The University of Virginia has awarded eight “Double-’Hoo” research awards, which fund pairings of undergraduate and graduate students who collaborate on research projects. Each project is awarded up to $5,000 toward research expenses, as well as an additional $500 for the faculty mentor overseeing the project. Jackie, a second-year chemistry-biochemistry major, and Alison, a fourth-year Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Chemistry, will study proteins found in the outer membrane of bacterial pathogens to understand how these proteins infect and colonize human cells.
Read more…

Posted in News.

Undergraduate Student - Third Year

Chemistry major

Jackie is researching membrane protein folding, in an attempt to optimize reconstitution into lipid membranes. She hopes to extend these studies with investigation of specific pathogen/host protein interactions involved in bacterial pathogenesis.

Jackie (1st year at UVA) will join the Columbus Lab this summer to begin research on the reconstitution of Opa protiens into lipid vesicles. She received a stipend from the College Science Scholar Program.

Posted in News.