Finding the Right Chemistry: A Co-op Sparks a Passion

Jessie Matteson ’22 went into her co-op looking for industry experience and came away with something more: a passion for protein science.

Jessie, who earned a bachelor’s degree at RIT in biochemistry, is now an associate scientist II in Protein Sciences at Alnylam Pharmaceuticals. In her role, she works to identify protein structures that interact well with therapeutic targets. She conducts protein binding assays, uses the data to identify which structural designs work best, and shares her findings with senior scientists.

“It’s not always about creating the strongest binding molecule,” Jessie said. “Sometimes we need to modulate affinity for the best outcome.” As her role evolves, Jessie hopes to take the next step in the process by helping design proteins for use in therapeutics.

Jessie was drawn to RIT by the undergraduate research opportunities available in the College of Science and chose biochemistry after developing an interest in neuroscience and cell signaling in high school. Her interest in protein science began to take shape during a co-op at Entegris Inc., where she had her first opportunity to work directly with proteins.

“I took a co-op the first part of my senior year to get a taste for industry, and I loved it,” Jessie said. “I found that I really enjoyed how fast paced the industry is and wanted to continue working with proteins in research. Without that co-op, I don’t know if I would have had the passion to get me where I am today.”

Another important influence was Dr. Suzanne O’Handley, whose courses in biochemistry and protein structure and function gave Jessie knowledge she continues to use today. “Five years later, I am still using all of the fundamentals Dr. O’Handley taught me: how protein structure impacts function, how to use bioinformatics tools like imaging software, and how to read scientific papers for what you need,” Jessie said.

Dr. O’Handley’s influence has continued beyond the classroom, with Jessie staying in touch after graduation to help navigate career decisions. “Dr. O’Handley has always been available to help give me guidance,” she said. “Her support has been immensely helpful.”

For current College of Science students considering a similar path, Jessie encourages them to gain experience outside the classroom and begin building their professional networks. “If you have time, take a co-op,” she said. “It’s really important to build a network and gain experience.”

Jessie also recommends embracing change, especially early in your career. “At one point, I made the difficult decision to pivot paths. Although it was scary at the time, it truly turned out for the best. Sometimes the hardest decisions you have to make are the best ones!”