Better Together: USU Life Science Researchers Gather for 12th Annual Hansen Retreat

Utah State University’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry hosted the 12th annual Hansen Life Sciences Retreat Oct. 21-22 in Logan, Utah. Attendees and organizers of the university-wide event say getting researchers from different disciplines together to discuss their research fosters broader understanding of challenging questions, along with beneficial collaborations.

“When researchers work together across disciplines, they can make more informed decisions,” said retreat participant Dillion Weatherston, a USU biological engineering graduate student, who completed undergraduate studies at Utah State last spring. “I learned a lot, in particular, from the biochemists who are involved in CRISPR research.”

Biochemistry doctoral student Sobita Kunwar agreed.

“We can broaden our knowledge in this retreat setting and get different ideas from multiple directions,” she said.

Weatherston and Kunwar were among some 60 scholars from five colleges participating in the retreat, which featured oral lab overview presentations, as well as research poster sessions preceded by poster presenter lightning pitches.

“We were delighted to honor the late R. Gaurth Hansen with another outstanding retreat,” said Lance Seefeldt, professor and head of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. “The quality of the posters and talks was excellent this year. We offer a sincere ‘thank you’ to all of the participants, the organizers and our supporters, Drs. Lars Hansen and Grace Tsiang.”

Gaurth’s son, USU alum and Nobel Laureate Lars Hansen ’74, welcomed retreat attendees via video from London, England. The University of Chicago economics professor told participants his Aggie roots run deep, and encouraged them to make the most of opportunities to reach across departments and share ideas.

“My wife, Grace, son Peter and I are proud to support the R. Gaurth Hansen Life Sciences Retreat,” he said.

The two-day gathering included a keynote address by visiting scholar Sheena D’Arcy, associate professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Texas at Dallas. USU alumni Yalemi Morales (BS’10, Ph.D.’15, Biochemistry), a USU postdoctoral fellow from 2015 to 2019 and currently Lead Quality Control Scientist at therapeutics manufacturer Cytiva, and Tyler Archibald (BS’20, Biochemistry), research associate at biotechnology research company Seek Labs, led a panel discussion, offering career advice to retreat participants.

Student researchers recognized with poster presentation awards, which included a $100 gift card, were:

• Samuel Baker, Chemistry and Biochemistry, “Structure Function Analysis of the Shigella T3SS Protein IpaD Implicate a Rare Pi-helix Secondary Structure in DOC-enhanced Virulence,” Faculty Research Mentors: Nick Dickenson, Sean Johnson

• Joshua Denson, Chemistry and Biochemistry, “An Exploration of TRAMP Complex Assembly using Hydrogen-Deuterium Exchange, Surface Plasmon Resonance, and Biochemical Analysis,” Faculty Research Mentor: Sean Johnson

• Emilee Rickabaugh, Biological Engineering, “Modeling Bruch’s Membrane using Recombinant Hagfish Slime Proteins,” Faculty Research Mentors: Justin Jones, Elizabeth Vargis

• Tessa Siler, Chemistry and Biochemistry, “Electrochemical DNA-based Biosensor for the Detection of DNase I Activity,” Faculty Research Mentor: Artavazd Badalyan

• Dillon Weatherston, Biological Engineering, “Modeling Bruch’s Membrane using Recombinant Hagfish Slime Proteins,” Faculty Research Mentors: Justin Jones, Elizabeth Vargis

Student researchers Bella Lonardo and Zaharah Rossi (Chemistry and Biochemistry) received special recognition for their lightning pitch highlighting their research, “Modification of Ribonucleoprotein Substrates for the Investigation of PRMT1 Substrate Recognition,” with faculty research mentor Joanie Hevel. The team received a light-up lightning lamp traveling trophy to display in the Hevel Lab until next year’s retreat.

The Hansen Life Sciences Retreat honors the memory of renowned biochemist R. Gaurth Hansen (1920-2002), a gifted scientist, teacher and administrator, who spent much of his career enriching Utah State. A Cache Valley, Utah native, Hansen joined USU's faculty as an academic vice president in 1968, and was soon promoted to provost. His efforts contributed to a twenty-fold increase in the university's research budget. He was named USU Distinguished Professor Emeritus in 1985 and retired from Utah State in 1994.