Graduate Student Highlight: Patrick Corrigan
Each week, the Department of Chemistry highlights a graduate student who is doing exciting work around the department. In this installment of our highlight series, we are featuring Patrick Corrigan of the Silakov lab.
Patrick studies oxygen tolerance in a class of enzymes called hydrogenases. These enzymes are an important target for next generation biological fuel cells. Unfortunately, most of them are intolerant to oxygen. Patrick’s research is focused on characterizing a newly discovered hydrogenase that is more tolerant to oxygen and thus may be a better target for biological fuel cells.
Outside of the lab, Patrick was a founding member and president of the Chemistry Graduate Student Association (GSA). Although he is no longer actively involved in the GSA, Patrick still enjoys attending their events.
This week, we met virtually with Patrick to discuss his life in and outside of the lab! Please enjoy our interview with Patrick Corrigan.
Question: How did you get interested in chemistry?
Answer: When I was a kid, I went to a summer camp called Arts and Science in the Woods. I took a lot of science classes at that camp, which sparked my interest in science as a whole.
Q: What inspires you as a scientist?
A: I'm deeply motivated by energy and the environment. I want to help develop sustainable fuels to help save the world.
Q: Where did you grow up?
A: I grew up in Peoria, IL. It's the birthplace of Richard Pryor and where penicillin was first produced on an industrial scale.
Q: Do you have any hobbies?
A: I play guitar, dungeons and dragons, bowl, fish, and rock climb.
Q: Do you have any pets?
A: I have a rabbit and a dog. Their names are Rhett and Kendrick.
Q: What’s your favorite way to spend a day off?
A: It depends on the day. Some days, I like going to a brewery or a winery with friends. On other days, I just want to lounge around my apartment and watch movies with my girlfriend.
Q: What’s your dream vacation?
A: We're planning on taking a trip around the UK after I defend my dissertation. I'm very much looking forward to that.
Q: If you could have dinner with anybody (living or dead), who would it be and why?
A: I'd have a lobster roll and a dry pinot grigio with Jim James, the lead singer of My Morning Jacket. I'd like to thank him for his music and for supporting a music festival that I enjoy called Newport Folk Fest. I'd also like to hear what he thinks about the state of our world and where we're going.
Bonus Question: Do you have any fun science trivia to share?
A: Bruce Banner, the other personality of The Hulk, got his doctorate at Penn State.
Thanks to Patrick for these interesting and thoughtful answers! We hope you enjoyed this interview. Stay tuned for more graduate student highlights in the weeks to come!