2019 Stupka Symposium

Dr. Joan Steitz earned her B.S. in chemistry from Antioch College in 1963. Significant findings from her work emerged as early as 1967, when her Harvard Ph.D thesis with Jim Watson examined the test-tube assembly of a ribonucleic acid (RNA) bacteriophage (antibacterial virus) known as R17.

Matt graduated in 2009 with a degree in biochemistry from the Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology at Iowa State University. During his undergraduate years, he worked in the laboratory of Dr. Reuben Peters studying the enzymatic production of diterpene natural products. Matt participated in multiple Stupka Undergraduate Research Symposiums and was the Director of the 4th annual symposium in 2009. After graduation from ISU, Matt pursued a PhD at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the laboratory of Dr. Christina Hull.

Emma is a junior majoring in biochemistry and minoring in Spanish. She has worked as an undergraduate research assistant in Dr. Dipali Sashital’s lab since the summer of 2017 studying the interaction of CRISPR-Cas6 protein domains upon interactions with RNA using fluorescence resonance energy transfer. Emma is the President of Sigma Kappa sorority. After graduating, Emma plans to pursue a Ph.D. in biochemistry.

Emily is a junior majoring in agricultural biochemistry. She has been actively involved in the BBMB community by serving as both keynote speaker understudy and keynote speaker chair for the Stupka Symposium Planning Committee. Emily also serves as the President and captain of the Iowa State Women’s Rugby Club. For the past two years, she has been working in Dr. Alan Myers’ lab studying maize endosperm metabolism. After graduation, she plans on either entering a career in agricultural biotechnology or obtaining an M.S. degree in plant pathology or plant breeding.

Jacqueline is a junior majoring in biochemistry and minoring in nutrition. She has previously been actively involved in BBMB by leading as a peer mentor, organizing Breakfast Club, and serving as a co-chair for the Stupka Publicity Committee. Recently, she has been planning for Stupka 2020 as a co-chair. In addition, research continues to be her number one passion. Jacqueline studies the xyloglucan synthesizing complex and biosynthetic pathways in Dr. Olga Zabotina’s lab. She will continue to follow her research dreams in graduate school, with the hopes of continuing in academia.

Spydel is a junior majoring in biochemistry with a minor in emerging global diseases. He has served as the secretary for the Stupka Symposium Planning Committee since fall 2017 and actively volunteers in the committee. Since spring 2018, Spydel has been involved in undergraduate research in Dr. Dipali Sashital’s lab where he is currently focusing on CRISPR Cascade Type 1-C complex. He also enjoys being a Supplemental Instructor for organic chemistry in Iowa State’s SI program. In the future, Spydel hopes to attend graduate school to pursue a Ph.D after graduating in spring 2020

Kayla is a junior in biochemistry with a minor in environmental studies. She is a research assistant in Dr. Olga Zabotina’s lab, where she is involved in the study of the xyloglucan synthesizing complex formation in the plant cell wall. She is currently fundraising co-chair of the Stupka Symposium Planning Committee, LAS representative of the BBMB Club, and a B&B learning community peer mentor. After graduation, Kayla plans to pursue a career in environmental biotechnology.

Sarah is currently a junior majoring in biochemistry and genetics. Since May 2017, she has worked in Dr. Eric Underbakke’s lab researching determinants of membrane association in the synaptic GTPase-activating protein, SynGAP. She is currently a B&B Learning Community peer mentor, Stupka Symposium Planning Committee media chair, and has been an undergraduate instructional assistant for BIOL 313L: Genetics Laboratory. After graduation, Sarah plans to obtain her Ph.D. in biochemistry and eventually have a career in biomedical research.