Plant and Algal Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, Texas A&M University
(2014-2015)
Hnin joined the lab in January 2014 as a research supporter and has now taken on a research project involving the identification and characterization of hydrocarbon biosynthesis genes from the A race of B. braunii. Hnin worked in the lab until she graduated in May 2015.
Currently (as of 01.31.2018), Hnin is a Food and Beverage Safety Trainer at LEARN (HK) Limited in Myanmar.
(2013-2014)
Tajma joined the lab in the fall of 2013 and worked on cloning and characterizing the oxidosqualene cyclase (OSC) gene from B. braunii. The protein encoded by OSC is involved in the production of the first cyclized intermediate for sterol biosynthesis. Tajma left the lab in 2014 to pursue other research interests.
(2012-2014)
Jacob joined the lab in the summer of 2012 as a research supporter and moved into research in January of 2013. Jacob is working on characterizing a phosphorylation substrate of the Arabidopsis kinase AGC1-3.
In the summer of 2014, Jacob moved to the lab of Ry Young in the Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics at Texas A&M to do research on bacteria phages and graduated in May 2015. In Fall 2016 Jacob entered the Biochemistry and Biophysics graduate program and graduated in May 2017 with a Master’s degree.
Currently (as of 01.31.2018) Jacob is in the M.D. program at the University of Kansas School of Medicine in Kansas City.
(2010-2012)
Parker joined the lab in the summer of 2012 to carry out research on how growth regulators affect the hydrocarbon and biomass production of the B brace of B. braunii.
(2011-2013)
Waylon started working in the lab in the Spring semester of 2011. He is studying the regulation of squalene synthase from tobacco and tomato.
He is interested in how the protein kinase Casein Kinase 2 (CK2) interacts with and phosphorylates squalene synthase during the defense response to fungal pathogens in order to turn off squalene synthase enzyme activity.
After graduating, from 2013-2015 Waylon earned an MS degree from Texas A&M in Educational Administration
Currently (as of 01.31.2018), Waylon is a graduate student and a University Distinguished Graduate Fellow in the lab of Idan Shalev studying biobehavioral health in the College of Health and Human Development at Pennsylvania State University.
(2012)
Stephanie joined the lab in January 2012 as a lab support worker.
Currently (as of 01.31.2018), Stephanie is an Independent Personal Trainer in Spring, TX.
(2008-2010)
I am a junior at Texas A&M University class of 2010 majoring in Genetics. I began working in the Devarenne lab at the end of the Fall ’08 semester. My duties include: preparing and autoclaving bacterial growth media, preparing stock solutions for the lab, washing and sterilizing glassware, autoclaving and disposing of bio hazard waste, and stocking micropipette tips and centrifuge tubes.
Outside of the lab my interests include improv comedy and martial arts tricking. Following my undergraduate education I plan on going to graduate school for Genetic Counseling.
Remington went to graduate school at at Northwestern University studying genetic counseling in the Center for Genetic Medicine from 2015-2017.
Currently (as of 01.31.2018) Remington is a Medical Genetics Technologist II Baylor College of Medicine.
(2008-2009)
Howdy, my name is Matt Johnson and I am currently an undergrad research assistant in the Devarenne lab. I am a senior here at Texas A&M about to graduate with a BS in Biology.
My interests include running, learning about alternative fuel sources, and riding my bike around the TAMU campus. I have been a part of the Devarenne lab since January of 2009 and in my research I am working with a microalgae known as Botryococcus braunii. We are exploring candidate genes thought to produce a protein that aids in the methylations of the C30 isoprenoid into a C34 hydrocarbon chain. The pathway is of importance due to the potential of C34 hydrocarbon chains to be used to produce combustible biofuels such as gasoline or jet fuel.
(summer 2008)
Isaac was a undergrad in the lab during the summer of 2009.
He helped with organizing the lab’s chemical stock list and seed stocks.
(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.