Seminar Series
Department of Biochemistry
BCHM 5004 Seminar Series Fall 2026
Monday at 3:00 PM ET Fralin Hall Auditorium
Check back for Fall 2026 updates!
Speaker: Pabina Pokharel, Virginia Tech Biochemistry
Topic: "Targeting cell surface RNA."
Host: Dr. Wei Sun
Labor Day - no classes
Speaker: Dr. José Vargas-Muñiz, Biological Science, Virginia Tech
Topic: "Can targeting the fungal septin cytoskeleton improve existing antifungal therapies?"
Host: Dr. Jinsong Zhu
Speaker:
Biochemistry Graduate Students:
Bianca Campos
Xander Dellinger
Lauren Jarrett
Shaum Khara
Ken Romero
Sara Scanlan
Robby Shriver
Renee St. John
Gabe Valenzano
Topic: Rotation talks
Host: Biochemistry Department Faculty
Speaker: Dr. Clement Vinauger and Dr. Soumi Vinauger (Faculty), Rakshitha Ravindra Hosahalli (Student) Virgnia Tech Biochemistry Department
Topic:
"Larval environments reshape mosquito disease risk via phenotypic and molecular plasticity." Dr. Clement Vinauger
"Mammalian soluble lectins as probes for host recognition of zoonotic viruses.” Dr. Soumi Ghosh
“Thinking outside the tetrad: Exploring KRAS G-quadruplexes for drug discovery.” Rakshitha Ravindra Hosahalli
Host: Biochemistry Community Committee
Speaker: Dr. Augustine Vielkind, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals
Topic: "mAb Bioprocessing and Working in Industry."
Host: Dr. Biswarup Mukhopadhyay
Speaker: Christen Hughes, Biochemistry Department Student
Topic: "Aedes albopictus sex-determining locus and sex chromosome evolution."
Host: Dr. Jake Tu
Speaker: Lauren Jarrett, Renee St. John, Xander Dellinger, Sara Scanlan, Gabriel Valenzano Shaum Khara - Biochemistry Department Rotational Talks
Topic: “Structural Modifications and Ligand Binding of Coenzyme F430" Lauren Jarrett
“Investigating BASP1 Knockout in MCF7 Cells” Renee St.John
“Juvenile Hormone and the Onset of Mating Receptivity in A. aegypti” Xander Dellinger
"Computational Investigation of Interactions Between Aβ and Tramiprosate" Sara Scanlan
“Utilizing Molecular Dynamics (MD) Simulations to Explore Sequence Impacts on Dimerization of Aβ42" Gabriel Valenzano
"Development of a defined, in vitro reconstitution system for studying CAT tailing” Shaum Khara
Host: Biochemistry Department Faculty
Speaker: Gustavo Silva, Duke University
Topic: "Overcoming Obstacles: Regulating Ribosome Arrest in Response to Stress."
Host: Dr. Danish Khan
Speaker: Dr. Jennifer Gaddy, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Topic: "Pour some sugar on me: The antimicrobial and immunomodulatory activity of human milk oligosaccharides against perinatal pathogens.”
Host: Dr. Soumi Ghosh
Speaker: DR. Michael Konopka, United States Naval Academy
Topic: TBD
Host: Dr. Biswarup Mukhopadhyay
Speaker: Dr. Endang Purwantini, VT Biochemistry Department
Topic: TBD
Host: Dr. Kylie Allen
Thanksgiving Break
Speaker: Rotation talks
Topic: Rotation talks
Host: Biochemistry Department Faculty
Speaker: Dr. Elizabeth McGraw, Penn State
Topic: TBD
Host: Dr. Chloé Lahondère