Pharmaceutical Chemistry in Taiwan
Jacquelyn Gervay-Hague
Chemistry
Professor Jacquelyn Gervay-Hague first visited Taiwan in 2006 and fell in love with the country and its people immediately. She was fortunate to be able to work with a team of professors from UC Davis and Academia Sinica to develop the course plan that is now offered through UC Davis QA. Jackie has taught both CHE 130A and CHE 150 and she is especially involved in administering CHE 199 research opportunities for QA students. She and her research team also conduct field studies on the tea plantations of Taiwan searching for compounds that boost the human immune system. Jackie can often be spotted in the tea houses of Taipei and surrounding areas.
A Message to Students and Parents
By way of short introduction, my name is Jacquelyn Gervay Hague and I am a Professor of chemistry at UC, Davis. My research is focused on the chemical ecology of plant, microbial and mammalian interactions to chemically characterize the Food-Health Nexus. Our studies focus on tea derived from Camellia sinensis, the most widely consumed beverage in the world. We seek to determine all measurable factors that predict tea quality as defined by both sensory and health attributes. Our studies support establishing 21st Century economic drivers to validate tea growth and production in the US, which has the potential to shift agricultural paradigms across the US and globally. Much of my research is conducted through Taiwan partnerships at Academia Sinica.
I want to welcome the 2024 Class of Taiwan QA students! I am thrilled to be able to continue this program in pharmaceutical chemistry in the 2024-25 academic year. New this year, we are offering a full time research curriculum for students who have already completed CHE130A and/or CHE150. The research option is an exciting opportunity to work alongside world class researchers and their co-workers on many aspects of drug discovery and drug development. Fall in Taipei is a beautiful time of year and I look forward to enjoying many cultural excursions with you in Taiwan. We will also have the opportunity to see world famous international scientists deliver plenary lectures to the Academia Sinica community. It is truly an honor to be part of the Academia Sinica community as part of this program."
Neil Schore
Chemistry
Professor Neil Schore is a strong proponent of programs that enable students to explore life outside the U.S. in the context of their college career. He teaches the course in natural products chemistry in Taiwan, where students learn the biosynthetic pathways by which nature creates the compounds that organisms use as chemical defenses against pathogenic species. These compounds form the basis for the development of the drugs so widely used in present-day medicine. He is a big fan of taking students on excursions to museums, historical sights, the occasional Taiwan-league baseball game, weather permitting (which is almost never) and the most famous ice cream shop in Asia.
A Message to Students and Parents
Hi…I’m Neil Schore. I’ve been on the UC Davis Chemistry faculty since 1976, teaching courses in areas related to organic chemistry. The Taiwan program has given me the opportunity to enjoy one of the most interesting places in Asia for over a decade. I did not have a chance at significant international travel until I was past my 40th birthday. Study Abroad allows students to have such experiences much sooner. Students traveling internationally see how people live and work in environments unfamiliar to them. They get to interact with the people they meet and explore both the academic and cultural aspects of a new place. Since the group they’re in is small, they benefit from a much more interactive classroom experience. Most importantly, they learn about themselves: how they view new experiences, how they react to unexpected challenges, and how a novel environment helps them grow personally. Travel in this way often leaves the most lasting and positive impression of the college experience on students. We on the faculty hope that as many students can participate in Study Abroad as possible. I welcome any comments or questions."