Graduate Student Directory

PhD Student
Research Lab: Grose

Research Description: My research focuses on the regulation of NAD kinase, an enzyme that phosphorylates NAD to NADP and in turn helps maintain the cellular levels of NADPH. The reduction potential of NADPH is required for over 300 reactions in the cell including cell growth and protection from reactive oxygen species (ROS). Highly proliferating cells, such as cancer cells, need more NADPH for growth and protection from ROS, therefore, we propose that NAD kinase is a key potential target in cancer treatment.

Learn more about Sakhawat here!

PhD Student
Research Lab: Poole

Research Description: I am studying the regulation of group 3 capsules in Extraintestinal Pathogenic Escherichia coli (EXPEC). My project focuses on the relationship of capsule synthesis and bile salts, and uniformity and reversibility of capsule synthesis in populations of strain M12.

PhD Student
Research Lab: Robison

Research Description: I am passionate about understanding and combating the significant threat posed by B. anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax. My research focuses on the unraveling the intricate interactions between B. anthracis and bacteriophages, as well as understanding the genomic variation and functional implications of the pagA gene, a virulence factor. Through this research journey, I hope to contribute knowledge about host-pathogen interactions and cultivate a deeper appreciation for the world of microbiology and infectious disease.

PhD Student
Research Lab: Wilson

Research Description: Finding vulnerable points at the intersection of cell wall synthesis and D-amino acid metabolism in Staphylococcus aureus. Historically, the bacterial cell wall has been a major target of antibiotics; today, those same antibiotics are largely ineffective, and our understanding of the bacterial cell wall is still incomplete. Better understanding of the synthesis and structure of the bacterial cell wall may result in new and effective treatment options.

PhD Student
Research Lab: Davis

Research Description: My research focuses on uncovering potential links between multiple sclerosis patients’ response to treatment and their underlying genetics through ancestry-aware bioinformatics.

PhD Student
Research Lab: Pickett

Research Description: My research focus on interpretating biological sequencing data with graph theory and data mining annotations. My focus of diseases are preeclampsia and intrauterine Growth Restriction and their effects on electronic cigarette smoke.

PhD Student
Research Lab: Schachterle

Research Description: Pectobacterium caratovorum is a bacterium that infects potatoes and other economically important crops causing soft rot disease. There is some evidence that in low-oxygen conditions, Pectobacterium caratovorum is more virulent, but the mechanisms underlying this are poorly understood. My project investigates how the shift between aerobic and anaerobic metabolism affects virulence traits and how oxygen sensing systems contribute to this shift. My hope is that our findings will shed light on how virulence is regulated in this pathogen and identify potential targets for novel disease management strategies.

PhD Student
Research Lab: Erickson

Research Description: Escherichia coli, is a gram-negative, rod-shaped bacteria that is capable of causing Extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) infections, which come from a variety of sources including animals. Some of these isolates cause diseases like urinary tract infections, meningitis, pneumonia, and sepsis syndrome which may even result in death. E.coli possess major virulence factors including capsules. Capsules (K antigens) are composed of polysaccharides that make the outermost layer and protect some bacteria from phagocytosis and complement-mediated death. Several ExPEC strains produce capsules that belong to groups 2 and 3. Unfortunately, there is fewer known studies focusing group 3 capsule and their transcriptional regulations. Our research system includes, over one hundred ExPEC strains, all of which are obtained from clinical isolates of bovine mastitis known as Mastitis-associated E.coli (MAEC). Some strains of E. coli (MAEC) that are linked to mastitis include genes that are linked to ExPEC pathogenicity, including immune evasion and host attachment capabilities. However, we are unsure if the other MAEC strains that have genes related to ExPEC require group 3 capsules to be virulent and cause infections. Thus, the goal of my proposed research is to investigate the importance of group 3 capsule formation and its transcriptional regulations that cause extraintestinal infections in humans.

PhD Student
Research Lab: Grose

Research Description: I am studying PAS kinase and ATAXIN-2 to determine their effects on cellular metabolism. We are also looking at how mutations in these genes lead to diseases like ALS, diabetes, and hypothyroidism and what is happening within the cells metabolic pathways to cause disease.

PhD Student
Research Lab: Grose

Research Description: My research work focuses on two different subjects, the Dynamics of PAS kinase and the use of bacteriophages for human benefit. PAS kinase is a kinase that has been found to be at the pivotal point of glucose allocation to either metabolic respiration or lipid biosynthesis. PAS kinase acts on other kinases and transcription factors to bring about this effect. One of these is USF1, a global transcription factor, implicated in the development of dyslipidemias. Much research has been done on the involvement of USF1 in dyslipidemia. However, little to nothing is known about its effects on respiration under the influence of PAS kinase. My research focuses on how respiration is affected by USF1 in mammalian cells and how this can be leveraged for human benefits in metabolic diseases.

PhD Student
Research Lab: Nielsen

Research Description: A major goal of my proposed work is to determine changes in plant gene expression in response to inoculation with halophilic bacteria (salt-tolerant), when the plants grow in the presence or absence of salt and to identify the bacterial properties that contribute to plant growth enhancement. For this purpose, I'm working on the Alfalfa crop (salt sensitive) to analyze the response of halophilic bacteria in salty conditions. In Utah, where BYU is located, alfalfa is the major top crop produced. The use of halophilic bacteria inoculant to stimulate alfalfa crop productivity in saline soil would thus be of great benefit.

PhD Student
Research Lab: Johnson

Research Description: My research is focused on Arthrospira platensis, a photosynthetic cyanobacterium that is commonly referred to as ’Spirulina.’ This organism contains very high amounts of edible and nutritious protein. It is a growing part of the global food chain, especially in India and China where high population densities demand greater amounts of nutrition. Cultivation of Spirulina is generally done in tubular photobioreactors, and the per acre rate of protein production by tubular photobioreactors has been estimated at 200x that of cattle farming. It also uses less water. Thus, Spirulina offers a means to improve global nutrition in a land and water efficient manner. NASA is also looking at Spirulina as a nutritional source for space missions.

PhD Student
Research Lab: Hansen

Research Description: Anaerobic digestion is a process in which organic waste is decomposed into gas through a community of bacteria, archaea, and fungi. Anaerobic digestion provides an alternative path for solid waste (such as manure and sewage) that would otherwise be disposed of in a landfill; the gas produced during anaerobic digestion is used as a source of renewable energy. My research makes anaerobic digestion more efficient by implementing a biological pretreatment before anaerobic digestion. The pretreatment process consists of a specialized bacteria which degrades compounds that are recalcitrant to microbial decomposition in the anaerobic digester. I study the effectiveness of the pretreatment process as well as changes in the microbial communities of the anaerobic digester with the implementation of the pretreatment process. Improving the anaerobic digestion process results in less landfill waste and increased sources of renewable energy.

PhD Student
Research Lab: Griffitts

Research Description: In vivo DNA assembly is a key tool in genetic engineering that joins DNA fragments directly inside a living cell, but it can be inefficient and error prone. My project focuses on engineering E. coli to improve the efficiency of DNA assembly reactions. However, a major limitation is the degradation of DNA fragments by host nucleases. To overcome this, our research targets native E. coli exonucleases to enhance fragment joining through short homology regions. A better understanding of this system could enable the construction of small genomes/ plasmids directly in E. coli.

PhD Student
Research Lab: Griffitts

Research Description: I am seeking to find new antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) that can combat rising levels of antibiotic-resistant infections. We are developing a self-screening discovery system using E. coli. Cells are transformed with an inducible plasmid that encodes a random peptide. When induced, cells expressing a toxic peptide will die, while those that express non-toxic peptides grow. Newly discovered AMPs can reveal patterns of antimicrobial activity, and some may be further developed as antibiotic candidates.

PhD Student
Research Lab: Chaston

Research Description: I am studying the genetics behind bacterial interactions in the fruit fly microbiota. In particular, I'm interested in learning about and characterizing the genes that are necessary for acetic acid bacteria to benefit from lactic acid produced by lactic acid bacteria. I am also comparing how these interactions behave differently when happening on agar plates and when happening inside of the fruit fly gut.

PhD Student
Research Lab: Berges

Research Description: My research revolves around understanding the factors that make certain individuals susceptible to developing AIDS after contracting HIV, while others do not. While several host factors also contribute to HIV progression, my research focus is on HIV genetics, specifically HIV vpr, which has been implicated in playing an important role in HIV progression. A single nucleotide mutation in HIV vpr has been associated with individuals that either rapidly progress (rapid progressors (RP)) or delay progression (Long-Term Non Progressors (LTNP)) towards AIDS. Using molecular tools, my research will unfold the mechanisms employed by HIV Vpr that result in either a RP or LTNP phenotype. Since HIV is a human-specific pathogen that does not cause disease in most conventional small animal models, we have validated the use of a “humanized mice” model to study HIV progression. A humanized mouse refers to a mouse that has undergone a transplantation of human cells. Specifically, we transplant mice with human hematopoietic stem cells, resulting in the production of diverse human blood cell types and the development of a human immune system within the mouse. Consequently, the mouse is capable of generating antibody and cellular immune responses originating from humans. With this model, I will better understand the role of HIV Vpr in AIDS progression by studying different methods and mechanisms of cell death such as apoptosis and necrosis exhibited by different HIV vpr polymorphisms in vivo.  

PhD Student
Research Lab: Tessem

Research Description: My research focuses on the transcription factor Nr4a1 and how it affects diabetes outcomes. Specifically, I am investigating mechanisms of popular diabetes and weight loss medications like GLP1s and Harmine, focusing on Nr4a1 related pathways. These medications increase beta cell proliferation and insulin secretion. Nr4a1 is essential for both of these pathways under normal circumstances. My research focuses on determining if Nr4a1 is necessary to see the positive effects of these medications, and on how we can increase these benefits.

PhD Student
Research Lab: Tessem

Research Description: The focus of my research is to investigate the role of transcription factor Nr4a3 and its effect on the pancreatic beta cell and diabetes outcomes. Specifically, I am investigating which diabetes-related phenotypes it impacts (glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and beta cell proliferation among others), and identifying its binding partners. My research aims to determine the effects and importance of Nr4a3. Gaining an understanding of this transcription factor may lead to improved diabetes treatments in the future.