Shaun Harrington

Shaun Harrington is a senior majoring in Biochemistry. His research mentor is Dr. Arnold from the Chemistry & Biochemistry Department, whose lab focuses on drug discovery. Since the end of his sophomore year, Shaun has been working on a project focusing on the design and synthesis of novel ligands targeting the Alpha-2B adrenergic receptors. By using a palladium-catalyzed reaction, he has developed many benzodiazepine-based analogs, some of which have shown promising affinity towards Alpha-2B adrenergic receptors. Few Alpha-2 subtype-specific ligands exist at present, but developing them is important to create safer and more effective treatments for anxiety and stress disorders. This work has also introduced Shaun to more advanced organic chemistry techniques, such as compound characterization, reaction optimization, and overall skills in synthetic organic chemistry and medicinal chemistry. Shaun’s first time presenting this research was at the 2024 Annual Biohealth Communications Competition, where he placed second. He has also had the opportunity to present his work at national and local conferences, such as ACS Spring 2025 and NCUR 2025. Outside of research, Shaun is an officer of the American Chemical Society Students and volunteers for the Crisis Text Line. Shaun hopes to continue his research journey after he graduates with his bachelor's degree and pursue a PhD in chemistry.