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Matthias Ngo, Chemistry

Growing up with educators as parents and with a deep understanding of the impact mentorship can have on someone, it’s safe to say that Matthias Ngo is more than ready to inspire the next generation of learners.

Throughout his undergraduate career, Ngo has both studied and tutored in Ģ������Ƶ University’s program. For the Galloway resident, the experience of helping students within the program was one he described as “rewarding” because it combines his passions – chemistry and education.   

“Beyond assisting students with course content, I strive to help them develop a scientific mindset and encourage them to approach problems critically and think like scientists. Some of the most fulfilling moments have been witnessing students grow in confidence and understanding throughout the semester,” Ngo said.

The experience of helping students in the proved valuable for Ngo, who gained insight into what helping students as an educator could look like for him.

“I had a student (whom) I was working with last semester, and she was a great student who tried really hard, but there was a subject that she really struggled with,” Ngo shared. “She was upset and got emotional, but I was able to cheer her up and get her through it. She actually came back this semester just to tell me how helpful it was. It was a nice moment because it showed me that I could help others emotionally.”

Additionally, under Professor of Chemistry Kelly Keenan, Ngo has been able to conduct and present his research on protease enzymes and their biological role in facilitating immune system responses and aiding digestion for the last two years.

“The primary objective of our research was to identify and characterize the active proteases in saliva that digest natural food proteins, such as those in chicken, beef and beans. To this end, we successfully developed a novel method to study protease digestion of natural protein sources,” Ngo said. 

“Last spring, I had the opportunity to present my research at the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) national conference in San Antonio, where I participated in the undergraduate poster competition,” Ngo continued.

When he isn’t excelling academically, Ngo can be found running in both his neighborhood and marathons and cycling to decompress. During his time here, he has completed seven marathons, including last spring’s Boston Marathon and last fall’s Chicago Marathon.

“Running has become one of my greatest joys: it is a way for me to escape and reflect, and it introduced me to many lifelong friends. In the future, I hope to continue to meet new people through running and to run all seven world marathon majors,” Ngo shared.

Despite his many accomplishments, Ngo said he still had to battle Imposter Syndrome. However, he is gradually starting to build a stronger sense of confidence.

“While I have not fully overcome these challenges, my confidence has grown with the encouragement and support of those around me,” Ngo said. “I still experience self-doubt, especially when stepping into new opportunities, but I have learned to channel these feelings as motivation to grow, learn and refine my skills.”

Ngo’s future is bright – he is heading to the Pennsylvania State University in the fall for a Ph.D. in Chemistry.

With his time at Ģ������Ƶ in the rearview mirror, Ngo says he’ll miss being inspired by the faculty here on campus.

“I have truly looked up to the Chemistry professors here, whose expertise and dedication have been instrumental in shaping my passion for the field,” Ngo said. “Their brilliance, mentorship and enthusiasm for science have inspired me to pursue chemistry more deeply, and I am grateful for the guidance they have provided throughout my academic journey.”