Natalie Whitis, an Iowa State alumna, was recently awarded the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, which provides three years of full financial support during a five-year fellowship period.  The goal of the program is to recognize high-potential, early-career scientists and engineers and support their graduate research training in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines.

For 20176, 64 employees reached 25 consecutive years of service at Iowa State University. For more than 100 years, the 25 Year Club has recognized faculty and staff who have worked at Iowa State a quarter century or more.  A honoree, Donald Beitz, started working at Iowa State in 1967 and is the sole 50-year honoree.

Every year the Division of Student Affairs celebrates the accomplishments of students who serve the community with their gifts of leadership.  For 2018, Bailey Mooney, a Biochemistry and Genetics student in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences from Middle, Iowa, was presented the Kappa Alpha Theta High Flyer Award, a donor established award first given in 2011.  The award is given to invest in a woman student who is an outstanding undergraduate leader at Iowa State University.  The award recognizes a senior with a minimum GPA of 3.50 who has demonstrated exemplary leadership skills.

Daniel Kramer, a second year Ph.D. student in Professor Stone Chen’s research group, has been awarded the Print and Grace Powers Hudson Scholarship in Agriculture by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences for the 2018-19 academic year.  This scholarship of $1,000 is designated for students in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences pursuing a Ph.D. or M.S. degree.

The Bailey award is given to faculty whose research is innovative and not only increases fundamental knowledge, but also has practical applications. This year, Thomas Bobik, professor of microbiology, received a three-year, $137,697 award to explore the use of methanobactin as a way to remove copper in human tissue as a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease.  

The Iowa State Daily takes a look at the wearing of the hijab by women of the Muslim faith.

Iowa State University researchers gain new insight into the human immune system by studying the material left over after blood donations.  The results published in a peer-reviewed journal, Journal of Biological Chemistry, illuminates the process of how the human body fights off harmful bacteria.

Please join us for a special event celebrating the dedication of the Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology on Friday, March 30th at 3 p.m. to be held in the Molecular Biology Building Atrium.

The BBMB Graduate Learning Community (GLC), which started in Fall 2013, is a peer-led community that focuses on exploring the professional development and careers of graduate students studying in the area of biochemistry and biophysics. The first meeting of the year for GLC will be held on August 30 to help guide new BBMB students with their Individual Development Plan (IDP) assessment tool, with subsequent meetings and events planned around the IDP results.

The diversity of ideas and perspectives students bring is essential to keep research fresh and moving forward.  Awarded the LAS Award for Excellence in Graduate Mentoring, Reuben Peters, a professor in biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology, has provided guidance to 17 students who have received graduate level degrees, and his mentoring has led to more than 90 publications and four patents.

Take a look back at 2017 for accomplishments and milestones for Iowa State University.

To add to the growing understanding of CRISPR as an immune system for the benefit of gene editing technique as well as other unforeseen applications, Dipali Sashital, an assistant professor of biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology, and Chaoyou Xue (’17 Ph.D. Biochemistry) are working with a new technique, developed by Xue, to visualize how the CRISPR protein searches DNA.  The results have been published in the journal, Cell Reports.

While Coulomb’s Law of opposites attract may have brought Marna Yandeau-Nelson and Scott Nelson together, it is the combination of genetic and biochemical science and teaching at ISU, and a mutually supportive home life that keeps the bond strong.

CALS "Stories About..." article written by Basil Nikolau explains how big science projects are built on small science advancements.

A novel database presented by researchers at ISU will allow scientists to access information on RNA structures encoded within the human genome.  "This will help facilitate basic research into human biology and could pave the way for new medical treatments that target RNA", stated by Walter Moss, assistant professor in the Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology.  

Diane Bassham and Gustavo MacIntosh's current study on a cellular pathway in plants shows a connection to a certain encephalopathy, or the degeneration of neural cells in the brain.

The BBMB scholarship committee is proud to announce Bailey Mooney, Emily Knuth and Jackie Ehrlich as the 2018-2019 Stupka Scholars.  All have been very involved with both the B&B Club and as leaders for the Stupka Undergraduate Research Symposium. 

Bailey Mooney is a senior, with a double major in Biochemistry and Genetics, and was nominated by her research mentor, Dr. Jeff Trimarchi.  She has served as treasurer for both club and Stupka, and is in her second year as a peer mentor for the BBMB Learning Community.

Emily Knuth is a senior majoring in Agricultural Biochemistry, with minors in nutrition and agronomy, and was nominated by her research mentor, Dr. Adam Barb.  Emily has served as the CALS Liaison and as the Fundraising Chair for Stupka 2018.

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) held its annual Fall Convocation and Awards ceremony on Tuesday, September 5, 2017.

Three BBMB faculty were among the honorees -- Amy Andreotti received the Institutional Service Award; Gustavo MacIntosh was honored with the Diversity Award; and Reuben Peters was presented the award for Excellence in Graduate Mentoring.

Matthew Cook, a third-year student with majors in Biochemistry and Genetics, has been named a 2017 Goldwater Scholar. In looking toward the future, Matthew's plans include earning a Ph.D. in biochemistry, continuing to conduct research on enzymology with an interest in improving protein engineering, and teaching in academia.

Matthew was one of four students nominated for the award by Iowa State University (ISU). ISU was one of only four institutions in the nation to have all four of nominees named as scholars. Established by Congress in 1986, the Goldwater Scholarship recognizes students of outstanding potential who intend to pursue careers in mathematics, the sciences, or engineering research. The scholarship is considered the nation’s most prestigious award for undergraduates in STEM disciplines.

Sam Schulte has been selected as the LAS Student Marshal for the Spring 2017 Commencement. Sam's academic achievements as well as his strong commitment to service were the deciding factors for this honor.

The Student Marshal leads the procession of LAS graduates with the Dean of the College and is the first graduate to receive a diploma.