: About Me

My name is Glen Brizius, and I'm a 34 year old resident of Atlanta. During my life I've dedicated my life to science - particularly, the study of chemistry and pharmaceuticals. I quickly gained a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from the University of South Carolina, graduating with a perfect 4.0 GPA. I developed new catalysts for the production of potential anti-cancer and antibiotic agents (the enediyne class of molecules). Since then, I've worked for private industry (Blackman Uhler Chemical Corporation, researching and designing new antivirals and designing new routes to break down chemical warfare agents), for the Georgia Institute of Technology (as part of their research faculty in Organic Chemistry), and even for our nations space program. A grant I wrote and submitted to the National Research Council was funded for $150,000 and allowed me the honor of working for NASA in 2004, studying the effects of intense ultraviolet irradiation on organic materials, an area of supreme importance in todays society (skin cancer, chromosomal mutations, etc).

Currently, I am planning to join either the National Guard or the Centers for Disease Control, to use my knowledge of pharmaceuticals and chemical structure / synthesis to help develop new cures for diseases and / or to help control outbreaks of disease / chemical warfare agents if they occur.

I live a simple life. I have a beautiful girlfriend that I just started dating, and that's enough to bring me happiness. I'm humble, and I keep to myself. My own weakness - a pet peeve, if you will - is the average Americans lack of knowledge regarding the science that surrounds them. Discounting those who believe in impossible fairy tales such as perpetual motion and breakthrough free energy, I'm talking about people who make important decisions every day - medical decisions regarding pharmaceuticals, for example - that have dramatic impact on their life, yet they do not know the science to make an educated decision. My hope is to do all that I can to educate those who are confused, or who have chosen to specialize in a different field, and do not have the knowledge that I have....so that everyone can enjoy a healthier, happier, future.

My passion is ...

chemistry and science. I can't get enough of it!

I know too much about ...

organic chemistry, medicines, and pharmaceuticals.

My parents always told me ...

not to start fires in my bedroom (lab experiment gone awry).

My childhood ambition ...

is realized; I'm a top-level scientist, and in love with a beautiful woman.

My favorite memory ...

is waking up to my girlfriend the first night we shared a bed.

Why I write ...

It's an outlet; it's fun; I like to write; and hopefully someone gleans something from it.

What I am reading/watching/listening to ...

Currently I am reading Discover Magazine, and watching a rerun of the TV Show BattleStar Galactica.

My first job ...

was working at the city library of Augusta, GA. It was here that I picked up my insatiable habit of reading.

My best moment ...

was hearing my girlfriend, my soulmate, whisper, "I love you". Best. Moment. Ever.

My inspiration ...

is my father, may he rest in peace. He was a wonderful human being, and my dying hope is to one day be half the man he succeeded in being.

Food & Drink > Food & Drink (Other) Is it possible to trick the taste buds?

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These two tricks are so much fun at parties. It's so, so easy to trick the taste buds. All you need is a little knowledge of chemistry, and the help of a plant named Synsepalum dulcificum. It's a medium to tall (10'-20' tall) evergreen shrub native to West Africa. Twice a year, it produces red berries. Wondering where this expedition to West Africa is headed, and how it could possibly be related to your taste buds? Your tongue is covered with taste buds, and each bud is covered with taste receptors. These are molecules which, when stimulated by certain other molecules you ingest (food), se...

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