Greenville, S.C.: Furman University Chemistry Professor Honored with 2024 Governor’s Award

Greenville, S.C.: Recognition for Furman University Chemistry Professor

In a significant recognition of scientific achievement, a chemistry professor at Furman University has been awarded the 2024 South Carolina Governor’s Award for Excellence in Scientific Research at a Predominantly Undergraduate Institution. The award was presented by Governor Henry McMaster on Tuesday, highlighting the professor’s valuable contributions to scientific research and education.

A Focus on Fundamental Questions

Professor Greg Springsteen, who has been at Furman University for 18 years, has engaged directly with around 50 undergraduate students during his career. His research focuses on a complex question in chemistry: how life originated from a mix of organic molecules in an environment devoid of life. Springsteen describes this process as one of the most “fundamental chemical conundrums” and emphasizes the importance of exploring the roots of modern metabolism.

According to Springsteen, his investigations aim to uncover core components of metabolism that may have existed on primordial Earth long before they became integrated into living systems. “As this early metabolism evolved into a more robust chemical system, these central biosynthetic pathways remained frozen at the core of an expanding network to become modern life,” he shared. His laboratory seeks to find these “frozen-in-time remnants” that could shed light on our understanding of life’s beginnings.

Impact on Research and Education

Springsteen’s research efforts have opened up new avenues of inquiry within the scientific community. His work has led to numerous presentations, several prestigious awards, and a significant number of publications in high-level journals including Nature Communications, Nature Chemistry, and Angewandte Chemie. Notably, some of these publications featured Furman undergraduates as lead authors, showcasing the university’s commitment to undergraduate research.

In contrast to larger research-focused institutions, research at Furman is often characterized by a more flexible environment, unaffected by strict research cycles and the high costs associated with them. This unique setting allows students to engage in meaningful research projects without the intense pressures typical of larger R1 universities.

Entrepreneurial Ventures

Moreover, Springsteen has also contributed to innovation in the field of science with his development of a method to synthesize citric acid cycle intermediates, which can aid in identifying cancer cells. Recognizing the potential applications of this technology, Springsteen, along with former student Trent Stubbs, founded a company called Aconabolics, LLC on the Furman campus in 2018. The company specializes in producing biological intermediates that are distributed globally.

Their work has not gone unrecognized, as the South Carolina Research Authority awarded them the authority’s first-ever academic assistance grant in 2020. Two years later, in 2022, they were granted a U.S. patent for their intellectual property, further solidifying their contributions to the scientific field and enhancing Furman’s role in the region’s entrepreneurial landscape.

Training Future Innovators

Springsteen’s commitment to training undergraduate students is evident in his approach. His goal has been to prepare them for success in academic, societal, and commercial pursuits. He notes, “Since opening my lab in 2006, I’ve focused on training undergraduates to excel in academic, societal, and commercial pursuits, and our successes are indicative of the pride and effort these students have committed to their work.”

Profoundly influencing his students’ academic journeys, Springsteen has not only earned accolades for his research but also played a vital role in equipping the next generation of scientists with the skills they need to thrive in their future endeavors.