Axe ’Em, Jacks!
Department news and recognition updates
Department senior seminar presentation and awards banquet
The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry’s senior seminar presentation and awards banquet is an event that celebrates the hard work and achievements of graduating seniors. During the seminar, students present the culmination of their research projects, showcasing the skills, knowledge and critical thinking they have developed throughout their academic journey. Faculty, peers, family and friends were invited to attend to provide a supportive and engaging environment for the students to share their accomplishments.
Outstanding Academic and Research Achievements:
- Analytical Chemistry Award – Jake Swallow
- Biochemistry Award – Maiko Estrada
- Inorganic Chemistry Award – Aiyana Gonzalez
- Organic Chemistry Award – Hadley Watts
- Physical Chemistry Award – Chandler Amos
Outstanding Chemistry Graduate:
- Meghan Jennings
Top Speakers:
- Ken Fiffick
- Meghan Jennings
Biochemistry student inducted into the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology national honor society
The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Honor Society, ΧΩΛ, is a prestigious distinction given to exceptional undergraduate juniors and seniors pursuing degrees in the molecular life sciences at colleges or universities with ASBMB Student Chapters. Students are recognized for their scholarly achievement, research accomplishments and outreach activities.
Jacob Swallow is a junior biochemistry major with a minor in biology. Currently, he is involved in researching microplastics in the wastewater treatment plants of Deep East Texas, a project he began in February 2024. Swallow served as the secretary of the ASBMB student chapter for a year, and in November 2024, he was elected student chapter president, a position he continues to hold. As president, he works to facilitate science outreach to rural elementary, middle and high school students by hosting and volunteering at various events. After completing his degree in biochemistry, he hopes to attend graduate school and join an MD or PhD program, intending to earn a PhD in biochemistry or infectious diseases. He aspires to become a research-oriented physician who leads biomedical research projects which lead to direct clinical applications.
Welcome Dr. Violet Bumah
Dr. Violet Bumah will be joining the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry faculty in the fall as an assistant professor. Dr. Bumah earned her PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Calabar in Nigeria and post-doctoral fellowship at Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois.
Dr. Bumah’s research is focused on the therapeutic effects of monochromatic light in the range of 400 nm to 1000 nm wavelength. Studies in her photomedicine lab include bacterial and viral inactivation with pulsed blue light (PBL) and wound healing. Understanding and identifying mechanisms for the antimicrobial effect of blue light will advance this line of research to translational discoveries and foster the development of therapeutic protocols for treating cases of bacterial and viral infections, and environmental sterilization.
Graduate chemistry student wins SFA's Three Minute Thesis competition
SFA held an institution-wide Three Minute Thesis, or 3MT®, competition on Feb. 7, 2025. The 3MT is an internationally known competition. Graduate students in thesis and dissertation programs have three minutes to present a compelling oration on their research. The purpose is to help student consolidate their ideas so they can be presented concisely to a non-specialist audience.
Nkeiruka (Angela) Aziekwu was selected as SFA’s winner. Angela is a graduate student in the Master of Science in natural and applied sciences program with an emphasis in chemistry.
Institutional winners advance to the regional competition at the Conference of Southern Graduate Schools. This year’s conference will be held March 19-21 on the campus of Southern Methodist University.
Students admitted into competitive, prestigious ThermoFisher Scientific internships
Three SFA chemistry students applied for internship opportunities with Thermo Fisher Scientific, making it to the final round of interviews. Kadin Green, a junior from Allen, Kylie Robertson, a junior from Deer Park, and Kayleigh Klein, a senior from La Vernia, were offered the 10-week internship split between Chicago and San Jose, California that starts in June.
Our students were chosen out of 120 applicants from across the country due to the method development training they received from their chemistry research at SFA. This hands-on training separated their resumes from other students. The internship will touch on method development using UPLC-MS/MS and field work with an application scientist.
Dr. Matibur Zamadar publishes books on Amazon
Zamadar published two books on Amazon in December 2024.
“Your Diabetes Control Is in Your Hands” focuses on diabetes awareness with an emphasis on prevention and control. This book gives guidance to how to exercise and find nutritious meals in rural settings.
“How to Prevent Heart Attacks: Now Within Your Reach” covers topics such as causes of heart attack, prevention methods, actions to take during an emergency and tips for maintaining a healthy heart.
Students and faculty member selected to participate in undergraduate research council
Kendall Fiffick, a senior from Nacogdoches, and Blake Maillet, a senior from Livingston, and Dr. Rashid Mia, assistant professor, were selected by the Office of Research and Graduate Studies and the Center for Student Research and Creative Discovery to participate in the Scholars Transforming Through Research: Council on Undergraduate Research's Advocacy Program organized by The Council on Undergraduate Research. Participation in the program includes visits to Washington DC and Capitol Hill.
Dr. Tayo Odunuga organizes meeting
Odunuga, professor and chair, was one of the organizers of the Virtual Catalyst Conversation Meeting organized by the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology held on Oct. 19, 2024.
Students pass, master ASBMB exam
Many current and past students have taken and passed the ASBMB Exam, designed to test students' knowledge and understanding of the core competencies in biochemistry and molecular biology developed by the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and its members.
Five of our students made the Mastery category, 10 or 11 core exam questions answered correctly, and two made the Proficiency category, 8 or 9 exam questions answered correctly.
- Meghan Jennings, senior
- Thanh Tien Dao, senior
- John Mullins – master's student
- Noah Hoisington – graduate
- Allyssa Fisher –graduate
- Sydni Sheffield – graduate
- Jared Head – graduate
Dr. Bidisha Sengupta obtains grant for equipment
Sengupta, associate professor, obtained a grant from SFA’s Science and Technology Acquisition and Retention program to purchase a dynamic light scattering spectrometer, commonly referred to as a DLS spectrometer. This program provides funding for faculty to purchase state-of-the-art research equipment and to make necessary laboratory renovations to perform their research at a University of Texas System institution.
