Welcome to the D-Lab

nijeebrandonThe D-Lab studies the molecular basis of Parkinson’s Disease. Using yeasts as model organisms, we seek to gain insight into how the misfolding of the Parkinson’s protein alpha-synuclein regulates the disease pathology. Major NIH and NSF grants have helped over 45 undergraduates contribute to original research advances since 1999, through summer research, the Richter Program, senior theses, independent studies, and research-rich courses.

We seek and attract a diverse group of highly motivated and hardworking undergraduates who collaboratively work on a variety of related projects. Students choose from several ongoing hypothesis-driven projects, and often initiate new questions that lead our lab in new research directions. Students enjoy significant control over experimental aims and design. To test chosen hypotheses, students have developed two types of yeast model systems and utilize contemporary techniques in molecular genetics, cell biology, and biochemistry.

The vast majority of trainees have gone on to pursue PhD, MD, or master degrees in diverse types of health professions. Students routinely present their work at regional and national scientific conferences.  Many work multiple years on their projects and cap it with a senior thesis. Most become published co-authors in research articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals. Several  publish their work in national undergraduate journals and in Eukaryon. Several apply for and receive national grants for undergraduate research, conference participation, and graduate school.  Many have regularly won poster prizes for their research, at the local and national level.

Students interested in working in the lab are encouraged to contact Dr. DebBurman.

Trainee News

madhaviMadhavi Senagolage ‘12, a biology senior with minors in neuroscience and chemistry from Colombo Sri Lanka, has received a competitive  2011 FUN (Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience) Undergraduate Travel Award to present her senior thesis research at the annual Society for Neuroscience Meeting to be held in Washington (DC) from November 11-16. At this meeting, she presented a science education poster on Eukaryon as its Publication Board Chair. She also co-presented with Daniella Brutman ‘12 another science education poster on the 2010 Brain Awareness Week at Lake Forest College. Previously, she received the 2nd Prize at the 2011 Chicago Society for Neuroscience meeting. She was also awarded a undergraduate research travel award from the American Society of Cell Biology (ASCB) to present  her Parkinson’s disease project on endocytosis at the 2010 ASCB meeting in Philadelphia (Dec 11-14). Madhavi will pursue a PhD in biology at Northwestern University starting Fall 2012.

undefinedKeith Solvang ‘11, a biology 2011 graduate, won the First Prize in the undergraduate research competition for presenting his Parkinson’s disease research at the 2011 Great Lakes Chapter American Society of Pharmaceutical and Experimental Therapeutics meeting (June 10, 2011). He was supported by an summer fellowship from the 2009-10 NIH American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to conduct his Parkinson’s Disease research project. Keith is planning for a career in medicine.

 

undefinedAlina Konnikova ‘11, a biology senior from Vernon Hills Illinois, won the First Prize in the undergraduate research competition for presenting her Parkinson’s disease research on autophagy at the 2010 Great Lakes Chapter American Society of Pharmaceutical and Experimental Therapeutics meeting (June 19, 2010). Alina is pursuing her MD studies at the University of Illinois School of Medicine.

undefinedJaime Perez ‘10 graduated with a biology and art double major and was the 2009-10 Foster G McGaw Scholar at the college and received the 2009 Lincoln Laureate Award.  He is pursuing graduate studies in Prosthetics and Orthotics at University of Texas- Southwestern Medical Center.

 

michael fiske at ASBMB2010
Michael Fiske ‘10, a biology 2010 graduate and a Barry Goldwater Scholarship Honorable Mention, won the First Prize for his Parkinson’s research senior thesis project at the national undergraduate poster competition of the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) held in Anaheim California (April 24-28, 2010). He was also a UAN-ASBMB undergraduate travel award recipient from ASBMB. He conducted his senior thesis with a research grant he received from the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation. Michael is currently pursuing a PhD in biology at the University of Washington, where he was just awarded Honorable Mention on his NSF predoctoral grant application.