1. NMSU NIH Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement
Busi ne ss Name
Desert SunRISE
Volume 1, Issue 3
Spring 2009
Inside this issue:
RISE Graduate and Undergraduate Scholars
RISE Spotlights 2-3, 5 Present at GRAS and URCAS Symposiums:
RISE Spring Calendar 3 This year’s Graduate Re- los, Jesus “Jessie” Cuaron, who have mentored them.”
Letter from RISE Director 3 search and Arts Symposium Richard Elicier, and Nabeeh
URCAS was held five days
(GRAS) was held April 22- Hasan. Posters were de-
before GRAS, also in the
GRAS & URCAS Presentations 4-5 23, 2009, in the Corbett signed and presented by:
Corbett Center. Every under-
Center at New Mexico State Jessica Moore, Tammy Ro-
GRAS & URCAS PHOTOS 4-5 graduate in RISE partici-
University. Organized by and mero, Mark Seger, Aerial
Spring 2009 Graduates 6 pated, displaying and com-
for NMSU graduate stu- Singleton, Fernando Solor-
menting on their meticu-
RISE Program Contact Info dents, the symposium is an zano, and Lee Uranga.
lously crafted posters. These
and Office Staff 7 opportunity for burgeoning
scholars and scientists to  students were: Karla Al-
RISE Student Advisory marez, Zena Archie, Renee
committee and members 7 present their research in a Not to be outdone by their Banallie, Alexandru Boje,
public forum. Students had graduate counterparts, RISE Raymundo Chavira, Lekeah
the option of giving a spoken undergraduate scholars also Durden, Jon Matthew
presentation, 20-25 minutes presented at NMSU’s Under- George, Sarah Gonzalez,
long, or of displaying their graduate Research and
START EARLY!! Jessica Gutierrez, Jesus
work in a poster format Creative Arts Symposium
“Don’t wait until the end, Martinez, Amanda Rae Mu-
(posters were displayed in (URCAS). URCAS sponsors
get started early. Make ñoz, Thurman Redhouse,
the Center’s elegant West described the event as “an
sure the information the Jr., Marie Romero, Michael
Ballroom on the third floor). annual celebration of under-
NSF wants is easy to find Sandoval, Jacquelyn
RISE made its presence felt graduate creativity in all Stanton, and Natasha
and make sure you have
at GRAS this year. Scholars fields. The symposium rec- Yazzie.
someone look over you
giving conference presenta- ognizes outstanding under-
application.”
graduate research and crea- (For presentation titles and
tions included: Jose Bañue-
tive projects and the faculty photos, see pages 4-5.)
Jessica Moore.
Jessica Moore wins Prestigious NSF Fellowship
The National Science Foun- The award certainly came as ties this award will open up
dation (NSF) awards several a surprise to RISE PhD can- for Jessica are incalculable.
fellowships for graduate re- didate in chemistry Jessica “Even I was a little ignorant
search each year. The road Moore; in fact, she was con- about how big a deal this
to one of these multiyear vinced she wasn’t going to was,” confesses Jessica with
and lucrative fellowships is get it. “I had given up hope,” a smile.
arduous and very competi- says Jessica. “They’re sup-
When asked about advice
tive. The application process posed to notify people by
for RISE students hoping to
can span months—and April, but I didn’t hear any-
repeat her success, Jessica
there’s no guaranteeing a thing until May.” The news,
says: “Don’t wait...get
positive outcome. Out of the although late, was more than
started early. Make the infor-
thousands of applicants, less welcome. Beyond the imme-
mation the NSF wants easy
than 10% will receive fellow- diate pecuniary benefits, the
RISE Ph.D. candidate Jessica Moore to find and make sure you
ships. short and long term possibili-
have someone look over it.”

2. Page 2 Desert SunRI SE Volume 1, Issue 3
RISE Mentor Spotlight on Dr. Graciela Unguez
Although Dr. Unguez is an yond the “copy and paste” fessors will encourage to
associate professor of devel- model of some journals and students to broaden their
opmental neurobiology, her instead produce writing that academic horizons. In the
intellectual pursuits are by is imaginative at the same future, Unguez hopes to see
no means limited to the sci- time as it presents rigorously more interdisciplinary activi-
ence department. In addition researched data. By expos- ties and classes involving
to studying cellular plasticity ing students to writing that the science department.
and differentiation, she finds challenges inherited para- “Maybe a co-taught course,”
herself exploring those inter- digms and stereotypes, Un- she says, “in journalism.
stitial zones where science guez also hopes to promote Something beneficial for
contacts culture and writing. awareness of concerns con- both disciplines.”
Dr. Graciela Unguez, “My introduction to science tiguous to those of science.
More with Dr. Unguez:
writing was Carl Sagan,” Concerns such as philoso-
Associate Professor in Biology
Unguez explains, adding phy’s impact on how science In a recent interview with
that writing such as Sagan’s is done or how science, of- RISE, Dr. Unguez was affable
On Science & Literature: is “an art” that knows how to ten imagined as impervious and cavalier, joking about the
grab the reader’s attention to external factors, can be “sexiness” of descriptive sci-
Dr. Unguez reveals her and say things in unex- influenced by the ideologies ences. But she was com-
introduction to science pected and accessible ways. which surround it. “We as pletely serious when it came
writing was the Now, Unguez is eager to advisors don’t do that as to the importance of teaching
inestimable and much- bring such writing into the much as we should,” Un- students to be imaginative
and not “reductive” in their
missed Carl Sagan (1934 classroom. She hopes that guez says, stressing that
approach to science.
-1996). An author, she her students will push be- she hopes mentors and pro-
says, whose work was
“an art...that knew how
to draw readers in.”
RISE Grad Spotlight on Gilbert Montano
ponent genes in this path- When asked about RISE,
way, including Mob1, Lats2, Montano’s response is
and Mst2, are important grateful. “I think it was
tumor suppressor genes. Of great,” he grins, “I never
FOCUS ON YOUR particular importance is their would have pursued my
STUDIES!! ability, when “all three [are] Ph.D. if hadn’t been for
working in concert,” as RISE. A member of RISE
“If you have to make a Montano says, to stabilize since 2003, Montano truly
choice,” Gilbert advises, p53—a gene whose muta- has been with program
regarding the seeming tions may “account for 50- since its “infancy” as he
RISE Ph.D. candidate in
Scylla and Charybdis 60% of cancer in humans.” says. Responding to a
biology, Gilbert Montano
In the literature, the connec- question about what advice
students sometimes (expected completion: Sum-
tion Montano has estab- he would give RISE stu-
have to negotiate mer 2009), is a member of
lished between the three dents, Montano says:
between their classes Dr. Brad Schuster’s lab. His
suppressor genes and p53 “Focus on your coursework.
work focuses on cell cycles
and their lab-work, “go has not been recorded. Sure, you need to do re-
and cellular division. In his
to your studies, you Montano characterizes his search and show some pro-
dissertation, Montano ex-
research as “tying in the p53 gress [but] you don’t want to
have to take care of plores a particular develop-
phenomenon to other impor- struggle in your studies.”
your coursework.” mental pathway in flies.
tant components of that Montano’s future plans in-
(There exists an equivalent
pathway.” clude a post-doc at the Uni-
pathway in humans.) Com-
versity of California Davis.

3. Desert SunRI SE Volume 1, Issue 3 Page 3
RISE Summer Calendar: From The Director:
RISE UG Ethics Work- May 19 development activities in
shop (6/2-7/14), Tues- New Student Orientation minority-serving institutions
days, 9-11 a.m., continued. through awards from the
taught by Dr. Jennifer Minority Biomedical Re-
May 20 search Support (MBRS)
Randall.
Lab instrumentation and program. The goal of NIH-
RISE Graduate Writing experimental design RISE is to strengthen and
Workshop (6/2-7/21), workshop Pt.1 (in Chem- diversify the scientific work-
Tuesdays , 9:30-11 a.m. istry 102, 8 a.m.—noon). force by increasing the
Our RISE (Research Initia- number of students from
RISE UG Graduate Ap- May 21
tive for Scientific Enhance- underrepresented groups
plication Workshop (6/3- Lab Instrumentation
ment) Community at New who complete Ph.D. de-
7/22), Wednesdays, 9- workshop concluded (in gree programs in biomedi-
11 a.m. Mexico State University is
Chem. 102, 10:30 a.m.— cal and biobehavioral re-
committed to scientific re-
noon) search.
RISE UG GRE Prepara- search that will promote hu-
tion Workshop (6/4- July 23-24 man health and reduce ill- Elba Serrano, Ph.D.,
7/23), Thursdays, 9-11 RISE Midsummer ness and disabilities. RISE is Regents Professor & RISE
a.m. Conference (Thurs: 1- a National Institutes of Program Director
6:30 p.m.; Friday: 9 a.m.- Health (NIH)initiative that
May 18 supports student scientific
5:30 p.m.)
New Student Orientation
RISE Interviews Undergrad Raymundo Chavira
By Ivette Guzman. programs. Originally from and there is always something
Delicias, Chihuahua, Mexico, new to learn while doing re-
Raymundo Chavira is a junior
his family now lives in Colom- search.” He currently works
and has been in the RISE pro-
bus, New Mexico. He is the with Dr. Lara in Chemistry. As
gram since Fall 2008. Before
first in his family to attend col- a RISE student, he has had
joining RISE, Raymundo par-
lege. The opportunity provided opportunities not only to ex-
ticipated in the NMSU Chile
by RISE to work in research perience research but also to
Pepper Institute’s Agricultural
laboratories has encouraged present at URCAS and other
Science Summer Undergradu-
Raymundo to pursue biologi- conferences. With the help of
ate Research Education and
cal research as a long-term RISE, Raymundo would like to
Development (ASSURED)
career. He states that he continue his scientific training
and Medicinal Plants of the
“enjoys learning new things… in graduate school.
Southwest Workshop (MPSW)
RISE Interviews Undergrad Renee Benallie
By Fernando Solarzano. ons’ lab. It was such a great triculation at NMSU. She
experience that she spent the credits the various RISE work-
Renee Benallie is a junior following summer with Dr. shops with advancing her aca-
majoring in biochemistry. Lyons and transferred that demic/professional develop-
At Dine College in Shiprock, fall of 2006 to NMSU. She ment and preparing her for the
NM, Renee’s organic chem- currently works in Dr. Lyon’s next step. She is currently
istry professor, Dr. Vama lab elucidating the function of looking into graduate pro-
Robson, encouraged her to the growth factor receptor- grams and plans on pursuing
join the Bridges Program at bound protein Grb7. This a Ph.D. in molecular biology.
NMSU. Through Bridges, research is vital in under- Asked where she sees herself
Renee spent a summer im- standing cancer cell signaling in ten years, she says teach-
mersed in biomedical re- and migration. RISE has ing in her home community of
search in Dr. Barbara Ly- been crucial in Renee’s ma- Farmington.

4. Page 4 Desert SunRI SE Volume 1, Issue 3
RISE Presentations at GRAS and URCAS:
RISE GRADUATE SCHOLARS PRESENT AT GRAS:
José Leobardo Bañuelos, “Tracking changes in protein solution-structure as a function of
temperature with small angle x-ray scattering.”
Jesus Cuaron, “Staphylococcus aureus Fusidic Acid-Resistant Mutants display reduced
growth rates yet unaltered metabolic rates and a stimulon opposite of suboptimal murF
expression.”
Richard Elicier, “Exploring the interactions between Mob1 and a small ubiquitin-like modi-
fier.”
Nabeeh A. Hasan, “CHAOS: A fast and efficient methodology to develop polymorphic mi-
crosatellite loci in Bouteloua eripoda (Poaceae) and the genus Lepidium (Brassicaceae).”
Jessica Moore, “Thermodynamic Parameters Governing Eu (III) Binding to Datura innoxia
Plant Tissue Materials.”
Tammy Romero, “Design of Dengue Virus Vaccines: Analysis of the Impact of Deletions in
the 3’ Untranslated Region on RNA Secondary Structure.”
Mark Seger, “Manipulation of Sucrose Phosphate Synthase in Medicago sativa (Alfalfa);
Enhancing our understanding of carbon metabolism and its influence on nitrogen metabo-
lism in the root nodule.”
Aerial Singleton, “The Production of Succinate in the Brain After 12 Min of Global Cerebral
Ischemia
in Female Sprague Dawley Rats.”
Fernando Solorzano, “The role of glutamine synthetase in mobilizing nitrogen during leaf
senescence.”
Lee Uranga, “Biochemical Characterization of the E. coli DinD protein.”
RISE UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARS PRESENT AT URCAS:
Karla B. Almaraz, "Comparison of Gene Delivery Methods in Cultured Cells"
Zena Archie, "Addition of Several Supplements to Modify a Selective Plating Medium for
Isolation of Helicobacter pylori from Municipal Water or Sewage Water."
Renee Benallie, "Effects of Hypoxia on Wnt-Chemokine Interactions During Melanoma
Metastasis."
Alexandru Boje, "3D Reconstruction of Xenopus laevis Organs from Optical Coherence
Tomography Scans."
Raymundo Chavira, "Comparative analysis of leaves and seeds for tropane alkaloids in
Datura innoxia."
Lekeah Durden, "Does the endophytic fungus, Undifilum, protect locoweeds from various
fungal pathogens?"

5. Desert SunRI SE Volume 1, Issue 3 Page 5
Jon Matthew George, "Synthesis of Methoxy-S-Trityl-L-Cysteine Derivatives."
Sarah R. Gonzales, "Synthetic Azole Nucleosides as Potential Antiviral Drugs."
Jessica Gutierrez, "Population genetic survey of the bacterial symbiont Vibrio
fischeri from natural host squid populations of Euprymna tasmanica (Mollusca:
Cephalopoda)."
Jesus Martinez, "The identification of metabolic markers in transgenic plants by the
application of metabolite profiling."
Amanda R. Muñoz, "Detection of Mannose Binding Lectin (MBL) Molecule
in Euprymna scolopes (Hawaiian bobtail Squid)."
Thurman Redhouse Jr., "Antimicrobial Activity in the Important Medicinal Plant
Group Datura."
Marie Romero, "Genetic Detection of Single Nucleotide Polymorphism within Tran-
scription Factor Genes for Iron Deficiency Chlorosis."
Michael Sandoval, "Mutation Anaylsis of Grb7 and Grb14 Binding Specificity."
Jacquelyn Stanton, "Global Cerebral Ischemia and Anaerobic Brain Metabolism in
Rats."
Carla Trujillo, "Global Cerebral Ischemia and Anaerobic Brain Metabolism in Rats."
Natasha Yazzie, "Structural Study of Human Siderocalin and Iron bound Siderophore,
Vibriobactin."
RISE Hosts Writing and Critical Thinking Workshop for Undergrads:
This spring, RISE hosted a undergraduate students Zena feel like it’s been a great Asked about the work-
semester long writing and Archie, Karla Almarez, success. Students have shop, instructor Micah
critical thinking workshop Renee Benallie, Alex Boje, consistently participated Donohue says:
which focused on improv- Raymundo Chavira, Keah and the energy level has
ing student performance in Durden, Jon George, Jesus been high. I know it isn’t “I feel like it’s been a great
three key areas: 1) drafting Martinez, Amanda Munoz, easy or terribly exciting to success….The students’
successful personal state- Thurman Redhouse, Marie give up one night every
willingness to work and their
ments for graduate school Romero, and Carla Trujillo. week to study grammar or
application and fellowship Students met weekly on work on writing, but the good attitude has made this
purposes, 2) mastering the Thursday night and partici- students’ willingness to a tremendously rewarding
skills necessary to craft pated in in-class activities work and their good atti- experience.”
concise and high-scoring that included discussions of a tude has made this a great
essays on the writing por- variety of critical texts experience.” Students
tion of the GRE, and 3) (ranging from short stories to from this workshop will be
acquiring proficiency in philosophical essays to ex- continue on into summer
summarizing student re- cerpts from style manuals), writing workshops: an ap-
search both for audiences writing exercises, and gram- plication workshop for sen-
within and outside of their mar worksheets. Asked iors, and a GRE prep class
discipline. The workshop about the workshop, instruc- for non graduating stu-
was attended regularly by tor Micah Donohue says: “I dents. Lekeah Durden, a student in the writ-
ing workshop, smiles for the camera.

6. Desert SunRI SE Volume 1, Issue 3 Page 6
RISE Congratulates Spring 2009 graduates:
New Mexico State University
Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement -
Rise to Excellence Program
Proudly recognizes the following graduating Scholars:
Iliana Ruiz-Cooley ( with Dr. Milligan )
Rocio Iliana Ruiz-Cooley, Doctor of Philosophy, Biology
Gilbert Montano, Doctor of Philosophy, Biology
Ismael Nieto, Doctor of Philosophy, Chemistry

Charlene Carr, Bachelor of Science, Agriculture
Sarah Gonzalez, Bachelor of Science, Biochemistry
Jessica Gutierrez, Bachelor of Science, Biology
Gilbert Montano ( with Dr. Schuster )
Alexander Louie, Bachelor of Science, Biochemistry
Michael Sandoval, Bachelor of Science, Biology
Jacquelyn Stanton, Bachelor of Science, Biology
Natasha Yazzie, Bachelor of Science, Biology
Ismael Nieto ( with Dr. Serrano )
From Right to Left: Seniors Sarah Gonzalez, Alex Louie, Michael Sandoval,
Natasha Yazzie
and Jacquelyn Stanton

7. Desert SunRI SE Volume 1, Issue 3 Page 7
RISE on the Web! RISE Program Staff
http://biology-web.nmsu.edu/nmsurise/index.html Cathilia Flores, Program Coordinator
Linda Amezquita, Records Specialist
M. Donohue, SunRISE Editor, Professional Skills Facilitator
A. Tarazoff, RISE Professional Skills Facilitator
RISE Student Advisory Committee
Jesus Cuaron, RISE Graduate Representative
Yvonne Diaz, RISE Undergraduate Representative
Amanda Munoz, RISE Undergraduate Representative
Emigdio Reyes, RISE Graduate Representative
The SunRISE is a tri-annual (summer, fall, spring)
publication dedicated to showcasing RISE staff,
undergraduate and graduate scholars, and
mentors.
RISE Spotlights Micah Donohue, SunRISE Editor
and RISE Professional Skills Facilitator
for the GRE. About the cross- Machiavelli, and postmod- On Reading & Writing:
curriculum and reading inten- ern philosophy by Roland
sive nature of the workshop, Barthes. During his time at “ I ’ m sure this is at least
Micah says: “I’m sure this is RISE, Micah has edited the
at least partly due to my SunRISE, taught work- partly due to my background
background in literature, but shops, and worked indi-
in literature ” says Micah,
Micah Donohue is a RISE I’ve always felt that no one vidually with undergraduate
workshop facilitator and becomes a good writer with- and graduate students. He “ b ut I ’ ve always felt that no
has an M.A. in English Lit- out first having been a vora- is the recipient of the
cious reader—and one that NMSU English Depart- one becomes a good writer
erature. This spring, Mi-
cah’s workshop for RISE doesn’t confine him or herself ment’s LOLA Reed Dasen- without having first been a
undergraduates will focus to a specific niche or genre brock Award for Critical
but who reads as expansively Writing, and an article of voracious reader—and one
on increasing proficiency in
a variety of writing formats, as possible.” Readings for his about Thomas More’s who hasn ’ t confined him or
critical analysis of complex the spring include short sto- Utopia was recently pub-
ries by James Joyce and lished by the Renaissance herself to a specific niche or
literary and philosophical
Jean Rhys, excerpts from journal Appositions.
texts, and test-taking skills genre... ”

8. ENHANCEMENT NMSU RISE TO EXCELLENCE (NIH NIGMS GRANT #R25GM061222)
MINORITY BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH SUPPORT—RESEARCH INTITIAVE FOR SCIENTIFIC
Minority Biomedical Research Support
Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement (MBRS-RISE)
New Mexico State University MBRS-RISE Program, PO Box 30001
MSC 3AF , Las Cruces, NM 88003-8001
Phone: 575-646-8040 | 575-646-7011
Email: mbrsrise@nmsu.edu