By Shawn Hogendorf, Correspondent 

Brian Harms knew he would make his mark in the science field when he graduated as the valedictorian of the 1994 Prior Lake High School class. He just wasn’t sure how.

In addition to graduating as valedictorian, Harms was the president of the National Honor Society in 1993-94, a National Merit Scholar in 1994 and a member of the University of Minnesota Talented Youth Mathematics program from 1991 to 1993.Brian Harms

After high school, Harms went on to attend Rice University in Texas. He graduated Summa cum laude, and a as member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society, with a 4.0 grade point average, while obtaining an undergraduate degree in chemistry in 1998. That same year, Harms was offered the Whitaker Foundation Graduate Fellowship in Biomedical Engineering and the National Science Foundation Fellowship, which he declined.

In 2000, Harms earned the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Chemical Engineering Department Service Award on his way to receiving a doctorate degree in chemical engineering from MIT in 2004.

Harms lives in Roslindale, Mass., with his wife, Joy, two dogs and a guinea pig. The couple is expecting their first child within the next two months. He currently works as a computational research scientist specializing in oncology for Merrimack Pharmaceuticals.

In his job, Harms finds himself using the sciences and math skills he learned throughout his education to create computational simulations of the behavior of cancer cells, with a goal of using insights from those simulations to help develop more effective cancer therapies, he said.

As a lead computational research scientist, Harms said he is currently working on the development of a drug expected to enter clinical trials in 2009. As a part of his work, Harms also has the opportunity to present at academic conferences on behalf of Merrimack Pharmaceuticals.

Harms said his favorite teachers at Prior Lake High School were those who went beyond the letters and numbers to help instill confidence in him.

“I always appreciated the encouragement of teachers and staff to pursue my passions and dreams,” Harms said. “Every successful adult has teachers, who, to this day, they remember fondly, and I’m no exception.”

In addition to Harm’s life as a scientist, he is involved in the leadership of First Lutheran Church of Boston, where he currently serves as congregation president. He previously served as the congregation’s vice president.

As a leader of the church, Harm said his primary achievements have been implementing formal means of goal setting and evaluation for church staff, developing strategic plans for congregational mission targets and developing leadership skills in congregational members.

While humble about his academic achievements, Harm said when he was contacted as a nominee for the Laker Hall of Fame he thought, “They found the wrong person.”

“I feel like my life is only getting started,” Harm said. “My best days are ahead of me. I want to make a difference in the world, although I still don’t know what that difference will be.”

Harms said his parents played a huge role as mentors for him while growing up in Credit River Township.

The Laker Hall of Fame award banquet and dinner will take place Thursday, July 31 at The Wilds Golf Club, 3151 Wilds Ridge in Prior Lake.

The dinner is open to the public and tickets cost $25. Reservations can be made by calling (952) 226-0063 or by calling Mary Haugen at (952) 447-5473. Tickets are also available at www.plsaef.org.

Other nominees for the Laker Hall of Fame Distinguished Achievement are Suzanne Keel and Michael Benjamin.

Shawn Hogendorf can be reached at (952) 345-6374 or shogendorf@swpub.com.