Undergraduate Students
Steven Benson
Steven is improving a portable fluorometer for infield lead detection using LeadGlow. He seeks potential water sources that could contain lead, collects the samples, and measures fluorescence to see if LeadGlow has bound. When Steven is not in the lab, he loves to play soccer and snowboard.
Mark Kibirige
Mark is working on inorganic synthesis projects including the synthesis of the molybdenum cofactor. He is learning the ropes of synthesizing ligands and metal complexes, as well as characterization methods.
Net Mongkonpruthangkoon
Net’s project involves catalytic subunit NapA and electron donating heme NapB. She is working to overexpress these proteins and perform chromatography and spectrophotometric experiments to better understand the dissociation constant of the dimer. Outside of research, Net has a keen interest in sustainability and tries her best to reduce, reuse, recycle, and compost. She is also a food enthusiast, who spends her time cooking and exploring various cuisines in her free time.
Elena Saorrono
Elena Saorrono is an undergraduate student working toward a bachelor’s degree Forensic Chemistry. She is aiding in mutating, expressing, and purifying nitrate reductase (NapA) variants. These enzyme variants will be used for a variety of assays in the lab to uncover mechanistic details of the molybdenum active site. She anticipating working in a laboratory setting to gain experience for a future career in forensic toxicology. Outside of studying and school activities, Elena likes to write, make jewelry, walk for hours on end to and from unknown locations, and listen to music.