Talk on Protein Engineering

This week, professor Shahir Rizk gave a talk on protein engineering as a part of a seminar series hosted by the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology of the IU School of Medicine. While you are probably aware of Rizk's many research endeavors involving our undergraduate students in the two areas of protein engineering listed above, you may not be aware that Rizk also teaches as an adjunct instructor for the IU School of Medicine. When he sometimes can take a break from teaching and researching, you may find him at a number of special events at the local LangLab (which is a mixture of cafe, art, science, and entertainment) or holed away finishing a general-audience book on the marvels of proteins. 

Students Present Summer Research

While classes may be few in the summer, that is the time when research is most abundant. To round out September, some of our STEM students presented posters detailing their summer research projects. Most students are financially supported by LSAMP grants, SMART grants, or the Garber Summer Research Fellowship. Some of our students will go on to present their work in Chicago in early November at the annual LSAMP conference. The students and their projects are listed below, corresponding to the pictures from left to right, top to bottom.

Hannah Gregor, Biochemistry BS (with Dr. Clear)
Investigation of Fluorescent Hydrogen Sulfide Probes and the Synthesis of Enzyme Inhibitors and Protective Molecules

Ashley Rojas Romero, Biological Sciences BS (with Dr. Qian)
Acid Tolerance and Resistance to Oxidative Stress in Oral Bifidobasterium and Streptococcus Species

Nathanael Smith, Biochemistry BS (with Dr. Rizk)
Cloning and Expression of the Arylphorin Subunit Alpha-like Protein in E. Coli

Allyce Rogers and Gabby Gabrielson, Biological Sciences BS (with Dr. Marr and Dr. Schnabel)
Comparing Vegetative Characteristics and Pollinator Diversity in Restored and Natural Populations of Phemeranthus Rugospermus (an Endangered Plant Species)

Erik Vardanian, Computer Science BS (with Dr. Nair)
Genome Structure Database: A Web Resource for Genome Structural Data Using a Nearest Neighbor Model

Abigael Ngoumape, Biochemistry BS (with Dr. Clear)
Synthesis and Electrochemical Analysis of 1,4-Naphthoquinone Derivatives and the Effect of Hydrogen Sulfide on Electrochemical Properties

Certification by the American Chemical Society is Renewed

The American Chemical Society (ACS) certifies chemistry degrees for colleges and universities across the country. Our Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry has had its B.S. Chemistry degree certified for around three decades. This fall our certification was approved for another 6 years which is the standard time between "check-ups" to ensure a healthy department. Thanks to all of the faculty and staff of our department for their hard work to meet the standards of the ACS. Thanks also to the supporting departments which offer the mathematics, physics, and biology courses that complement the chemistry and biochemistry courses taught by ours. And congratulations to all the past, and future, B.S. Chemistry graduates who can say that their degree is ACS certified.

3D Printer in the Rizk Lab

This summer the Rizk lab acquired a new 3D printer thanks to support from the Research Corporation for Science Advancement. The SnapMaker Artisan 2 3D printer will help with many aspects of research and outreach done by Dr. Rizk and the students in the Rizk lab. The machine is used to print protein structures to provide physical models to show how they fit together in multi-subunit configurations. This will be a great outreach tool for demonstrations on how proteins work. The machine is also used to model "new" protein structures engineered in the Rizk lab as a way to investigate how the structures give rise to new functions. 

Students in the Rizk lab are also learning new skills of 3D modeling and using their skills to print parts for machines and instruments used around the lab. The Rizk lab is building collaborations with other departments at IU South Bend and the University of Notre Dame to design and manufacture specialized parts for research in physics, biology, and bacteriology. With a wide print plate, the machine can print large objects, or many small objects in parallel. But the machine is more than just a 3D printer. With interchangeable heads, it can be easily converted to a laser cutter/engraver or a CNC (computer numerical control) machine for precision carving. With the versatility of the instrument, we hope that it will be a valuable resource within the department as well as for other departments and universities in the region through active collaborations. 

The 3D printer is shown in the process of printing a standard known as 3D benchy, which is a boat with very specific dimensions used universally to calibrate 3D printer settings. 

Rizk contributes chapter to RCSA book

Professor Shahir Rizk is a contributor to a new book published by the Research Corporation for Science Advancement. This book is a collection of short chapters written by Cottrell Scholars (like Rizk) and summaries of mini-workshops. Rizk contributed chapter 4 titled From Lectures to Conversations: Increasing the Sense of Belonging in STEM Courses Through Active Learning Interventions based on his efforts and experiences in both his smaller upper-level courses and his larger lower-level courses. This book is available as a free PDF download HERE.

Dr. Muna is promoted to Full Professor

Dr. Grace Muna, our analytical chemist, has had a remarkable year - and it is only half over. She got a break from teaching in the spring, which we call a sabbatical, to dedicate time to her research which was performed at Dr. Matthew Champion's biochemistry lab at the University of Notre Dame. The fruits of this labor are already ripening as the skills she gained there are being passed on to her summer research students here on our campus. During this time she also received her dues for past research efforts with two articles published in peer-reviewed journals (see #1 and #2). However, the most exciting event this year for Muna is that she was promoted to [Full] Professor, which is the final academic rank (after the entry level Assistant Professor and intermediate Associate Professor ranks). Congratulations, Dr. Muna, for all the achievements you have received this year! You can learn more about Muna in the article below from our campus newspaper, The Preface.

Dr. Grace Muna on her research and her chemistry journey – The Official Student Newspaper of Indiana University South Bend (iusbpreface.net)

Professor Feighery returns with award

Professor Bill Feighery, our inorganic chemist, has at last returned to the department full-time. He has been serving part-time in administration as assistant dean since 2017 which, unfortunately, for us, limited his involvement in department affairs. However, the administrative need was great and Feighery served the College of Liberal Arts and Science extremely well to earn him one of the campus's Top 25 Titan awards for demonstrating consistent stellar performance and going above and beyond normal responsibilities. We are super excited to have him back with us, but also sad to see his expertise leave the Dean's Office. Fortunately, the scientific mind will still be present there with previous Organic Chemist, Professor Doug McMillen, serving as Interim Dean and Physics Professor Henry Scott taking Feighery's place as assistant dean. You've got to love scientists!