Talmage Participants

Undergraduate Institution: Brigham Young University - Idaho

Faculty Advisor: Professor Christensen

Research: This summer I contributed to the research in the Christensen Lab where we investigated protein-protein interactions involving CMG2, a type of cellular receptor. We used proteomics and western blot techniques to gain insight into how CMG2 inhibitors alleviate pain associated with endometriosis. Our findings could validate the use of CMG2 as a therapeutic target for managing endometriosis-related pain, potentially improving the lives of numerous women affected by this condition.

Undergraduate Institution: Brigham Young University - Idaho

Faculty Advisor: Professor Austin

Research: This summer I explored the dissociation pattern when molecules impact a surface at high speed (5km/s or higher). I helped assemble and calibrate the vacuum chamber for the project and collected data for analysis. Knowing the disintegration pattern helps scientists better analyze the data collected from space.

Undergraduate Institution: Brigham Young University - Idaho

Faculty Advisor: Professor Van Ry

Research: This summer in the Van Ry Lab, I learned how to staining skeletal muscle tissue from mouse models that had either been treated with a protein therapy or with a placebo. The muscle tissue of mice was prepared on slides and analyzed using various staining methods to determine the relative fat content and overall quality of the muscle fibers. The obtained images were then processed with software for quantification, allowing us to assess the response of treated mice to a novel treatment compared to the non-treated group.

Undergraduate Institution: North Park University


Faculty Advisor: Professor JL Price

Research: This summer I worked in the JL Price lab on price on protein synthesis. I have used the one pot solid phase technic through the deprotection and activation of amino acid and coupling. I have been able to purify my protein sequences through lyophilization and I have been able to confirm the success of my synthesis through mass spectroscopy.

Undergraduate Institution: Northwest Missouri State University

Faculty Advisor: Professor Andersen

Research: This summer I worked in Dr. Andersen's lab studying a protein called TNK1 which was linked to inflammatory signaling pathways and cancer development. My project consisted of discovering the interaction between TNK1 and a protein related to inflammation through the activation of inflammatory transcriptional pathways. I was also in charge of identifying the specific sequence within TNK1 that is required important protein-protein interactions.

Undergraduate Institution: Brigham Young University - Hawaii

Faculty Advisor: Professor JC Price

Research: For my summer research I am working with mice liver tissues that express different versions of the human ApoE protein to measure changes in protein concentration and turnover. Our hypothesis is that ApoE genotype increases the risk for disease by making an individual more susceptible to insults. Hence, we are going to generate data to investigate how ApoE isoforms modulate liver proteostasis.

Undergraduate Institution: Utah Tech University


Faculty Advisor: Professor Kelly

Research: This past summer I worked in the Kelly lab converting a liquid handling robot to work on the nL scale. I tested its precision and accuracy on that level and did a series of experiments to demonstrate its affordable use in single cell proteomics.

Undergraduate Institution: Brigham Young University - Idaho

Faculty Advisor: Professor Andrus

Research: This summer, I worked on synthesizing a new asymmetric micellar catalyst in the Andrus lab. This catalyst was modified with a MacMillan catalyst attached to its tail. I optimized the steps for producing the modified MacMillan catalyst as well as all purification and characterization of the new material.

Undergraduate Institution: Utah Valley University

Faculty Advisor: Professor Van Ry


Research: This summer, I worked with the tissue engineering team in the Van Ry lab for organotypic tissue formation in a lung alveolar model in soluble extracellular matrix (ECM). I worked on testing available ECM substitute, Culture X and Decellularized lung tissue, for Matrigel, the pure basement membranes. For the 3D culture method of creating lung organoids, I grew triculture cell aggregates in soluble ECM.

Undergraduate Institution: Brigham Young University - Hawaii

Faculty Advisor: Professor Andersen

Research:

Undergraduate Institution: Brigham Young University - Idaho

Faculty Advisor: Professor Harrison

Research: This summer I worked on improving water treatment development in the Harrison lab. Wastewater produces toxic hydrogen sulfide gas, so I used zeolite and metal to absorb hydrogen sulfide as much as possible via analyzing the production of sulfur from a well combination of nickel (metal) and zeolites.

Undergraduate Institution: Missouri State

Faculty Advisor: Professor J Hansen

Research: This summer, I modeled the use of broadband cavity-enhanced absorption spectroscopy in the Hansen lab to determine whether it is possible to detect HO2 radicals. The first kinetic simulation I built in Python showed the implausibility of HO2 detection from the conversion of HO2 to ClO. We are now building a second simulation to test the plausibility of converting HO2 to NO2 for HO2 detection. I have learned to calibrate inexpensive particle sizers against well-established instruments such as a TEOM and an optical particle sizer.

Undergraduate Institution: Dominican University

Faculty Advisor: Professor Christensen


Research: This Summer, I worked with the parasite attributed to African Sleeping Sickness, Trypanosoma Brucei. The parasite exists in two forms, one while living in the fly that transmits it's stomach and one while in the bloodstream of its host. My project focused on understanding the bloodstream form's ability to regulate the pH level of its glycolytic organelle, the glycosome.

Undergraduate Institution: Utah State University

Faculty Advisor: Professor Savage


Research: I built glycan antigens for vaccines of S. pneumoniae. I synthesized and purified various sugar intermediates for glycan antigens in a certain S. pneumoniae serotype. Glycan antigen synthesis allows for more prevention of infectious disease.

Undergraduate Institution: BYU - Hawaii

Faculty Advisor: Professor Michaelis


Research:

Undergraduate Institution: BYU-Idaho

Faculty Advisor: Professor Woolley


Research: This summer I worked with a team developing a device that can run a test capable of determining to which antibiotics a specific bacterium is or isn’t resistant too. We used microfluidics to incubate bacteria in droplets inside micro channels in a PDMS chip. This method does not require an amplification step which makes it a lot faster than current methods. This test could aid physicians in getting a more efficient treatment quickly for patients with sepsis.

Undergraduate Institution: BYU-Idaho

Faculty Advisor: Professor Woolley


Research: My time was spent developing a diagnostic tool capable of identifying nine biomarkers in maternal serum in order to identify levels of preterm birth risk. The microfluidic chips were 3D printed and electrophoresis was used to separate and identify the biomarkers.

Undergraduate Institution: BYU-Idaho

Faculty Advisor: Professor Kelly


Research: During the summer, I worked in Dr. Kelly’s lab doing nanoscale proteomics on human skin tissues. I processed the samples and analyzed the data from the MS to know the main proteome implications of aging. The results will be used to develop skincare products.

Undergraduate Institution: BYU-Hawaii

Faculty Advisor: Professor Andruss


Research: We worked on synthesizing chiral auxiliaries from L-phenylalanine for Intramolecular Styryl Diels Alder (ISDA) reactions.

Undergrad: UVU

Faculty Advisor: Professor Sevy


Research Summary:

Undergraduate Institution: Southern Virginia University

Faculty Advisor: Professor Price (JC)

Research: This past summer I worked in the JC Price lab on method development of muscle proteomics. I worked on creating and updating protocols for sample pulverization and preparation for the mass spectrometer. I then analyzed the data collected for protein turnover rates and concentrations of the muscles.

Undergraduate Institution: Dixie State University


Faculty Advisor: Professor Hansen

Research: My summer research centered on improving the conversion of biomass into biofuels by method of anaerobic digestion.

Undergraduate Institution: BYU-Idaho


Faculty Advisor: Professor Kelly

Research: Research novel fluorescent staining techniques of HeLa cells to be integrated into a workflow for tandem mass spectrometry analysis.

Institution: University of Utah


Advisor: Adam Woolley

Research: My summer research focused on using analytical techniques in biochemistry to create a calibration curve for detecting low concentrations of DNA. The big picture application is to create a microfluidic device that is able to help detect 7 common antibiotic-resistant bacterial genes to allow for early sepsis detection.

Undergraduate Institution: Utah State University


Faculty Advisor: Professor Paxton

Research: This summer I worked on making hybrid polymer vesicles for use as micro-sized drug delivery vehicles. Once vesicles were created, worked to make them pH responsive to ensure they deliver their cargo under desired pH environments. This allows for greater specificity when delivering therapeutics such as chemo therapies.