George Melchor ’17

George Melchor followed a different path in arriving at Dr. Lance Barton’s research lab from his hometown of Uvalde, Texas, where he attended community college. Through Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, a personal connection from Denison introduced him to research opportunities at Austin College, and George’s first visit to campus was guided by Barton, his soon-to-be mentor.  The unique experience as an undergraduate leader in Barton’s cancer research lab and additional in-course research with Associate Professor of Psychology Dr. Renee Countryman cemented  George’s love for the lab. He’s currently working on a Ph.D. in the Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience at Georgetown University. “My graduate research focuses on understanding the  complex relationship between the immune system and the cells attacked in multiple sclerosis throughout the disease process,” says George. “My time at Austin College totally prepared me for this  kind of intricate research.”