CLEVELAND, Miss. — Delta State University has been awarded a prestigious Mississippi-IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (MS-INBRE) Research Initiation Grant to fund an innovative project that blends cutting-edge computational chemistry with hands-on undergraduate research and education.
The project, titled A Computational Approach to Elucidating Functional Dynamics in Enzyme Catalysis, is led by Dr. Christopher T. Jurgenson, Sullivan-Outlaw Professor of Biochemistry at Delta State. The initiative will utilize Aiddison – an AI-driven small-molecule and protein docking platform developed by MilliporeSigma – to investigate the catalytic mechanisms of two biologically and environmentally significant enzymes: tetraberberine oxidase (TBO), which is critical to the biosynthesis of the medically important alkaloid berberine, and PETase, an enzyme known for its ability to degrade plastic pollutants.
A key feature of the project is the integration of advanced molecular docking simulations directly into the undergraduate curriculum and research program. This approach will provide Delta State students with practical experience using industry-standard computational tools typically available only at large research-intensive institutions.
“This grant allows us to give Delta State students access to tools normally found only at large research universities,” said Dr. Jurgenson. “It provides a unique opportunity for students to explore real-world biochemical problems, gain research experience, and present their work at regional and national conferences – experiences that can be transformative for their careers in science, medicine, and industry.”
The funded activities will support student honors theses, enhance the university’s computational research infrastructure, and promote experiential learning in STEM fields. By bridging computational biochemistry with undergraduate training, the project aims to prepare the next generation of scientists to address complex challenges in human health and environmental sustainability.
This research is supported by the Mississippi INBRE, which is funded by an Institutional Development Award (IDeA) from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health and is 100% funded through federal dollars.
The Mississippi-INBRE program, funded by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health, seeks to build biomedical research capacity across the state and enhance research opportunities for undergraduate students, particularly at primarily undergraduate institutions.
For more information about undergraduate research opportunities in the Division of Math and Sciences at DSU, visit www.deltastate.edu/nursing-health-sciences/mathematics-sciences/.
