BMB Newsletter 2023

Dr. Feng Feng

DR. JOHN GUSTAFSON - PROFFESOR AND HEAD

Hello to all of you BMB Pokes out there! I hope you are surrounded by loved ones and enjoying life! This last year has been a banner year for our department. There is so much to celebrate, and we continue to develop plans to build our department. First we bid farewell to a few of our own who have moved on to other green pastures. Dr. Peter Hoyt, who ran the genomics core facility and was Director of our Bioinformatics Certificate program, retired, and Dr. Rita Miller took an administrative position at the NIH. We will miss their dedication to their teaching, service, and research duties. In addition, we bid adieu to Nelda Driggs who has been in the main office for 18 years and was referred to as “the soul of our department”, since she had done so much to build and represent our community. The department also celebrates the retirement of our Dean and Vice President Dr. Thomas Coon, who has been a great supporter of our department. Bon voyage to all of you, we hope you find great joy in your new beginnings! We look forward to working with Dr. Jason Lusk who will be taking over as Dean and Vice President of the Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. Dr. Lusk was a Distinguished Professor and Head of the Agricultural Economics Department at Purdue University and spent part of his career at OSU where he served as Regents Professor and held the Willard Sparks Endowed Chair. Welcome back home to OSU Dr. Lusk!

Our department prides itself on supporting undergraduate research, and BMB faculty are happy to take on students from our department and other science units on campus. Undergraduate researchers Andre Abit and Charlie Vermeire were awarded prestigious Niblack Research Scholarships, and Charlie was also awarded the Goldwater scholarship, one of the most prestigious national honors that recognize exceptional students! Biochemistry and Molecular Biology major Caleb Horne was elected as President of the 29,000-member Oklahoma FFA association for 2023-2024 during the 97th Oklahoma FFA Convention. Go, President Horne, we are all so proud of you, make sure you let all the FFA members understand the importance of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology to agriculture!

Our hard-working graduate students are always on the move, and the leadership of the BMB graduate student association is working to build their community. They have been working hard to establish yearly group dinners and increase yearly picnic attendance, and they have rented pontoon boats at Keystone Lake for a get-together full of fun in the water. They also take time to bring in great seminar speakers and get the entire OSU life sciences community together during the yearly BMBGSA Biological Research Symposium that they run. My hat is always off saluting our graduate students! Keep doing what you do!

DR. JOHN GUSTAFSON - PROFFESOR AND HEAD

BMB faculty are also always on the move! Emeritus Regents Professor Andrew Mort has secured another year of funding for research designed to commercialize enzymes and a process required to break down the toughest components of the plant cell wall. Professor Kiran Mysore working at the Institute for Agricultural Biosciences was recently awarded tenure in our department and was awarded the Ruth Allen Award from the American Phytopathological Society. For the first time in our department’s history, a junior faculty member was awarded “Fellow of the Robert J. Sirney Professorship”, congrats to Dr. Yong Cheng!

We are in the process of hiring a new tenure-track faculty member with 80% teaching and 20% extension responsibilities. This faculty member will be charged with moving our department forward with exceptional new teaching approaches by developing and implementing an extension STEM program based on BMB content and possibly teaching youth what basic researchers do.

In closing, throughout this newsletter, we point out all the scholarships our students earn which are provided by our fantastic donors and nurtured by the incredible staff at the OSU Foundation. To our donors, the contributions you have made to our department have allowed us to honor our students and, equally importantly, provide financial support during their education, thanks to all of you! If any of you BMB pokes are on campus or expect to be, contact me; I would love to take you out for coffee or lunch so that I can regale you with the incredible success our department continues to generate!

Dr, John Gustafson Professor and Department Head

John.Gustafson@okstate.edu

405-744-6189

BMBGSA Research Symposium

The two-day (February 9 & 10, 2023) Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Graduate Student Association (BMBGSA)

19th Annual Research Symposium was the first in-person departmental event since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The symposium was also the first time an industry scientist was invited as the symposium keynote speaker. Dr. Mitchell Lee who is the CEO of Ora Biomedical gave a presentation entitled “Utilizing non-mammalian systems to identify and characterize lifespan-extending interventions”. Dr. Lee gave an amazing keynote seminar that garnered a great deal of discussion and based on the audience turn-out, we are so glad Dr. Lee found time in his busy schedule to visit our campus!

The main goal of the symposium each year is to provide a forum for student participants to present their research findings in oral and poster presentations. The symposium presents a valuable opportunity for students to develop presentation and communication skills and confidence, learn about their peer’s cutting-edge research, and expand their peer networks. There were research presentations provided by 4 undergraduate students, 25 graduate students, and 3 postdoctoral fellows representing multiple departments and a center (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Entomology and Plant Pathology, Animal and Food Sciences, Veterinary Pathobiology, Chemistry, Physiological Sciences, Physics, Nutritional Sciences, and the Robert M. Kerr Food and Agricultural Product Center). The symposium was supported by a Scientist Solution Events vendor show, which showcased research equipment and consumables used by biochemists and molecular biologists.

We sincerely hope that the symposium was a rewarding experience for everyone, especially the research attendees. Our special thanks go out to the Division of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources, the Departments of Veterinary Medicine, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Plant Biology, Ecology and Evolution, the Vice President for Student Services, the Robert M. Kerr Food and Agricultural Product Center, and the CHS Mini-Grant group for their financial support of our graduate student’s symposium.

Mass Spectroscopy & Proteomics Workshop

Over the summer, students had the opportunity to participate in one of two Mass Spectrometry & Proteomics Workshops. As always, the workshop was a hands-on fast-paced experience designed to teach students the tools of mass spectrometry and proteomics so that they can understand how best to apply these technologies to their research. We tip our collective hats in a salute to Dr. Hartson and Janet Rogers for putting on another successful and fun workshop!

HRoundup

Graduate students in our department set up a “DNA Fingerprinting Crime Scene Lab” for students to learn more about the Molecular Biology involved in crime suspect identification. The graduate students were excited to share real-life applications of biochemical techniques and analysis for aspiring STEM students. We even had a booth during the Roundup Luau, where Dr. Ruhl explained the wonders of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and more to students and Pistol Pete too!

Our hats go off to all the hard work of Caleb Watkins, Jeeva Senthil Kumar, Sonal Badhe, Pei Ng, Stephen Kotey, Audrey Dagnell, Krish Kasiraju, Huishan Liu, Zubair Mehboob, Shelby Jury, Ben Dunagan, and Dr. Donald Ruhl.

BMB Picnic

We annual

BMB Picnic that we threw with the Microbiology graduate student group. This year we had it at Boomer Lake, and the weather was perfect for fun, food, games, and kayaking! We loved seeing everyone enjoy each other’s company!

BMBGSA Lake Trip

When your work/studies get much, go unwind! Our BMBGSA has begun a yearly tradition of going to Keystone Lake. It’s these times that we make some of the best memories of our lives. We are so proud of you all! It looks like you had a great break!!!

Dinner with Grad Students

sharing great food and great stories over the dinner table. To show our graduate students appreciation for all that they do for us; Dr. Gustafson joined the graduate students for a night of lively conversation and great company. Thank you to Da Vinci’s for having us and serving up a great meal.

Movie Night

Great group of students and Dr. Gustafson at movie night, most of the students took home another meal to enjoy later. We screened the 1971 classic “The Andromeda Strain” which seemed like an appropriate sci-fi film considering the ongoing pandemic at the time. Thanks go to Ben Dunagan and Nelda Driggs for the setup!

ANNUAL FUNDRAISER

Each year our department comes together to support our community by fundraising for the United Way of Payne County. This year we had a silent auction with over twenty items as well as a biscuit and gravy fundraiser and a Fall Food Feast. This last year we raised a total of $737 and exceeded our goal for United Way. Thanks to everyone who participated and made this possible!!

Dr. Sunkar's work with Langston University and Lincoln University

Stevens Chair and Professor Ramanjulu

Sunkar conducted research with colleagues from the 1890 land grant institutions Langston University and Lincoln University.

Langston University: Soil salinity is a primary cause of crop losses and negatively impacts rice production. Naturally adapted salt-tolerant plants represent potential models to dissect the molecular basis of plant salt tolerance. Rice has considerable genetic variability; the Pokkali rice variety is highly salt-tolerant, whereas the IR29 rice variety is salt-sensitive. Transcriptome and translatome (RNA-associated with the polyribosomes) profiles revealed distinct patterns of gene expression in Pokkali and IR29 grown in saline conditions. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are known to regulate gene expression at the posttranscriptional level, and these molecules are suspected to influence the differential gene regulation observed between Pokkali and IR29. To elucidate the differences in miRNAdependent post-transcriptional gene regulation in these rice varieties, miRNAs and their mRNA targets were characterized

and profiled. This data is useful for designing strategies to improve the salt tolerance of rice by manipulating the expression of miRNAs or miRNA targets identified to be critical for salt tolerance.

Lincoln University: The deep plant root system, significant water and nutrient use efficiency, and enhanced atmospheric carbon removal and carbon storage, makes industrial hemp an ideal plant to utilize in humanity's efforts to reduce the quantity of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. The OSU research team will evaluate the ability of various industrial hemp varieties to fix and sequester carbon from the atmosphere in field trials. The Lincoln University team will use handheld devices and drones to collect physiological data on soil and plant samples associated with carbon sequestration. The varieties that demonstrate the greatest carbon sequestration will then be examined for their ability to grow under Oklahoma environmental conditions during the second phase of the project.

Celebrating Success

Congratulations Staff & Faculty!

Dr. Yong Cheng was awarded as a Fellow of the Robert J. Sirney Professorship.

Dr. Kiran Mysore, Dr. Bikram Pant, and Dr. Jiangqi Wen have been recognized for revolutionizing legume research using the mutant legume library.

Professor Kiran Mysore was awarded the Ruth Allen Award from the American Phytopathological Society.

Dr. Feng Feng was awarded a USDA Grant for his research on plant microinteractions.

Emeritus Regents Professor Andrew Mort secured another year of funding from the Department of Energy.

Celebrating Success

Congratulations Students

Charlie

was awarded the 2023 Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship, one of the most prestigious national honors recognizing outstanding students seeking research careers in the natural sciences, mathematics, and engineering.

Bryan Naidenov won the O.S.U. Foundation Distinguished Graduate Fellowship and the Otto S. Cox Graduate Fellowship for Genetics Research.

Caleb Horne was the Public Speaking winner in the 95th National FFA Convention.

Taryn Stinchcomb and Caden Henderson win the Cornhole Championship during Ferguson Week.

Pei Jia Ng mentored Andre Abit in the summer of 2022 and Stephen Kotey mentored Charlie Vermeire this summer in the Niblack Research Scholar Program.

Vermeire

Juhi Chaturvedi and Stephen Kotey are winners of the William’s Distinguished Graduate Fellowship.

Celebrating Success

Congratulations Joseph Fleming Memorial Scholars

Joseph Fleming Scholarships are funded through a trust established by Joseph Fleming. Mr. Fleming directed his trust to support agriculture schools in the various states in which he acquired properties. Ferguson College of Agriculture students with a successful academic record are eligible to receive this scholarship and we congratulate the following BMB Joseph Fleming Memorial Scholars!

Serge Andre Abit

Cassidy Baughman

William Clune

Maya Doyle

Katelyn Floyd

Layne Havlik

Katie Jackson

Gweneth Keith-Powell

Emma Lewis

Ashley Money

Claire Rose

Eleni Tsaras

Isabel Webb

Trinity Austin

Coralee Castle

Elizabeth Coody

Avery Ethridge

Dallas Green

Caden Henderson

Grace James

Bailey Kyle

Nathan Mears

Anna Reid

Aisya Taylor

Addison Wall

Teagan Woods

Spring 2023 Dean’s List and President’s List

We want to send out a BIG CONGRATULATIONS to our Spring 2023 Dean’s and President’s List students!!! To qualify for the Dean’s Honor Roll, a student must carry at least 12 credit hours of university courses, have no ‘Fs” or incomplete courses, and have between a 3.50 and 3.99 GPA. To qualify for the President’s Honor Roll, a student must carry at least 12 credit hours of university course, have no “Fs” or incomplete courses and have a 4.0 GPA for the semester. WHOOP! WHOOP! to all our successful students!

Dean’s Honor Roll

Josaiah Beal

Victoria Furfey

Jewell Boswell Charlcie Gatewood

Ryleigh Brewer Simon Goehler

Ian Deaton

Ionsei Hastings

Benjamin Mathers Shelby Sanders

Abby Mcintire

Ashley Money

Morgan Nipp

Adelyn Detrich Layne Havlik Angelique Robinson

Grace Duggan

Kathryn Hobbs

Avery Ethridge Macy Koch

Eden Rodriguez

Leslie Sanchez

Sarah Scott

Lydia Stinson

Ian V Warlick

Isabel Webb

Annie Yang

Serge Andre Abit Owen Fleming

Crystal Miles

Maha Achour Johanna Ford Akai Milton

Trinity Austin Kadence Gage

Glendon Barnes Caden Henderson

Aidan Moore

Luke Myers

Lena Biamonte Kayla Henry Tatum Norwood

Jantz Brandon Keaton Hurt

Jason Elijah Brown

Abby Budd

Olivia Clark

Katie Jackson

Kendrick Klassen

Nathan Mears

Mary Parnell

Emma Pope

Stephen Pulliam

Landon Rogers

Claire Rose

Kennedy Seals

Conlie Smith

Thomas Steinke

Taryn Stinchcomb

Therese Tankam

Bennett Upton

Kyle Van Pelt

Ethan Villines

Addison Wall

President’s Honor Roll

Getting to know the citizens of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Mary Parnell

Hello! My name’s Mary Parnell, and I am an undergraduate majoring in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry. I graduate this spring and have been accepted for Graduate school here at OSU! I grew up in Stillwater, with my siblings all graduating from OSU.

I did end up going to China and living in Nan-Jing for a while with my family for my father's work, being that he is a preacher this has inspired my belief in god. As a Christian, I’ve always loved studying god’s creations. My uncle also influenced my major by introducing me to Biochemistry since he is currently working on the science behind Polycystic Kidney Disease and various treatments for it. My interest peaked when I went and assisted him in his lab during a summer internship. He pushed me to follow in his footsteps, inspiring me to go into biochemistry.

In high school, I was able to join the Biomedical program at Meridian Technology Center, where I learned lab techniques and was informed about different diseases. As a freshman, I was able to join a chemical engineering workshop and injected bioluminescent proteins into mice cells to make them glow.

I currently am studying under the guidance of Dr. Junpeng Deng doing undergraduate research involving the HSP 90 heat shock protein and trying to crystallize it with 2 different chemical inhibitors. HSP 90 is a chaperone protein, often over-expressed in cancer cells, such as in prostate cancer. After crystalizing the HSP 90/inhibitor complexes, xray diffraction is performed, and the data can be analyzed to determine the protein structures that the inhibitors interact with on HSP 90. My hobbies include baking, drawing, and reading fantasy novels such as, “Lord of the Rings”. I love having movie marathons with my siblings watching the extended editions of all of the JRR Tolkien movies and enjoying themed foods going along with each movie.

Getting to know the citizens of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Glendon Barnes

Hello, my name is Glendon Barnes and I am from Piedmont Oklahoma. I am currently a freshman majoring in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and I’ve always had an interest in biology which has the most career options that I’m interested in. I was part of the freshman research led by Professor Patricia Cannan, which was a wonderful experience, and I appreciated the opportunity. I chose OSU for its biochemistry and molecular biology degree and the community here is great and very helpful. I’m a member of both the Biochemistry club Delta Nu Alpha (DNA) and StORM, although I haven’t been able to make all the meetings due to my evening classes. I want to pursue something in the life sciences or maybe I will pursue the Pre-Med or Pre-Vet track in my department. I have a lot of hobbies, mostly outdoors, like fishing, hiking, and traveling, I go on family ski trips, and if I have the time I like to read. I plan on attending the Prague study abroad course this summer for the experience.

Emma Kempton

Hello, I am Emma Kempton and I am majoring in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry and seeking a minor in Entomology. I am a first-generation college student who chose to attend OSU to be with friends. Everyone here has been incredibly friendly and I haven’t been to a class where I couldn't talk to the person next to me. The professors have also been kind and provided open office hours and late-night Zoom study sessions. I am in both Delta Nu Alpha and the International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) club, where in the latter I currently head of the enzymology laboratory and serve as the club secretary. I am also an undergraduate researcher in Dr. Xia Lei’s laboratory working on a protein referred to as CTRP2 which is an excreted protein associated with atherosclerosis. The support system here at OSU is by far my favorite part and I have roommates that I enjoy hanging out with and spending time with. I’m originally from Nowata Oklahoma and started going here in the fall of 2019. I chose Biochemistry and Molecular Biology for the versatility of the degree; it allow me to consider many different science graduate programs. I am hoping after completing my bachelor's here to pursue my Ph.D. in Biochemistry at the University of Arizona. I also love embroidery, roller skating, and painting.

Getting to know the citizens of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Ionsei Hastings

I started my degree in the Fall of 2020 and I am a dual STEM major in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Microbiology. My time at OSU has been a truly enjoyable experience. Despite the challenges that come with rigorous coursework, the supportive community on campus has made my experience fulfilling and enjoyable. Through my interactions with faculty and fellow students, I have gained a greater understanding of my field and feel grateful for the opportunity to be a part of such an incredible community.

I love the campus, from its beauty that sets a positive tone for my day, to the Edmond Lowe Library - my sanctuary for studying. Career services have been a lifesaver, helping me with professional development. My experience at the comparative glucose metabolism research lab was challenging, but it pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped me grow tremendously as a future scientist. It's inspiring to work alongside such brilliant minds and contribute to intriguing projects that have the potential to have an impact.

I continue to work in a comparative glucose metabolism laboratory, where I'm involved in a few different projects. The first is focused on investigating metabolic changes in diabetic feline models after COVID-19 infection - it's part of a larger effort to understand the impact of the virus on different populations. The second project is centered around the relationship between glucose metabolism and viral replication in diabetic hosts after influenza infection. Both projects are fascinating and have given me the chance to dive deep into some complex topics.

I enjoy competitive bodybuilding. It's a great way for me to stay physically and mentally fit while pursuing a challenging hobby. Recently, I received my pro card from the International Natural Bodybuilding Association/Professional Natural Bodybuilding Association federation, and I had the opportunity to compete at the Natural Olympia in 2022. I’m also a big fan of longboarding to class. It's a fun way to get around and it keeps me from being late. Ultimately, my goal is to obtain a Ph.D. and contribute to the ongoing efforts to find a cure for Type 1 diabetes.

Getting to know the citizens of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Audrey Dagnell

My name is Audrey Dagnell, I am from Godley, Texas and I have been attending O.S.U. since the fall of 2019. I am presently working toward my Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. I graduated last fall while working as an undergraduate researcher in Dr. Cheng's laboratory, and now as a Graduate student, I have continued my research with Dr. Cheng. When I first toured the campus, I saw how supportive the community and department were. I saw how the department helps their students succeed and I decided that this would be where I would seek a degree. When I started here, I found the staff and faculty were very supportive and they allowed each student to grow into their future. I also enjoy the weekly seminars that are held by the department.

Outside of classes and study, I like to bake, enjoy the outdoors, read, and travel. I particularly like going to Boomer Lake to walk the trails or play the disc golf course there. As for my future, I’m still deciding between academia and industry.

Getting to know the citizens of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Bryan Naidenov

Hello, my name is Bryan Naidenov and I have been here for 6 years working on completing my Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. My experience at OSU has been fantastic. As a graduate research associate in the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology department, I’ve had the opportunity to work alongside some of the brightest minds in the field and contribute to pioneering research. I have loved the interdisciplinary nature of the programs here at OSU. I have been able to collaborate with researchers from various fields, and it has broadened my perspective and enriched my understanding of my work. My favorite part of OSU has been the unbelievably supportive and inclusive departmental community. Everyone is eager to help, and there is a strong sense of camaraderie among the graduate student body.

Currently, I am working with Professor Charles Chen on developing a novel algorithmic platform for whole-genome analysis. Our research focuses on improving the breeding pipeline to ultimately increase crop performance in sensitive geographic areas. I was formerly a member of the BMBGSA and a member of the Graduate and Professional Student Government Association as a representative and member of the Constitution and Bylaws Committee.

Some fun tidbits about me are that I love playing tennis, weightlifting, and exploring the great outdoors. I also enjoy learning to snowboard, travelling, going on walks with my dog, and spending my summer at the lake. My plans for my degree are to continue my research in crop genomics and apply my knowledge and skills to industry. I am excited to pursue opportunities to work in industry and contribute to the development of innovative agricultural technologies that can benefit society.

Dr. Feng Feng

Congratulations Dr. Feng Feng

Dr. Feng Feng has been a part of our department since August 2020 and his laboratory is currently training a postdoc and 3 Ph. D. students. This last year Dr. Feng was awarded a large USDA grant to support his work on plantmicrobe interactions which intends to determine how the roots can differentiate between good bacteria (symbionts) and bad bacteria (plant pathogens). Good bacteria and bad bacteria communicate with plant root receptors, which are proteins on the surface of root cells. The plants in turn can

either mount an immune response to prevent bad bacteria from infecting the root cells, or they can encourage good bacteria to initiate nodule development which is critical to nitrogen fixation required for plant growth. Nitrogen makes up a major component of fertilizers.

Dr. Feng’s interest in his field stemmed from when he was a child in the small city of Xingyang in Henan province in the middle of China, where he became interested in plant nutrition as a young boy. Dr. Feng grew up in a family of rice and wheat farmers, and because of the different environments where these crops were grown, for 16 years, he watched how his parents had to purchase and apply fertilizers to improve crop yields. These experiences led Dr. Feng to imagine if fertilizers could be replaced with biological interventions. Xingyang was at one time full of hardworking agricultural folks and most did not consider going to college as a requirement for success, and Dr. Feng is therefore, a true first-generation college student. Over the last decade, Dr. Feng’s hometown has changed a great deal since his childhood and many Xingyang citizens have chosen to find jobs in industrial areas outside the town to make a living. Similar to many of us, Dr. Feng misses home and visits as often as he can.

Dr. Feng went on to receive his Ph.D. in plant biology in China. Following completion of this Ph.D., he was recruited to Cambridge University where he worked with legume plants to investigate the mechanism of how beneficial bacterial-plant symbioses occur. When he interviewed with OSU he found that his research fit well within the department and that the faculty were friendly and welcoming. The interview for his position occurred on Zoom during the height of the pandemic and Dr. Gustafson used face-time to show him the laboratory space that he would be working in. It was an unusual time, but it all worked out well!

Dr. Feng’s laboratory is currently investigating a family of receptor-like kinases to determine how these receptors can recognize different molecules that activate immunity and/or symbiosis. His graduate students are also determining how salt stress affects plant microbeplant interactions and the root microbiota (collection of soil microbes living near or on the root) which will help to determine how microbiota communities regulate plant growth, plant immunity, and plant-microbe symbiosis. Like most faculty, Dr. Feng chooses research students that demonstrate a passion for the research he conducts, possess critical thinking skills, and have an understanding of basic laboratory techniques in plant biology and microbiology. During their time with

him, Dr. Feng hopes his students develop independence within the laboratory and work well with others coming from multiple walks of life. He wishes that all of his students secure good positions in the future and find career happiness. Like many science faculty, he would prefer to see his students pursue academic positions, but if their interests lie elsewhere, he strongly supports them nonetheless. Dr. Feng has established a laboratory that is alive with activity and the entire group takes time to enjoy each other in and out of the laboratory. Attending conferences and inviting other scientists to speak on their research is the group's favorite activity, however, going to a local establishment also brings them joy!

Outside of work, Dr. Feng spends time with his wife and child who are in Ohio where his wife is employed at the University of Akron as an Assistant Professor of Finance. He also likes playing ping pong and watching fiction movies such as Harry Potter and Inception. All in all, Dr. Feng is another great addition to the department.

Meet Dr. Patricia Rayas-Duarte

Dr. Patricia Rayas-Duarte started her career at Oklahoma State in our department in 1997 as a cereal chemist within the Robert M. Kerr Food & Agricultural Products Center, however she started her career in academia at North Dakota State University in Fargo. As for her education, she completed her Bachelor’s in the Department of Biological Chemistry at the University of Sonora. She then pursued her Master’s and Ph.D. at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln under the guidance of Lowell Satterlee and John Rupnow, and then she served

under Suzanne Nielsen in the Department of Cereal Sciences at North Dakota State University. Her graduate degrees were in food science and technology. Dr. Rayas-Duarte decided on this field due to its many correlations with her favored career paths, such as biochemistry, physics, biology, and engineering. She has always enjoyed working with multidisciplinary teams to interrogate the structure and function of cereal proteins developing and utilizing new instruments.

Dr. Rayas-Duarte is originally from Mexico and grew up in the Sonoran Desert which is in the southern part of Arizona and California and three northwestern states in Mexico. This desert ecosystem is represented by the signature tall Saguaro cactus as well as a variety of other cacti and is one of the hottest environments in the U.S. and Mexico. Her hobbies include exercising and playing ukulele, but her favorite hobby is reading.

A Look at Dr. Rayas Duarte’s Laboratory

Dr. Rayas-Duarte is currently studying selected yeasts and bacteria from fermented grains that could vastly improve the quality profile of sourdough bread. This will accomplish an industry-scalable improvement to sourdough bread with added value in nutritional and sensory characteristics.

She currently has a Master of Science student that is on track to graduate this fall. Her Master’s student is comparing the performance of yeast and bacteria isolated from fermented coffee mucilage on sourdough bread production .

When choosing new students for her laboratory, Dr. Rayas-Duarte often looks for students who are curious and willing to lead with their intuition. She has trained students ranging from recent Bachelor’s graduates to those that have extensive experience in academia and/or the industry. She knows that her students are ready to move on to bigger things when they are leading their own research and coming up with future research projects that will show the depth of their curiosity and innovation.

Bonding with her students outside of her lab means often going to dinners, traveling to symposiums and participating in cultural or wellness events.

Dr. Kashif Mahmood joined our department in December of 2022 as a Research Assistant Professor working with Dr. Kiran Mysore. Kashif grew up in Pakistan where he obtained his Bachelor’s in Agriculture from the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF), and Master’s in Biotechnology from the National Institute for Biotechnology & Genetic Engineering (NIBGE) affiliated with Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad. He then went on to earn his doctoral degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology from the University of Guelph in Canada.

Dr. Mahmood’s passion for molecular biology stemmed from his undergraduate studies

which provided him firsthand exposure to courses on molecular genetics. He was quite fascinated by how advancements in molecular biology were enabling scientists to study the functions of genes and engineer valuable traits in plants. This motivated him to pursue his Master’s degree in Biotechnology and his Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Biology.

Previously he had been recognized with Dr. Steven Rothstein and Dr. Michael Udvardi for research on plant senescence. His prior work led to the identification of several genes that regulate leaf senescence or plant aging, as well as stress responses in different plant species. His work also dissected the fundamental relationship between reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced anthocyanin biosynthesis and plant survival under stressful growth conditions. He has published research papers in highly regarded journals including Plant Biotechnology Journal, The Plant Journal, Plant & Cell Physiology, Frontiers in Plant Science, and Plant Molecular Biology.

Meet Dr. Kashif Mahmood

A Look at Dr. Mahmood’s Laboratory

Dr. Kashif Mahmood’s research is now focused on two aspects of plant biology: i) how plants interact with Agrobacterium tumefaciens, and ii) how forage legumes senesce developmentally and in response to stressful growth conditions. Agrobacterium tumefaciens is responsible for causing crown-gall disease in dicot plant species, and it does so by hijacking the host cellular machinery by transferring its DNA (T-DNA) into the host genome. Plant scientists have successfully tamed Agrobacterium by harnessing its natural ability to transfer DNA to transform crop genomes with desired traits, however, its application remains mainly restricted to dicots with little success in monocots. A deeper understanding of how Agrobacterium interacts with different plant species could aid in engineering Agrobacterium strains capable of transforming plant species recalcitrant to Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Forage quality and yield are negatively impacted by induction of developmental and stress-induced (abiotic and biotic) senescence. Delaying leaf senescence in forage legumes may help develop cultivars with enhanced nutritional quality, yield, and resilience to stresses. Using Medicago truncatula as a model system, his research is focused on the characterization of transcriptional regulators that are associated with senescence in forage legumes. In his spare time, he enjoys engaging in tennis, table tennis, squash, and cricket; and spending time with family and friends.

Our Researchers

Meet Dr. Yong Cheng

Dr. Yong Cheng has been a part of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology since 2020. He has a PhD in Microbiology works as an Assistant Professor. He began his academic career at Huazhong Agricultural University in China to get his bachelors degree in Biotechnology and his Doctorate in Microbiology. After he received his degrees he started his career in academia and joined up with F. Hoffmann- La Roche Ltd Postdoctoral Fellowship in Basel, Switzerland. He then joined Dr. Jeffery Shorey’s lab in the University of Notre Dame in Indiana. Dr. Cheng is from Zhejiang in the eastern providence of China. His hometown surrounded by beautiful mountains and full of rivers. In his childhood he played around with his friends and family in the forests, rivers, and mountains. This began fostering his interests in biology. Thus he chose biotechnology as his major during University.

He pursues microbiology working with the mycobacterial infections. However what further peaked his interest in the subject was human respiratory infectious diseases. His study also included the development of new anti-tuberculosis vaccines and diagnostic tools. In 2020, Dr. Cheng joined the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Oklahoma State University. He is currently working on multiple projects understanding the interactions between Mycobacterium tuberculosis/non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) and the host.

Dr. Cheng currently has 4 graduate students and 10 undergraduates as well as a post doc all working on their studies in his lab. He has a Niblack Scholar, Purdie Research Scholar, Goldwater Scholar, and Ferguson Undergraduate Research Scholar currently in his lab.

Retirement after 18 years!

Dr. Peter Hoyt

Dr. Hoyt was the director of the bioinformatics core facility for OSU. His knowledge of genomics, supercomputing, and bioinformatics made him the ‘go-to’ person for sequencing and bioinformatic management of big Next-Generation Sequencing data. He was a valuable resource person for the Institute for Biosecurity and Microbial Forensics. We appreciate everything you have done and accomplished in your 18 years! We wish you a long and healthy retirement.

Nelda Joy Driggs, Senior Administrative Support Assistant, is grateful to be a part of OSU’s Department of Biochemistry and Molecular for the last 18 years. Before OSU, Nelda worked as a Business Manager for Dr. Brian Roadhouse in the Kelley Medical Building, Tulsa, OK, before moving back to her hometown of Stillwater, OK. Nelda met her husband of 40+ years, Bobbie Driggs, Jr., as newly formed band members who played music all over Oklahoma and surrounding states, including Stillwater’s very own Kaleidoscope (later City Boots), Tumbleweed, Outlaws Saloon and many more. In 1999, Nelda and Bobbie began playing Christian music in a 6-piece band and as a vocal trio in a broad venue which they continue to this day.

Nelda Driggs

DNA Officers 2023

President – Kyle Van Pelt

Vice President – Ian Deaton

Secretary – Abby Mcintire (not pictured)

Treasurer– Kaela Byers

Volunteer Coordinator– Phoenix Hollenbeck

PR Chair– Owen Fleming

Ag Representatives– Layne Havlik

Lilyana Sestak

Student Organizations

The Biochemistry Club, or Delta Nu Alpha, is a group of students dedicated to connecting with other students interested in biochemistry. At our meetings, we usually bring in guest speakers relating to the fields of medical, veterinary, or biochemical sciences. These guest speakers are given time to discuss their work, and the students jump in with questions and comments for the speaker after they’ve finished speaking. In addition, we also take time to talk about new developments in the department, help students with schoolwork they find tricky, and plan future volunteering opportunities. A community outreach program we regularly participate in as a club is “Into the Streets,” an event that takes place once per semester.

This coming fall semester, the Biochemistry Club plans to take a tour of OU and OSU’s medical schools to help interested students gain information and experience about these institutions. We also plan to increase our community outreach through volunteering at various Stillwater food pantries, such as “Our Daily Bread.”

The Biochemistry Club hopes to further grow and help students gain an interest in biochemistry and their future careers as health, veterinary, or biochemical professionals. Follow us on Instagram to find out what the club is up to and learn meeting times and dates: @okstate_biochemistry. Please also feel free to reach out to the president, Kyle Van Pelt, with any questions at kyle.van_pelt@okstate.edu .

From Left to Right: Kaela Byers, Phoenix Hollenbeck, Owen Fleming, Kyle Van Pelt, Ian Deaton, Layne Havlik, and Lilyana Sestak

Student Organizations

Students of Osteopathic Rural Medicine, more commonly known as StORM Club, is comprised of a diverse group of pre-medical students whose goal is to serve in the medical field. More specifically, we hope to give our members a firm foundation of what osteopathic medicine is and to provide them all with the opportunities to learn about rural medicine and its challenges. We do our best to bring our focus to underserved communities and how we can better serve them once we begin our careers. StORM Club members help one another with preparation for the MCAT, classes, and other seasons of life throughout their years on campus at Oklahoma State. Members will get chances to hear from current medical students, physicians of different specialties, and medical school recruitment specialists. Our students are provided with opportunities to tour medical school campuses within Oklahoma. StORM Club is involved in many campus activities, such as Into the Streets, Ferguson Week, and “America’s Greatest Homecoming.” We hope that through StORM Club membership, pre-med students make meaningful connections with their peers, network with physicians and medical school personnel, and gain experience and knowledge they can take with them to prepare for a career in medicine. StORM is always looking for opportunities to grow and students to support. Follow our Instagram @osu_storm_undergrad to keep up with us or join us on our CampusLink Page. Go Pokes!

StORM Officers 2023

President: Cody Busch

Vice President: Claire Rose

Secretary: Addison McGill

Treasurer: Caden Henderson

Volunteer Coordinator: Josh Fox

AG Reps: Layne Havlik & Taryn Stinchcomb

PR Chair: Beatrice Kim

OKSTATE’s iGEM team is only in its second year as a student organization, but we are excited to announce our inaugural participation in the renowned International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) competition! Students will be travelling to Paris in November 2023 to present our research concerning methane mitigation in wastewater to other teams from around the world OSU’s team is the only active iGEM club in Oklahoma and remains one of the few competitive research teams at our university. iGEM stands for International Genetically Engineered Machine and is an annual international competition created by MIT that is dedicated to pushing boundaries of synthetic biology and creating innovative solutions to real world problems. An iGEM team is a group of undergraduate students collaborating on projects that utilize genetic engineering to solve real-world problems. They work together to design and construct biological systems, using standardized parts, with a focus on fields like healthcare, energy, agriculture, and the environment. This competition presents a unique opportunity for OSU students to take the lead in designing and executing their own synthetic biology projects and ultimately present their research in front of an international audience at the iGEM Giant Jamboree, fostering a global community of young scientists and engineers passionate about synthetic biology and its potential impact.

Our members have dedicated numerous hours researching, brainstorming, and designing various solutions that could be used to deal with methane buildup in agricultural wastewater. In order to efficiently tackle this project, we divided up into four different student groups, two wet labs, one dry lab, and a human practices group. One wet lab is working on genetically engineering E. coli to be able to break down methane while the other focuses on assays to measure the rate of the methane break down. Our dry lab has numerous engineers that are building a fluorimeter that could be used in the field to determine the efficiency of our bacteria. Finally, human practices is dedicated to interviewing experts that can assist in our project and performing outreach activities in our community to teach more people about synthetic biology and sustainable agriculture.

Summer 2023 will be a busy time as we work to finish our project in time or the competition. We are always looking for new students from any major who may be interested in helping with current or future projects. If you have any questions regarding our team, iGEM, or what you can do to get involved, please contact our club president at trinity.g.austin@okstate.edu​

President

Student Organizations

BMBGSA Officers 2023

President – Caleb Watkins

Vice President – Jeev Senthil Kumar

Treasurer – Sonal Badhe

Secretary – Fiona Byrd

Representative – Ramakrishnama ‘Krish’ Raju Kasiraju

Representative –Muhammad Zubair Mehboob

Social Media Officer – Huishan Liu

Social Media Officer – Audrey Dagnell

The 2022-2023 year brought the return of an in-person Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Graduate Student Association (BMBGSA) Annual Research Symposium, this time with high hopes for an even more successful event than previous years.

The symposium has always provided the opportunity for graduate and undergraduate students the chance to reflect, organize, and share their research with fellow students, faculty, researchers, and guests. The students who excel in articulating and presenting their research are eligible to win awards that are provided by various donors who seek to support these ambitious students in their research endeavors.

The 19th Annual BMBGSA Research Symposium hosted students representing multiple departments across the OSU campus, including, Animal and Food Science, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Chemistry, Entomology and Plant Pathology, Nutritional Sciences, Physics, Physiological Sciences, and Veterinary Pathobiology. We were pleased to also host Dr. Mitchell Lee, CEO of Ora Biomedical, Inc., where he presented on his company’s conception, growth, goals, and exciting research in ‘Utilizing non-mammalian systems to develop lifespan extending interventions in academia and industry’. Here, he was able to show how important the connection of laboratory techniques to consumer products is and how his company plans to bridge that gap in the years to come.

This year, with a new set of BMBGSA officers for the 2023-2024 year, we plan to expand upon the efforts of last year’s success and continue to grow. We plan to widen our outreach initiatives by hosting a workshop for this years 4-H Round up, where we look forward to hosting students and showing them some ‘behind-the-scenes’ science of crime scene investigations.

We also look forward to making our 20th Annual Research Symposium a smashing success, building off the work and foundation laid out by the previous Research Symposia. We are hopeful that this next year will bring more opportunities, activities, and networking for our students’ growth, careers, and beyond.

April 6th, 2023

Aiden Moore

Aiden is a senior with a major in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry. He is graduating with honors distinction and plays viola in the Oklahoma State Symphonic Orchestra. He is originally from Stillwater, and his father even works here at the university as a professor of Biosystem Engineering. He has worked with Dr Patricia Canaan in the Freshman Research Program studying antibiotic-resistant genes in Elizabethkingia anopheles, an emerging pathogen that often leads to hospitalization. He currently works assisting Dr. Feng with his grad students studying over plant root systems and determining how a plant can distinguish commensal from harmful bacteria. He wants to do research and has started tutoring in the LASSO center and enjoys teaching and helping the students. After he graduates, he plans on attending Kansas State University for a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology for academia.

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology All-Star

Serge Andre Abit

Serge Andre Abit is a senior in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. He has worked with Dr. Ramanjulu Sunkar from his freshmen to senior year. During this time, he was a Niblack Scholar, a Wentz Scholar and a Freshman Research Scholar. He has been studying the overexpression of sulfate transporter genes on arsenic tolerance in plants. He is part of many different clubs such as Delta Nu Alpha, SGA, Cowboy Cousins, and is part of the Academic Integrity Panel in the Ferguson College of Agriculture. His main plan after leaving OSU is to attend medical school, although he’s also debating going to Graduate School.

BMB Welcomes New PhD Alumni!

Juhi Chaturvedi graduated with a Ph.D. in the Spring 2023!

Bryan Naidenov graduated with a Ph.D. in the Spring 2023!

Sean Gile graduated with a Ph.D. in the Spring 2023!

Undergraduate Degree Recipients

Fall 2022

• Batterton, Jacob

• Betts, McKaylin

• Clune, William

• Dagnell, Audrey

• Doyle, Maya

• Fehrenbach, Alyssa

• Floyd, Steven

• Howell, Amber

• Spitler, Madison

• St. Clair, Michael

• Tsaras, Eleni

• Turner, Jace

• Veenis, Nolan

• Weertman, Joshua

Spring 2023

• Balcerak, John Michael

• Beal, Josaiah

• Coody, Elizabeth

• Furfey, Victoria

• Hanks, Heidi

• Harlan, Elaina

• Henry, Kayla

• Hobbs, Kathryn

• Kempton, Emma

• Mayfield, Madelyn

• Mears, Nathan

• Moore, Jackson

• Moore, Aidan

• Newby, Harlee

• Nipp, Morgan

• Norwood, Tatum

Giving TOWARD the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

• Parnell, Mary

• Rogers, Landon

• Salyer, Hunter

• Sanders, Shelby

• Snider, Lillie

• Swenson, Jacob

• Wall, Addison

• Wright, Carson

• Yang, Annie

The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology encourages all students to reach their full potential in every aspect of their education. The Department recognizes the importance of alumni and values their contributions toward the success of our students. Financial contributions make it possible for the department to provide a top-quality research seminar series, educational and research opportunities for students, and a variety of scholarships and scholar awards.

Dr. Arlan Richard Research Scholars Endowment

Endowed Scholarship in honor of Linda C. Schultz

George R. & Hilda L. Waller Endowed Scholar in Biochemistry

In Recognition of Women of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Dr. Jon A. Newell Endowed Fund

The Finn Wold Family Biochemistry Endowed Fund

Roger E. & Norma L. Koeppe Endowed Scholarship

Ulrich & Karen Melcher Endowed Graduate Research Fund

Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Student Scholarship and Award Fund

Paul F. Kruse, Jr. Endowed Scholarship

Dr. Franklin R. Leach Research Scholars Endowment Fund

Dr, Gregory & Ruth Schultz Endowed Grad Student Fellowship

The Biochemistry Department Fund

Contributions can be made online at https://http://www.osugiving.com/search?query=biochem Or checks payable to OSU Foundation and designateyourdesiredareaofsupportintheBCMB Department.For further information on giving toward or endowing funds for recognition of a specific individual, please contact the Department.

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

246 Noble Research Center Stillwater, Oklahoma 74078-3035 (405) 744-6189 biochemistry@okstate.edu

HISTORY: A look back at where we were in 1965

Ghost of Christmas Past

To the tune of “I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas”

We’re dreaming of a budget increase

Just like the one from years ago

Where we all got raises, and started phases

To build new buildings before the snow.

We’re dreaming of a of a BMB department,

Where all the p-cards are used right

May the grad students stay merry and bright

And may all the postdocs sleep well at night.

We’re dreaming of a long vacation

Where? We don’t care. We just want to go.

Where the smiles all glisten

And folks all listen

To us, ‘cause we are “in the know.”

We’re dreaming of a BMB department, Lab personnel get the limelight

While faculty stay busy out of sight

And may all their research turn out just right!

Spring 2023 Commencement Ceremonies

DR. JOHN GUSTAFSON - PROFFESOR AND HEAD

While I was an undergraduate at Illinois State University, I sought and was offered a job cleaning dishes in the microbiology laboratory of Professor Brian J. Wilkinson for $3.25 per hour. After Dr. Wilkinson and I got to know one another, he then gave me the opportunity to work on a simple research project on a possible association between cell autolysis and methicillin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus (AKA Golden Staph). After that, I was hooked on something, though I was not yet certain what it was. During my Master’s project with Dr. Wilkinson, I moved on to prepare isolated peptidoglycan, crude cell walls, and freeze-thaw extracts containing autolysins and produced SDS-PAGE gels containing cell wall material to visualize autolysins upon renaturation. During my Masters, I was allowed to take the courses “Molecular Biology of the Gene” with Professor Herman Brockman and “Nucleic Acids” with Professor Arlan Richardson (BMB alum extraordinaire!).

In Professor Brockman’s course, he taught us the history of molecular biology using historic scientific literature. This course covered the classical, neoclassical, and molecular concept of the gene and allowed us to travel through history from Mendel’s work, the Columbia University “fly lab” experiments, Seymore Benzer’s work, to the double helix and the implications associated with the elegant structure of DNA. Dr. Brockman told us that he ran through the department where he did his Ph.D. knocking on doors shouting, “They broke the code! They broke the code!” when papers came out describing the genetic code in DNA. He then finished the course with the discovery of PCR which caused Professor Brockman’s eyes to well up with passion on the last day of class, because he was so excited by the science and discovery!

Dr. Richardson’s meticulous course was designed with the primary historic biochemistry literature, and I was exposed to the multiple steps associated with DNA replication and RNA transcription, and the techniques that scientists of the day utilized to reveal the multiple precise functions carried out by nucleic acid polymerases. He also went over the literature and techniques that scientists used to determine the nature of codons and anticodons. Dr. Richardson referred to polymerases as “molecular machines” and revealed the publications that demonstrated that, while amazing, DNA polymerase still made relatively minor mistakes in copying DNA. “Aha!” I thought at the time, “So therein is a mechanism that supports the process of evolution!”

Following these experiences, I was being reeled in, and science was looking like my future. While in Dr. Wilkinson’s laboratory, I initiated a collaboration with a scientist at the University of Zürich in Switzerland, Professor Brigitte Berger-Bächi who eventually became my scientific mother and supported me throughout my Ph.D.

DR. JOHN GUSTAFSON - PROFFESOR AND HEAD

When I got to Switzerland to do my Ph.D., I realized that it was these four faculty members who had the greatest impact on my career choice, and I can remember telling Professor Wilkinson, “I do not want any job, I want your job”. After getting to Switzerland, I was befriended by Professor Herbie Hächler and the incredible science technician Anni Strässle, who taught me all the techniques I needed to complete my research project, and Anni even focused on teaching me conversational German. All of these individuals continued their support of me by providing recommendation letters for years after I left their laboratories. I am so grateful to have these incredible people in my life – thanks to all of you!

I relay this story for a reason; I wanted to ask all of you if you worked with someone in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology that helped you succeed and guided you into your future career the way the individuals in the story above guided me. I hope that many of you do, and if you do, I hope you consider giving back to the department so that we can continue to provide the opportunities you enjoyed and benefited from to all of our future students! I am thinking it is time to set up a $1,000,000 drive for the department which we will be working on in the coming year. I have heard that this has been accomplished in other DASNR departments so we should be able to come up with a game plan moving forward! Many loud “thank yous” go out to all BMB donors, your generosity will continue to benefit so many BMB students now and in the future!