Plant and Algal Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, Texas A&M University
(2020-present)
I was born and raised in Houston, Texas, and began attending Texas A&M in the fall of 2019 after graduating salutatorian of my high school. I am pursuing a double-major in biochemistry and genetics, with plans to attend medical school after obtaining my degree. My work in the Devarenne lab involves identifying the enzyme that performs lycopadiene epoxidation in the L Race of Botryococcus braunii.
(2019-present)
Born in Peoria, Illinois, I attended Northern Illinois University and obtained a BS degree in Chemistry and a minor in Biological Sciences in 2018. I joined Texas A&M University in August of 2018, pursuing a PhD in the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics and joined the Devarenne lab in February of 2019.
My research focuses on elucidating the enzymatic machinery responsible for tetraterpenoid synthesis in the L race Botryococcus braunii. Specifically, identifying and biochemically characterizing key reductase enzyemes responsible for reducing lycopadiene precursors.
In my free time, I enjoy fishing, hunting, and playing music.
(November 1, 2019-present)
Ivette was a graduate student at CINVESTAV-Irapuato in the lab of Edmundo Lozoya-Gloria. Ivette was in the lab during November and December 2012 to learn algal molecular biology and clone a gene related to programmed cell death from Botryococcus braunii.
Ivette came back to the lab in June, 2014 to carryout experiments directed at understanding the function of the DAD1 (Defender Against Apoptotic Cell Death) gene she cloned form B. braunii.
Ivette successfully defended her PhD in April 2017.
After finishing her PhD Ivette worked as a Research Associate at CIATEC, A.C. in León, México.
On November 1, 2018 Ivette rejoined the Devarenne Lab as a Postdoctoral Researcher. Her stay in the lab is supported by a postdoctoral fellowship from CONACYT, México’s science funding agency. Ivette will be working on the L race of B. braunii analyzing the reaction mechanism of the LOS enzyme.
(2014-present)
I am from Incheon, South Korea. I received a bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology from Chung-Ang University in Korea, 2009. I began my Master’s course in Life Science (Immunology) at Seoul National University, but I transferred back to Chung-Ang University in 2010 and earned a Master’s degree in Life Science (Microbiology) in 2012. I joined the Biochemistry and Biophysics doctoral program at Texas A&M University in August, 2013 and joined the Devarenne Lab in May, 2014.
My research project involves studying the control of programmed cell death (PCD) during plant-pathogen interactions. My first project is to understand nuclear phosphorylation events controlled by the tomato protein kinase Adi3, which is a host PCD regulator during resistance to pathogens. My second project is to isolate and characterize a novel AGC kinase that regulates host immune responses during the resistance response to pathogens.
My research interests range from the molecular and biochemical mechanisms involved in the resistance of plants against pathogens to the biosynthesis of hydrocarbon compounds by algae that can be used as fuel in modern combustion engines.
I did my B.S. (1991) and M.S. (1993) studies at Michigan Technological University where I studied with John Adler working on the biosynthesis of insect molting hormones in plants as a defense mechanism against insect attack.
For a few years I worked as a research technician in the lab of John Dean at DePaul University in Chicago where we studied the detoxification of phenylpropanoids by conjugation with glutathione.
My Ph.D. (2000) studies were done in the lab of Joe Chappell at the University of Kentucky. Here I studied the control of the isoprenoid pathway during plant-pathogen interactions using tobacco and its fungal pathogen Phytophthora.
During my Ph.D. studies I collaborated with Shigeru Okada from the University of Tokyo on cloning isoprenoid hydrocarbon biosynthetic genes from the green microalgae Botryococcus braunii.
I carried out postdoctoral studies (2001 – 2005) at the Boyce Thompson Institute on the campus of Cornell University. At BTI I studied with Greg Martin researching tomato protein kinases that control cell death during the interaction with the tomato bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae.
In 2006 I joined the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics at Texas A&M University as an Assistant Professor and was promoted to Associate Professor in 2012. My lab continues to study plant-pathogen interactions by researching protein kinases regulating host cell death. We also continue to study isoprenoid hydrocarbon biosynthesis in B. braunii in collaboration with Shigeru Okada and Joe Chappell.
In 2009 I received a fellowship from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) to support travel and research for one month at the University of Tokyo to continue studies on Botryococcus braunii with Shigeru Okada. I am also a member of the US JSPS Alumni Association.