Biomedical Graduate Students

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Summary
I work in the Zimmer lab and this is my second year as a doctoral student under the Integrated Biosciences program focusing on Glycosomes.
Awards & Recognition
Annette Boman Women’s Fellowship, University of Minnesota Medical School - Duluth Campus, 2020
Integrated Biosciences Graduate Program Fellowship, University of Minnesota Duluth
University of Minnesota Medical School Duluth Campus Dean’s Fellowship
1st Prize in Poster Presentation at National conference on “Emerging Trends in Biological Sciences”, India, 2017
Professional Associations
RNA Society
EWIS (Empowering Women in Science)
Research
Publications
I. Publications
Durrani, Hina, et al. “A Global Analysis of Enzyme Compartmentalization to Glycosomes.” Pathogens, vol. 9, no. 4, 2020, p. 281., doi:10.3390/pathogens9040281.

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PhD, Integrated Biosciences, University of Minnesota, In Progress
MS, University of Minnesota
BS, McKendree University
Summary
Jennifer Krznarich is a PhD candidate at the University of Minnesota Medical School. Her research project is focused on understanding how multiple stress responses regulate a specific glutamate-cystine transporter in the brain and the resulting functional impacts. Jennifer received her B.S. in Biology from McKendree University. After graduation, she worked as a Production Chemist for Sigma Aldrich in St. Louis and later worked as an Academic Advisor for Upward Bound Math and Science. In 2017, she earned her M.S. from the University of Minnesota, studying melatonin’s role within the circadian system of developing zebrafish. Jennifer is also passionate about diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEM with a focus on equity through an intersectional lens. She has served as Northwoods Women in Science Vice President and President, and is a member of the Genetics Society of America.




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Summary
I work in the lab of Dr. Sara L. Zimmer studying Trypanosomes, parasitic protozoa that cause devastating diseases in livestock and humans. My research focuses on mitochondrial mRNA regulation, more specifically, the post-transcriptional process of non-encoded mitochondrial mRNA tail addition. We believe that these mRNA tails are more involved in gene expression regulation than we currently know, and hope that by studying this process we can understand trypanosomes' mitochondrial mRNA lifecycle more thoroughly.
Awards & Recognition
Frieda M. Kunze Fellowship, University of MN Graduate School, 2020-2021
Thesis Research International Travel Grant, University of MN Graduate School, 2020
Best Graduate Student Poster Presentation, American Society for Microbiology, North Central Branch Annual Meeting, 2019
Arthur G. Johnson Fellowship, University of MN Medical School Duluth Campus, 2019
Annette Boman Women’s Fellowship, University of MN Medical School Duluth Campus, 2018
Swenson College of Science and Engineering Travel Award, University of MN Duluth, 2018
Graduate School Travel Award, University of MN Duluth, 2018
Dean’s Fellowship, University of MN Medical School Duluth Campus, 2017-2018
Speaker at 101st Commencement Ceremony, Northland College, 2012
Biology Major Merit Award, Northland College, 2012
Environmental Science and Natural Resources Faculty Award, Northland College, 2012
Steen-Tucker Choir Merit Award, Northland College, 2012
Research
Publications
I. Publications
- Hampton, M, Galey, M, Smoniewski, C, Zimmer, SL. (2020) Probabilistic models of biological enzymatic polymerization. In review.
- Ramirez-Barrios, R., Susa, EK, Smoniewski, CM, Faacks, SP, Liggett, CK, Zimmer, SL. (2020) A link between mitochondrial gene expression and life stage morphologies in Trypanosoma cruzi. Molecular Microbiology; 00: 1– 19. https://doi.org/10.1111/mmi.14466