BMB Seminar Series

The BMB Seminar series features presentations by students in the Senior Seminar course. Current students are actively conducting research with BMB faculty and will showcase their research experiences and findings at these Tuesday seminars from 12-1:15pm in Gottwald audorium, A001.

Fall 2026

October 20

  • Lucas Chuidian - A Computational Study of Fullerene Synthesis - Advisor: Dr. Carol Parish
  • Efe Nesanir - Determining the genetic determinants of resistance to antimycobacterial compounds via the isolation and characterization of resistant mutants in Mycobacterium smegmatis

October 27

  • Ela Hebeka - A Computational Investigation into Halogen Bonding in Damaged DNA - Advisor: Dr. Carol Parish
  • Emma Kunschner - Synthesis of 4-isoxazolines through a one-pot heteroconjugate addition-cyclization-elimination reaction - Advisor: Dr. Wade Downey

 

November 3

  • Paige Weber - Synthesis of 2-Phosphino-N-Boc N-Heterocycles - Advisor: Dr. Miles Johnson
  • Scott Valentine - Flashing Color and Leaching Behavior of Ceramic Surfaces - Advisor: Dr. Ryan Coppage

 

November 10

  • Lauren Shin - Explorations of MEMO - Advisor: Dr. Julie Pollock
  • Trang Nguyen - Communication and Cursor Control Using Brain–Computer Interfaces – Advisor: Dr. Dean Krusienski, Virginia Commonwealth University

 

November 17

  • Matthew Erickson - From Pathway to Procedure: The Biochemical Basis of Genicular Artery Embolization
  • Brett Phillips - Plants' Powerful Protective Properties – Advisor: Dr. Kristine Nolin

 

December 1

  • Lin Gui - Development of Oxidative-Ring Openings of Benzoxazoles for the Construction of Amido-Substituted Quinone Derivatives – Advisor: Dr. Chris Shugrue
  • Chris Carr - Structural Characterization of SNAP-47: A Protein Involved in Memory Formation – Advisor: Dr. John Peters

 

December 8

  • Caleb Fausnaught - Structural Characterization of SNAP47 – Advisor: Dr. John Peters
  • Joyce Kim - Effects of environmental pollutants on oral health – Advisor: Dr. Shannon Jones

 

Spring 2027

 January 26

  • Paul Nguyen - Reducing Carbon Dioxide – Advisor: Dr. Mike Norris
  • Jack Liu - Investigating dCTP and dATP incorporation by Human Primpol opposite 8-oxo-dG and its analogs – Advisor: Dr. Michelle Hamm

 

February 2

  • Luke Surrusco - Development of Oxidative-Ring Openings of Benzoxazoles for the Construction of Amino-Substituted Quinone Derivatives – Advisor: Dr. Chris Shugrue
  • Ananya Bekele - Investigating the Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Apigetrin in Acrolein-Induced Inflammation – Advisor: Dr. Shannon Jones

 

February 9

  • Ian Hu - Synthesis, characterization and quantification of organic hydride donors in CO2 reduction – Advisor: Dr. Mike Norris
  • Lyndsey Lee - Connecting Serpin Flexibility to Variation in Inhibitory Function – Advisor: Dr. John Peters

 

February 16

  • Naomi Lang - Synthesis and Characterization of Pro-Drugs for Use in Selectively Targeting Cancer Cells Using External Stimuli – Advisor: Dr. Mike Norris
  • Kivanc Nesanir - Spns1 is an iron transporter essential for megalin-dependent endocytosis

 

February 23

  • Srejan Raikwar - Electrochemical reduction of CO2 using organic hydrides – Advisor: Dr. Mike Norris
  • Jessica Ashby - Synthesis of SedG – Advisor: Dr. Michelle Hamm

 

March 2

  • Aiden Cohen - Synthesis of Complexes to Affect CO2 Reduction to Fuels – Advisor: Dr. Mike Norris
  • Sukie Weiner – TBD – Advisor: Dr. Carrie Wu

 

March 16

  • Cole Thomason - CO2 reduction – Advisor: Dr. Mike Norris
  • Brunnet Makava - Ventilation Induced Lung injury in Alzheimer's – Dr. Rebecca Heise, Virginia Commonwealth University

 

March 23

  • Trinity Schulze – TBD – Advisor: Dr. Mike Norris
  • Mera Seifu - Effects of Woodsmoke Exposure and Diallyl Trisulfide on Inflammatory Responses in RAW264.7 Macrophages – Advisor: Dr. Shannon Jones

 

March 30

  • Laela Dayan - Ascorbic Acid as a treatment for Woodsmoke Inhalation – Advisor: Dr. Shannon Jones
  • Rain Tela - Novel Protein Interactions and Protein Characterization – Advisor: Dr. John Peters

 

April 13

  • Marlo Zambrotta - The impact of GLP-1's on the maternal brain and behavior – Dr. Kelly Lambert
  • Timi Oluwaji - Nitric Oxide Assay on harmful gases – Advisor: Dr. Shannon Jones