Kenny Adebiyi is a PhD candidate in the Kearns Lab, majoring in Microbiology with a minor in Bioinformatics. His research focuses on the molecular mechanisms regulating cell division dynamics and their connection to motility in Bacillus subtilis, using a combination of bacterial genetics, cell biology, genomics, and bioinformatics approaches. In addition to his research, Kenny is actively involved in teaching, contributing to departmental instructional modules and mentoring undergraduate researchers. He is also deeply engaged in outreach, leading initiatives both within the department and externally through collaborations with interdevelopmental organizations and grassroots efforts such as the United Nations and HealthDrive. Through this award, he aims to further advance his research and expand his impact in mentorship and community engagement. Kenny plans to pursue a career that integrates research, teaching, and global scientific outreach.

Holly is a 5th-year microbiology graduate student in the Dalia Lab. Her research explores the mechanisms by which bacteria sense and respond to changes in their environment. Throughout her graduate career she has fostered her passion for teaching, having minored in College Pedagogy and serving as Associate Instructor every semester for three years. This spring she has had the pleasure of being Instructor of Record for Microbial Physiology, which has greatly helped her to develop as an educator. She is grateful to her students and the Department of Biology for giving her this opportunity. This award will support Holly as she completes her thesis research this summer, before joining IU as a Visiting Lecturer in Biology.

“I am a 6th year PhD student working on virus-host interactions in the Danthi lab. The project focuses on figuring out function and mechanisms of how outer capsid proteins evade the host's innate immunity and what viral factor affects virus replication.”

Sannoong is a sixth-year graduate student in the Danthi Lab. The main focus of his research is virus-host interactions. Specifically, he studies virus replications in cells, programmed cell death and persistent infections. Outside of research, he is passionate about teaching and outreach and volunteers at local middle and high school outreach events and also teaches a summer course on virology for middle/high school students.

“I am in the Tuli Mukhopadhyay Lab and am currently studying the assembly of the alphavirus capsid, aiming to identify the protein-RNA and protein-protein interactions. Later on, I plan to modify the capsid proteins to contain a receptor-binding protein mimic for targeted cellular entry.”

Yona is a third-year Ph.D. student in the Winkler lab. Her research focuses on determining the functions of class A penicillin-binding proteins during cell division in Streptococcus pneumoniae, utilizing a variety of microscopy techniques. Outside of the lab, she has helped raise more than $2,000 for the Microbiology Graduate Student Association and taught multiple semesters of Biology Laboratory and Human Biology courses.

Tahreem is a member of Winkler lab where her research focuses on understanding the regulators of septal peptidoglycan synthesis in Streptococcus pneumoniae. Prior to joining IU, she worked on computational prediction of vaccine and drug candidates against pathogens and in future she aims to transition into the biotech industry. Outside of the lab, she enjoys traveling and exploring new worlds through sci-fi shows.

Kehinde 'Kenny' Adebiyi is a Ph.D. candidate in the Microbiology program working in the Kearns Lab. His research is focused on understanding the molecular mechanism of cell division and its relation to motility in Gram-positive bacteria. He is passionate about teaching, mentorship and social work, and has been a front volunteer in major outreach activities in the department and beyond.

Holly is a third-year graduate student in the Dalia lab, where she studies how bacteria regulate gene expression in response to changes in their environment. She is passionate about teaching and helping students build confidence in their skills. This award will support Holly as she continues her thesis work.

Claudi is a fourth-year Ph.D. student working on virus-host interactions in the Danthi lab. The project focuses on figuring out function and mechanisms of how outer capsid proteins evade the host's innate immunity. Aside from lab work, she is also working on a venture capital portfolio project as a venture fellow through IU Venture.

Nick is a member of the Dalia lab. His research focuses on understanding how competence pili from various organisms bind to DNA and facilitate natural transformation.

Jordan is a third-year Ph.D. candidate in the Hardy lab where she studies the molecular requirements of a Chikungunya virus infection. Additionally, she teaches various upper-level microbiology courses with Megan Dunn.

Nicholas is a senior graduate student working towards a Ph.D. in Microbiology in the McKinlay lab. His research focuses on understanding the basic physiology and metabolism of bacterial species with potential for industrial applications. After graduating, he plans to pursue a career in industry with the goal of sustainably producing value-added products through bioprocessing.