Kennesaw State Professor Earns Renewal Of NSF Grant For DNA Research

Press release from Kennesaw State University:

Jul 2, 2021

Kennesaw State professor earns renewal of NSF grant for DNA research

Michael Van Dyke

KENNESAW, Ga.
(Jul 2, 2021) — Kennesaw State University associate professor of biochemistry Michael Van Dyke has received a renewal of a grant from the National Science Foundation
worth more than $300,000 over three years. This grant also includes funding to engage
undergraduate researchers in the process.

Van Dyke’s research focuses on advancing understanding of genetic functions and specific
proteins called transcription factors, which can promote or suppress specific genes
throughout the life of cells and organisms. This ability to turn certain gene expressions
on or off can lead to new medical treatments or agricultural techniques, for example.

“Identifying these proteins will provide crucial insights into the biological roles
of these proteins and the pathways they regulate,” Van Dyke said. “However, much of
the scientific community is more interested in our methods for studying protein-DNA
interactions because these studies have applications beyond the lab, particularly
genetic engineering, agriculture and medicine.”

The researchers rely on a certain type of bacteria that occurs in extremely warm environments
and houses the protein-DNA interactions that make the research possible. Van Dyke
also touted the bacteria’s durability and prevalence, meaning that an undergraduate
researcher of any scientific background can conduct experiments in the laboratory
with pipettes and test tubes, observing hundreds of thousands of genetic processes
in limited sampling under a controlled environment.

“This is a great experience for undergraduates to engage in the research process and
learn the techniques and skills involved in science, and I welcome the opportunity
to show students that pathway,” Van Dyke said.

He is committed to undergraduate research through his lab, as numerous students co-authored
papers and presented studies at chemistry-related conferences with Van Dyke under
the previous iteration of the grant.

“It’s a tribute to the undergraduate researchers who have worked in this lab,” Van
Dyke said. “These early research experiences have given my students a leg up in the
competitive market on their careers in scientific research, higher education and industry.”

Van Dyke has been at Kennesaw State since 2013. After earning his Ph.D. at the California
Institute of Technology, he spent 21 years as a researcher at the M.D. Anderson Cancer
Center in Houston, Texas, before entering academia.

He received the initial funding from the NSF in 2017, which ended June 30. The renewal
took effect July 1 and will run through June 30, 2024.

– Dave Shelles

Photos by Jason Getz

Related Stories

• Engineering professor awarded National Science Foundation CAREER grant

• Kennesaw State helping children enhance their literacy skills

• Researcher looking at Russian economic expansion in the Arctic

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers close to 200 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 41,000 students. With 11 colleges on two metro Atlanta campuses, Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia and the second-largest university in the state. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the region and from 126 countries across the globe. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 6 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.

This press release was produced by Kennesaw State University. The views expressed here are the author’s own.