biochemistry and Molecular biology Researcher: Jennifer Bennett, assistant professor Research project: Bennett and her students have characterized genes involved in the development of Streptomyces, a group of bacteria that produces more than two-thirds of the commercially important antibiotics, as well as anti-parasitic and anti-tumor drugs. These genes encode signaling proteins that affect the way that the bacterium develops, including the ability to divide, to produce antibiotics and the ability to produce biofilms, communities of bacteria that adhere to a surface and become resistant to antibiotics and environmental conditions. These same types of genes are also found in many diseasecausing bacteria, including E. coli, salmonella and Vibrio cholerae. The genes affect the ability of these bacteria to cause disease and form medically relevant biofilms. Last fall, Bennett published an article in the Journal of Bacteriology with Otterbein biochemistry major, Bobby Geiger ’14, that describes the characterization of two of these genes. This year, Bennett is working with Otterbein research students, including Brooke Weisenburger ’14, Nicole Enochs ’16 and Mikah Barrueta ’16 to produce additional publications in this field. Students have also presented at regional and national conferences for their work on this project. Student researcher: Robert “Bobby” Geiger ’14 came to Otterbein as a Cardinal Science Scholar, which provides a scholarship and additional mentoring from science faculty and upperclassmen. He began
Researcher and published author Bobby Geiger ’14, presented his research at the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) in San Francisco in 2012 and in Denver in 2013.
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| O t t e r be i n To w e r s | Fall 2013
conducting research the summer after his freshman year after receiving a Merck-AAAS Undergraduate Research Fellowship to study microbial genetics in Bennett’s lab. His sophomore year, he received two highly competitive national awards from the American Society for Microbiology (ASM): The ASM Undergraduate Research Fellowship and the ASM Student Travel Grant Award. With Bennett, Geiger co-authored a manuscript that was published in The Journal of Bacteriology — a very rare accomplishment for an undergraduate research student, especially a sophomore. He presented his research at the national meetings of the ASM in San Francisco in May 2012 and Denver in May 2013, and continues his research in Bennett’s lab as a senior. “It meant a lot to to put my work out there — this is what scientists do. I couldn’t be happier to publish as early as I did. I’m very appreciative of the chance to work in Dr. Bennett’s lab,” Geiger said.
Researcher: John Tansey, director of the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology program Research project: Nearly all cells store lipids (fats and cholesterol) for future use. Students in Tansey’s lab research lipids for individual projects or independent aspects of larger projects. Their work focuses on the role that lipid droplet proteins (the PAT proteins) play in the metabolism of stored lipids. The students explore how cells store lipids and, when they do, at what point does it cause disease. This research has implications in the etiology of obesity, heart disease and type II diabetes mellitus. Tansey’s goal is to guide each student into a project that will make an impact and still fit with that student’s skills, interests and future aspirations, including graduate school, medical school and veterinary school. Student researchers: In April, Tansey accompanied five Otterbein students to the national meeting of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) in Boston, where they presented their research. Four of those students — Cara Hardy ’16, Theresa Hubbell ’13, Alex Brackbill ’13 and Tara Saley ’13 — conducted research in Tansey’s lab on perilipins, a group of proteins that are involved in fat storage and fat metabolism. “I think one of the most valuable experiences an undergraduate science major can have is to present their research findings at a national conference,” Tansey said. “It truly lets the student see where they stand in relation to their peers across the country and to see presentations of cutting-edge research. It also allows them to network with other schools and scientists and significantly improves their chances of getting into a top graduate program.”