Recent Group Alumni
Once a colleague, always a colleague
James Wilson
James Wilson is a sophomore chemistry major with a minor in psychology, planning to graduate in May of 2024. After graduation James hopes to attend medical school or graduate school. James’ research interests include biophysical chemistry and bio inorganic chemistry. James is a part of premedical society, American chemical society, is a commissioner for the interpersonal violence prevention committee through the student government association, and a student leader in the mental health and inclusivity initiative. Outside of school, James is passionate about bringing social change and justice, trying to embody the student activist. With his spare time, James enjoys training in mixed martial arts and volunteering.
Krusha Bhakta
Krusha is currently a junior and a Biochemistry major. She is unsure what career path she wants to follow, but she is very interested in neuroscience and medicinal chemistry. She loves to garden, paint, watch movies, and learn new things.
Autumn Pilarski
Autumn is a senior Biochemistry major, with plans to graduate from the Missouri State Chemistry Department in May of 2021. After graduating, she hopes to attend graduate school. Her research interests include biomedical research, biochemistry, biophysical chemistry, NMR, immunology, cancer biology, and structural biology. Autumn is an officer of the American Chemical Society: Student Affiliates organization at MSU and is involved with LOGOs: The Undergraduate Research Journal at MSU. She loves to cook, read, travel, watch movies, volunteer, spend time with friends and family, look at flowers, and enjoys being active. As might be apparent, Autumn was the only current group member who turned in a biography to me.
Megan Westwood
Megan started in the group in 2019 and graduated with her undergraduate degree in December of 2019. She has started our M.S. program and hopes to graduate in 2021. She plans to pursue a Ph.D., with an interest in quantum mechanics. Megan has the ability to juggle five live cats and one dead badger at the same time.
Samia Tahsin
Samia joined the group in the fall of 2020 and has worked hard even with the pandemic. She is a third-year student in biochemistry who currently plans to attend medical school. Her collection of implements of destruction is the envy of all Klingons and Dothraki.
Jackie Becker
Started 2018
Jackie started in the lab in 2018, and graduated with her B.S. in the spring of 2020. She has discovered the joy of Dungeons and Dragons, and can fire beams of pure corduroy and chicken soup from her eyes.
Koby Ljunggren
Started 2017
Koby graduated from the Missouri State Chemistry Dept. in May 2020. They currently study at Harvard University in the Biophysics PhD Program. Research interests include biophysical chemistry, structural biology, NMR, and other structural techniques. In their spare time, Koby focuses on outreach for LGBTQ+ students in STEM, building a platform for scientific civic engagement, and studies the philosophy of science.
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Honors Distinction Project: Structural 1H/31P NMR Analysis of an Alkyladenine (dεA:dT) Lesion Incorporated in a DNA Dodecamer [d(5′-C-G-C-G-εA-A-T-T-C-G-C-G-3′)2]
Bea Boyd
Started 2017
Current Ph.D. student at Arizona State University.
Segun Idowu
Completed M.S. degree with Dr. Natasha DeVore
Started 2019
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