Growing up in Columbia, Laura Valencia always loved the University of Missouri. She had a chance to officially become a Tiger when she transferred to Mizzou in 2018. As she heads toward graduation, Valencia said her time at MU has been incredible. “My favorite memories at Mizzou include all of the homecoming festivities over the years, the late nights studying…
Biochemistry ⋅ Page 1
Tackling a New Challenge
Ritcha Mehra-Chaudhary joins CAFNR as an assistant teaching professor of Biochemistry
Ritcha Mehra-Chaudhary loves a challenge. Mehra-Chaudhary has tackled a variety of challenges and switched her fields of study a handful of times throughout her career. She recently joined the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources as an assistant teaching professor of Biochemistry. She joins CAFNR from The Molecular Interactions Core in the Mizzou Office of Research.…
Building a Bridge to Success
MU and Danforth Center collaborative agreement showcases Missouri's plant biology strength
It was four years ago when the University of Missouri and the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center entered into a collaborative agreement that would lead to the hiring of four new researchers, each of whom would enhance the plant biology research not only in the state, but also across the globe. Three of those positions are now filled, with the…
Addressing Big Problems
Hallie Thompson uses the rainout shelters at Bradford to simulate drought
A hard-working attitude was instilled in Hallie Thompson at an early age. Growing up on her family’s beef farm in High Point, Mo., an unincorporated community of around 50 people, Thompson spent much of her early life with her grandfather, learning what it took to operate a farm. That hard-working spirit has served her well at the University of Missouri,…
A Humbling Recognition
Jon Cody wins J. Perry Gustafson Award for Outstanding Graduate Research
Teaching and research have been at the forefront of J. Perry Gustafson’s distinguished 40-plus-year career. It makes perfect sense, then, that the J. Perry Gustafson Award for Outstanding Graduate Research in the Life Sciences would be awarded to a stellar Ph.D. student whose quality research deserves wide recognition. Jon Cody, a graduate student in the Division of Biological Sciences, earned…
A Prestigious Program
Biochemistry student selected for Cornell undergraduate research program
Alex Clarke, a junior majoring in biochemistry, has been selected to serve as a summer research scholar at Cornell University. The program will run from May 31 through July 28 and will take place at Cornell’s New York Agricultural Research Station in Geneva, New York. The Ashland, Missouri, native will be working under Marc Fuchs, associate professor of plant pathology…
‘World-Class Players’
Trio of MU Biochemistry researchers serve as chairs at prestigious Gordon Research Conferences, Seminars
Two faculty members from the University of Missouri’s Division of Biochemistry – as well as a Ph.D. student – were chosen to serve as co-chairs for meetings of the Gordon Research Conferences (GRC) and Gordon Research Seminars (GRS). In 2013, GRC attendees at the salivary gland and exocrine biology meeting voted that Gary Weisman, Curators Distinguished Professor of Biochemistry, should serve…
Biochemistry Milestones
Biochemistry celebrates 40th anniversary of joint department, 100th birthday of long-time professor
It’s not every day you get to celebrate a 40th anniversary, let alone a 100th birthday. But on Sept. 2, Biochemistry celebrated both in one day – “Bridging the Boundaries for the Greater Good” highlighted the 40th anniversary of the Biochemistry Department as a joint unit of the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources and the School of Medicine and…
As Heard on Insight: Fighting an Almost Invisible Pest
Longtime biochemistry professor teams up with national laboratory to get a better genetic grasp on methylmercury
Did you miss the first airing of the eleventh installment of our new Insight series? LISTEN NOW to the program or to the extended version of the interview. They are all around us, raising trouble in their wake. They are so small, though, and silent that most of us have no idea they exist. But not Judy Wall. As a Curators…
Lending an Ear
MU biochemistry advisor recognized by state advising association
For Shari Freyermuth, advising students is a labor of love. It’s a passion others have recognized, too. Freyermuth has received multiple awards for her achievements as a faculty adviser in the department of biochemistry. On Sept. 24, Freyermuth was recognized as an Outstanding Academic Advisor Award at the Missouri Academic Advising Association’s annual conference in Camden, Missouri. Each year, only one…