Nicholas McHugh

Chemistry Lab Scientist II, Nucleic Acid Chemistry Center
RNA Therapeutics Institute, UMass Chan Medical School
Nicholas.McHugh(at)umassmed.edu

Nick grew up in Massachusetts and received his BS in Chemistry from Framingham State University in 2009. After working as a lab technician in the Wet Chemistry Department of Alpha Analytical for three years, he spent three years at Boston College studying toward a PhD in Biochemistry. He joined the Khvorova Lab in the spring of 2019, where he has advanced to his current position of Chemistry Lab Scientist II for the Nucleic Acid Chemistry Center. Nick's work focuses on (1) the synthesis and characterization of fully modified siRNA, (2) the further improvement and optimization of experimental methods and procedures, and (3) the troubleshooting and maintenance of equipment ranging from vacuum pumps to QTOF mass spectrometers. Outside of the laboratory, Nick enjoys hiking the mountains of New England, visiting as many National Parks as possible, travel both within the USA and around the world, and attending numerous genres of musical concerts.