Dr. Matthew Pawlus Recieves Grant

Dr. Matthew Pawlus, Associate Professor of Biology at Black Hills State University, has received funding for his NIH NIGMS R15 grant, "Aptamers as Novel Inhibitors of the Neurotoxin Beta-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA)," in the amount of $484,122. Per NIH reporter, the role of the biotoxin BMAA in promoting human disease will be investigated by establishing its functional effects in several human cell lines using a combination of gene expression and functional assays. Novel aptamers targeting BMAA will be generated and tested in cell culture models for their potential inhibiting BMAA functions.

SD INBRE Welcomes Three New Partner Institutions

Beginning in September 2025, SD INBRE welcomed three new partner institutions. Joining the seven current partners Augustana University, Black Hills State University, Dakota Wesleyan University, Mount Marty University, Oglala Lakota College, Sisseton Wahpeton College, and the University of Sioux Falls will be Dakota State University, Northern State University, and South Dakota Mines.

SD INBRE Academic Year Student Research Fellowship Program

Congratulations to the 17 undergraduate students selected to the SD INBRE 2025-2026 Academic Year Student Research Fellowship Program. 

• Nebiayat Arega (Augustana University) - Dr. Alex Kloth (Augustan University)

• Alexis Backhaus (South Dakota Mines) - Dr. Laura Brunmaier (South Dakota Mines)

• Owen Douglas (Northern State University) - Dr. Samantha St. Clair (Northern State University)

• Mary Fites (Northern State University) - Dr. Samantha St. Clair (Northern State University)

• Kate Greenfield (Augustana University) - Dr. Alex Kloth (Augustana University)

• Emily Huggins (Augustana Univeristy) - Dr. Lisa McFadden (University of South Dakota)

• Connor Johanson-Sallee (Dakota Wesleyan University) - Dr. Paula Mazzer (Dakota Wesleyan University)

• Grayson Madsen (Dakota State University) - Dr. Luke Chowning (Dakota State University)

• Madeline McDowell (Augustana University) - Dr. Alex Kloth (Augustana University)

• Logan Merriam (South Dakota Mines) - Dr. Laura Brunmaier (South Dakota Mines)

• Devin Messer (Black Hills State University) - Dr. Matthew Pawlus (Black Hills State University)

• Sage Robinson (Black Hills State University) - Dr. Justin Ramsey (Black Hills State University)

• James Roth (Black Hills State University) - Dr. Kathleen Madsen (Black Hills State University)

• Austin Sands (South Dakota Mines) - Dr. Laura Brunmaier (South Dakota Mines)

• Drake Van Steenwyk (South Dakota Mines) - Dr. Laura Brunmaier (South Dakota Mines)

• Chloe Voss (Northern State University) - Dr. Chelsee Shortt (Northern State University)

• Emma Wiesler (Dakota Wesleyan University) - Dr. Paula Mazzer (Dakota Wesleyan University)

2025 Eastern South Dakota Undergraduate Research Symposium

On Thursday, July 31, 2025, SD INBRE collaborated with NSF REU to host the undergraduate research symposium at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, SD. 125 participants including undergraduate students, faculty advisors, program leaders, and distinguished panelists attended the one day symposium at the Muenster University Center Ballroom. Attendees attended a panel entitled, "From Industry to Academics, Obtaining Success through Research". After the panel discussion, all participants were invited to attend 2  poster sessions showcasing undergraduate research and provide feedback to the presenters. The event was sponsored by SD INBRE, Sioux Valley Local Section of the American Chemical Society, and the Department of Chemistry at the University of South Dakota. 

2025 Central Region IDeA Meeting

SD INBRE hosted the 2025 Central Region IDeA Meeting from June 4 thorugh June 6 in Rapid City, South Dakota at the DoubleTree by Hilton Downtown Rapid City Convention Center. Meeting attendees participated in a poster session and sessions presented by NAIPI, PieStar, and EPSCoR-IDeA. Attendees could also attend many facultly and student research presentations. 

Faculty Presenters:

Dr. Kumi Combs (University of  North Dakota)
Dr. Marisol Castillo-Castrejon (Oklahoma University College of Medicine)
Dr. Susan Bjerke (Washburn University)
Dr. Daniel Owens (South Dakota Mines)
Dr. James Balthazor (Fort Hays State University)
Dr. Travis Walker (South Dakota Mines)
Dr. Yun Seok Choi (Black Hills State University)
Dr. Victor Huber (University of South Dakota)
Dr. Alex Kloth (Augustana University)

Student Presenters:

Yara Abdine (Wichita State University)
Xavier Horn (University of Sioux Falls)
Manish Rayamajhi (University of South Dakota)
Sebastian O'Farrell (Black Hills State University)
Emma Simmons (Wichita State University)
Naina Maharjan (University of South Dakota)
Olivia Schaefers (Black Hills State University)
Madeline McDowell (Augustana University)

SD INBRE Research Apprentice Program

SD INBRE and USD Upward Bound sponsored the 2025 Research Apprentice Program. A rising senior from Mahpiya Luta High School, Jaeden Lacey, was selected to work in a research lab for three weeks this summer. Jaeden joined the lab of Dr. Grigoriy Sereda in the Department of Chemistry at the University of South Dakota. At the end of the program, Jaeden presented his research.

Pierre Poster Session

The 2025 Student Poster Session at the capitol was held on Friday, February 21, 2025 in Pierre, South Dakota. The event is held annually to showcase the impact of research at South Dakota universities. This year Faith Burns from Augustana University represented SD INBRE at the poster session. Former SD INBRE research fellow, Sebastian O'Farrell (2023 & 2024) also presented a poster at the session. Dr. Victor Huber, PD/PI of SD INBRE, also tabled for SD INBRE at the event.

SD INBRE Winter Research Conference

On Saturday, January 28, 2025, SD INBRE students and faculty gathered at Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, South Dakota for the annual networking meeting. The students attended sessions on applying to the undergraduate research program, selecting a mentor, a panel session with previous SD INBRE fellows, and a poster session by faculty. While the students learned about the Undergraduate Fellows program, the faculty met to discuss the grant and research. Faculty then shared their research with the students at the poster session to recruit students for the summer undergraduate research program.

NIH Public Access Policy Update-Effective 7/1/2025

On April 30, 2025, NIH announced an accelerated implementation of the 2022 Nelson Memorandum. The key change is the requirement for immediate public access to NIH-funded research articles—embargoes are no longer permitted.

Key Points:

• Applies to Author Accepted Manuscripts (AAMs) from NIH-funded research accepted on or after July 1, 2025.

• Manuscripts must be submitted to PubMed Central (PMC) upon acceptance and made publicly available immediately upon publication.

• Authors must acknowledge NIH funding in both the AAM and the final published article.

• Authors do not need to pay to comply.

• Grantees must give NIH the rights to make the manuscript publicly available.

• Reuse rights for the public are not automatically granted.

Compliance & Submission:

• Two submission routes: author or publisher submission to PMC.

• Non-compliance may affect future NIH funding.

Definitions:

• AAM: Final accepted version including all revisions and supplementary material.

• Official Publication Date: When the final version is first available (print or online).

Full NIH Notice at: NIH Notice NOT-OD-25-101  
More information and FAQs: https://libguides.usd.edu/scholarlycommunication/publicaccesspolicy 

Proteomics Core host Fulbright Scholar

The Proteomics Core Facility hosted an international Fulbright Scholar, Dr. Jose Bonilla, from June to September 2023. As a result of his visit, the core facility submitted a paper to a peer-reviewed publication and presented 3 abstracts at scientific meetings in the United States and Argentina. Dr. Eduardo Callegari, Proteomics Core Facility Director, was invited by Dr. Bonilla to be co-advisor of his presentation to be accepted in the scientific career competition at the National Council on Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET).

Undergraduate Fellow Wins Award

On Saturday, September 9, 2023, the Sioux Valley Local Section of the American Chemistry Society hosted it's annual student poster competition at Augustana University in Sioux Falls, SD. Dakota Wesleyan University student Hunter Birozy, along with his research partner Bodie Miller of Augustana University, presented a poster on work that they had done during last summer's BRIN research project with Dr. George Mwangi of the University of Sioux Falls. They and their poster, "Investigating optimal crosslinkers for dopamine molecularly imprinted chemical sensors," took home one of three undergraduate prizes. Thanks to the win, the two have a $400 travel award to present their work at a regional or national American Chemistry Society conference. 

Central IDeA State Regional Meeting

The 2023 Central IDeA States Regional Meeting was held Wednesday, June 7 to Friday, June 9 in Kansas City, KS at the Intercontinental Hotel on the Plaza. While at the meeting, SD BRIN students and faculty attended poster sessions and breakout sessions that covered many topics, including; undergraduate career development, translational research, entrepreneurship, collaborative research, and more.

Summer 2023 Annual Faculty Research Meeting

SD BRIN faculty met in Vermillion, SD on Thursday, August 3 to discuss future plans of the program. They also attended the undergraduate oral presentations and poster session. The faculty also attended research presentations by the following faculty:

• Dr. Steven Matzner (AU) - Got Milkweed?: How patterns of drought mortality, herbivory, and hybridization determine range limits for Asclepias speciosa and Asclepias syriaca

• Dr. Yun Choi (BHSU) - A design strategy to quantify unconjugated Nedd8 using genetically encoded censors

• Dr. Ashley Pfeiffer (BHSU) - Effects of Sleep Hygiene Education on Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Summer 2023 Undergraduate Research Convocation

The SD BRIN Undergraduate Research Fellows attended the annual convocation on Thursday, August 3, 2023 in Vermillion, SD. The fellows attended a student panel of graduate and medical students, a presentation entitled, "Professional Skills in Presenting Research", and a student poster session. The following students were selected to give oral presentations of their research to faculty and students:

• Ellie Moore (BHSU) - The Biotoxin BMAA Promotes Mesenchymal Transition in Neuroblastoma Cells

• Elizabeth Theobald (AU) - Development of Chitosan/Hyaluronic Acid Microcapsules Coupled to Biopolymers for Incorporation into Modified Contact Lenses

• Britain Smith (DWU) - DNA Extraction from Lithic Tools

• Kylee McDaniel (MMU) - Ash1l Haploinsufficiency Induces Austism-associated Behavioral Deficits in a Mouse Model

• Rachel Hahn (AU) & Katie Ihrke (AU) - Inhibition of S. aureus biofilm formation by placental proteins

• Isabella Veffredo (DWU) - Developing a Luminescent Sensor to Detect Ubiquitin in Bodily Fluids

• Arrayna Dandanell (USF) & Megan Finstrom (BHSU) - Synthesis and Characterization of Thiazolium and Isoxazolium-Based Ionic Liquids

• Madison Kovar (MMU) - AK72019: A Molecular Inhibitor of MRSA Acetate Kinase Exhibiting Cellular-Level Efficacy Against Staphylococcus aureus

• Owen Growney (BHSU) - Investigation of the SpoV Peptide and Its Effects on the Bacteria Streptococcus pyogenes

• Noah Puetz (USF) & Thomas Scholten (AU) - Investigating Ischemic Preconditioning (IPC) Methodologies 

Lawrence Brothers Science Camp

The 2023 Lawrence Brothers Science Camp was held as two-day camp this summer. The camp was held on June 27 & 28, 2023 on the campus of the University of South Dakota in Vermillion. The theme of the camp was Crime Scene Investigation. The 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th grade students participated in many fun sessions while at camp:

• Hair Follicles - Dr. Barb Goodman

• DNA - Dr. Grigoriy Sereda

• Fingerprinting - Vermillion Police Department

• Physics of Floating - Dr. John Williams

• Physics of Walking - Dr. James Tracy

The 2024 Lawrence Brothers Science Camp will be Sunday, June 23 through Wednesday, June 26, 2024. 

SD BRIN Undergraduate/Faculty Networking Event & Meeting

On Saturday, January 21, 2023, SD BRIN students and faculty gathered at Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, SD. The students attending sessions on applying to the SD BRIN Undergraduate Fellows program, selecting a mentor, a panel session with previous SD BRIN fellows, and a faculty poster session. While the students learned about the Undergraduate Fellows program, the faculty met to discuss the grant and research. Faculty then shared their research with the students at a poster session.