Name: Jeremy Smith
Year: Junior
Major: Marine science
Hometown: Concord, NC

When did you join the USC Bodybuilding and Fitness Club? In my first year, actually, and I've been a member every year. It's cool because it brings together people that enjoy fitness and overall health, no matter what their major is or where they live or where they're from. We do more than lift weights, which is typically associated with bodybuilding. We learn a lot about nutrition and about a healthy lifestyle in general.

Wasn't participating in the Tug-a-Plane event one of the club's projects? That was a fundraiser for the United Way and it was fun, even though it took place in the middle of a thunderstorm! The club participates in other projects, too; almost every year we participate in Clean up Carolina, and we're very active in other on-campus events, like blood drives.

Have you competed in the Mr. USC contest sponsored by the club? I'm training for it now and plan to compete next year. I've done the club's Octathlon twice; I finished in the top half both times and I'm happy with that. The club also sponsors a team for an annual intramural swim meet. This year we fielded three teams and we took first, second, and third places.

Why did you choose marine science? I knew I wanted to do something with science. I was no good at English, so I knew it was science for me. I grew up near Virginia Beach and I like science and I really like chemistry. I like being around the ocean and learning about it, so I thought, 'I'll try marine chemistry,' and here I am. It's a marine science degree, but a lot of people assume it is marine biology. But I am more into the chemistry side of marine science. I'm looking at going to grad school and then having a research-type position and teaching.

Have you done any research? In August I started working in Tom Chandler's lab--he's in public health--to help with research in the toxicology lab. They work with deep sea benthic forams. I do water chemistry on the maintenance of the water they are living in. I make sure the water stays constant so they don't die. It's about 10 to 15 hours a week. The job was posted in one of my marine science classrooms. I contacted the lab, interviewed, ended up with the job.

If you grew up in Virginia and then moved to North Carolina, how did you find your way to USC? USC had a chemical engineering program AND a marine science program, and I was kind of on the fence about the two. USC also offered me the McKissick Scholarship for out-of-state students. As a kid, I was in Boy Scouts and I'm an Eagle Scout. That helped me get into USC and get the scholarship.

What are you doing this summer? Working full-time in labs. I have two more lab jobs this summer: working for George Handy, who's an organic chemistry professor in charge of all the organic labs and classes. I'll be teaching labs for Organic Chemistry 1 and 2 in both summer sessions. It will be a real good learning experience for me.

4/06