iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

MSU MGI @msumgi.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

MGI Professor Dohun Pyeon was formally recognized as an MSU Research Foundation Distinguished Professor at the faculty investiture ceremony this week. The honor recognizes Dohun’s research, including his work on HPV and HPV-associated cancers. Congratulations, Dohun!

MGI Professor Dohun Pyeon stands onstage during Michigan State University’s faculty investiture ceremony as university officials prepare to present him with a medallion. Faculty members in academic regalia are seated onstage behind him.

Two Michigan State University officials place a medallion around Dohun Pyeon’s neck during the faculty investiture ceremony.

Dohun Pyeon, center, smiles for a photo with two Michigan State University officials after receiving his medallion recognizing him as an MSU Research Foundation Distinguished Professor.

100

MSU MGI @msumgi.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

MGI Assoc. Prof. Emeritus Scott Mulrooney returned to Can Tho University in Vietnam, continuing a decades-long partnership with MSU. During his visit, he taught microbiology, gave a keynote at an international biotechnology workshop, and celebrated with students at commencement.

MGI Associate Professor Emeritus Scott Mulrooney stands at the front of a classroom at Can Tho University in Vietnam, teaching students seated at rows of desks.

Scott Mulrooney speaks at a podium during the International Workshop on Innovations in Biotechnology at Can Tho University. A projected slide beside him reads “Microbial Technology: Current Needs and Future Perspectives.”

Scott Mulrooney, wearing red and gold academic regalia, speaks at a flower-covered podium during commencement at Can Tho University in Vietnam. A woman in a floral áo dài stands beside him at a second microphone.

Scott Mulrooney, wearing red and gold academic regalia, stands onstage with Can Tho University graduates in black and red gowns holding their certificates.

121

MSU MGI @msumgi.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

🔬 Student Spotlight: Danielle Gregory Danielle is MGI graduate student working in the Manning / Dodd Lab who studies cephalosporin-resistant bacteria recovered from Michigan dairy cattle.

Danielle Gregory, wearing a white lab coat, safety glasses, and purple gloves, examines a culture plate while working inside a biosafety cabinet. Her reflection is visible in the cabinet glass.

240

MSU MGI @msumgi.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

MGI Professor Ned Walker recently traveled to Casablanca, Morocco, to serve on Strategic Advisory Groups for two NIH-funded International Centers of Excellence for Malaria Research projects. The collaborations connect malaria researchers in the U.S., Burkina Faso, and Mali.

010

MSU MGI @msumgi.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

MGI researchers from the DiRita lab discovered that a molecule called indole can inhibit the growth of Campylobacter jejuni, a leading cause of food poisoning worldwide. Read more here: natsci.msu.edu/news/2026/20...

Scanning electron microscope image showing elongated bacterial cells clustered across a textured surface.

Portrait of a smiling Vic DiRita wearing a gray blazer over a plaid shirt, standing in a bright building hallway.

Portrait of a smiling Ritam Sinha with dark hair, a short beard, and glasses, wearing a white lab coat in a laboratory.

130

MSU MGI @msumgi.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

A summer conference highlight from the Crosson Lab! Rosemary Northcote and Emily Perez presented their research at the Microbial Stress Response Gordon Research Conference. Emily also gave a talk, and Rosemary earned a poster award!

120

MSU MGI @msumgi.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

It’s #InternationalMicroorganismDay! 🦠 At MGI, microorganisms are at the center of some very big research questions, from how pathogens survive inside their hosts to how they evade immune defenses and resist antibiotics. Meet a few of the Microbes of MGI ⬇️

110

MSU MGI @msumgi.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Next up in our Micro Biography series is Grace Semaan, an MGI graduate student in Jim Moran's lab. Read more about Grace and her research here: tinyurl.com/3zcc6225

Portrait of MGI graduate student Grace Semaan smiling outdoors. She has long, dark curly hair and is wearing a blue top. The graphic includes her quote: “I study cyanobacteria isolated from harmful algal blooms across the Great Lakes to understand how different factors like population dynamics, nutrient availability, and temperature impact bloom occurrence.” A QR code links to more information about Grace.

021

MSU MGI @msumgi.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

New work from MGI University Distinguished Professor Robert Hausinger and Kelly Kim’s group in MSU’s Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology has revealed the first cryo-EM structures of full-length LarC. 🧵

Portrait of Robert Hausinger, University Distinguished Professor in MSU’s Department of Microbiology, Genetics, & Immunology. Hausinger, wearing glasses and a light green button-down shirt, smiles at the camera in a bright indoor setting.

240

MSU MGI @msumgi.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

The human body fights staph infections by starving it of essential nutrients. In a new MSU study, researchers led by MGI's Neal Hammer found that Staphylococcus aureus can adjust its diet depending on what sources remain available. Read more: natsci.msu.edu/news/2026/20...

Neal Hammer, a professor in MSU’s Department of Microbiology, Genetics, and Immunology, smiles at the camera while standing in a bright hallway with large windows.

Colorized scanning electron microscope image of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. The round bacterial cells appear in dense, grape-like clusters against a blue background.

130

MSU MGI @msumgi.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

1/4 🔬 Student Spotlight: Bryttan Adams Bryttan is a doctoral student in the Pyeon Lab studying head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, or HNSCC, the seventh most common cancer worldwide. Rates of head and neck cancers linked to human papillomavirus, or HPV, are increasing.

Bryttan Adams smiles while working at a laboratory bench in a white lab coat and blue gloves. She holds a pipette over a multiwell plate, with tubes, pipette tips and other laboratory supplies arranged on the bench in front of her.

100

MSU MGI @msumgi.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Recent MGI PhD graduate Jasper Gomez's dissertation research was published in Nature Microbiology, and now it's been featured on "This Week in Virology." Congratulations, Jasper! Check out the link below to hear more - starting at 9:10. tinyurl.com/yusz6ypn

Jasper Gomez smiles at the camera. He is wearing a coral-colored shirt with purple octopuses on it.

120

MSU MGI @msumgi.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Student Spotlight: Meet MGI doctoral student Heather Murdoch. In Rob Abramovitch’s lab, Heather studies how Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium that causes tuberculosis, adjusts its growth depending on the carbon sources available to it during infection.

Heather Murdoch smiles at the camera while seated at a hood in the Abramovitch lab. She wears glasses, a white lab coat and gloves.

Heather Murdoch uses a pipette while working inside a hood. Her reflection is visible in the cabinet glass as she works with a small sample tube.

210

MSU MGI @msumgi.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

1/3 How do you teach graduate students to use complex analytical instrumentation? You let them use it. In MGI 991: Metals in Biology, students work hands-on with the advanced elemental analysis and imaging tools in MSU’s QBEAM facility. 🧵

Keith MacRenaris works alongside graduate students as they operate analytical instrumentation during MGI 991: Metals in Biology.

110

MSU MGI @msumgi.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

MGI graduate student Maria Guzman took her research to #ASMMicrobe 2026 in Washington, D.C., this summer! 🦠 Maria shared her work with the microbiology community through both a talk and a poster at the American Society for Microbiology's annual meeting.

Maria Guzman of Michigan State University's Department of Microbiology, Genetics, & Immunology speaks during a presentation at ASM Microbe 2026 in Washington, D.C.

220

MSU MGI @msumgi.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Congratulations to MGI DO/PhD student Mehdi Abed, who welcomed the MSU COM Class of 2030 at this week’s White Coat Ceremony! As Student Association President, Mehdi shared a message of collaboration, humility and community. Way to represent MGI, Mehdi! 💚

MGI DO/PhD student Mehdi Abed speaks during the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine White Coat Ceremony welcoming the Class of 2030.

101

MSU MGI @msumgi.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Congratulations to MGI Ph.D. candidate Maddy Quinlan, who received an @asm.org award for her poster presentation at the 2026 Molecular Genetics of Bacteria and Phages Meeting in Madison! 🎉🦠 We love seeing our students & their research recognized by the microbiology community. Well done, Maddy!

MGI Ph.D. candidate Maddy Quinlan smiles beside her research poster at the 2026 Molecular Genetics of Bacteria and Phages Meeting in Madison, Wisconsin.

120

MSU MGI @msumgi.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

MGI grad student Aram Khoshnaw has been appointed to a position in the Integrative Pharmacology Science Training Program, supported by the IPSTP T32. These positions are highly competitive and selective and will provide a full year of support. Read more: tinyurl.com/bdzdtfkc

Aram Khoshnaw poses for a picture. He is standing in front of windows.

211

MSU MGI @msumgi.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

Congratulations to MGI Prof. Andrea Amalfitano on being featured in the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine's 2026 College of Osteopathic Medicine Research Report. The story highlights his work advancing gene and immune-based therapies for rare diseases. tinyurl.com/mrxbnswz

tinyurl.com

Genes as Medicine: Advancing a New Era of Osteopathic Innovation

000

MSU MGI @msumgi.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

Exciting new research from the Reguera Lab! Turns out that small changes in the environment make a big difference in the Geobacter cell envelope! Read more below!

011

MSU MGI @msumgi.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Next up in our Micro Biography series, meet Bryce Waller - an MGI grad student in the Bonito Lab working on developing sustainable materials using fungi. Learn more about him and his research here: tinyurl.com/52rack9b

Bryce Waller stands and smiles at the camera. He is standing in front of an extremely colorful painting.

000

MSU MGI @msumgi.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Five students participated in this year's Summer Research Opportunity Program, also known as SROP. They worked in labs, conducted research, and then ended the summer by giving presentations and posters. Thank you to our MGI mentors for making it possible!

000

MSU MGI @msumgi.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

Congratulations to MGI doctoral student Ira Zibbu @coolscootre.bsky.social, who received a Graduate Student Excellence Award at the Society for Molecular Biology & Evolution meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark! @official-smbe.bsky.social

Ira Zibbu stands on a stage and gives a talk to a full and attentive crowd. She is wearing a mic, and the scene looks like a TED talk with a dark curtain behind lit up with blue lights. There is a large bouquet of flowers off to the right side, and there is a table with water bottles as well.

This is a dark green rectangle with a small picture of Ira Zibbu and her name with a quote reading, "Presenting at my first conference as a PhD student and meeting researchers from across the world made it a particularly special experience."

151

MSU MGI @msumgi.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

MGI grad student Kendall Mara recently attended the 26th Biennial Congress of the International Organization for Mycoplasmology in Krakow, Poland, where she presented research from her thesis & work from MSU's VDL. Congrats on representing MGI on the international stage!

MGI grad student Kendall Mara stands next to the sign with the name of the IOM 2026 Krakow conference and the supporters. She is pointing up the sign and smiling.

MGI grad student Kendall Mara stands next to her research poster. She is smiling and wearing the name tag from the conference.

000

MSU MGI @msumgi.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

Meet Sophia Liberto, an MGI graduate student working in the Hulin Lab. 🍒🔬 Sophia studies bacterial pathogens that cause canker disease in stone fruit crops, such as cherries. @msunatsci.bsky.social @plantdisease.bsky.social

Sophia Liberto samples cherries from a tree in northern Michigan.

210

MSU MGI @msumgi.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

Congratulations to MGI graduate student Bobby Zuniga who has received a Ruth L. Kirschstein NIH fellowship! Zuniga conducts his research in the lab of Qing-Sheng Mi at @henryfordhealth.bsky.social, where he studies how the immune system develops and responds to disease.

Bobby Zuniga smiles at the camera. He is in a lab and wearing a lab coat that reads "Immunology Program."

110

MSU MGI @msumgi.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

MGI Prof. Chris Adami will be one of the speakers at this year's Megacampus Summit in Dubai on Nov. 18-21. He will join speakers such as filmmaker James Cameron and chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen at the event, which draws 10,000 people! summit.megacampus.com/dubai26/

Chris Adami stands in a dark gray room leaning against the wall and smiling at the camera. He is wearing a dark gray jacket which almost matches the walls, and his head is in spotlight.

011

MSU MGI @msumgi.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

New research led by MGI Asst. Prof. Yu Zhang shows how immune cells create millions of antibodies from one genome: DNA loops bring distant gene segments together. The study reveals how two proteins shape this process and may shed light on diseases like leukemia & lymphoma.

MGI Assistant Professor Yu Zhang sits for a formal photo. She is smiling at the camera.

110

MSU MGI @msumgi.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

Congratulations to MGI Hannah Distinguished Professor Rich Lenski on his new book, "A Primer for Experimental Evolution!"

151

MSU MGI @msumgi.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

MGI Prof & Assoc Chair Kefei Yu collaborated with Jens Schmidt and Mariia Mikhova on a new paper out in Molecular Cell today. The work examines how immune cells control which antibody type they express to fight infectious diseases. Learn more below & read the news article here: tinyurl.com/5n75znjz

tinyurl.com

MSU researchers detail molecular mechanisms driving adaptive immune response | College Of Human Medicine

MSU researchers developed a tool to observe complex molecular choreography in real time. Their work is shedding light on one of the enduring mysteries of the process: how a key protein locates the cor...

010

MSU MGI @msumgi.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

MGI's Dr. Ned Walker did an interview with the morning news yesterday about this summer's mosquito outlook. Thank you for sharing your expertise with the community!

A screenshot from a video interview that Dr. Ned Walker did with News 10. The title reads "Mosquito populations remain low in Mid-Michigan, but precautions still encouraged." Below that is a video still of Dr. Walker in his office, and there is a banner across the screen reading "Health Alert, Edward Walker, Michigan State University Entomology."

100

MSU MGI @msumgi.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

Next up in our Micro Biography series is Dr. Ned Walker, a University Distinguished Professor in MGI and Entomology who studies mosquito and tick-borne diseases. Read about his journey and research here: tinyurl.com/mrxthcxx

A picture of Dr. Ned Walker with a quote from the article reading "As I enter my final year at Michigan State University and prepare for retirement after 30 years, I look back with deep appreciation for the colleagues, students, and staff who made this work possible. Dr. Ned Walker, University Distinguished Professor." There is also a QR with a label that says "Read More" with an arrow pointing to the QR code.

001

MSU MGI @msumgi.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

Former MSU president Teresa Woodruff has launched a new website and podcast focused on reproductive science and human health. We love to see members of the MSU community continuing to make science accessible and engaging for broader audiences. Check it out at repro101.com.

021

MSU MGI @msumgi.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

Congratulations to Dohun Pyeon, PhD @dpyeon.bsky.social, on being named an MSU Research Foundation Distinguished Professor! Pyeon recently led a team that discovered how HPV-positive tumors evade the immune system, a breakthrough that could help advance more effective cancer treatments.

A picture of Dohun Pyeon smiling with text over top reading "Dohun Pyeon named MSU Research Foundation Professor."

000

MSU MGI @msumgi.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

Congratulations to MGI graduate student Danielle Gregory of the Manning/Dodd Lab for receiving the Sustainable Development Goals Poster Award at the ASM Microbe conference this past week! Great work!

Danielle Gregory stands next to her scientific poster holding her award certificate. She is smiling.

110

MSU MGI @msumgi.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

Congratulations to MGI graduate students Kevin Santiago-Morales and Jessica Lysne who were awarded Dissertation Fellowships from the College of Natural Science and the Graduate School! 👏 Read more here: tinyurl.com/4cps8jza

011

MSU MGI @msumgi.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

MGI graduate student Soledad Soverina has been awarded the prestigious Barnett Rosenberg Endowed Research Assistantship! Her research focuses on immune responses in the lungs to M. abscessus, a bacterium that can cause serious respiratory infections. Read more: tinyurl.com/4mxc5d4j

Soledad Soverina smiles at the camera. She is standing in a garden.

110

MSU MGI @msumgi.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

Congratulations to MGI MSU Foundation Distinguished Professor Dohun Pyeon on his induction into the AAAS! Dr. Pyeon was recognized for his research into HPV-associated cancers. Read more here: tinyurl.com/yc3x65yz @dpyeon.bsky.social

Dr. Dohun Pyeon stands in front of a backdrop reading "AAAS Fellows."

A green rectangle with the following quote from Dr. Pyeon, " Deeply honored to be inducted as an AAAS Fellow — one of the most meaningful recognitions in my scientific career.

000

MSU MGI @msumgi.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

MGI Professor @chrisadami.bsky.social will be speaking at the virtual Ellison Insights Forum at 10 am on June 12th. The theme of the event is how AI could accelerate cancer drug discovery and treatment. To hear his talk, you can register for free at emila.org/insights.

A flyer with Dr. Adami's picture advertising his talk at the Ellison Insights Forum.

020

MSU MGI @msumgi.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

Congratulations to MGI grad student Emma Bush, a recipient of the inaugural @msunatsci.bsky.social SMART Fellowship! Emma uses next-gen sequencing to explore how chromatin structure shapes antibody gene recombination in B cells—work that is essential to understanding adaptive immunity.

Emma Bush smiles at the camera. She is standing outdoors.

100

MSU MGI @msumgi.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

Three graduate students working in MGI labs have been awarded prestigious NSF Graduate Research Fellowships which will provide three years of support to these outstanding young researchers. Read more about Elena Renshaw, Alice Walker, and Bryce Waller: tinyurl.com/4v5cc5fs

This is a dark green poster with pictures of the three NSF GRFP awardees in frames that look like polaroid images.

000

MSU MGI @msumgi.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

Grace Semaan, an MGI graduate student working in Dr. Jim Moran's lab, has won the Alpha Lambda Delta Maria Leonard Graduate Fellowship. This $7000 award will support her graduate studies & professional development.

Grace Semaan works smiles at the camera. She is in a lab and is holding samples and wearing a lab coat.

121

MSU MGI @msumgi.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

Congratulations to two members of the Olive Lab on winning major awards at the MSUCOM Research Day Conference. Mahima Thapa won 2nd place oral presentation, and Michael Wischer won 2nd place poster presentation out of 182 presentations at the conference!

Mahima Thapa stands with members of the MSU COM faculty as she receives her award for her oral presentation.

Michael Wischer and Brian Schutte shake hands as Michael accepts his award for his poster presentation.

000

MSU MGI @msumgi.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

A new 'Microbial Profile' from from the Quinn Lab explores D. trenchii, algae with powerful, heat-resistant properties that are key to understanding how coral reefs adapt to warming waters. 🪸 🐠

An illustrated image showing the corals with the symbiotic algae in three different temperatures.

220

MSU MGI @msumgi.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

Last week, we came together to celebrate the remarkable career of Dr. Bob Hausinger at his Valedictory Seminar and reception. It was a pleasure to welcome former lab members and colleagues from across the decades to honor his lasting impact on the field of Metalloenzymology.

Dr. Scott Mulrooney emcees the event. Behind him on the screen is the seminar flyer. Dr. Hausinger is sitting in the front row, and the back of his head is visible.

Dr. Deb Hogan, one of Dr. Hausinger's trainees, speaks before his seminar.

Dr. Bob Hausinger delivers his seminar to a packed auditorium.

Dr. Bob Hausinger stands with former lab members after delivering his seminar.

010

MSU MGI @msumgi.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

Congratulations are in order! Jared Godfrey was recently awarded a 3-year Kirschstein fellowship from the NIH. His research focuses on understanding how the immune system balances protection and inflammation in the lungs. Read more here: tinyurl.com/5yp7kxst

Jared Godfrey smiles at the camera. He's in a lab and is wearing his lab coat.

000

MSU MGI @msumgi.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

MGI Asst Prof Elizabeth Heath-Heckman has won TWO Scialog awards from the RCSA. Her projects are entitled "Conserved Epitranscriptomic Signatures of Stress" and "Identifying Mechanisms of Social Resiliency to Heat Stress." Congratulations!

010

MSU MGI @msumgi.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

MGI Asst Prof Phillip Delekta spoke about the impact of prerequisite knowledge retention on success in Introductory Microbiology at last week's MSU Spring TALKS event. This is a topic he is studying in collaboration with Katie Krueger of the Biological Science Program.

000

MSU MGI @msumgi.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

Congratulations to MGI's HR Director, Christine VanDeuren, who is celebrating a career milestones of 30 years at MSU! We are fortunate to have such a dedicated and knowledgeable member in our department.

Christine VanDeuren stands next to Sparty at the MSU celebration recognizing her 30 years of employment at MSU.

000

MSU MGI @msumgi.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

Congratulations to MGI graduate student Danielle Gregory on winning the third place poster award in the Career Pathways section of the Association of Public Health Laboratories @aphl.org annual meeting.

Danielle Gregory stands on stage receiving her third place poster award at the APHL annual meeting.

031