Past lab members
Research Staff
Walid Maaty
Research associate
I am a graduate of Faculty of Science Cairo University-Botany Dept. with masters from
Mansoura University/ AGERI at Egypt in microbial molecular biology of Bacillus thuringiensis
(Bt) toxins and its application as bio-pesticides. I received my PhD in Molecular
Biology from University of Wyoming in studying insect receptors for Bt toxins. I conducted
postdoctoral research at University of Texas Southwestern Medical School and University
of Texas Dallas conducting research in receptor-ligands molecular and biochemical
characterization.
At Montana State University, I got fascinated with the biology of microbial Archaeal
extremophiles like Sulfolobus solfataricus and its adaptation to wide range of extreme
environmental growth conditions like the one in Yellowstone National Park. I am using
the proteomics, activity-based probes and mass spectrometry tools to study the differential
proteins expression in this thermoacidophile Archaeal organism in response of virus
infection and oxidative stress.
Current research focus includes investigating the differential gene expression in
response to Arsenic heavy metal exposure and bioremediation capability of archaeal
organisms. In-addition, I am using Sulfolobus solfataricus as a model system to understand
archaeal biology and the evolutionary relationship between the three domains of life.
Finally, I am conducting Activity-Based Protein profiling (ABPP) using chemical labeling
probes in search of novel thermoacidophile archaeal enzymes.
Kelsey Muller
University in the spring of 2013 with a biology major and certificate in environmental
studies.
Traveling is one of my favorite things to do. I have spent semesters in both Australia
and The Bahamas and am really missing the warmth! I played ice hockey in college and
play on the recreational league here in Bozeman. I also enjoy hiking, skiing, and
most other outdoor activities. Why this picture? I also love animals...maybe not grizzly
bears and mountain lions but there is still a lot to get used to out here in Montana!
Graduate Students
Tim Hamerly
Post-doctorate researcher at the University of Florida
I study malaria parasites, specifically the transmissible stages, in an effort to provide new insight on basic biology and on drug resistance. Using a combination of mass spectrometry techniques like proteomics and metabolomics coupled with traditional molecular approaches, I hope to gain an understanding of how the parasite becomes less susceptible to anti-malarial compounds as it matures to the fully transmissible stage that propagates the disease
Ravi Kant
Josh Heinemann
Post-doctorate
josvanhei@gmail.com
Postdoctoral fellow at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory's Joint BioEnergy Institute. Working on Array based assay, using microfluidics in Technology division.
Patricia Mathabe
I am an African....And, Africa is neither a country nor a State. It is a continent....
I came to MSU from the University of Cambridge in England, where I completed a Masters
degree in Biochemistry.I am a Fulbright PhD candidate and a Research assistant in
the lab. I am involved in research projects that focus on differential protein expression
in response to oxidative stress, and heavy metal (Antimony and Arsenic) exposure in
microbial extremophiles. My project entails merging proteomics, mass spectrometry
and activity-based protein profiling to investigate differential gene expression in
response to cell stress, in Sulfolobus solfataricus and to identify novel enzymes.
It is a pleasure to work in the Bothner lab because I am always encouraged to work
past my boundaries and have grown a lot as a person and a scientist.
Outside the lab: I am a full time mother, a Politician and a Pan Africanist. I enjoy
engaging in political debates pertaining current issues affecting the world in general.
I love traveling and am still trying to figure out why people think that sliding down
the mountain at crazy speeds with just two sticks is exciting and not a hazard. In
short, I still have not learned how to ski.
Michelle Tigges
Assistant Professor at Minnesota State University
Navid Movahed
Shannon Lee
Vamseedhar Rayaprolu
Post-doctorate
Montana State University
In the Bothner lab, I worked on virus capsid dynamics and stability. The two viruses that I worked on are Cowpea Chlorotic Mottle Virus (CCMV) and Adeno Associated Virus (AAV). CCMV is a legume virus of the Bromoviridae family. It has been well studied for its reversible structural transitions. The virus is known to exist in two distinct conformations; a closed conformation, promoted by divalent cation binding, and a swollen conformation in the absence of divalent cations. While the swelling of CCMV has been the subject of structural and biophysical studies, the specific effects of conformation on capsid stability and dynamics are unclear. To investigate CCMV swelling, two viral strains, wild-type and the salt-stable mutant (K42R) are used. The single mutation in the salt stable introduces 660 extra hydrogen bonds making it, in theory, more stable.
Pavel Tarlykov
Currently, our lab studies genetic history of human migrations in Central Asia, because the history of the region is quite interesting. In addition, the genetic history of the Central Asian population still has many things to uncover. In the field of
proteomics, we try to develop new proteomic approaches to study epigenetic changes in chromatin in collaboration with Dr. Ogryzko's lab (Institute Gustave Roussy, France).
Mohammed Refai
Luke Berry
Rachel Rawle
Abdullah Alowaifeer
Angela Patterson
Katherine Steward
Jesse Peach
Weiping Zhuang
Lu Wang
Brinna Boettger
Undergraduate Students
Tegan Ake
Research associate
Dewey Brooke
Dana Fejes
My project in Dr. Bother's laboratory involved the study of the Archaean organism Sulfolobus solfataricus. I am investigated oxidative stress in S. solfataricus and utilize brand new fluorescent probes which are Cyclohexane Dione and Proteosome to tag active enzyme in this organism. This approach is called Activity Based Protein Profiling and has already brought up some interesting results.
Nicole Grypiuk
Shannon Kruse
I have been working on Adeno Associated Virus (AAV) for almost two years. My project includes looking at structure dynamics of the virus capsid as well as trying to understand its responses to pH. We hope that with a better understanding of this virus its use as a viral vector in gene therapy can be optimized. Along with working at the bench I also love to dirt bike and snowboard.
Tim Potter
My interests are international medicine and wilderness medicine. I have traveled to Africa on a medical expedition to bring primary care to small villages. I recently traveled with my school to El Salvador where we provided medical services to underserved communities. When I'm not studying.
I worked in Dr. Bothner's lab from Summer 2007 to Summer 2008. Being able to conduct research using instruments like the mass spectrometer provided a great bridge between concept and application in my undergraduate classes. It was one of the highlights of my college career!
I spend as much time as I can whitewater kayaking and generally enjoying the great outdoors.
Stephanie Ryder
My research interests have been heavily bioinformatics/data analysis oriented. My work in the Bothner lab included transmembrane characterization, data analysis for Sulfolobus Turreted Icosahedral Virus infection studies of Sulfolobus solfataricus, and high throughput data analysis utilizing current software programs including MASCOT, Phenyx and Spectrum Mill.
I currently live in Wanship, Utah, 20 miles east of Park City. I am working at Reckitt Benckiser (producers of Lysol, Air Wick, Mucinex, Airborne) as an assistant research and development chemist.
Nathan Schaff
Kyla Selvig
My research in the Bothner lab has centered around how various stresses effect the Archaeal extremophile Sulfalobus solfataricus. This has included doing proteomic analysis on S. solfataricus after arsenic and antimony exposure and also during virus infection. My senior year, I studied the differential expression of S. solfataricus membrane proteins during Solfalobus Turreted Icosahedral Virus (STIV) infection. STIV has a novel cell lysis mechanism which involves forming pyramid-like structures on the S. solfataricus cell membrane and lysing the cell through the tips of these structures. I have found that the STIV protein C92 is in high abundance in the S. solfataricus cell membrane at the time point when the infected cells begin to lysis. I cloned C92 and worked on experiments to identify S. solfataricus or STIV proteins that complex with C92. My goal was to elucidate the proteins responsible for these pyramid-like structures.
Joseph Steffens
Nicole Therrien
Jackson Toth
Dana Karmer
I was born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska. I came to Bozeman for my undergraduate because I love to ski, hike, and be outside. I am currently a junior pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry with the long-term goal of applying to medical school. I am very interested in biochemistry and specifically it’s medical applications.
Molly Luke
I am from Girdwood, Alaska where I spent much of my time in the mountains seeking adventure. I came to Bozeman to continue my education at Montana State University where I can study biochemistry and ski. I plan to graduate with a degree in Biochemistry, attend medical school, and pursue my dream of practicing rural medicine in Alaska.
Brigit Noon
I was born and raised in Fairbanks, AK where I spent cold winters cross-country skiing
and summers running and working on a small organic farm. I am currently a sophomore
at MSU studying biochemistry with the intent to apply to medical school.
Here in Bozeman, I enjoy backpacking, trail running and snowboarding at Bridger and
in the backcountry.