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Ryenne Belt working on code for her table 1 describing demographics of the large CHD clinical data in R. 

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Ryenne Belt- Outcomes for Infants with Congenital Heart Defects by Insurance Type Across Seven States

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Ryenne Belt- Outcomes for Infants with Congenital Heart Defects by Insurance Type Across Seven States

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In the ARID lab under Dr. Jennifer Andrews, I am researching the association of health insurance type with infant mortality rates for those with Congenital Heart Defects (CHDs). CHDs are the most common form of birth defect among infants born in the US and are abnormalities in the heart . Due to the range of severity and differences in coverage, determining the impact of insurance payor could be crucial to improve infant survival.

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Outside the ferrets' room holding two stuffed ferrets 

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Alvaro Cruz Perez - Investigating Behavioral Changes in Aging Ferrets and their Relation to Brain Structure

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Alvaro Cruz Perez - Investigating Behavioral Changes in Aging Ferrets and their Relation to Brain Structure

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As we age, our lifestyles change, becoming less physically active and social. It's unclear if these changes correlate with brain structure. In Dr. Hutchinson’s lab, I study natural behaviors such as digging and socialization in young and old ferrets to observe how these activities change with age. We collect brain images using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) for each ferret. I am exploring the relationships between behavior and brain structure using MRI and behavioral assessments.

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Jessica Cruz - Standardizing Nomenclature Across the SCAR Gene Family in Ungulates

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Jessica Cruz - Standardizing Nomenclature Across the SCAR Gene Family in Ungulates

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Gene nomenclature provides names for genes based on their known function. This process has recently been standardized across animals to support medical and veterinary research. This project focuses on standardizing nomenclature for Scavenger Receptor (SCAR) genes in hoofed farm animals, which play an important role in the immune system. Applying standardized nomenclature to SCAR genes will improve our understanding of disease response and farm animal health.

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Getting ready to start a chemical reaction in a heated water bath.

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Sam Ellis - New Chemical-Proteomic Platforms for the Exploration of Mitochondrial Dynamics

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Sam Ellis - New Chemical-Proteomic Platforms for the Exploration of Mitochondrial Dynamics

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In Dr. Michael Taylor's lab, my project is focused on further developing a light activated chemical probe that can tell us more about unknown protein complexes in live cells. For example, some protein complexes are involved in cardiovascular disease but are not clearly defined. We can further define such proteins with these chemical probes which would allow researchers to develop novel treatments for cardiovascular disease.

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Waldo Guzman Barrientos - Understanding Merkel Cell Carcinoma Through Protein Expression and Network Modeling

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Waldo Guzman Barrientos - Understanding Merkel Cell Carcinoma Through Protein Expression and Network Modeling

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Merkel Cell Carcinoma (MCC) is a rare and aggressive skin cancer that can be caused by the Merkel Cell Polyomavirus (MCPyV). My research focuses on understanding how normal skin cells transform into cancerous MCC cells due to MCPyV. We aim to identify key genes and proteins involved in this process using computer models and lab techniques like microscopy. By uncovering how this transformation happens we also hope to shed light on potential targets for treatment.

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Counting a copper dose response lifespan experiment.

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Isabella Irby - Analyzing multi-omics data with PANDA to identify and characterize key transcription factors in copper stress-induced aging 

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Isabella Irby - Analyzing multi-omics data with PANDA to identify and characterize key transcription factors in copper stress-induced aging 

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In Arizona, 1 in 4 adults is 65 or older. Our research at Sutphin Lab aims to promote healthy aging and reduce age-related illnesses by studying how copper exposure can protect against other stressors. Using Caenorhabditis elegans, we are trying to discover the non-canonical mechanism of copper. We are integrating multi-omics data with PANDA for transcription factor analysis and RNAi knockdowns to explore genes in this pathway, ultimately aiding in treating age-related diseases linked to copper stress.

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Cassandra Montano Arellano loading well-plate with EMERGE bog samples from Sweden.

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Cassandra Montano Arellano- Climate Change-Driven Shifts on Iron Speciation in Anoxic Soils.

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Cassandra Montano Arellano- Climate Change-Driven Shifts on Iron Speciation in Anoxic Soils.

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Permafrost thaw in anoxic soils, such as bogs and fens, due to temperature increase, is a pressing concern because of its potential to release methane back into the atmosphere and impact global climate change. The detection of iron in these soils is essential to understanding microbial processes, as it is a critical energy source for microbial communities. However, iron detection in these soils is controversial, and its presence is debated in scientific literature. This research project aims to investigate iron abundance and speciation in anoxic soils in response to a warming climate. The significance of this project lies in getting a clearer insight into microbial decomposition and developing models through metabolomics to predict and prevent permafrost thaw. This also contributes to a better understanding of the carbon cycle and climate change.

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Emeral Norzagaray analyzing fungal diseases from a data visualization that she had created in R studio that distinguishes the different pathogens and their infection rates. 

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Emeral Norzagaray – Impact of extreme heat on prevalence of fungal pathogens.

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Emeral Norzagaray – Impact of extreme heat on prevalence of fungal pathogens.

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Fungi are a very adaptive species, and as the environment changes, certain harmful fungal pathogens are starting to thrive in new places.  In my research, we are exploring the link between rising temperatures and the prevalence of fungal pathogens. By analyzing the extent of healthcare access and utilization due to fungal pathogens, we aim to better understand the epidemiology of fungal infections due to extreme heat.

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Juliana Panhorst outside of the American Society of Civil Engineering International Conference on Transportation and Development in Atlanta, GA. 

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Juliana Panhorst - Investigating Implications of Transportation Inequities in Public Health Using Crash Data

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Juliana Panhorst - Investigating Implications of Transportation Inequities in Public Health Using Crash Data

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The NHTSA requires the use of crash test dummies representative of the 95th percentile male, and utilizes the same scaled-down male model to represent the 5th percentile female. While male vehicle occupants make up a larger percentage of those injured or killed, female occupants are at higher risk for fatalities and a 1.5 times higher risk for permanent medical impairments than their male counterparts. In Dr. Ryan’s lab, we address these gender inequities through the use of simulation technologies to analyze driver behavior, and surveys and data analyses of representative populations. Understanding why crash outcomes are more severe for female driver’s seat and passenger occupants can assist in informing automotive design practices, to create more inclusive seating design which considers the diversity of occupants.

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Brandon Rodriguez holding 2 Crochet rats to scale

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Brandon Rodriguez – Misleading Rat-Robot Social Interactions in Megaspace 

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Brandon Rodriguez – Misleading Rat-Robot Social Interactions in Megaspace 

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In the Computational and Experimental Neuroscience Lab, we look at complex spatial learning and emotional memory in rats. My primary focus is looking at spatial navigation. I’m collaborating on a project that focuses on how social interactions can impact memory in a rat and how a rat may form trust with a partner (a robot) impacting its decision-making skills. One of our main goals is to study how information is stored into complex memory and how cooperation can change the way we learn.

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Preparing a liquid chromatography column for purification of a recently synthesized molecule.

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Jake Shaw - Intracellular Iron Binding Strategies for Cancer Therapeutics

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Jake Shaw - Intracellular Iron Binding Strategies for Cancer Therapeutics

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To meet its increased metabolic needs, cancer heavily relies on iron. My research seeks to exploit this reliance for therapeutic and diagnostic purposes. In the Tomat lab, I employ prodrug strategies to selectively take iron away from cancer cells. My interdisciplinary projects seek to synthesize and characterize new compounds, test them in cancer cell cultures, and use computational modeling to validate protein-drug interactions.