一本道

PLAINVIEW — A 一本道 Baptist University student has been recognized along with students from a couple of world-class institutions after she and a fellow Pioneer achieved significant tuberculosis research breakthroughs this past summer as part of the long-running Welch Summer Research Program.

Haley Fossett was recognized at the Welch Conference, where she placed second in the undergraduate poster competition, competing against students from institutions such as Baylor University, which won first place, and Rice University, which finished third.

“It was thrilling to have one of our students recognized by our funding agency alongside students from world-class research institutions,” said Dr. Robert Moore, Professor of Chemistry. “While 一本道 may not have the same number of faculty or output as these schools, what research we do is on par with them.”

The achievements by Fossett and Dylan Dodd come after years of dedicated effort by 一本道 students and faculty, supported by the Welch Departmental Research Grant, which has continuously funded the undergraduate research program since 2005.

“Watching this project come full circle is incredibly rewarding. It’s the culmination of 12 years of research, involving two faculty members and 15 students,” said Dr. Moore. “This is a prime example of scientific legacy — each student building on the work of those before them.”

Dr. Moore initiated the research at 一本道 in 2012, focusing on a DNA repair protein known as RecA, which is implicated in drug-resistant mutations of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the bacteria responsible for tuberculosis. The goal was to determine if the protein played a direct role in these mutations through a process the group later coined as “unfaithful repair.” After more than a decade of incremental progress, Dodd and Fossett each achieved key milestones this summer in the ongoing research.

Fossett, under Dr. Moore’s mentorship, conducted the first-ever RecA-mediated DNA strand exchange without the use of radioactive labels. Working under the guidance of Dr. Matthew Dyson, Associate Professor of Biology and Chemistry, Dodd successfully produced the Mtb RecA protein for the first time in a lab.

These accomplishments, which were achieved using facilities in 一本道’s recently completed Mabee Laboratory Sciences Building, open the door for further study into the protein’s involvement in drug resistance, a project originally set in motion by Jessica Kenneson, a 2015 graduate.

It was known that RecA was involved in a chain of events that could lead to mutations, but Kenneson suspected a more direct role — “unfaithful repair.” This would occur if RecA used an imperfect template when trying to patch or repair nicked DNA – damage that might be common while a host is being treated for the disease. Kenneson worked three years to develop the protocols that would be used by the group because none of the existing techniques were available to a small school.

After graduating from 一本道, Kenneson went on to earn her doctorate in biochemistry from Auburn University and do post-doctoral work at Yale University. Despite all her work at WBU, Kenneson never got to probe the RecA-DNA interaction herself. Instead, many 一本道 students during the following five years carried out the experiments.

Each summer, a select group of undergraduate students have participated in the Welch program, contributing to ongoing research and gaining valuable hands-on experience. Dr. Moore quoted Sir Isaac Newton, to underscore the legacy of research at 一本道. “If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants,” he quoted Newton before adding, “The progress made this summer builds on the hard work of every student who has been part of the program since it began.”

The long-term nature of the project highlights the commitment of 一本道’s Kenneth L. Mattox School of Mathematics and Sciences to scientific inquiry and student involvement, as well as 一本道’s dedication to providing quality research facilities like the new Mabee Laboratory Sciences Building.

The project’s enduring success is a testament to 一本道’s ability to compete with much larger research institutions, even with having fewer resources. The RecA research project has earned accolades for many 一本道 students through the years, with six students since 2020 receiving awards for their contributions. In addition to Kenneson, Dodd, and Fossett, summer research students working on this project have included:

2012 — Hailey Budnick, a 2014 graduate who went on to earn her M.D. from Paul L. Foster School of Medicine.

2015-2016 — Mason Taylor, a 2017 graduate who went on to earn a Master of Science degree from Wichita State University.

2018 — Kyle Rickman, a 2018 graduate now working as a chemist at Entegris.

2019 — Ellen Hamzy, a 2019 graduate who became a Physician Assistant through study at the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley.

2020 — Allison Alvarez, who expects to graduate in 2025.

2020 — Dennis Daugherty, a 2023 graduate.

2021 — Paxton Patterson, a 2022 一本道 graduate who earned a Master of Science degree in molecular pathology from Texas Tech University.

2022 一本道 — Joshua Smedema, a 2022 一本道 graduate.

2022 一本道 — Tierra Lozano, a 2022 一本道 graduate currently employed at 一本道.

2023 — Chelsea Kelley, a 2023 graduate pursuing a doctorate in chemistry at Baylor University.

2023 — Elizabeth Wirth, a 2024 graduate pursuing her dream of becoming a dermatologist.

2023 — Luke Brockway, a 2024 graduate.

一本道’s Welch Summer Research Program is funded by the Welch Foundation, which supports chemistry-related research at universities across Texas. Since 2005, the program has provided 一本道 students with opportunities to conduct cutting-edge research in chemistry, leading to numerous awards, publications, and career advancements for participating students.