Matthew Licht '20
Biology and Chemistry Double Major
Minor in Writing and Rhetoric

Growing up in Lindenhurst, NY, Matthew Licht was familiar with Stony Brook University’s strong reputation and when the time came, applied and was accepted. When Admitted Students Day came around, Matthew was greeted by friendly faculty and staff, a beautiful campus and captivating presentations. It was at that moment he knew he had made the right choice. 

As his final semester at Stony Brook comes to a close -- a semester spent writing his thesis on oncolytic virotherapy and researching nanoparticles in Dr. Stanislaus Wong’s lab -- Matthew reflects on his experiences and shares his hopes for the future.

On his majors and minor: 
I am a Chemistry and Biology double major with a minor in Writing and Rhetoric. I find chemistry interesting for a number of reasons. For one, much of chemistry is like puzzles that are just waiting to be solved. Plus, the way in which chemistry deals with the fundamentals of the universe and even finds ways to mathematically model it is amazing. Because chemistry is so fundamental, it has a wide range of applications such as electronics, materials science, energy production, agriculture, medicine, and biology. That’s also part of the reason why I find biology interesting. Organisms are, in essence, complex chemical systems.

As for my writing minor, I decided to take WRT 380: Advanced Research Writing, with Dr. Robert Kaplan in the spring of my junior year because I wanted to improve my writing skills. I really enjoyed that class and it helped me improve my writing a lot, so I decided to take more writing classes and make it my minor. 

On his favorite class:
This is challenging because I have taken several really interesting and fun courses during my time at Stony Brook. One of my favorite classes was CHE 302, Physical Chemistry II, because it was a very challenging course and I learned  a lot. This class also went in depth into quantum mechanics, which I enjoyed. 

Along with this, WRT 302: Fiction Writing, and HON 110: SmartPhone Photography, were two courses that allowed me to be creative and express myself in ways not possible in more rigid classes.

On his greatest achievement:
My greatest achievement would probably be my senior thesis on oncolytic virotherapy. Academically, it has been one of the most challenging things I have ever worked on. I have had to integrate my knowledge of chemistry, biology, and research writing in order to complete it. I am also proud of it because when I read through it, I see how much I have grown as a writer and an aspiring scientist. I would like to thank Dr. Robert Kaplan for being my mentor on this thesis and for helping become not only a better writer, but a better student as well. 

Plans for post-graduation:
After I graduate I plan on working as a laboratory technician or quality control chemist. After about two or three years, I plan to go to graduate school to get a doctorate in Chemistry.

Career aspirations:
My goal is to become a biological chemistry researcher. In particular, I am interested in researching cancer treatments and diagnostics.

Clubs and organizations:
In my freshman year I was a member of Pocket Theatre, which was  a lot of fun. I was also a member of the undergraduate ACS for my first two years. In my third year I joined Watsi, an organization that raises funds for medical care for people who cannot afford it. I have also tutored for the EOP/Aim program.

Advice for future Seawolves:
If you need help with anything, ask someone for help. Professors, teaching assistants, and advisors are all there for you and want to help.
Also, don’t just take SBCs and classes for your majors/minors. Take some classes that look interesting or fun, even if they are outside of what’s required for you to graduate. You’ll learn a lot that way and become a more well-rounded individual. And who knows, you might even discover a passion for a subject you previously hadn’t considered interesting.