Graduate Profile: Beth Knapp-Reed
Beth Knapp-Reed’s Alma College education allowed her to begin performing undergraduate research in chemistry as a sophomore and present the research at two national American Chemical Society meetings.
In addition, she had three summer internships with pharmaceutical companies. Continuing her education at the University of Michigan, she was a post-doctoral fellow at Wayne Sate University and the University of Michigan.
"I have always enjoyed problem solving. I also have always been intrigued by human physiology."
She now works as a principal scientist in Cardiovascular Medicinal Chemistry at GlaxoSmithKline in King of Prussia, Penn.
“I have always enjoyed problem solving,” the 1998 graduate says. “I also have always been intrigued by human physiology. As a medicinal chemist I am able to use my skills as an organic chemist to generate molecules that have to potential to become lifesaving medicines.”
Though drug discovery has a very low probability for success, she someday hopes to be on a team that discovers a successful drug.
Attracted to Alma by the small class size and student-to-faculty ratio, she was a member of the Almanian student newspaper staff and was the co-editor for two years. She also was a member of Alpha Gamma Delta and a teaching assistant in the Chemistry department.
