I am interested in understanding nitrogen and hydrogen metabolism in a group of unicellular cyanobacteria called Cyanothece. Members of this genus exhibit many interesting metabolic attributes like high rates of nitrogenase-mediated hydrogen production under aerobic conditions and possess pathways for fermentative and non-fermentative fuel production. My current research involves elucidating the metabolic capabilities of these organisms and identifying and modifying existing biochemical pathways for the production of fuel molecules and their precursors.

Research Interests: Stress dependant changes in photosynthetic organisms.

My current interest is on how various biological stress induce responses in a photosynthetic organism. The current emphasis is to document differences in the redox related chemistry and gene expression in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis 6803 that allow survival in the presence of various applied stresses (these stresses include changes in light availability, water, salt and micronutrient content of the environment.

I am a visiting undergraduate researcher.  I have not yet declared my major, but I have a particular interest in science and linguistics.  When I am not exploring photosynthetic antenna complexes, I can usually be found baking or playing with my dogs.

My research interests focus on understanding the structure-function relationships between cellular architecture and biological processes.  Cyanobacteria are ideal model systems for this work because of their diverse metabolic lifestyles, which in some strains can include photosynthesis, nitrogen fixation, and hydrogen production, often coordinated with storage body accumulation and mobilization.  My work uses a variety of experimental approaches, including biochemistry, molecular biology, and imaging methods including light and electron microscopy.

My interest in photosynthesis began while doing undergraduate research at the University of Missouri.  There, I was fortunate to work in the lab of Bruce McClure, studying molecular mechanisms of pollen-pistil interactions.  While working in Bruce’s lab, he constantly encouraged me to explore the field of plant molecular biology as a whole.  Through this exploration, I developed an intense interest in the process of photosynthetic light harvest, and was determined to study it in graduate school.  

My current research interests are in Photosystem II assembly and repair in oxygenic photosynthetic organisms. Photosystem II is a multi-component enzyme complex in that catalyzes the light-driven oxidation of water to molecular oxygen. Due to the high energetics of the reactions it catalyzes, PSII is frequently damaged and repaired as part of its normal function. Using global proteomics, we have discovered a number of proteins that function in the assembly and repair cycle and are working to elucidate their individual contributions.