The 欧美口爆视频 Boulder Department of Biochemistry is welcoming Assistant Professor Adelita Mendoza, Ph.D. on January 6, 2025. Adelita is joining us following her role as a Postdoc Research Associate in Dr. Kerry Kornfeld鈥檚 Lab and the Abhinav Diwan Lab at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. As a former student of the University of 欧美口爆视频 at Boulder, she is excited to return to 欧美口爆视频 and has provided insight into the planned research in the Mendoza Lab and why this return is appropriate now!

What are you most looking forward to as you head back to 欧美口爆视频 Boulder as an assistant professor?

Coming back to 欧美口爆视频 Boulder as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biochemistry is amazing because I will start my lab in a wonderful department with outstanding colleagues. I am excited to experience all of the 鈥渇irsts鈥� of the Mendoza lab, and to build my research group with talented and creative people. I am ready to integrate my lab into the 欧美口爆视频 community and start making groundbreaking discoveries!

Give us thoughts on your post-doctoral experience at Washington University in St. Louis and how this will support your work at 欧美口爆视频 Boulder.

My research experience at Washington University has been challenging and rewarding! During my time as a post-doc in the Kornfeld and Diwan labs we discovered that lysosomes contain a compartment that responds to zinc perturbations in the model organism C. elegans. We think this compartment functions to allow lysosomes to perform their traditional functions while also conducting zinc metabolic activities. This sheds new light on what lysosomes can do- we already knew they were multi-functional, but now we can add zinc metabolic function. Furthermore, the response to zinc dyshomeostasis requires an interesting morphological change of the organelle, where lysosomes can contain a contracted or an expanded expansion compartment to support zinc storage. This finding also allows us to consider lysosomes as shape-shifting organelles and the shape change is necessary to respond to zinc dyshomeostasis.

My lysosome studies will be the bedrock for the start of the Mendoza lab and will allow us to ask questions about how this expansion compartment forms and how it is able to manage zinc trafficking. Being a member of the Department of Biochemistry will allow me to ask new exciting questions through availability of new resources and collaborations!

Please provide any details of your experience as a 欧美口爆视频 Boulder alumna that enhances your new role - or simply provides additional details of why Boulder is important in your career.

My return to 欧美口爆视频 presents a unique opportunity because I have experienced the university as a student and will (soon!) as a faculty member. I think that my history positions me to integrate into the culture of 欧美口爆视频 Boulder more effectively and this will allow me start strong. I am looking forward to serving students and helping them achieve their own goals. When I was a student, I had a community of mentors supporting me. That model always stuck with me throughout my training, and I will implement it in my job. There were many programs that helped me along when I was an undergraduate that I look forward to giving back to including the MASP, HHMI, and McNair Scholars Programs. I would love to recruit these hard-working students from these programs to work in my lab!

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What are you most looking forward to as you transition to Biochemistry as a teaching assistant professor?

I'm excited to teach organic chemistry and to engage with content that closely aligns with my background and expertise. Organic chemistry has always been a passion of mine, and I look forward to creating dynamic, supportive learning environments that help students build confidence and mastery in this challenging subject. This transition allows me to focus on areas where I can make the greatest impact, drawing on my experience to highlight the connections between organic chemistry, biochemistry, and their applications in health and research.
 

You have a passion for teaching and this position seems like a great fit in your career - tell us more!
 

My passion lies in creating inclusive and empowering learning environments where students feel supported and confident in their abilities. This role directly supports that mission by providing a platform to shape foundational courses and, hopefully, foster a love for chemistry and scientific inquiry. There is a shared joy when a difficult topic suddenly clicks for a learner 鈥� it鈥檚 a transformative moment that can change the course of their academic journey.
 

When I was in college, I didn鈥檛 initially believe I could succeed in my chemistry courses. However, through the mentorship and encouragement of a small group of professors, I not only mastered the content but was inspired to change my major and pursue more chemistry courses. That experience shaped my understanding of how vital mentorship and a supportive environment are for student success.

I believe every student deserves that same level of guidance and encouragement, and this position will allow me to provide those opportunities. I value the mentorship and engagement aspects of teaching, and this role will enable me to expand those efforts while contributing meaningfully to the Biochemistry and Chemistry communities. By fostering confidence and curiosity in my students, I hope to inspire the next generation of scientists and problem-solvers.

You initially transitioned to 欧美口爆视频 Boulder as a Teaching Assistant Professor in Biomedical Engineering - how will that experience dovetail with your role as Teaching Assistant Professor in Biochemistry?

My transition to 欧美口爆视频 Boulder has been eye-opening, especially in working with biomedical engineering students who are deeply driven by application and innovation. This forward-thinking mindset often leads them to view foundational topics, like chemistry, as less immediately relevant to their goals. One of the most rewarding aspects of my role has been bridging that gap鈥攄emonstrating how a solid understanding of chemistry is integral to driving biomedical advancements and innovation.

As I transition to the Biochemistry department, I am eager to build on this experience by showing students how core chemical concepts are applied across a variety of scientific disciplines. Chemistry provides the foundation for understanding processes at both the molecular and systemic levels, and I look forward to helping students see how these principles directly inform real-world breakthroughs. By fostering curiosity and emphasizing the interconnectedness of scientific fields, I hope to inspire students to approach their studies with confidence, recognizing foundational topics as essential tools for innovation in their respective fields.

Why is Boulder important in your career?

Boulder is more than just a beautiful place to teach 鈥� the city provides a community that values innovation, collaboration, and inclusive excellence. 欧美口爆视频 Boulder鈥檚 emphasis on fostering supportive and diverse learning environments aligns closely with my teaching philosophy. I am drawn to Boulder because of its strong STEM focus and the opportunity to contribute to a department that prioritizes student growth and academic rigor. Being part of this environment not only supports my personal growth as an educator but also allows me to contribute to a larger mission of inspiring students and helping them succeed in scientific and health-focused fields.

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欧美口爆视频 Boulder Biochemistry Professor, Xuedong Liu, was announced as a member of the 2024 Class of Fellows by the on December 10th, among an elite elected group of 170 exceptional inventors. is the highest professional distinction awarded solely to inventors. The full list of 2024 Fellows can be found .

The 2024 cohort of Fellows exemplifies the Academy鈥檚 belief that groundbreaking innovation knows no bounds and inventors can be found everywhere. This is evident in the fact that the honorees represent 39 U.S. states, 12 countries, and 43% identify as underrepresented inventors. 

The 2024 Class of Fellows will be honored and presented their medals by a senior official of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) at the on June 26th, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia.

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Jeffrey Cameron, Associate Professor in the Biochemistry Department and Fellow in the Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute (RASEI) at 欧美口爆视频-Boulder died on September 25 in Boulder County, 欧美口爆视频.  A memorial for Jeff was held on Friday, October 11 at Rundus Funeral Home in Broomfield, CO.  

The Biochemistry Department wishes to recognize the person and life that Jeff embodied, his valuable contributions to our Department, as well as his enthusiasm, kindness, friendship, and collegiality. 

A GoFundMe page has been set up to collect donations in support of Jeff鈥檚 four children and wife at this difficult time.  Please consider donating and/or sharing this link:  

Please also see the article in the Daily Camera: 

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Encouraging and Recognizing Business Excellence: The is a private, nonprofit 501C3 dedicated to the encouragement of business excellence in Boulder County by recognizing and inducting Boulder County business leaders into the prestigious Hall of Fame.

The Hall of Fame operates under the administration of a volunteer board of directors comprised of Boulder County business leaders. The board provides operational and fiduciary oversight as well as serving as the selection panel for the Hall of Fame honorees.

Each year since its founding in 1992, the Hall of Fame board of directors has chosen and installed a select number of business leaders from a diverse field of candidates nominated by their peers, family members and associates. Candidates are evaluated against a set of criteria set forth in the Hall of Fame bylaws.

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White House Science Official Comes to 欧美口爆视频 Anschutz for Cancer Briefing, Moonshot Updates

Arati Prabhakar, PhD, and a panel of elected officials and 欧美口爆视频 leaders shared information on the fight against cancer.

Dr. Sabrina Spencer, a 欧美口爆视频 Boulder Biochemistry Professor and 欧美口爆视频 Cancer Center member, recently presented her lab's cancer research to White House Cabinet member and Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, Arati Prabhakar, PhD. The Biden Cancer Moonshot event took place at 欧美口爆视频 Anschutz on July 17, 2024. Also in attendance were 欧美口爆视频 President Todd Saliman, 欧美口爆视频 Anschutz Chancellor Don Elliman, Lieutenant Governor of 欧美口爆视频 Dianne Primavera, Congresswoman Diana DeGette, Cancer Center Deputy Director James DeGregori, and several other Anschutz faculty and staff. Dr. Spencer described her work using fluorescent sensors and time-lapse imaging to film and track cancer cells over many days. As an example of the discoveries her 欧美口爆视频 Boulder lab has made, she described the identification of rare cancer cells that can rewire in just 3 days to escape from cancer drugs meant to block proliferation. 鈥淲e detect these rogue cells across multiple cancer types and multiple drugs, and think they are a general seed population for resistance mutations months to years later. We are therefore working to limit this cancer cell plasticity in the hopes of reducing cancer relapse in patients."

Photo (left - right): Sabrina Spencer, PhD, Professor, 欧美口爆视频 Boulder Andi Dwyer, Director, 欧美口爆视频 Cancer Screening Center Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, Arati Prabhakar Sarah Reynolds, Nurse Navigator in GI Oncology, UCHealth.

Photos Courtesy: University of 欧美口爆视频 Anschutz Medical Campus

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From the Chroma Technology Website:

This year, Chroma Technology is happy to present the Anne Heidenthal Prize for Fluorescence Research award to Prof. Sabrina Spencer from the University of 欧美口爆视频 Boulder. This annual international prize is awarded to a young scientist who has performed extraordinary research in the field of fluorescence imaging. Dr. Spencer was selected by the committee for her work on the regulation of cell-cycle progression and cell-cycle withdrawal, enabled by single-cell, time-lapse imaging and computational tracking of novel live-cell sensors, in particular her sensor for CDK2 activity. In her prize lecture, she described her latest discoveries on the mechanisms by which cells rapidly adapt to to the new class of CDK2 inhibitors, allowing completion of the cell-cycle. CDK2 is hyperactive in many cancers, and Dr. Spencer's imaging of the dynamics of CDK2 activity suggests how to best apply these therapeutics, which are now in clinical trials for several types of cancer. 

鈥淲e trust the committee year after year to select a scientist worthy of supporting, and we couldn鈥檛 be happier with this year鈥檚 choice,鈥� said Georg Draude, General Manager of the Chroma GmbH German branch and presenter of the Anne Heidentah Prize, 鈥淲e look forward to following Dr. Spencer鈥檚 future work.鈥�

The was established in 2014 to honor the memory of Anne Heidenthal (1968-2010). Anne Heidenthal was an accomplished researcher with a Ph.D. in Cardiovascular research who played a very important role in Chroma鈥檚 history. Anne led the opening of Chroma鈥檚 first international sales office in Germany in 2006. In preparation, she spent two years in Vermont working at Chroma鈥檚 main facility in Bellows Falls to learn the business and become deeply knowledgeable about our products and operations. Her commitment and energy laid the foundation for our future success.

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Dr. Thomas Cech, Nobel Laureate, in an interview with CNN, provides insight into how RNA has impacted modern medicine and biology and how mRNA, holds promise for future vaccines and other scientific and health-related breakthroughs. For many years, Cech has researched RNA and taught chemistry to undergrads at the University of 欧美口爆视频, Boulder.

鈥淲e saw that with the mRNA (messenger RNA) vaccines that it can be a good messenger,鈥� says Cech. 鈥淏ut it can do so much more than just act as a message.鈥�

Cech would know. In 1989, he  alongside Sidney Altman for their discovery that RNA 鈥渋s not only a molecule of heredity, but also can function as a biocatalyst,鈥� or enzyme 鈥� basically a kind of spark that can facilitate a chemical reaction.

Now, he鈥檚 released a book titled 鈥�: RNA and the Quest to Unlock Life鈥檚 Deepest Secrets鈥� to share his knowledge 鈥� and what it could mean for the future 鈥� with everyone.

Cech also recently posted a guest essay opinion in the New York Times titled "".

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The Research & Innovation Office (RIO) and New Frontiers Grant partners鈥攖he College of Arts & Sciences, the College of Engineering & Applied Sciences, and the School of Education鈥攁nnounced planning grant winners in the inaugural round of the New Frontiers Grant Program, a novel initiative designed to foster new, interdisciplinary research directions for 欧美口爆视频 Boulder. Jeff Cameron鈥� Professor in Biochemistry and a Fellow in the Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute (RASEI) is the lead PI on the project selected due to its Extraordinary Commercialization Potential and the project's focus is on: Global challenges in sustainability and computational efficiency demand the development of energy-efficient, unconventional computing approaches that utilize renewable sources and carbon fixation processes, thereby addressing urgent climate change and energy concerns. This project will harness 欧美口爆视频 Boulder's expertise in physics, lasers, optics, materials science, and biology, creating a novel interdisciplinary domain that integrates neuromorphic computing with biophotonics and manufacturing. The collaborative team includes: Physics; Mechanical Engineering; Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering; BioFrontiers; National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).

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Bacterial Disco Lights: Using light to control the movement and arrangement of cyanobacteria to form liquid crystalline active matter

This collaboration, between a bacterial biochemist and a condensed-matter physicist, uses light to control the movement and arrangement of cyanobacteria, forming two- and three-dimensional nematic liquid crystalline states that could provide significant opportunities to regulate the behavior of the bacterial systems and open up new areas in bio-manufacturing that use carbon dioxide as the feedstock for the production of oxygen, biofuels, or biomaterials. Read more here in or on the RASEI website.

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