Novato native planning for business world discovers love of science

May 06--Novato native Nicole McIntosh, 21, thought she had her future all mapped out.

She was to study business at the University of California, Davis, and work at an insurance company. But then she discovered science.

McIntosh is graduating this month from Dominican University with a bachelor's degree in chemistry, with an emphasis on biochemistry and a minor in biology. She is also part of a group of researchers, led by Dominican's Tyler Johnson, that last month had its study on sea sponges published in a national peer-reviewed journal. The study explores how sea sponge molecules have potential to spearhead an alternative approach to developing less addictive opioids.

McIntosh will return to the school in fall to pursue a master's degree in biological sciences. Through the program, she will also conduct research at BioMarin pharmaceutical company.

Q Why did you shift your focus from business to science?

A I graduated at 16 because I had enough credits ... I got accepted to UC Davis and I was young and not ready to go to college. I deferred it a year. During that year, my high school calculus teacher asked if I'd work for him. He's the [chief financial officer] at Costello and Sons Insurance brokers. After high school I started working with him and toward the end of that year, when it was time for me to go to Davis, I realized I didn't want to go to Davis but just keep working. I wanted to keep working and going to school close by. I applied to Dominican. I got accepted and for the first year here I was actually a business major and I was working at the insurance broker ... I really enjoyed Dr. Johnson's general chemistry course. For the first time I enjoyed chemistry, which was funny for me. I decided to switch. I think that was probably the best decision I ever made.

Q What was your research on sea sponges?

A We take sponges from the ocean and we extract and isolate different chemical compounds from these sponges. We send them different places. We have constituents who work in different places, and we can send them these compounds. They test them and tell us what they do.

Q What was your part in the research?

A Taking sponges from the ocean and soaking them in different solvents and pulling the chemicals out of them.

Q How does it feel to have your research published?

A It's huge. It's really rare for undergraduates to have the opportunity to get published on a peer-review basis.

Q What are your plans when you are completely done with school?

A I'm passionate about improving the human condition -- that can be done in so many different facets in science. I'll stay in science.

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