BMB Weekly #20: May 15, 2026

 

Update: Biochemistry Building Closure

The Biochemistry Building will be closed on Saturday, May 16, 2026 (5 a.m.) through Monday, May 18, 2026 (6 a.m.). 

This shutdown is to upgrade all 6 Strobic exhaust fans, including new impellers, motors, VFD's and new 7 year fan warranty. We also will be upgrading the exhaust system by installing the "SAFE Fan System" in the exhaust, which will monitor for hazards in the exhaust airstream, and controlling fans based on the sensor info. IPF has been working on this project in phases with very minimum interruptions to the lab. We have come to the last phase of have a crane lift the units to the roof area, demo and installing the new Strobic exhaust fans. 

Due to EHS, Fire Department and DPS safety, they will not allow any occupants into the building during this shutdown.

Special Precautions: Please cover/contain all hazardous materials within the fume hoods and close all fume hood sashes during this shutdown.

Parking Lot 45 (loading dock) will not be available beginning on Friday, May 15 at noon. Crews will need this lot in order to stage for these repairs. Lot 45 and the building south drive will be closed through Monday morning when repairs are complete.

BMB Congratulates First Place UURAF Awardees

Alexa Annika Calderon – Poster Presentation
Development Of Solid Harvesting Methodology For Zn-62 At Frib For Applications In Radiopharmacy
 
Alexa Annika Calderon – Oral Presentation
Harvesting Of Pt-197 From Frib Beamline For Radio Cisplatin Generation
 
Liam Clark – Poster Presentation
Encapsulation Of Terpene Biosynthesis In A Protein Nanoreactor
 
Lydia Elbert – Poster Presentation
The Effect Of Morning Versus Evening Exercise Training On Aortic Stiffness In Postmenopausal Women With Hypertension
 
Paige Franklin – Poster Presentation
Phage Induction In Pseudomonas Syringae Pv. Morsprunorum Race 1
 
Nelli Gaspar – Poster Presentation
How Do Different Human Infant Gut Microbiomes Influence Exploration, Memory, And Response To Novelty In Both Social And Non-Social Contexts In Mice?
 
Vaughn House – Poster Presentation
Development Of Solid Harvesting Methodology For Zn-62 At Frib For Applications In Radiopharmacy
 
Hannah Jue – Poster Presentation
The Relationship Between Infant Growth And Protein Content In Mothers' Milk
 
Noah Kelly – Poster Presentation
The Turfgrass Information File And The Turfgrass Thesaurus
 
Katherina Mandia – Poster Presentation
Growth And Maturation Dynamics In A Novel Mast CellSpecific Androgen Receptor Knockout Model

Cheyanne Schlinke – Poster Presentation
Characterization Of Novel Sugar Phosphate Utilizing Bacterial Microcompartment Shell Proteins

Sarah Weber – Poster Presentation
Characterization Of The Plastoglobule-Associated Abc1K5 Protein Kinase

 

 

 

 

 

Join University Activities Board as we host the 62nd Annual Spring Arts & Crafts Show this weekend on Saturday, May 16th and Sunday, May 17th at the MSU Union Grounds (49 Abbot Road)! Enjoy one-of-a-kind, handmade products from hundreds of local artists and small businesses. Don’t miss out! Learn more here.

The East Lansing Art Festival is proud to continue its 63 year tradition of bringing high quality art to the streets of East Lansing. The East Lansing Art Festival’s mission is to enhance the sense of community and appreciation of art, culture and creativity in East Lansing and the greater Lansing region. Learn more here.

The MSU Plant Science community is invited to join the PLB Excellence Committee for the 2nd Annual Dye ‘n Dessert event on May 20^th for tie dye and other crafts, plus frozen treats! Learn more here.

The 2026 Plant Cell Atlas Synthetic Biology Hackathon is a time-bound competitive event in which participants will work to design synthetic genetic circuits to program plants with new functions. Plant Cell Atlas, or PCA, is a center project affiliated with MSU's Plant Resilience Institute.

The Hackathon will commence with 90 minutes of training to equip participants with the latest synthetic biology knowledge and skills. Training will include genetic circuit design, how to design plasmids for synthesis, and methods of validating circuit function in planta. Following the initial training, participants will form teams that select a problem in plant biology (or in a team member’s research) to address with synthetic biology. Teams will design circuits and develop a pitch deck that explains the selected problem and solution. Organizers will be on hand to answer technical questions. Learn more and apply here.

 

 

CTLI, with support from The Graduate School at MSU, invites applicants for the 2026-2027 Graduate Fellowship cohort. This fellowship serves as a professional residency within CTLI — MSU’s centralized service unit of experts in educational development. We define “educator” in the broadest sense, as anyone who contributes to the teaching and learning, outreach, and/or student success mission of the university. By supporting educator professional development, we're helping to innovate and improve teaching, learning, and student success at MSU. Fellows will join a welcoming community to influence the future of higher education, developing as leaders and public scholars by contributing to real-world outcomes that impact our campus community. Learn more and apply here.

The fellowship provides support for MSU doctoral students who are studying and/or conducting research within the Water Alliance or other critical programs (including, but not limited to natural resources, ecology, sustainable/affordable housing, and/or mass timber). Recipients are selected in Spring Semester and awarded the following academic year. Learn more and apply here.

 

Have you ever had a quick Statistics question for CSTAT and didn’t want to open a whole case for a quick question? If you have a quick statistical question about your research, (Not Coursework), etc., CSTAT has Virtual Open Office Hours! If you think it’s a quick question that can be answered in 30 minutes, please drop in virtually to our Open Office Hours and chat with one of our consultants. If they determine that it is more complex than that, they will let you know and walk you through completing a case request. Learn more and view the schedule here.

Lots 15, 83, & 91 will be complimentary from 5/4/26 through 8/30/26. Lot 89 will be complimentary from 5/4/25 through 9/7/26. The rest of campus will be enforced per posted restrictions. Please contact Parking Services with questions about summer parking. Visit parking.msu.edu to learn more.

You can find the latest department news over on LinkedIn and BlueSky. Give us a follow and be sure to tag us with research updates, publications, and lab updates to help spread the word!

The MSU Food Bank is a resource available to Spartans who may be experiencing food insecurity. The Food Bank provides free food and other essential items to those in need within our MSU community. Learn more here.

 

 

The appointee is to provide skilled, specialized assistance to faculty, staff, and students in fluorescence microscopy as well as areas of the applicant’s scientific expertise. Establish, promote, and participate in collaborative research projects with department faculty, staff, and students. Pursue funding as collaborator and co-investigator with department faculty on extramural and intramural grants. Help develop programs involving essential equipment, animals, cell culture models, microorganisms, and facilities for supporting collaborative projects, in consultation with the Chair. Serve on the instructional support staff and participate in the graduate and medical educational mission of the department. Oversee select department core facilities and equipment, including providing user training, oversight, and maintenance. Coordinate relocation of equipment and research space according to department needs in consultation with Chair. Learn more and apply here.

Dunham, S. J. B., Willkeen, G. A., Darby, B., Corley, J. M., Hahn, A., Klapper, I., Bean, H. D., Caverly, L. J., Thornton, C. S., Martin, C., Quinn, R. A., Widder, S., Bailey, B. A., Wagner, B. D., Garg, N., Planet, P. J., Hunter, R. C., LiPuma, J. J., Rohwer, F., & Whiteson, K. L. (2026). The Guild Model of CF Airway Microbial Ecology. mBio, e0366825. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1128/mbio.03668-25

Ghazy, M. A., Chodavarapu, S., Ramcharan, S., Stowell, G. A., Kaguni, J. M., & Sutton, M. D. (2026). The loop domains of the E. coli β sliding clamp are required for Hda-dependent inactivation of DnaA. Genetics, 233(1), iyag065. https://doi.org/10.1093/genetics/iyag065

Sharma, N., Sharkey, T. D., & Brandizzi, F. (2026). Mitochondrial β-carbonic anhydrase is a conserved metabolic rheostat for branched-chain amino acid catabolism and metabolic flexibility. The New phytologist, 250(4), 2415–2427. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.71056

Shivaiah, K. K., Rosset, S. L., & Quinn, R. A. (2026). Microbe Profile: Durusdinium trenchii: a thermotolerant coral symbiont. Microbiology (Reading, England), 172(5), 001679. https://doi.org/10.1099/mic.0.001679

Tefft, N. M., Yadav, N. S., Gruenberg Cross, M. C., Swiggett, C. D., Parent, K. N., Vermaas, J. V., & TerAvest, M. A. (2026). Encapsulation in a Bacterial Microcompartment Shell Improves Thermal Stability of a Glycolytic Enzyme. ACS synthetic biology, 10.1021/acssynbio.6c00074. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1021/acssynbio.6c00074

Tutihashi, F. S., Hirota, M., Yamamura, M., Kobayashi, K., Hattori, T., Tobimatsu, Y., Hamberger, B. R., & Umezawa, T. (2026). Pinoresinol/Lariciresinol Reductases and Secoisolariciresinol Dehydrogenases Involved in the Specific Production of (+)-Enantiomer of Matairesinol in Daphne genkwa. Plant & cell physiology, pcag054. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1093/pcp/pcag054

Wu, H. L., & Hsu, P. Y. (2026). Thermospermine drives dual-action ribosomes to shape plant xylem development. Trends in biochemical sciences, S0968-0004(26)00106-4. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tibs.2026.04.006

 

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