Adrienne Smith* 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 Whitis* 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 Schulte^ 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.
* Denotes Stupka Scholar
^ Denotes Linder Scholar