10/15/2026
Studying under the direction of RNA expert Kunal Chatterjee, assistant professor of biology, Brenden Raggiunti Brown-Reid ’27, a biology major from Brampton, Ontario, spent time conducting collaborative research this summer. His focus: learning how caffeine-induced stress affects tRNA processing and trafficking in yeast cells as a model of nutrient deficiency.
“I've always enjoyed learning about cell biology, particularly the processes involving DNA and RNA,” said Brown-Reid, who plays on the men's soccer team and the men's eSports team. “The best part of the research was casting gels and discovering new questions to answer.”
The opportunity to engage in meaningful research with faculty early in the college journey has been a cornerstone of the Wittenberg experience. Brown-Reid now hopes to present this research and publish a paper on it in the future. The experience also gave him more insight into himself.
“I learned that I am able to pick up new skills quickly and adapt well when introduced to unfamiliar tasks or concepts,” he said.
