Biochemistry Major Received Drinko Research Grant

Westminster College's Drinko Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning recently awarded an Undergraduate Research Grant to sophomore biochemistry major Katherine Farley.

Farley's research, "Cloning of Brettanomyces Vinylphenol Reductase Gene into a Protein Expression Vector," is conducted under the supervision of Dr. Sarah Kennedy, Westminster assistant professor of chemistry.

Brettanomyces bruxellensis is a yeast that can grow in old wooden barrels used for maturing wine. The yeast contains an enzyme that can cause undesirable odors in the wine. The initial work is focused on using ligation independent cloning, a recently developed procedure never performed at Westminster, to produce the recombinant gene for the enzyme. Understanding this will lead to developing potential inhibitors to prevent the yeast contamination.

"It is amazing to be able to conduct meaningful research on a modern topic as an undergraduate student," Farley said. "This research has the potential to impact winemakers and researchers, helping them to understand and possibly improve upon current winemaking practices. I am truly blessed to have received this grant and to be able to conduct research on an interesting and important topic."

"Vinylphenol reductase [the enzyme] has never been produced through recombinant methods, nor has the structure been determined," Kennedy said. "This project is truly novel and has the potential to impact the wine industry and provide fundamental knowledge about this enzyme's function. The greatest impact, though, will be for the undergraduates who work on the project and develop their research skills. Katie has made great progress on this work and is deserving of this research grant."

Farley is a daughter of Robert Farley, Bangor, and Stephanie Farley, Belvidere, N.J. She is a graduate of Bangor Area High School.

Kennedy, a 2002 Westminster graduate who joined the faculty in 2009, earned a Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Contact Kennedy at (724) 946-7294 or e-mail kennedsa@westminster.edu for additional information about the research.

The Drinko Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning was created to enrich undergraduate education at Westminster through advancing world-class teaching as well as by participating in collaborations that address community and regional needs including strengthening K-12 education. The Undergraduate Research Initiative provides funding for students to conduct research and to present their research at regional and national conferences.

Contact Dr. Patrick Krantz, Westminster associate professor of education and director of the Drinko Center, at (724) 946-7181 (e-mail krantzpd@westminster.edu) or visit www.westminster.edu/drinko for additional information about the Drinko Center.