Emma Bergmeyer
2024-2026
B.S. 2023 Biochemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
PhD in progress, Department of Biochemistry
Research Project: Mitochondrial protein Afg1 and its role in human health and aging
Mentors: Oleh Khalimonchuk and Sathish Kumar Natarajan
Abby Bopp
2024-2026
B.S. 2023 Biochemistry, University of Mary, Bismarck, North Dakota
PhD in progress, Department of Biochemistry
Research Project: Cellular Signaling in Immunosuppresive Macrophages and Monocytes
Mentors : Dr. Ed Harris and Dr. Xinghui Sun
Richard Buksch III
2024-2026
B.S. 2018 Biology and Chemistry, Montana State University-Billings
PhD in progress, Department of Chemistry
Research Project: Using integrated bioanalytical and structural approaches to determine the structure and assembly of the 7SK ribonuclear protein complex, a critical regulator of metazoan transcription.
Mentors: Dr. Catherine Eichhorn and Dr. Yihe Huang
Lucas Townsend
2024-2026
B.S. 2023 Microbiology & Genomics/Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University
PhD in progress, Department of Food Science and Technology
Research Project: Alleviation of gut inflammation through targeted promotion of Faecalibacterium by dietary tannins
Mentors: Dr. Amanda Ramer-Tait and Dr. Andrew Benson
Brett Hilbers
2025-2026
B.S. 2023 Biology, Chemistry, Psychology, Wayne State College, Wayne, NE
PhD in Progress, Department of Biochemistry
Research Project: Crosstalk Between Ubiquitin-Proteasome System and Protein Quality Control in Mitochondria
Mentors: Dr. Oleh Khalimonchuk and Dr. Forrest Kievit
AJ Steen
2025-2026
2024 B.S. Medical Biology, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD; PhD in Progress, Department of Biochemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE
Research Project: Molecular mechanisms of Arp2/3 complex inhibition by Arpin in cell migration, cell-cell junction and virus infection
Advisors: Dr. Qing Tang and Dr. Lindsey Crawford
Olivia Warriner
2025-2026
Christine Humphrey
2025-2026
B.S. 2024 Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, PhD in Progress, Department of Biological Systems Engineering
Research Project: Engineering mesenchymal stem cell–derived extracellular vesicles for targeted gene delivery through plasmid design and pharmacological priming
Mentors: Dr. Angie Pannier and Dr. Ozan Ciftci