Ross Whitwam, Ph.D.
Professor of Biology
Mississippi University for Women
Dr. Whitwam investigates the spontaneous formation of yeast prions, focusing on the [URE3] prion of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Prions are infectious proteins that can induce other copies of the same protein to misfold and aggregate into amyloids. The yeast prion [URE3] can also misfold spontaneously into its prion conformation at a low rate. Dr. Whitwam’s lab investigates how cellular factors, such as chaperone protein expression, can alter the rate of spontaneous prion formation as a means of investigating molecular mechanisms that might impact the prevalence of mammalian prion diseases such as Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease, fatal familial insomnia, and others.
Discipline: Biology
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S. Ariel Kelley, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Chemistry
Belhaven University
Dr. Kelley’s research group focuses on synthesizing novel nitrosamines and probing their behavior with advanced techniques, including NMR, FTIR, UV-Vis, and X-ray diffraction. A central goal is to trap reactive nitrosamine intermediates in cocrystals using supramolecular strategies, enabling detailed study of their chemistry while reducing environmental risks. At a primarily undergraduate institution, she mentors students closely, giving them hands-on experience with state-of-the-art instrumentation and experimental design.
Discipline: Chemistry
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Sarah Poiani, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Mathematics
Mississippi University for Women
Dr. Poiani’s research is in the field of commutative algebra, specifically on studying the behavior of pair operations (a generalization of closure operations). This includes constructions, properties, and interactions between various pair operations. She is also interested in the overlap between mathematics and fiber arts such as knitting and quilting.
Discipline: Mathematics
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Travis Hagey, Ph.D
Associate Professor of Biology
Mississippi University for Women
Hagey is an evolutionary biologist with interests in herpetology, adaptation, functional morphology, and biomechanics. Working with live and preserved specimens in lab, museum, and field settings, Hagey investigates adaptive patterns in gecko and anole adhesive toe pads. Hagey’s work combines correlating morphological traits, habitat use, and measurements of animal performance. He has experience with phylogenetic comparative methods, geometric morphometrics, and high-resolution imaging, including microCT and scanning electron microscopy.
Discipline: Biology
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