Mattawan AP Biology students' Visit
On Dec 3, 2024, faculty, staff and students at Western Michigan University (WMU) hosted the campus visit of 73 AP Biology students from Mattawan High School (https://wmich.edu/stem/news-0), as part of the BIORETS program led by Drs. Yan Lu and Silvia Rossbach. The high school students were brought to WMU by their teacher Ms. Ann Ponicki, who participated in the BIORETS program in Dr. Cindy Linn’s laboratory in summer 2022.
2024 West Michigan Regional Undergraduate Science (WMRUGS) Research Conference
On Nov 2, Ms. Ella VarnHagen presented the following poster at the 2024 WMRUGS Research Conference at Van Andel Institute (https://www.vai.org/event/2024-west-michigan-regional-undergraduate-science-research-conference/):
VarnHagen EG, James GO, Kolstoe AJ, Lu Y. Roles of GET3B and DJA-type stromal chaperone proteins in thylakoid targeting of tail-anchored proteins.
2024 BIORETS Program
The 2024 BIORETS program concluded successfully on August 2, 2024 (https://wmich.edu/biology/biorets). In 2024, this program provided summer research and professional development opportunities to 10 science teachers from Southwest Michigan.
2024 Mid-Michigan Symposium for Undergraduate Research Experiences (Mid-SURE)
On July 24, Ms. Ella VarnHagen, a Kalamazoo College student working on her senior integrated project in the Lu Lab, presented the following poster at the 2024 Mid-SURE at Michigan State University (https://urca.msu.edu/forums/mid-sure-2024):
VarnHagen EG, James GO, Kolstoe AJ, VanSlambrouck JT, Solloway A, Lu Y. Roles of chloroplast GET3B protein and other stromal chaperone proteins in thylakoid targeting of tail-anchored proteins.
Educational Talent Search (ETS) Science Fair Camp
On July 9, 2024, Dr. Lu served as a guest speaker at the Educational Talent Search (ETS) Science Fair Camp at Southwestern Michigan College for students in grades 6-12 (https://www.swmich.edu/news/28-attend-first-smc-science-fair-camp.html). Dr. Lu was invited by Ms. Amanda Solloway, the science teacher at Cassopolis Middle School.
New Paper from the Lu Lab
The Lu lab had the following paper accepted by Plant Direct on June 4, 2024:
Nath S, VanSlambrouck JT, Yao JW, Gullapalli A, Razi F, & Lu Y (2024) DNA barcoding of terrestrial invasive plant species in Southwest Michigan. Plant Direct, 8, e615. https://doi.org/10.1002/pld3.615
Kalamazoo Science Communication Outreach​
Dr. Lu is one of the eight Michigan scientists featured in the Kalamazoo Science Communication Outreach Project in Summer 2024. With this project, we hope to bring families together and nature to children! The Kickoff Party of this project took place at Children's Nature Playscape on Bronson Park, 302 Academy St, Kalamazoo, MI 49007 at 10 am – 2 pm on June 1, 2024! Here are a coloring page, a colored page, and a speedy drawing of Dr. Lu (created beautifully by Comfort & Adam).
Many thanks to Dr. Rachel Love, Lillian Grelak, Molly Martinez, Deepa Jha, Quinn Collins, and Maggie LaFramboise at Kalamazoo College, and the most creative duo Comfort and Adam!