Patent Pending for Rizk's Glyphosate Biosensor

Professor Shahir Rizk and his students have developed a biosensor for the herbicide glyphosate (RoundUp). This work, which started in the research-based biochemistry lab course (CHEM-C 486) taken by all of our biochemistry majors, was followed up by two IU South Bend students who are now at PhD programs at UNC-Chapel Hill and Notre Dame. A patent application was filed back in the summer of 2019. Read more about Rizk's research and patent here.

Glyphosate is a very simple molecule - almost just the combination of glycine (the smallest amino acid) and a phosphate group. It is a very widely-use herbicide and owes part of its success to the genetic engineering of glyphosate-resistant crops so that the herbicide attacks only the weeds. However, in recent years, glyphosate has been classified as a probable human carcinogen.

Adjunct Faculty Recognized for Years of Service

Our department relies heavily on adjunct faculty from the community to teach our students due to our limited number of full-time faculty.  We are extremely grateful for their willingness to teach, their expertise, and their dedication to IU South Bend. Three instructors are being recognized this spring for service milestones. Instructors Merilee Britt (freshman chemistry and laboratories) and Jim Noffsinger (organic laboratory) have each taught 15 years for us while Earl Hansen (freshman chemistry and laboratories) has taught on campus for 10 years. Although secretly they each may wish they had taken this semester off due to the stress of moving classes online for the latter third of the semester due to the coronavirus pandemic, none of them are reluctant to do their best to adapt and help others. Over spring break, Britt filmed laboratory director Connie Fox perform freshman laboratory experiments for the students to watch instead of perform. And Hansen recorded short pre-laboratory video lectures (partial screenshot above) for the instructors of the CHEM-C 121 courses who don't have recording capabilities at home. We have a great group of students in our department - and one of the reasons for that is that we have a great group of faculty. Thanks to all of the adjuncts for supporting our department and IU South Bend.