In 2014, Marcos Corchado Sonera was a participant in the NSF-funded Research Experience for Undergraduates hosted in the departments of Molecular Genetics and Chemistry & Biochemistry here at OSU. Marcos joined us for the summer from his home campus at the University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez, where he was completing dual degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Biology. At OSU he worked in the lab of Ana Alonso examining the metabolic profile of pennycress, a potential source of industrial oils for fuels. We were delighted when after his graduation he joined the Molecular Genetics graduate program, earning his PhD in the lab of Helen Chamberlin in 2021. He then took a position as Assistant Professor of Biology at Southern Utah University (SUU).

Nine years later, one of his advisees at SUU, Gabriella Proctor, came to our summer REU program, now led by Jane Jackman in Chemistry and Biochemistry and Anna Dobritsa in Molecular Genetics.

Gabriella took on a project in Anita Hopper's lab, where she examined the nuclear export and import of tRNAs in the baker's yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. After completing her senior year at SUU, Gabriella plans to apply to Ph.D. programs in biology.

We are so excited to see the positive outcomes of this important program extend to the next scientific generation!