Katelyn Brown, of Shelby, a Biotechnology major, is shown here with Eric Nybo, a College
of Pharmacy assistant professor.Twelve Ferris State University students taking various degree paths have spent their summer semester working as student research fellows, working in collaboration with faculty members from the College of Arts, Sciences and Education, Michigan College of Optometry and College of Pharmacy.
Eric Nybo, an assistant professor in the College of Pharmacy, continued his research on anthracyclines, which are derived from natural products for use as anti-cancer or anti-bacterial agents. This year, his work on metabolic engineering for the production of novel tetracenomycins has included the assistance of sophomore Katelyn Brown, of Shelby, a Biotechnology major.
“When I was meeting with my advisor, to set my Spring 2019 schedule, I was told about the pharmaceutical and medical research that is available on campus, which was a pleasant surprise,” Brown said. “There are some routine days in the lab, but I know I have done a great deal of learning as a result of this fellowship.”
Nybo said that he is pleased to continue his work on this category of medicines created from soil bacteria extracts with the assistance of younger students who are not considering careers in pharmacy.
“It has been an interesting diversion to work with Katelyn, and Marlon Coe, who is assisting me on another grant-funded study,” Nybo said. “These are excellent opportunities to give students knowledge and exposure to this kind of learning, with good group dynamics and shared experiences.”
“Dr. Nybo spent many hours with us in preparation, helping us learn the applications in the laboratory, which we will see again in our basic science instruction and coursework as part of our curriculum,” Brown said. “I expect that will help me do well when I am taking those courses.”
The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs and Office of the Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs will host the 2019 Student Research Fellowship symposium on Thursday, Aug. 22 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Science Building, Room 126. Brown will take part in a presentation on her collaborative research with Nybo, and make a poster presentation for the West Michigan Regional Undergraduate Science Research Conference Saturday, Nov. 9 at the Van Andel Reseach Institute in Grand Rapids.
“I am excited to share what we have done and learned,” Brown said. “I believe we have
made some important discoveries with our research.”
Below is a list of Student Research Fellowship programs supported by the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs:
Student Research Fellow: Mark Smendik, Chemistry
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Daniel Adsmond, Arts, Sciences and Education, Physical Sciences
Project: Using Carboxylic Acids to Induce Sulfameter Polymorphism
Student Research Fellow: Tasha Vincent, Biochemistry
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Daniel Adsmond, Arts, Sciences and Education, Physical Sciences
Project: An Infrared and Crystallographic Study of the Phases in Competition with
Ternary Cocrystals
Student Research Fellow: Joshua Matson, Biology/Pre-Pharmacy
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Felix Amissah, Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences
Project: Preliminary Investigation of the Pharmacological Effects of Dual EGFR and
Aurora Kinase Inhibitors on A549 Cells
Student Research Fellow: Jonathan Kendall, Optometry
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Alison Jenerou, Optometry
Project: Dynamic Visual Acuity Measurements: Stationary vs Running
Student Research Fellow: Kaitlin Assaad, Pharmacy
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Sonali Kurup, Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences
Project: Design and Synthesis of Novel 4-Substituted Pyrrolo [2, 3-d] Pyrimidines
as Dual EGFR/AURKB Inhibitors
Student Research Fellow: Molly Von Seggern, Pharmacy
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jennifer Lamberts, Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences
Project: Effect of Naltrexone on Neuronal Cell Death
Student Research Fellow: Carlye Szarowicz, Biotechnology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Schuyler Pike, Arts, Sciences and Education, Biological Sciences
Project: MALDI-TOF MS Method Development for Elucidation of Cannabinoid Receptors
Student Research Fellow: Matthew Swanson, Biotechnology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Schuyler Pike, Arts, Sciences and Education, Biological Sciences
Project: Quantitative Pharmacokinetic Assay Development for Mithramycin
Student Research Fellow: Logan Rosneck, Biochemistry
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Luis Rivera, Arts, Sciences and Education, Physical Sciences
Project: A Molecular Dynamics Study of the Structural Characteristics of a Small a-helix
Polypeptide after Mechanically/Thermodynamically Being Denatured in an Argon Bath
Student Research Fellow: Aidan Reynolds, Biochemistry
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Luis Rivera, Arts, Sciences and Education, Physical Sciences
Project: Denaturation of a b-pleated Sheet Polypeptide via Pressure and Temperature
Increase in an Argon Bath
Student Research Fellow: Cole McGowen, Biology – Environmental
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Anne Spain, Arts, Sciences and Education, Biological Sciences
Project: Characterization of the Diversity and Ecology of Members of the Microbial
Taxa Chloroflexi and Planctomycetes in Bogs of Central and Northern Michigan