Student Research
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In 2017 Welch summer research program Advisors: Drs. Paul Pyenta and Hyunshun Shin Drs. Shin and Pyenta worked jointly with all 4 students: |
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Advisors: Drs. Paul Pyenta and Hyunshun Shin Haley Shepard tested synthesized HDAC inhibitors for use as anti-cancer agents modeled after SAHA in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines. |
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Advisors: Drs. Paul Pyenta and Hyunshun Shin Bethany Everett worked on creating a HDACi that interferes with the HAT/HDAC enzymatic activity in cancer cells. |
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Advisors: Drs. Paul Pyenta and Hyunshun Shin Alisa Rasley tested synthesized HDAC inhibitors for use as anti-cancer agents modeled after SAHA in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines. |
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Advisors: Drs. Paul Pyenta and Hyunshun Shin Ananda Lewis designed and synthesized HDACs Inhibitors as Anticancer Agents |
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Megan Butler 2017 Summer Research advisor: Dr. Donnay Megan synthesized a new chromium polypyridyl complex and made progress towards an analogue of the DPPZ ligand that might allow metal complexes to bind better to DNA for possible use in photodynamic therapy. |
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In 2016 Welch summer research program Advisors: Drs. Paul Pyenta and Hyunshun Shin Drs. Paul Pyenta and Hyunshun Shin worked jointly with all 5 students: Genna Hart and Ananda Lewis worked on discovery of new bioactive compounds from extracts of West Texas Plants. Mukundwa Gael, George Gutierrez and Shantel Thomas synthesized new histone deacetylase inhibitors, followed by evaluating breast cancer cell viability with them in breast cancer MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines for potential anticancer agents. |
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Advisors: Drs. Paul Pyenta and Hyunshun Shin Left: Mukundwa Gael synthesized histone deacetylase inhibitors, followed by evaluating breast cancer cell viability with them in breast cancer MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines for potential anticancer agents. Right: Genna Hart worked on discovery of new bioactive compounds from extracts of West Texas Plants. |
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Advisors: Drs. Paul Pyenta and Hyunshun Shin George Gutierrez (left) synthesized new histone deacetylase inhibitors. |
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Parker’s research project is to develop new synthetic methods using FirstMate Synthesizer toward Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors. Parker |
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"Sophie synthesized a new bridging ligand." |
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"Stephen made progress towards new intercalating ligands." |
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Damon’s research projects are to develop the purication methods of organic compounds, and to synthesize novel hydroxamic acid derivatives for potential anticancer drugs. |
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Synthesis of New Inhibitors of Histone deacetylases |
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Staci Palacios synthesized beta-lactamase inhibitors for potential antibiotics. |
 Christi Barr2012 & 2013 summer advisor: Dr. Donnay Christi modified a ligand to increase the emission intensity of the resulting chromium complex. |
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Josh worked on making new ligands and a bridging chromium compound. |
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The project is a continuation of the project begun by Heather Whitehead, designing and synthesizing other inhibitors of ornithine decarboxylase. |
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Toyosi worked to find a way to separate various chromium compounds using the HPLC. She also developed procedures to determine how well these complexes bind to DNA. |
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This project is a joint project between Dr. Donnay and Dr. Shin. It involves the design and synthesis of small molecules that target a wide range of Gram-negative bacteria. |
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Heather worked to design and synthesize an inhibitor of ornithine decarboxylase. |
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Design optimization of GFP-encoding vector for inducible expression in bacillus thuringensis; compatible promoters and regulatory sequences. |
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two projects: 1. Design of a GFP-encoding vector compatible for transfection into Bacillus Thuringiensis. 2. Investigation of antibody IgG structure in solution using FRET analysis. |
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Tim worked with Dr. Donnay to synthesize a ligand which could be used to make self-assembled monolayers. |
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Design of a GFP-encoding vector compatible for transfection into Bacillus Thuringiensis. |
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Liquid chromatography analysis of fluorescently tagged IgE. |
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Dr. Pyenta and I are working on fluorescently tagging a bacterium by transfecting GFP plasmids into the bacterium's own genetic code through electroporation. The bacterium, Bacillus Thuringiensis, is a bioinsecticide that that produces a delta-endotoxin during sporulation which is toxic to some insects. If successful, we will be able to track the bacterium through the intestinal tract of various insects and test its effectiveness as a bioinsecticide. |
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I am doing research in fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) of monoclonal antibodies. To determine size and conformation of these antibodies, namely IgG, would be beneficial both to the pharmaceutical and academia world. Most of this research thus far has been trying to develop improved fluorescencent probes through conjugation of previously untested pairs. Hopefully, the new probes will lead to a further in-depth look into the structure and functionalities of IgG. |
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Synthesis of a Double-Headed Nucleoside through Knoevenagel/Aldol Pathway |
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Synthesis of a novel carbohydrate toward Double-Headed Nucleosides: via Grignard Reagent |
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-working with the NMR |
2015 Welch Summer Research Program in Shinlab
Dialfin Hammond worked on discovery of antibiotics from natural products; Coreopsis tinctoria and Matela reticulate.
Under Dr. Shin 2014, Kara Black worked on developing the screening method for antimicrobial activities with West Texas Plants.
Dr. Shin 2015, Genna Hart worked on extracting from Ambrosia artemisifolia
Dr. Shin 2015: Daniel Kent worked on synthesizing new histone deacetylase inhibitors, followed by evaluating enzyme inhibitory activities and cell viability.
Dr. Shin 2015, Lucy Rashiwala worked on discovery of new anticancer agents targeting histone deacetylase 1 and 8. 
Under Dr. Shin 2015, Lizbet Miller research on designing and synthesizing bioactive substances against cancer cells.
Research with Dr. Donnay 2015; Ralph Cadet worked on synthesizing bromine and nitro substituted analogs of the ligand dipyridophenazene (DPPZ).
Parker Coyle
Sophie Southwell
Damon Rose
Sara Ploetz
Staci Marie Palacios
Josh Brooks
Amanda Genzling
Toyosi Adewunmi
Tara Williams
Nathan Worley
Jonathan Urbanczyk
Heather Whitehead and Erica Rawls
Brad Henry
Matthew Durham
Tim Fliegel
Madeline Manning
Len Kim
Catrina Reed
Eric Palmer
Jessica Crawford
Jennifer Codding
Zana & Jennifer