlight series.
Jordan Bench is a third-year graduate student who comes to the Department of Chemistry from Westchester, New York. As a member of Professor Brad Pentelute’s lab, Jordan works to develop new methods for synthesizing peptides composed entirely of non-natural amino acids. To improve the potency and biological stability of peptide-based therapeutics, he and his fellow researchers incorporate these synthetic chemical structures to bypass the limitations of nature. By leveraging the automated flow peptide synthesis technology developed in the Pentelute Lab, Jordan is able to produce these molecules reliably and rapidly.
“I like chemistry because I feel that the subject applies to everyday life,” said Jordan. “I want to make a positive impact on others through my research, and I thought that pursuing a PhD in chemistry would enable me to do this. What I enjoy most about my project is that I can directly apply my work to drug discovery, and I hope the science I am developing now will one day lead to a new class of medicines.”
As the subject of this Graduate Student Spotlight, Jordan shares something that was common in his childhood but will seem strange to future generations, the most famous people he’s met, the funniest show he’s seen, and more.
- What did you think you would grow out of but haven’t?
My sweet tooth. - Who is the most famous person you have met?
Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker attended my soccer game in middle school. - What piece of entertainment do you wish you could erase from your mind so that you could experience for the first time again?
When Michigan came back to beat Alabama in overtime at the Rose Bowl. - If money and practicality weren’t a problem, what would be the most interesting way to get around town?
A jetpack - What’s something common from your childhood that will seem strange to future generations?
I don’t think future generations would understand how exciting Beyblades were. - If you had unlimited funds to build a house that you would live in for the rest of your life, what would the finished house be like?
A wooden mansion on a lake in the mountains - What invention doesn’t get a lot of love, but has greatly improved the world?
The electric kettle - What inconsequential superpower would you like to have?
The ability to throw a ball or object with perfect aim. - If you were on a 27 hour flight and could only watch one movie, what would it be?
Fight Club. I’d notice different details in the movie each time I watched it. - What bit of trivia do you know that is very interesting but also very useless?
The longest road tunnel in the world is the Lærdal tunnel, which is 24.5 kilometers long and located in Norway. - If you didn’t have to sleep, what would you do with the extra time?
I’d go to the gym and use any machine I wanted. - What’s the funniest TV show you’ve ever seen?
Curb Your Enthusiasm - What would be the best thing you could reasonably expect to find in a cave?
A chest full of gold coins. - What hobby would you get into if time and money weren’t an issue?
Polo. I’d have to learn horseback riding first, though. - What animal or plant do you think should be renamed, and what should the new name be?
The plural form of moose should be meese. - What’s worth spending more on to get the best?
High quality cooking equipment - If animals could talk, which animal do you think would be the most annoying, and why?
Mosquitoes. I think I’d be annoyed hearing about how they’d want to bite me. - As a child, what did you think would be awesome about being an adult, but isn’t as awesome as you thought it would be?
Being able to drink soda whenever I want. - What skill would you like to master?
I think woodworking would be a very useful skill to have. - What is on your bucket list?
To go skydiving.
