Time is flying and things are happening too fast for me to keep up. But today as I prepare for the first of four graduate student defenses it seems like it is time to catch up on what has happened the past two academic quarters. I am so proud to have such an amazing group of students who have overcome so much these past few years and stayed focused on their goals. The lab has looked different this past year after shutting down last March, holding Zoom lab meetings and even a Zoom Lab Reunion (best day of the year!), and wearing masks when we work, but these students haven't let up. This will be a tough quarter as so many graduate and we miss having them around. Fortunately they are part of the Newman Lab family and although we won't see them in the lab everyday we will stay connected. I have tried to summarize the past few months below and look forward to celebrating all those wrapping up this quarter over the coming weeks! Graduations: In the winter Rebecca Hodnett and Emily Barnett graduated! Rebecca earned her MS in Molecular Science and Nanotechnology after earning a LaSPACE GSRA, writing a children's book about stem cells, training new students in the lab, and advancing our work on Notch signaling in adipose stem cells. Rebecca will spend some time in education inspiring generations of kids to pursue careers in STEM! Emily earned her BS in Biology and will be attending LSU School of Medicine in Shreveport in the fall. She worked closely with Rebecca in the lab contributing to our research and encouraging others. It is always bittersweet to say goodbye but I know they will keep us posted on their adventures and success and I can't wait to see what these bright young women achieve!! Publications: This past year, despite the challenges associated with the on-going pandemic, the students in the lab used the time away to write. It is not easy for many of us to find the motivation to sit down and write especially when we have been sitting in the same place to do everything for so many months. I could not be prouder of what these students achieved! We had three publications this academic year with one making the cover! Except for me and my colleagues, Dr. Caldorera-Moore, all authors are Louisiana Tech students! Combination of Soluble Factors and Biomaterial Scaffolds Enhance Human Adipose-Derived Stromal/Stem Cell Myogenesis. Haley Barnett, India Pursell, Laura Lee, Nellie Perez, Mary Caldorera-Moore, Jamie J. Newman. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. September 3, 2020. Distinct Roles for Notch1 and Notch3 in Human Adipose-Derived Stem/Stromal Cell Adipogenesis. Mengcheng Liu, Hannah Logan, Jamie J. Newman. Molecular Biology Reports. October 2020 Mediator's Kinase Module: A Modular Regulator of Cell Fate. Joseph Straub, Sree Venigalla, Jamie J. Newman. Stem Cells & Development. December 2020 Conferences: The conference season because in February and is not over yet. Virtual events are not the same as getting to travel with the group but once again students have embraced the opportunity and done a great job!! Louisiana Tech Undergraduate Research Symposium was held in February, in the middle of a Louisiana snow storm. All students from the lab who presented were among 10 presentations selected to represent the university at the upcoming University of Louisiana Academic Summit! Wastewater Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Presenter: Laura Lee, Biology Notch Signaling Plays a Key Role in Regulating Adult Stem Cell Osteogenic Differentiation Presenters: Summer Adams, Biological Sciences & Lucas Norris, Biomedical Engineering The Influence of MED12 Knockdown on Adipogenesis Presenters: Emily Meaney & Jamie Sparkman, Biological Sciences Louisiana Academy of Sciences was held on March 13 and once again the students impressed me with their dedication, spending their Saturday on a virtual conference event, with a few receiving recognition for their achievements. The Influence of MED12 Knockdown on Adipogenesis Presenters: Emily Meaney & Jamie Sparkman, Biological Sciences 1st place undergraduate poster competition Notch and Mediator work together to direct hASC self-renewal Presenters: Jaylen Mumphrey & Taylor Team, Biological Sciences 1st place graduate student poster competition Wastewater Detection of SARS-CoV2 Presenter: Laura Lee The Role of MED12 in Adipogenesis Presenter: Caroline Rinderle The Role of Notch1 and Notch 3 in Adult Stem Cell Osteogenic Differentiation Presenter: John Bradley Cart 1st place graduate student oral competition Awards: This year there have also been a few awards and grants received by the lab. The first was the awarding of ANS Minigrants. Students must write clear summaries of their research in order to be selected for a grant that supports that work. Every student in the lab who wrote one worked hard and was awarded a minigrant!
Caroline Rinderle wrote and was awarded a Sigma Xi Grant in Aid of Research to support her on-going work in the lab. |
Dr. Jamie NewmanAssociate Professor of Biological Sciences Archives
May 2021
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