2016 Stupka Symposium

Douglas B. Weibel is an Associate Professor of Biochemistry, Chemistry, and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He received his B.S. degree in chemistry in 1996 from the University of Utah (with Prof. C. Dale Poulter). From 1996-1997 he was a Fulbright Fellow at Tohoku University, Japan and studied organometallic chemistry (with Prof. Yoshinori Yamamoto). He received his Ph.D. in chemistry from Cornell University in 2002 (with Prof. Jerrold Meinwald). During his graduate studies he was an intern at Orchid Biosciences Inc. (now LabCorp) and a visiting scientist at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany (with Prof. Wilhelm Boland). From 2002-2006 he was a postdoctoral fellow with Prof. George M. Whitesides at Harvard University and in 2005 he was a student in the Physiology Course (‘Modern Cell Biology using Microscopic, Biochemical, and Computational Approaches’) at the Marine Biological Laboratory at Woods Hole (Course Directors, Prof. Ron Vale and Prof. Tim Mitchison).

Mariah Lawler’s adventure at ISU began as a biology major, yet, when everyone else in her introductory biology class was excited for the section on “mammals”, Mariah had the lurking feeling she was in the wrong place. After a BBMB student suggested meeting with Desi Gunning, Mariah knew she had finally found home. During her time at ISU, Mariah worked in the laboratory of Dr. Ravi Singh at the Vet Med School. Under the guidance of Dr. Natalia Singh, Mariah characterized a long-distance intronic interaction that contributed to pre-mRNA alternative splicing of Survival Motor Neuron 2, which is associated with Spinal Muscular Atrophy. Mariah became fascinated by the regulatory roles of RNA, particularly as they pertain to human disease.

Adrienne is a junior pursuing a degree in Biochemistry with a minor in Microbiology. Her research studies the amino acids involved in substrate binding and enzymatic catalysis of the Arabidopsis protein Xyloglucan Xylosyltransferase under Olga Zabotina, Ph.D. Adrienne also serves the Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Molecular Biology Club as the Liberal Arts and Sciences Representative and is the chair for the Speaker Committee for the Stupka Symposium. In addition, she tutors Organic Chemistry for the Hixson-Lied Academic Success Center. She plans to continue undergraduate research at Iowa State in the hopes of attending a graduate program in molecular biology.

Natalie is in her third year at Iowa State and is majoring in Biophysics. She is the Breakfast Club Chair for the BBMB Club as well as Food Chair for the Stupka Symposium. After she graduates from Iowa State she plans to attend graduate school and work towards a PhD. Then, she plans to work in academic research. Since the fall of 2014, she has been an undergraduate research assistant with the Sashital Lab studying the mechanism of the CRISPR-Cas immune system in E. coli.

Sam is a senior at Iowa State and is pursuing a Biochemistry degree and a Computer Science minor. Sam is involved in research in the laboratory of Dr. Reuben J. Peters, where he studies the catalysis of class II diterpene cyclases. When outside the Molecular Biology Building, Sam is the Principal Euphonium in the Iowa State University Wind Ensemble and has served in Student Government. After graduating, Sam intends to earn a Ph.D. in Biochemistry.

Adrienne is a junior pursuing a degree in Biochemistry with a minor in Microbiology. Her research studies the amino acids involved in substrate binding and enzymatic catalysis of the Arabidopsis protein Xyloglucan Xylosyltransferase under Olga Zabotina, Ph.D. Adrienne also serves the Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Molecular Biology Club as the Liberal Arts and Sciences Representative and is the chair for the Speaker Committee for the Stupka Symposium. In addition, she tutors Organic Chemistry for the Hixson-Lied Academic Success Center. She plans to continue undergraduate research at Iowa State in the hopes of attending a graduate program in molecular biology.

Natalie is in her third year at Iowa State and is majoring in Biophysics. She is the Breakfast Club Chair for the BBMB Club as well as Food Chair for the Stupka Symposium. After she graduates from Iowa State she plans to attend graduate school and work towards a PhD. Then, she plans to work in academic research. Since the fall of 2014, she has been an undergraduate research assistant with the Sashital Lab studying the mechanism of the CRISPR-Cas immune system in E. coli.

Morgan is a third year undergraduate student majoring in Biochemistry and Genetics. Throughout her time at Iowa State, she has been actively involved in the Stupka Symposium Planning Committee, where she is currently Publicity Chair, and the BBMB Undergraduate Club, where she is currently Vice President. She has been an undergraduate research assistant in Dr. Eric Underbakke’s lab since spring 2014. After graduating from Iowa State, Morgan plans on pursuing further education in forensic science with the ultimate goal of working as a DNA analyst/criminalist.