Justin Magrath won the Catherine J. Randall Award in 2017.
Glioblastoma Multiforme is the most common form of brain tumor. It’s fast-growing, and according to the National Institutes of Health, it has no long-term effective treatment. That’s one of the reasons Justin Magrath, as an undergraduate, is pursing research related to this form of cancer. He’s spent 15 to 20 hours a week working with Dr. Yonghyun (John) Kim, assistant professor of biological and chemical engineering, exploring the use of the chemotherapy drug salinomycin in combatting this form of cancer by attacking Glioblastoma Multiforme’s glioblastoma stem cells.
Magrath’s work has proven to be well-received. He has presented research at four conferences — most recently at the Biomedical Engineering Society National Conference in Minneapolis — and he placed second for a poster presentation at the 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Southern Region Conference. In addition, he has received the Randall Outstanding Undergraduate Research Award and the H. Pettus Randall Jr. Scholarship, given to the junior in the Computer-Based Honors Program with the most outstanding research project.
In addition to awards through UA’s Computer-Based Honors Program, Magrath has received the Donald F. Othmer Academic Excellence Award and the Outstanding General Chemistry Student Award, and he is a National Merit Scholar. Magrath plans on pursuing an MD/PhD. He’s also president of the Alabama Kayak Club. Magrath is from Mandeville, Louisiana. His parents are Heidi and Robert Magrath.