(2007-2009)
Erica was an undergraduate in the lab from 2007-2009.
She worked on the localization of the tomato PDK1 protein using GFP tags and confocal microscopy.
Plant and Algal Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, Texas A&M University
Tim Devarenne · ·
(2007-2009)
Erica was an undergraduate in the lab from 2007-2009.
She worked on the localization of the tomato PDK1 protein using GFP tags and confocal microscopy.
Tim Devarenne · ·
(summer 2007, 2008)
I am a freshman at Rice University where I am studying Biochemistry and Cell Biology. My interests include piano, painting, medieval history, and tennis. I have worked as a church pianist for the last four years. I’m also working on an outreach project with Dr. James Tour that puts information from science textbooks into songs and games for children to make the material more accessible.
I first worked in the Devarenne lab as an A&M Consolidated High School junior in the summer of 2007 on cloning a botryococcene methyltransferase (BMT) candidate gene from B. braunii. Botryococcene methyltransferase is the enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of B. braunii botryococcenes, a green alga that is a potential renewable energy source due to its ability to produce liquid hydrocarbons. I returned to the lab in the summer of 2008 after my senior year of high school, helping with a project that deals with the interaction of the SnRK (Sucrose-Non-Fermenting Related Kinase) complex in tomato and the protein Adi3.
Andrey graduated from Rice University and is currently (as of 03.28.2018) an associate consultant at TZMI Technical Consulting.
Tim Devarenne · ·
(2011-2012)
Zach worked in the lab beginning in the fall semester of 2010. He worked on the HPLC purificaiton and identification of unique botryococcene hydrocarbons from the B race of Botryococcus braunii.
Zach also studyied the role of methyltransferase genes in B. braunii that are involved in the biosynthesis of botryococcenes. Zach graduated in the Spring semester of 2012.
Currently (as of 01.31.2018), Zach is a microbiologist at Nalco Champion in Sugar Land, TX.
Tim Devarenne · ·
(2010-2011)
Taunya began her work in the Devarenne Lab doing prep work. She then conducted research with Joel Gray characterizing the interactions of the Arabidopsis protein kinase AGC 1-3 with PDK1.
Finally, Taunya worked during the 2011 Spring and Fall semesters with Julian Avila identifying, isolating, and characterizing genes coding for beta-subunit of the SnRK (sucrose non-fermenting related kinase) complex in tomato. The two genes identified in this work were named Tau1 and Tau2 after Taunya’s name. Taunya mastered basic PCR, primer design, and cloning techniques such as TOPO cloning and blunt end cloning. She also conducted yeast transformation and yeast two hybrid assays.
From 2013 to 2016 Taunya was in medical school at the Medical University of the Americas. and then she transferred to the medical school at Ross University School of Medicine, where she is currently (as of 01.31.2018).
Tim Devarenne · ·
(2011)
Austin worked in the lab during the 2010-2011 school year.
He worked with the Arabidopsis PDK1 protein in identifying an Arabidopsis line that contains a double T-DNA knockout of each PDK1 gene.
Currently (as of 06.09.2016), Austin is a consultant for the food and supplement industries through Austin Rivera Consulting Services.