Five Bemidji State University students were 2022 recipients of the Dr. Richard Beitzel Biochemistry Research Fund, a scholarship that supplies opportunities for students to conduct research.
The scholarship was established through an endowment by BSU alumnus Dr. Elwood Largis, whose successful career in pharmaceutical research began with professor emeritus of chemistry Dr. Richard Beitzel.
Jessica Carney, a BSU Senior from Ham Lake hoping to become a dermatologist, is conducting research of the integumentary system, the outer layer or covering of an organism that includes skin, hair or nails.
With funding from the Beitzel research scholarship, Carney is injuring cells from deep within the skin and then treating them using various antioxidants to measure how free radicals affect wound healing.
“Learning about the wound healing process and how it can be enhanced will contribute to my future career goals of promoting healthy skin care,” Carney said.
Rumer Flatness and Taylor Kot, prospective future students of dental school, are researching ovarian cancer using gene-editing technology.
“This project will help me achieve my career goals by expanding my knowledge on topics I will be able to apply to future patients, and by enhancing resumes and applications,” Kot said.
“The lab techniques and topics learned throughout this research will propel me into a successful future.”
“The research that I am doing now has and will help me develop my technical skills and help me get a deeper understanding of cancerous and cellular mechanisms,” she said.
Madeline Gruys, a BSU senior biology major from Rogers, will study gene behavior in her research project.
“I have been working at the Arsham Lab for a year, where I have utilized molecular techniques to further investigate the genomic studies and interests of our lab,” she said.
“With my diligence and determination, I wish to use my diverse skill set to contribute to research, performing alongside a team of talented individuals and investigating relevant questions.
With Beitzel research funding Gruys is using fruit flies to discover how genes adapt to changing conditions.
Specifically, she is looking to understand how genes sense, adapt to or silence incoming DNA.
Simone Intriago, a BSU senior from Ecuador and medical school hopeful, will conduct subcellular research, which will consistent of tagging proteins with a flourescent substance to track their location during cell processes.
“My innate curiosity led me to leave my beloved country, Ecuador, and explore the world,” she said.
“In 2018, I enrolled in Bemidji State and immediately became involved in performing quality assurance for Hobart laboratories in Bemidji.”
