Quinlan Doctrove wants to increase the world’s collective knowledge.

And Professor Marilee Benore’s biochemistry lab has shown him how he can accomplish this — through research.

Working in her lab, Doctrove helps characterize a riboflavin-binding protein found in chicken eggs and the genes that create this protein. It sounds complicated — and it is — but the mission is simple: Good health. Understanding riboflavin-binding protein, a vitamin needed for growth and development, is a stepping stone for further developments in the medical community.

Doctrove not only conducts research, he also teaches incoming research assistants the value of the research performed, current objectives and the techniques used.

He’s mentored three students in the past year, two during the academic year and one during the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience, a fellowship program where Doctrove continued his work with Benore and presented his results.

He also has shared his research at the 2018 Meeting of Minds and the 2019 American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology National Conference.

In the future, Doctrove plans to continue research — in graduate school or through a career in the biochemical/molecular biology field  — looking for results that redefine the way we view the world.

“Not all research will be immediately world-changing,” he said. “Research takes time and every little bit helps reach this world-changing goal. My life goal is to continue to do research and continue to uncover new information that can be used to better society.”