School of Biological Sciences

Woodrats’ immunity to snake venom

April 17, 2025

Adapted from a press release produced by the University of Michigan.

The power of a rattlesnake’s venom to incapacitate its prey may depend on more than just its potency or even the prey animal’s tolerance for the poison. According to a new study published Tuesday in Biology Letters, it also depends a bit on the weather.

Matt Holding. Credit University of Michigan.

“Even across different populations of the same snake species, eating the same prey, we see evolutionary differences in their venoms,” said postdoctoral researcher Matthew Holding, an evolutionary biologist in the University of Michigan Life Sciences Institute and lead author of the study. “With this study, we really wanted to dig into what drives these differences in the natural coevolutionary arms races between the snakes and their prey.”

With colleagues from the University of Nevada, Reno and the University of Utah, Holding analyzed how blood serum samples from wild woodrats responded to rattlesnake venom, a substance that contains hemotoxins that break down blood cells and neurotoxins that cause respiratory paralysis.

Desert woodrats (Neotoma lepida), also known as pack rats, are an herbivorous rodent native to arid regions of the U.S. Southwest. They are renowned for their immunity to toxins that occur naturally in desert environments, including resin from creosote bushes, their primary food source.

As the natural prey of rattlesnakes, woodrats have also evolved resistance to snake venom: they can survive 500 to 1,000 times the amount that would kill a standard lab mouse. This resistance comes from proteins circulating in the rats’ blood that can neutralize the venom.

For this study, the researchers used serum samples from rats that the Utah coauthors Patrice Kurnath Connors and Denise Dearing collected in 2014 in southwest Utah for a different study exploring this species’ resistance to toxins in creosote.

Biologists Denise Dearing, left, and Patrice Kurnath Connors. Credit: University of Utah.

That research was part of Connors’ doctoral dissertation. She is now an associate professor of biology at Colorado Mesa University.

Before the blood serum samples were drawn, the woodrats had been acclimated to captive environments that were either warm (85°F) or cool (70°F). The researchers found that samples from the warm group were better at inhibiting the venom’s toxicity, compared with samples from the cold group.

“We figured the rattlesnake resistance would be the same whether they were in the cool or the warm, and that when we fed them creosote in either temperature, the rattlesnake resistance would drop,” said Dearing, a distinguished professor of biology at the University of Utah and senior author on the study. “We weren’t really thinking about the effect of temperature on rattlesnake resistance, so we were pretty surprised by the results that there was such a huge effect that in the cooler environments, the rattlesnake venom resistance was really low. And in the warmer environments, it was really high.”

Read the full article by Brian Maffly in @The U.

ACCESS Scholar: Nia Brooks

April 14, 2025

Photo by Kayla McKay. Yale SURF/AMGEN Scholars Closing Symposium (2023)
Project: Detection of DNA Strand Breaks in Ichthyosis with Confetti, Choate Lab, Dermatology/Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine

But many programs have recognized the value of building a passion in a subject first to then fuel an obligation. ACCESS Scholars is one of them, providing students like Nia Brooks an initial spark to fuel a successful journey into their future careers.

Peaks and precipices

Brooks traveled all the way from northern Virginia to pursue studies in biology and pre-medicine. It was her first experience in a college setting several thousand miles away from home, and coming off the online classes of the Covid pandemic. Suffice to say, the culture shock was immense, but thanks to a welcoming community she was able to quickly adapt and thrive. She joined the Honors College, took on a role as a TA, and through the ACCESS program dove straight into research.

“I didn’t know I’d want this when I first started,” Brooks explains. “I had always looked at research as something too hard, too complicated. I’d be stuck doing a science project for months and get burnt out! But since I started so early I had time to realize that it was way more dynamic and fun! I loved it!”

With Principal Investigator Tracey Lamb and graduate student Marshall Roedel, Brooks has been working to study cerebral malaria, a subset or complication of malaria that can easily lead to childhood fatalities. Instead of the typical “months-long science project” her research rapidly evolved from studying the prominent cellular interactions in response to gene editing, to investigating cellular signaling pathways and then working with mice models to understand the mechanisms of this condition.

Any initial hesitancy in Brooks was given the perfect environment to grow into healthy motivation, the intimidating precipice of earning an MD/PhD appearing more scalable to her with each passing day. And it’s not because that career peak is any less difficult to climb. If anything, the deeper exposure showcases how steep it really is. But by showing students like Nia Brooks the tools they’ll need and giving them space to learn if they enjoy using them, programs like ACCESS create a spark that can help supersede any obligation.

Because at the end of the day, an obligation is something we stop pursuing once it is met. A passion is something we pursue for the rest of our lives.

It’s about experiences and the people

March 26, 2025

Bennion Center Alternative Break: Hunger & Food at Tilth Alliance Farm in Seattle

One of Annabelle’s most fulfilling roles has been serving as a College of Science Ambassador. “As someone who didn’t get an in-person orientation, seeing students build those relationships, beginning on day one of their college experience, has been incredibly meaningful,” she reflects. College of Science Ambassadors, like Annabelle, play a vital role in welcoming prospective students and their families to campus, guiding first-year students toward success, and organizing events that help students thrive throughout their undergraduate science journey.

Beyond her ambassadorial duties, Annabelle’s academic experiences have also shaped her growth. When asked to pick her favorite biology class, she did not hesitate. She shared that Mycology (BIOL5425) with Professor Bryn Dentinger began as a casual interest in mushrooms but quickly transformed into an immersive experience, complete with foraging trips and hands-on research. “Honestly, this class had absolutely nothing to do with what I want to do with my career, but I loved the opportunity to just learn about something. It’s rare to just learn for the sake of learning while studying at a university, and I really appreciated that opportunity,” she shares.

A desire for new learning experiences soon extended into research. Initially uncertain about pursuing an undergraduate research opportunity, Annabelle was inspired to apply when the Olivera/McIntosh lab posted an opening on the Biology Instagram (@uofubiology). Two years later, she is on the verge of publishing an honors thesis on protein folding, focusing on two peptides derived from cone snail venom that are being evaluated for their potential therapeutic applications. Her unwavering commitment to community, combined with her passion for data, attention to detail, and applying science to solve complex problems, will continue to guide her as she pursues a Master’s in Community-Oriented Public Health at the University of Washington this fall.

Knute Rockne

A senior honors student from West Jordan, Utah, Annabelle is majoring in biology with an emphasis in anatomy and physiology, alongside minors in disability studies and chemistry. A bonus fun fact about her is that her great-great grandpa was football legend Knute Rockne (ESPN #3 college coach of all time). Unbeknownst to many, Knute Rockne, who was the coach at Notre Dame, had a degree in chemistry. “I like to think he was helping me out during my hardest OChem exams!” Annabelle jokes, but she's quite serious when she gives advice to other students: “You belong in STEM! I was intimidated at first, thinking everyone else just ‘got it.’ But a passion for science matters more than grades. If you love it, you belong here."

A rigorous, collaborative approach to science

March 19, 2025

"People talked to each other and argued with each other and made suggestions to each other. I thought it was the way science should be done."

Maloy's connection to the U began when he arrived in1981 to work with John Roth, whom colleagues had described to him as "the best bacterial geneticist in the world." Though initially considering other opportunities, it was his visit to Roth's lab that changed Maloy's trajectory.

During his three years at the U (1981-1984), Maloy worked on a then-controversial area of genetic regulation — how genes can auto-regulate themselves. His research challenged the scientific dogma of the time and laid the foundation for his subsequent 30 years of NIH-funded research. In 2024 Maloy was designated a Distinguished Alumnus, recognizing his significant contributions to microbiology, national security, entrepreneurship, and scientific ethics over a career spanning more than three decades.

A Unique Scientific Community

Unlike many postdoctoral experiences where researchers interact primarily within their own labs, the U fostered a broader scientific community. "The group here was phenomenally interactive," Maloy explains. Monthly evening seminars brought together researchers from across disciplines to critically analyze each other's work. "It was the love of thinking about science, considering other explanations, and pondering about what might be wrong."

This culture of rigorous scrutiny fostered what Maloy values most in science: "For science to really serve its purpose, to really reflect reality, it demands that not only that you publish things, but you think through them, that you argue through them, you talk about different applications, different explanations."

From Basic Research to Biotechnology Applications

After leaving Utah, Maloy joined the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1984, where he spent 18 years rising through the ranks to full professor. Throughout his career, he has bridged basic science and practical applications through entrepreneurship.

Maloy has been involved in founding several biotechnology companies, each building upon his fundamental research in bacterial genetics. One company focused on "getting bacteria to evolve new functions quickly," with applications in detergents and other chemical processes. Another venture developed neuropeptides, which later spun off into a company focused on creating novel antimicrobials "of types that didn't exist before."

Perhaps the most promising entrepreneurial effort involves cancer therapeutics. Initially conceived as a vaccine platform, the company pivoted when pre-COVID funding for vaccines proved difficult to secure due to legal risks. Instead, they developed targeted delivery systems for treating specific types of cancer resistant to conventional therapies, such as hormone-resistant prostate cancer.

"That company has products in clinical trials right now for types of cancer that there's no other therapy for," Maloy notes proudly. Having passed initial safety trials, the treatments are now being evaluated for efficacy — potentially offering hope where few options currently exist.

Leadership in Scientific Integrity

Beyond his research and entrepreneurial ventures, Maloy has emerged as a leader in scientific ethics. He recently took over authorship of a widely used textbook on scientific integrity and responsible conduct of research, which is required reading for students working on NIH grants.

Working with colleagues from Michigan and Duke University, Maloy is currently completing a comprehensive revision addressing emerging challenges in scientific ethics, including paper mills, inappropriate citations, and the impacts of artificial intelligence on research integrity.

"Most people in society can't distinguish science from pseudoscience," Maloy explains, underscoring why maintaining scientific integrity is crucial. "If we let these false things become really prevalent, then people will say, 'Oh, look, you know, there's 500 articles on this thing. So it clearly must be right.'"

His latest project involves using virtual and augmented reality to create emotional experiences that help researchers internalize ethical principles. “There is compelling evidence that if somebody really emotionally experiences it, they will more rapidly change their behavior," he explains, demonstrating his innovative approach to tackling even non-scientific challenges.

Despite disappointments when projects Maloy has invested significant time and effort into face setbacks or changes in direction due to shifting political landscapes, his work in the Republic of Georgia has proven meaningful. In Georgia he and his team have established an SDSU branch to help transform their post-Soviet higher education system to support its future without permanent dependence.

A Distinguished Legacy

In his emeritus role at San Diego State University, Maloy continues to conduct research through industry collaborations while generously yielding his university laboratory space to make room for new assistant professors.

His recognition as a Distinguished Alumnus by the U celebrates not only his scientific and entrepreneurial achievements but also his commitment to the rigorous, collaborative approach to science that he first experienced in Salt Lake City—an approach that has informed his entire career and now shapes his work to strengthen scientific integrity for future generations.

SRI Stories: Andrea Halling

March 18, 2025

In the field at Great Salt Lake.

Yet it has thrived, acting as both a habitat for brine shrimp and an anchor for the life cycles of migratory birds. Many esteemed scientists have been drawn to the region to study how life can adapt to such harsh conditions.

Science Research Initiative (SRI) postdoctoral researcher Andrea Halling takes this a step further. Not only does she spearhead studies into how life adapts in the lake, she also leads a cohort of students doing the same. In cultivating this environment for students to study evolution, she creates an ideal environment for the students to grow and adapt in turn.

While it wasn’t what initially drew her to higher education, Andrea quickly grew a strong interest in physics and biology. There she found “a purpose in building and contributing to our understanding of the world around us,” and her journey would lead her to the study of the advent of multicellular life, exploring how the Snowball Earth event might have kickstarted it for her Ph.D. dissertation.

To oversimplify, colder liquids are more viscous, making it harder for microorganisms to move through. Increasing their collective size by staying together as a group of cells would physically make it easier to move in the cold, viscous environment. It was a hypothesis supported by her studies, creating the perfect background to launch her further into the field of evolutionary study.

A trajectory of this nature is common in the postdoc demographic, but Andrea’s resume contains a particularly useful quirk in the form of a pre-PhD detour. She taught high school physics and biology, allowing Andrea to enter her mentorship role in SRI with far more momentum than most. “I feel that a lot of the time people assume that freshman level students don’t know enough,” Andrea explains, “that they are empty, that we need to fill their cup of knowledge. And I know from experience that’s absolutely not true. My students are brilliant and have amazing ideas. It’s so fun to be able to build them up from the knowledge they already have.”

Building and expanding this foundation of knowledge is what truly makes SRI so special. As Andrea notes, “Many of these students won’t want to study the Great Salt Lake forever, but there are so many applicable skills that they can learn, to better think like a scientist.” She further notes that “Many wish to go to medical school, where applications will have very similar traits. Doing something like this, like SRI, allows them to set themselves apart.”

Much like the life they are studying, these students have been introduced into a novel research environment rarely found outside of Utah. And thanks to the guidance of Andera Halling, the unique nature of that environment allows them to adapt and to develop equally unique traits and evolve into stronger versions of themselves in the process.

Biology Alum receives 2025 U Honorary Doctorate

March 13, 2025

A three-time alum of the U, Samuelson worked as a rheumatologist, medical school dean and as the U’s vice president of health sciences. He left the university in 1993 to join the executive leadership team at Intermountain Healthcare. A year later, Samuelson was called to serve in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ First Quorum of the Seventy, before being named as BYU’s president, a job he held for a decade.

Samuelson's first degree from the U was in biology in 1966 before going on to graduate school at the U in psychology, culminating with an MD from the medical school.

“Honorary degrees are a recognition of exceptional human beings who have transformed the world in ways large and small,” said President Taylor Randall. “Cecil, Julie, King and Linda have invested their time, talents and financial support to causes that have changed our university, state and the world. We are so fortunate to have exceptional leaders who, through everyday acts and transformational investments, have changed individual lives, bolstered education and advanced culture. The legacy of their work will live on for years to come.”

Honorary degrees are awarded to individuals who have achieved distinction in academic pursuits, the arts, professions, business, government, civic affairs or in service to the university. The Honors Committee, which includes representatives from the faculty, student body and Board of Trustees, reviews nominations and then consults with an advisory group of faculty, staff and administrators for additional input. Finalists are presented to the university president, who then selects the recipients.

“This year’s honorary degree recipients personify selfless service in higher education, passionate advocacy, life-changing innovations and artistic creativity,” said Jamie Sorenson, chair of the Board of Trustees Honors Committee. “We are so pleased to recognize these exceptional individuals for the ways they have lived their lives and inspired future generations to live theirs.”

You can read more about the 2025 honorees in @TheU.

Student Stories: Angelina Skedros (biology)

March 4, 2025

Skedros presenting her research in the Gagnon lab at the annual School of Biological Sciences retreat (2024)

With a family history of U graduates, spanning disciplines from English to medicine, I was eager to follow in their footsteps. Being part of the College of Science has been one of the most fulfilling experiences of my academic journey. I began research in my freshman year through the Science Research Initiative (SRI) and later joined the Gagnon Lab through a more traditional route: approaching Professor Jamie Gagnon after a lecture to request an interview. As a researcher in this lab, I discovered my passion for cell, molecular and developmental biology. My research focuses on DNA, leveraging next generation sequencing technologies to investigate fundamental biological questions. Inspired by my work, I later enrolled in Genes, Development, and Evolution (BIOL 5510) with Professor Mike Shapiro, a course that strengthened my ability to critically analyze scientific literature and apply these skills across disciplines.

Oil, unnamed, 2022 – Angelina Skedros

Beyond research, my role as a College of Science Ambassador has allowed me to engage in science communication and outreach, making my research accessible to a broad audience. Through these experiences, I have developed a deep appreciation for the complexity of cellular processes — how a single cell gives rise to intricate biological systems remains one of the most fascinating questions in science.

After completing my undergraduate degree, I plan to enroll in a post-baccalaureate research program to further develop my skills and refine my research focus. This experience will support my long-term goal of pursuing a Ph.D. and contributing to the scientific community as a research scientist.

My advice to incoming freshmen: go after opportunities, take that interesting class, apply for scholarships, ask for that position. Do it! But also make time for fun. As a STEM student, I learned how to hip-hop, do reformer pilates and made time for backpacking in the desert and oil painting!

by Angelina “Gigi” Skedros

Gigi is a senior honors student from Salt Lake City majoring in biology, with minors in mathematics and chemistry. Do you have questions, ideas or suggestions for other U biology student stories? Contact Tanya Vickers, Communications Editor, School of Biological Sciences, at sbs-media@biology.utah.edu

25th Research on Capitol Hill

February 26, 2025

By translating classroom knowledge into experimental design and data analysis, these students gain invaluable experience that can inspire future careers in research, medicine, and policy — equipping them to collaborate with policymakers and use science to address complex challenges.

This year, College of Science student research was represented in 12 of the 25 projects from the University of Utah. Their diverse research covered topics on synthesis of organic molecules, monitoring groundwater storage in the Salt Lake Valley, fungi, breast cancer, spider venom, birds, cardiac imaging, bacteria, and more. While the event provides a tremendous learning opportunity for undergraduates, the relationship between students and researchers is equally impactful—undergraduates make meaningful contributions to ongoing academic research, advancing scientific discovery.

Below are College of Science majors who presented at this year’s Research on Capitol Hill

Parker Guzman, graduating spring 2025, majoring in biology, with an emphasis in ecology and evolution and a minor in integrative human biology

Poster: Birds Groom More During Molt

Mentor: Sara Bush, Professor, School of Biological Sciences

In the Clayton/Bush lab Guzman is focused on studying the relationship between molt and preening/grooming behavior in captive pigeons. “Molt is a huge but necessary energy investment for pigeons,” explains Parker. Research has played a central role in Parker’s undergraduate experience and future plans. “After I leave the U,” Parker says, “I want to work in the field and then apply for a PhD program in ecology and evolution. I could see myself staying in academia, I enjoy teaching or doing research.”

You can read more about Parker Guzman’s research journey in SRI Stories: Of Bees & Pigeons

Marlon Lopez, graduating spring 2025 majoring in biology and a minor in chemistry

Poster: Exploring Short-form RON as a Therapeutic Target for Breast Cancer

Mentor: Alana Welm, Professor of Oncological Sciences and Senior Director of Basic Science at the Huntsman Comprehensive Cancer Center

“My curiosity started when I was in elementary school. There was a lesson about the cell that really caught my interest. The complexity and all of its functions and capabilities fascinated me. Coming to college I knew I wanted to study biology and learn about the intricacies of the cell and its components,” Marlon says, but “as a first-generation college student, my college experience has had its challenges.

"Initially, I didn't know how to get involved in research, but by looking for programs I stumbled upon a summer research program named SPUR. I applied and got accepted to do research at the Huntsman. "Working in a lab that studies breast cancer and knowing I have contributed to novel and impactful research has been exciting."

Kisha Thambu, graduating spring 2025 with a double major in computer science (honors) and biology with a minor in chemistry

Poster: Enhancing Myocardial T1 Mapping with a Deep Learning Framework for Deformable Motion Compensation using Utah Patient Data

Mentor: Ganesh Adluru, Associate Professor, Radiology & Imaging Sciences, School of Medicine

Kishan’s research leveraged artificial intelligence to improve MRI imaging for cardiac mapping. Figuring out ways to clean up the images in a patient that is actively breathing, offers the promise to improve diagnosis and treatment outcomes for patients with heart disease.

More about Kishan Thambu

Isaac Graham, graduating spring 2026, double majoring in biology and chemistry

Poster: Characterization of Silver Nanoparticles on Mesoporous Silica Supports

Mentor: Ilya Zharov, Professor, Chemistry Department

“Research at the University of Utah has helped show me that I want to continue onto graduate school in organic chemistry and eventually work in industry on drug synthesis.

"I found my lab by surveying the chemistry department website and then cold emailing Professor Zharov to see if I could get involved in research in the lab.”

Alisson Nopper, graduating spring 2025, with a double major in biology and chemistry

Poster: Deaminative contraction chemistry for the synthesis of [2.2]paracyclophane and asymmetric derivatives

Mentor: Andrew Roberts, Professor, Chemistry Department

“My undergraduate research experiences started with the SRI program doing cancer biology research. After I took organic chemistry 1 and 2 — the synthesis courses — I decided to apply to work in a chemistry lab. I’ve been working on organic synthesis for two years now, in the Roberts lab, and will be pursuing a PhD in organic chemistry beginning this fall.”

Colton Williamson, graduating summer 2025, majoring in geoscience with an emphasis in geology

Poster: Quantifying Submarine Discharge in Farmington Bay and the Great Salt Lake using Radon-222

Mentor: Douglas Kip Solomon, Professor, Geology & Geophysics, Mines and Earth Sciences

After graduating, Colton will be continuing his education and research in groundwater and hydrology as a master’s student in geoscience, mentored by Kip Solomon.

“Undergraduate research has been crucial to my development at the U," sys Colton. "I was able to see science in real time, which helped me better understand concepts related to geology and groundwater. After my master’s degree, I want to work in industry, specifically in hydrology and groundwater management, so that I can help people make informed decisions on water budgets.”

Kyle Pope, graduating fall 2025, majoring in geology with an emphasis in geophysics

Poster: Monitoring Groundwater Storage Change in the Salt Lake Valley Using Repeat Microgravity and GPS

Mentor: Tonie van Dam, Professor, Geology and Geophysics

Kyle is from California and has a bachelor’s in history, which he completed in 2013. His pivot to science was inspired by the outdoors.

“After spending a decade as a Grand Canyon river guide I got a lot of perspective on the time and scale of things and the sure mass of this place," he says. "I fell in love with rocks and that’s when I decided I wanted to go back to school and learn more about them. When I started at the U, I found out I loved processes that explain how this place came together."

"I quickly realized that [this area of science] involves a lot of math, something I did not have a lot of confidence in. I met Professor Tonie Van Dam who gave me the confidence to pursue the things I’m interested in. After graduating I want to get into geothermal exploration and anything involving natural sources of power.”

Ella Bleak, graduating 2026, double majoring in Chemistry (honors) and Mathematics

Poster: Understanding Weapons of Bacterial Warfare

Mentor: Talia Karasov, Assistant Professor, School of Biological Sciences

“My research is focused on finding a solution to the antibiotic crisis that healthcare is facing. It is a massive problem because we are finding that there are more and more bacteria resistant to antibiotic medicines so we are no longer able to fight bacterial infections the way we once did. Our proposed solution is to actually use tailocins, which are proteins produced by bacteria. The proteins show promise as an alternative to current antibiotic types. We have been able to successfully extract and use tailocins to kill bacteria [in lab experiments]. Research has been integral in helping me decide I want to pursue a PhD.” Learn more about Ella bleak here article

America Cox, graduating 2026, double majoring in biology (honors, with an emphasis in ecology, evolution, and environment) and philosophy of science, with minors in chemistry, media studies and honors integrated ecology on the East Africa track.

Poster: Cryptic Coevolution of Ant-Farmed Fungi: Linking Genomic and Metabolic Profiles

Mentor: Bryn Dentinger, Associate Professor, School of Biological Sciences

“Mycology is such an emerging field because about 70 years ago, people still thought fungi were plants,” she explains. “So when I went to Mexico, we were out there just seeing what there is. Being able to see that at the ground level and seeing the field [of mycology] start to move in new ways is really cool.”

Learn more about America Cox

Allie Perkins, graduating spring 2026, majoring in biology and Spanish

Poster: Quaking Aspen Pathogen Defenses Change in Response to Drought Events

Mentor: Talia Karasov, Assistant Professor, School of Biological Sciences

“My freshman year, I participated in the Science Research Initiative, SRI. Being part of that program gave me a supportive environment where I gained foundational research skills and learned more about the research process. I am looking forward to this event [Research on the Capitol] and the opportunity to share my research with lawmakers who can impact the issues I am studying."

"Right now feels like a scary time for research because of the executive orders from the new presidential administration, and I feel like my whole undergraduate research experience has prepared me to talk about science with people from a variety of backgrounds. I feel ready to meet people where they are and able to help build their foundation of scientific knowledge.”

Learn more about Allie Perkins: Humans of the U, February 19, 2025 and on Wilkes Center: Research Minutes (video)

Logan Reeves, graduating spring 2026, majoring in biology (honors), minoring in chemistry, pediatric clinical research, and ecology and legacy

Poster: Testing of an Indoor Climbing Program to Promote Physical, Mental, and Social Well-Being for College Students

Mentor: Akiko Kamimura, Associate Professor, Sociology, Social and Behavioral Science

Logan took a different approach to getting involved in research, by merging his passion for climbing with a desire to address mental health challenges in college students that followed COVID.

“My project involved working with three other students [all non-STEM majors] and was hosted by the department of sociology. Honestly, as a biology major, this research was very, very fun. Most biological research has a lot of pipetting. I am so grateful to have been able to do this, to do the sport that I love and be able to interact and get to know the participants.”

Alexander Rich, graduating spring 2026, majoring in biology with a chemistry minor

Poster: Decoding Species Identities: A Spider Venom RNA Analysis

Mentor: Rodolfo Probst, SRI Fellow and PhD alum of the School of Biological Sciences

“I study spider venoms. Spiders are very diverse and most produce venoms, Alexander says. "Venoms have very specific cellular and molecular targets that have the potential to be developed into pharmaceuticals. We are using a very old collection of spider venoms and then working backward to identify the species source."

"This research has been really impactful, both for teaching me about the biological processes that venom has and how they might apply to my future in medicine. It has also been a great avenue for me to connect to different people in science and get their perspectives on my research. It’s been a great opportunity for me to grow in science, research, and as a future medical professional.”

GSL Strike Team Update

February 3, 2025

The Great Salt Lake Strike Team — a collaboration of technical experts from Utah’s research universities and state agencies – today released their 2025 data and insights summary. Their authoritative analysis makes eminently clear four critical points:

Benefits of the lake — Utah receives numerous economic, ecological and human health benefits from the lake. The costs of inaction to the economy, human health, and ecological conditions remain significant.
Making progress — The state of Utah continues to make meaningful progress, including water conservation, infrastructure investment (including measurement and monitoring), statutory and regulatory reforms, berm management, and other actions. The state’s multi-year, data-driven strategy to conserve, dedicate, and deliver water to the lake is on track.
Long-term endeavor — Stabilizing and raising lake levels; managing salinity; and protecting economic, human, and species health will require many years of stewardship leading up to the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and beyond. Success requires everyone in the Great Salt Lake Basin to participate in conserving, dedicating, and delivering water to the lake every year.
Utah’s plan — Later this month the Office of the Great Salt Lake Commissioner’s Office will release the 2034 Plan for a Healthy Great Salt Lake. The plan builds upon the Great Salt Lake Strategic Plan, released in January 2024, by identifying actions needed over the next ten years to preserve the benefits Great Salt Lake provides to Utah and the world. This plan is informed by data developed by the Strike Team.3

“All indications demonstrate that delivering more water to the lake is a far more cost-effective solution than managing the impacts of a lake at a perpetually low level,” said Brian Steed, co-chair of the Great Salt Lake Strike Team and Great Salt Lake Commissioner. “We can invest time and financial resources now or pay a lot more later. Fortunately, we have great data and a balanced and workable plan to succeed.”

Utah’s research universities – Utah State University and University of Utah — formed the Great Salt Lake Strike Team to provide a primary point of contact for policymakers as they address the economic, health, and ecological challenges created by the low elevation levels of the lake. Together with state agency professionals, the Strike Team brings together experts in public policy, hydrology, water management, climatology, dust, and economics to provide impartial, data-informed, and solution-oriented support for the Commissioner’s Office and other Utah decision-makers. The Strike Team does not advocate but rather functions in a technical, policy-advisory role as a service to the state.

“Low lake elevations created by rising temperatures and human water depletions continue to put at risk the benefits created by the lake,” said William Anderegg, Strike Team co-chair and Director of the Wilkes Center for Climate Science and Policy at the University of Utah. “Our review of the data confirms that with steady and deliberate actions we can first stabilize and then raise lake elevation to levels that protect the benefits provided by the lake.”

The Strike Team’s report includes reporting on lake elevation, reservoir storage, salinity, streamflow, human water use, water rights and change applications, and mineral extraction. Importantly, the report identifies over 30 major milestones from 2024, including but not limited to the following:

Lake elevation — Increased inflows during 2024 were spread across both arms of the lake, resulting in a stable elevation for the south arm and larger gains for the north arm (2.8-foot rise). The lake remains well below the healthy range.
Ecosystem recovery/bring shrimp — Brine shrimp populations increased, with egg numbers up 50% from last year.
Invasive species — The state removed 15,600 acres of water-intensive phragmites, plus many more by other entities.
Funding – The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation directed $50 million toward Great Salt Lake preservation projects. Utah awarded $5.4 million to support 6,000 acres of Great Salt Lake wetlands and allocated $22 million for Great Salt Lake water infrastructure projects and $15 million to the Great Salt Lake Commissioner’s Office for planning and water leasing.
Water donations and releases — Jordan Valley Water Conservancy, Welby Jacob Water Users, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released approximately 10,000 acre-feet from Utah Lake to the Great Salt Lake via the Jordan River. Compass Minerals agreed to forgo 200,000 acre-feet of future water use, and Morton Salt agreed to forgo 54,000 acre-feet of future water use. Both companies also agreed to cease all usage if the lake drops to 2022 levels. Water conservancy districts released stored water during the winter, including approximately 700,000 acre-feet of water that was released through the Jordan and Weber river systems.

The Strike Team acknowledges and appreciates the support of Gov. Spencer Cox and his Cabinet, Senate President Stuart Adams, Speaker Mike Schultz, the full Utah Legislature, Presidents Elizabeth Cantwell and Taylor Randall, and other colleagues and partners who support data-informed solutions for the lake. The leaders of the Strike Team affirmed in their opening letter that “actions to ensure a healthy Great Salt Lake are both necessary and possible.”

Recent average daily elevation of Great Salt Lake north and south arms (1903-2024)

Source: US Geological Survey Historical Elevation at Saltair Boat Harbor and Saline, UT.

The full report is now available online.

SRI Stories: Genesis Aquino

February 3, 2025

Since joining the Student Research Initiative (SRI) as a freshman, Genesis has found her stride in the lab and the exciting world of chemistry. Under the mentorship of SRI fellow Ryan Stolley, she is contributing to new research on vinyl cyanamides, molecules with the potential to advance the production of plastics, fibers, and rubber.

“Chemistry always interested me, and I knew Ryan Stolley would be a great mentor from the start,” Genesis recalls. “I wasn’t very confident in labs, so by putting myself in an ‘uncomfortable’ setting, I was able to gain confidence and grow as both a student and researcher.”

Genesis’s research focuses on fundamental chemical transformations and synthesis — breaking bonds and creating new ones to develop molecules with unique properties. “We are able to achieve this by adjusting several variables, such as the choice of chemicals, their quantities and the temperature we run the reaction at,” she explains. The team’s goal is to synthesize a molecule called vinyl cyanamides, which has never been done before. Successful synthesis of the molecule would serve as an intermediate stage and open the door for developing other molecules with unique applications.

‘All in the same boat’

At the beginning of her academic journey, Genesis remembers feeling unsure of herself. However, her feelings quickly changed when she was met by SRI’s welcoming research environment: “When I first joined, I thought, there's no way I could do this.” she recalls.
“But the environment is really friendly, and the students you're working with are all in the same boat. We all just kind of work together, and so it's not as intimidating as it might seem.”

Outside of academics, Genesis loves to embrace Utah’s outdoors, finding joy through hiking, trail running and skiing. Looking towards the future, Genesis is planning her future in dentistry. As a pre-dental student, she values the skills and knowledge gained through her research experience. “In dental school, there’s a lot of chemistry and reactions that I’m going to be working with,” she says. “So it's definitely helped me to get more comfortable in the lab.”

For students who are hesitant about getting involved in research, Genesis offers encouragement: “At first it can be super intimidating, but the coordinators are really flexible,” she says. “I think everyone should just give it a shot because then you'll learn if you like it. I knew I wanted to do research in college, and SRI really opened the door for me to get started.”

by Julia St. Andre

College of Science

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‘All in the same boat’