Announcements

ACKNOWLEGEMENTS/ACHIEVEMENTS/AWARDS

October 2009

David Carter, Rhae Drijber and Cheryl Bailey from University of Nebraska, Lincoln, received $142,475 from the National Institute of Justice to study biochemical markers in crime scene soil samples. Soil is an important type of trace evidence collected at a crime scene. Soil has a significant amount of biological material that can provide clues to the origin and match of soil from particular places. Bacteria in soil have nucleotide and lipid profiles that serve as signatures of different soil samples. Recent methods allow high-throughput and sensitive detection of nucleotide and lipid profiles. However, these profiles may be affected by how soil is handled and stored. We will test how handling and storing soil affects the lipid and genomic material by high-throughput genetics and lipidomics. These results will inform the forensic science community about practices of sample collection and storage.

 

Faculty in the Department of Biochemistry continue to increase
extramural funding to support research and training efforts

National Institutes of Health grants include:
Structural insights into redox homeostasis, Dr. Joseph Barycki, PI and
Dr. Melanie Simpson, Co-PI
Impact of hyaluronan turnover on signaling though endosomal
trafficking, Dr. Melanie Simpson, PI
Fatty acid transport in eukaryotes, Dr. Paul Black, PI/PD and Dr.
Concetta DiRusso, PI/PD

Layman Awards include:
Redox processes in the endoplasmic reticulum, Dr. Dmitri Fomenko, PI
Role of SUMOylation in flagellar and cilia regeneration, Dr. Cheryl
Bailey, PI

Department of Energy grants include:
Energy frontiers research center: Center for advanced biofuels, Dr.
Ed Cahoon, Co-PI

National Science Foundation grants include:
Probing the metabolic and physiological significance of sphingolipid
long-chain base desaturation in plants, Dr. Ed. Cahoon, PI
Research experience for undergraduates (REU) site: Training in redox
biology Dr. Don Becker, PI