BBMBers are busy learning and making discoveries, and the news reported here is just part of the picture! Visit our social media accounts (linked at bottom of page) to make sure you don't miss anything.
We fondly remember Donald Graves, former BBMB Department Chair, longtime Professor (named Charles F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor), beloved graduate student mentor (recipient of Margaret Ellen White Award), and scholarship supporter of many outstanding BBMB undergraduate researchers. He passed away June 21, 2024.
Dr. Graves is honored in this ASBMB retrospective.
Biochemistry majors were recognized at an Awards Brunch on Tuesday, September 24th, including BBMB Department awards such as Stupka Scholar and Stupka Leader; select national, College, and University achievements such as the Dean's List; and the ISU Alumni Association's Wallace E. Barron All-University Senior Award. Department Chair Mark Hargrove emceed and Undergraduate Program Coordinator Claire Kruesel presented certificates. BBMB faculty, staff, and graduate students were also celebrated.
BBMB graduate students were recognized for the following awards at an Awards Brunch on Tuesday, September 24th, 2024: Teaching Excellence Award, Research Excellence Award, Brown Fellowship. Department Chair Mark Hargrove emceed and Undergraduate Program Coordinator Claire Kruesel presented certificates. BBMB faculty, staff, and undergraduates were also celebrated.
Ten 2024 BBMB graduates have joined the ASBMB Wall of Fame! They achieved Mastery or Proficiency scores in the challenging certifying exam by the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB). Congratulations Matthew, Nicholas, Kaleb, Prescott, Ciaran, Avani, Braden, Courtney, Renee, and Karsten!
Eleven biochemistry majors presented their undergraduate research in lightning-style talks at our third annual BBMB Summer Undergraduate Research Program (BSRP) Showcase on Sept. 5th. Thank you to everyone who supported this program and attended the showcase! This year's showcase debuted the new π-minute-thesis (3:14) format with pie for refreshments. Mark your calendars for Sept. 4th, 2025.
Congratulations to Dr. Gustavo MacIntosh, BBMB Professor, on his appointment as LAS Interim Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Faculty Development!
Congratulations to Karsten Theilen (Biochemistry '24), recipient of the prestigious Wallace E. Barron All-University Senior Award!
We are so proud of Karsten and grateful for her leadership during her time at Iowa State. During her last semester, Karsten served BBMB as President of Biochemistry Club and received the Robert Stupka Leadership Award.
Biochemistry majors Sharon Tsimese, '27 (Sashital lab) and Austin Petfalski, '26 (Roche lab) conducted research this summer with support from the Dean's High Impact Award. Congratulations to Austin and Sharon, and thank you to Dr. Roche and Dr. Sashital for their mentorship!
The Stupka Undergraduate Research Symposium, in its 18th year in 2024, is run by undergraduates and hosted by BBMB. This year they welcomed keynote speakers Dr. Simon Gilroy and Dr. Susan Marqusee.
The Chen lab and collaborators at UT Southwestern Medical Center made significant advancements in our understanding of how proteins are retrieved from endosomes and recycled back to the cell's surface. They combined cryo-EM, structural predictions, biochemistry, and cell biology to investigate how the Retriever and CCC complexes team up in this process.
Four BBMB students presented at the 20th Annual Norman Borlaug Lectureship Poster Competition for Graduate and Undergraduate Students. Congratulations to Yiling Feng (Peters lab) - 2nd place, Graduate Division and Braden Lewis (Mendonca lab) - 3rd place, Undergraduate Division. Also presenting were Austin Petfalski (Roche lab) and Tristan Weers (Peters lab), both Undergraduate Division.
The ISU undergraduate biochemistry program welcomes Nick Crumpton, Teaching Lab Coordinator. Nick is completing his Master’s in STEM Education and is excited to utilize his skills and expertise towards providing the best undergraduate lab experiences for our students at ISU. The Department welcomed Nick Crumpton and Al Culbertson (Assistant Professor) at an ice cream social in September.
Dr. Louisa Tabatabai was unanimously chosen to receive lifetime membership from the International Brucellosis Society! Dr. Tabatabai’s extensive publications concerning brucellosis are cited continually, and her impact on the understanding of the organism and the disease cannot be understated. Dr. Tabatabai is a shining example of a dedicated scientist with continuous achievements and an undying curiosity of the role bacterial proteins play in pathogenesis of disease. A quote from the Secretary-Treasurer of the International Brucellosis Society “I am honored to share this monumental announcement with you. I can think of no one more deserving of lifetime membership. I look forward to your continued attendance at future conferences so that the new wave of brucellosis researchers learn from your wisdom and knowledge.”
Thirteen biochemistry majors presented their undergraduate research in lightning-style talks at our second annual BBMB Summer Undergraduate Research Program (BSRP) Showcase on Sept. 7th. Thank you to everyone who supported this program and attended the showcase! Next year's BSRP Showcase format will be a π-minute-thesis (3:14) with pie for refreshments. Mark your calendars for Sept. 5th, 2024.
This fall, four BBMB Department members will receive University Awards, the highest recognition Iowa State bestows upon its faculty and staff for their commitment to the land-grant ideals of learning, discovery and outreach. Congratulations to Marit Nilsen-Hamilton, Eric Underbakke, Claire Kruesel, and Meimei Xu! Their peers nominated them for their accomplishments.
We're thrilled to announce that Dr. Alan Culbertson is joining us as Assistant Professor! He is now merging his past experiences in starting his own research laboratory at Iowa State University in studying plant ABC transporters using cryoEM along with other in vitro biochemical assays. The Roy J. Carver Department of BBMB looks forward to welcoming (back) Dr. Culbertson and our new Teaching Lab Coordinator, Nick Crumpton, at an ISU Creamery ice cream social later this month.
Three 2023 BBMB graduates have joined the ASBMB Wall of Fame! They achieved Mastery or Proficiency scores in the challenging certifying exam by the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB). Congratulations Daly, Isabel, and Kevin!
