Native American Research Lab - Biological Sciences

NARL Personnel

Name: Michael Ceballos (Tepehuan) Position: Research Assistant Professor Field: Integrative Microbiology and Biochemistry Interests: The general focus of my research is characterizing protein-protein and protein-nucleic acid interactions in virus-host systems.  Two systems of particular interest are the: (1) Feline Immunodeficiency Virus Reverse Transcriptase; and, (2) Sulfolobus Spindle Virus proteins.  Currently, there are several research projects underway in the NARL related to each of these systems.  In addition to studying host protein-viral protein interactions, I am also interested in how chaperonin proteins from extremophile organisms may be assembled into arrays and used as binding platforms in cellulolytic ethanol production. [For more information about projects, click the Research link on the NARL home page]. E-mail: rmichael.ceballos@umontana.edu

Name: Jessica Gilbert Position: Lab Manager

Graduate Student Researchers

Name: Meredith Berthelson (Blackfeet)

Name: Harold Kihega (Comanche)

Name: Ruth Shortbull (Hidatsa/Mandan) – summer 2008

Name: Shandin Pete (Navajo/Salish) - summer 2008

Name: Margie Kinnersley

Undergraduate Researcher Assistants

Name: Bonggoch Tangjaipak (Thai)

Name: Jackson Chief Elk (Assiniboine) Position: Undergraduate Research Assistant Field: Chemistry (Biochemistry option) Interests: I am interested in biochemistry.  In particularly, how natural biochemical processes may be used to promote sustainable energy use.

Name: Nicole Jefferson (Crow) Position: Undergraduate Research Assistant Field: Mathematics and Biology Interests: My interests include applying mathematics to modeling biological systems including but not limited to host-parasite interactions.

Name: Patryce  Caye (Kootenai) Position: Undergraduate Research Assistant Field: Ecology and Organismal Biology Interests: Currently, I am investigating structure-function relationships in viral proteins from the Feline Immunodeficiency virus.  I am interested in using differences/changes in protein structure and function as a means to study virus evolution.

Name: Kayleigh Blair Position: Undergraduate Research Assistant Field: Biology Interests: I study hyperthermoacidophiles with the goal of understanding how changes in habitat (physical and chemical) result in adaptation in extreme environments.

Other Personnel/Affiliates

Name: Caleb Marceau (Salish) Position: Undergraduate Intern (Portland State University) Field: Biology Interests: My interests include molecular biology, cellular biology, and biochemistry.  I work with the NARL on breaks and during the summer as an intern studying heat-shock proteins from Sulfolobus species.  I will finish my bachelor’s degree at Portland State University in the Spring of 2009 and will enter a graduate program in Montana during the fall of 2010 where I hope to continue my work with the NARL.

Name: Joshua Marceau (Salish) – Penn State University

Name: Josh Golden (Chippewa/Cree) – Montana State University

Affiliated Faculty

• Ken Stedman (prof Portland State Univ)
• Martin Lawrence (prof MSU)
• Jonathan Trent (NASA Ames Research Center)
• Bill Holben (UM)
• Dr. Bill Holben, University of Montana
• Dr. J.B. Alexander “Sandy” Ross, University of Montana
• Dr. Jesse Johnson, University of Montana
• Dr. Sergio Morales, University of Montana
• Dr. C. Martin Lawrence, Montana State University
• Dr. Mary Cloninger, Montana State University
• Dr. Steve Holgrem, Montana State University
• Dr. Kenneth Stedman, Portland State University
• Dr. Jonathan Trent, NASA Ames Research Center
• Dr. Chad Paavola, NASA Ames Research Center
• Dr. Jingdong Mao, Old Dominion University
• Dr. David Close (Cayuse), The University of British Columbia (Canada)
• Dr. Nils Birkeland, The University of Bergen (Norway)
• Dr. Bjorne Kvamme, The University of Bergen (Norway)
• Dr. Bjarne Lanfald, The University of Tromso (Norway)