Andrew Kjar, pioneer in antiviral research
Upcoming graduate Andrew Kjar has dedicated his time at Utah State University to antiviral research.
Kjar was raised in Kearns, which is near Salt Lake City, and started attending USU in 2015. He took two years off to serve a religious mission, and will be graduating from the biological engineering department this semester.
In addition to it being so close to home, Kjar said he chose USU because he knew it had a strong undergraduate research program.
“The biological engineering department is really small, so I had a really good opportunity to work one on one with faculty,” he said. “I’ve been working as an undergraduate researcher for most of my time here. Those interactions have been really productive and really enjoyable.”
David Britt, professor of biological engineering, said the research Kjar has done focuses on antivirals.
Britt first met Kjar several years ago in his introduction to biomaterials course and now works with him on his undergraduate research.
“He comes to our research meetings prepared,” Britt said. “If I enter a journal article into our shared box folder, he often reads it before I even have a chance to notify him there’s new literature, or he’s already found it and read it.”
The antivirals that Kjar and Britt are researching have to do with cytomegalovirus. CMV is a leading cause of congenital birth defects and usually occurs when a pregnant mother is infected and her baby is born with a hearing deficit, or another type of neurological disorder.
“We’re trying to come up with antivirals that can potentially be used either during pregnancy or to [help] newborns and toddlers so they don’t succumb to some of the toxicity,” Britt added. “Current antivirals are effective, but have side effects that often seclude their use for long periods.”
Britt believes Kjar has a “very bright future.”
“He interviewed at multiple graduate programs, some of the best around the country,” Britt said. “He’ll be able to really build upon what he’s developed as an undergraduate researcher and transition that into graduate level research. He has such an inquisitive nature and is a very smart and talented individual.”
Kjar said he will be moving into a doctorate program this fall at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee. Although he said there’s some nervousness and nostalgia now that this chapter of his life is closing, Kjar said he’s really excited for the future.
While at USU, Kjar was awarded Scholar of the year at the 2021 Robins Awards. The award recognized Kjar’s work and research, including “bone implant material validation, micro fabrication for organoid culture, controlled neuron growth and the development of a drug delivery system for cytomegalovirus.”
Kjar said the award felt like a nice recognition of the efforts and the opportunities he’s had at USU.
“I honestly think Utah State has given me so many opportunities, and the whole time I’ve been here I felt like, wow I’ve got to take advantage of as many of these opportunities as possible,” he said.