The Newman lab is comprised of primarily undergraduate students along with graduate students enrolled in the master's degree program in Biological Sciences or Molecular Science and Nanotechnology or the doctoral program in Molecular Science and Nanotechnology (MSNT). Students in the lab work collaboratively on research projects, write grants that provide them with a stipend or support for their research projects, and present at local and national conferences.
Research: Local monitoring of SARS-CoV-2
The past two years have confronted us with a new pandemic that requires new tools, training, and local resources so that we can better monitor and prevent future pandemics. Given the tools that existed in the lab prior to spring 2020, the lab took on two projects related to monitoring COVID-19 infection in Ruston, LA. Today we sample local wastewater to monitor levels of virus in the community and also partner with Grambling State University and LSU Health in Shreveport to sequence patient samples to track SARS-CoV-2 variants.
Research: Environment, Signaling, and Transcriptional Control of Cell State
Environment is a critical aspect of development. At the cellular level, this is demonstrated by changes in gene expression that affect differentiation potential. Our lab uses mouse embryonic stem and human adult stem cells to study the impact that environment has on cell state and differentiation potential.
Transcriptional machinery is at the core of gene expression.
Proper gene expression is critical for the maintenance of cell state and healthy cellular differentiation during development. Our lab investigates the role of endogenous proteins and signaling cascades on regulating cell state in human adult stem cells.
Transcriptional machinery is at the core of gene expression.
Proper gene expression is critical for the maintenance of cell state and healthy cellular differentiation during development. Our lab investigates the role of endogenous proteins and signaling cascades on regulating cell state in human adult stem cells.
Image credit: Tom Dicesare
