Joshua O. Sestak

Joshua, a 2007-2011 Self Fellow, received a Ph.D. in pharmaceutical chemistry in 2011. He received a B.S. (2004) in chemistry, with a concentration in biochemistry, from Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington. He presented his undergraduate research at the Murdock Charitable Trust Summer Symposium in 2003. At Gonzaga, Joshua also participated in a university-wide service organization and served as an advisor for at-risk youth.

Joshua worked as a formulations research associate at Nastech Pharmaceutical Company in Bothell, Washington, from 2004 to 2007, developing nasally administered protein therapeutics. He is named an inventor on one published patent application and four pending applications. He is currently employed as a postdoctoral researcher in the pharmaceutical chemistry department at KU. He plans to pursue research that will eventually translate back into industry and toward the development of novel and effective therapeutics.

Mentor:  Cory J. Berkland, Assistant Professor, Pharmaceutical Chemistry