Randy Hamchand is a 6th year Ph.D. candidate in Chemistry. His research focuses on the biochemical elucidation of novel small-molecule signals implicated in human-microbe and microbe-microbe interactions. Prior to graduate school, Randy attended the University of Connecticut where he obtained an M.S. in chemistry and a B.S. in biological sciences with minors in molecular cell biology, mathematics, and psychology. He has authored several peer-reviewed publications and has obtained funding from organizations such as the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and the Ford Foundation. Randy has several years of tutoring and mentoring experience and enjoys learning about fields outside of his own.