Pushing the boundaries of science and self: Brandon Lopez

After earning his bachelor’s degree in molecular biology from BYU, Brandon Lopez, MS ’24 (MMBIO), wasn’t sure what his future held. While going to graduate school was definitely in his plans, remaining at BYU was not his plan. After considerable searching, Lopez decided to follow his recommendation to remain at BYU to earn his master’s degree, and his journey of self-discovery began.

Work under the guidance of Dr. Brad Berges Studying with Dr. Richard Robison as an undergraduate, Lopez developed a passion for microbiology and immunology. He worked on projects related to the coronavirus throughout the pandemic. As a master’s student, his research remains true to his roots in microbiology and immunology.

Before the pandemic, López studied how mutations in HIV affect patients’ chances of developing AIDS. To conduct the research that is central to his thesis, Dr. Lopez added mutant cancer cells to embryonic kidney cells (HEK) that can express plasmids to generate his HIV, cells that can mimic human DNA. I did it like this. Next, he looked at cell death rates and cytokine release, or inflammatory responses, in cancer cell lines. Lopez and his colleagues found that mutations associated with slower onset of AIDS are those with more cell death and less inflammation. He also hypothesized that inflammation itself may hasten the onset of AIDS. This study will enable other studies to try to combat the development of HIV and AIDS.

Lopez recently presented his findings at the American Society for Virology meeting. Although initially nervous about presenting his research in front of his more experienced scientists, Lopez’s preparation put him at ease. “It gave me not only an unfounded confidence when answering questions, but also an understanding that I could answer any question they asked me.” His performance was so good that he was later praised by several scientists. sought him out for networking and future collaboration.

In addition to these publications, Lopez’s findings have been included in five different publications related to SARS-CoV-2 and one publication on A. fabrum. He partnered with Dr. Pickett at the University of Utah and ARUP, a medical company based in Salt Lake City, to accomplish this research.

Undergraduate Mentor Special Award

One of Lopez’s most meaningful growth opportunities came from teaching and mentoring undergraduate students in the lab. Lopez guided students through every step of the scientific process. “The undergraduate students and their progress were just as important, if not slightly more important, than me as a master’s student,” Lopez said.

As a seasoned science veteran, Lopez enjoys the opportunity to answer students’ questions and help them navigate the unknown. Whether working on cytokine release analysis or protein localization, López made sure to have undergraduate students by his side to learn the process themselves. He also advocated for each student to participate in brainstorming and problem solving. He loves seeing his students go from needing hands-on help to generating new ideas for current and future learning.

Mr. Lopez also appreciated the support he received from the students he mentored while preparing to present at the conference. “I never felt like I was doing it alone. I felt like the research team was always supporting me,” he reflected. “It felt really special to me because it felt like I was presenting something that I had created and discovered together with a team that I consider very close friends.”

One of his fondest memories at BYU was the night before his RNA-seq report was due. He invited all the undergraduate students to his lab and ordered pizza. Ideas and questions were exchanged as the team worked together towards a vision for the final draft. The paper was completed before the deadline and the students learned how dedication and teamwork can lead to great results.

Lopez praised his students’ successes and accomplishments, saying, “I love my undergraduates to death. Without them, I wouldn’t be where I want to be. Without them, I wouldn’t be where I want to be. Without them, I wouldn’t be as fulfilled as I am.”

Learning outside the lab

Lopez’s journey took a unique twist with a new passion for ballroom dancing. Encouraged by his brother to take classes as a graduate student, López unexpectedly found an outlet for self-expression as an artist and athlete. Even though I was new to the sport, ballroom dancing helped me get out of my comfort zone. This newfound confidence translated well into the laboratory environment, where new experiments, protocols, and ideas were constantly thrown at him.

López’s efforts to support students went beyond just mentoring undergraduates. He served as his MMBIO section representative in the Graduate Student Association. He became familiar with the concerns and needs within the department. His efforts helped solve the problems faced by his fellow MMBIO master’s students. He also served as the lead TA for his MMBIO 241. He continued to develop his teaching abilities and took the time to help students gain a deeper understanding of research methodologies and strived to communicate his passion to them. For Lopez, science is more than just discovery. It’s a story.

Lopez credits his success over the past five years to BYU and the relationships he has built. His future currently has many opportunities in the corporate world, and he may eventually pursue a Ph.D. For those considering pursuing his master’s degree at BYU, Lopez shares his two-word simple mantra: “Try it!”