The annual Undergraduate Research Conference was held yesterday with posters and talks on a variety of subjects from science to literature. Our department was represented by three biochemistry majors: Shaun Calhoun (left), Rachel Hall (middle), and Ashlei Sonnenberg (right). They presented an exciting talk titled The Effect of Mutations on PhuZ Polymerization describing their work this semester in the capstone biochemistry lab course that continues research begun with other students, particularly biochemistry majors Paige Engdahl and Steven Frye, in Professor Shahir Rizk's research lab. [Engdahl and Frye also helped to prepare the presentation, but they did have talking roles that day.] PhuZ is a bacterial protein that polymerizes into long chains that mimics similar structures in our cells, but is much simpler to study. The students introduced mutations into the bacterial genes and measured the effect on the structure and properties of the protein such as the monomer concentration needed to start the polymerization process. The students did an outstanding job presenting their work and answering questions from the audience. In fact, it was later announced that this group of students won the award for the Best Natural Sciences Presentation.
Taylor Boyd-Becker, a chemistry major, had planned to present her poster on the Synthesis of Novel Imidazolium-Urethane
Ionic Liquids last summer while supported by an internal SMART grant, but she was not feeling well. This research is a collaborative project between Professor Kasey Clear and Murray State University in Kentucky. We hope you are feeling better today, Taylor!
