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Radford junior details research on enzyme tied to chemotherapy intestinal damage
Summary
At the June 6 Radford University Board of Visitors meeting, chemistry junior Joshua Zarpinski presented summer undergraduate research on bacterial beta‑glucuronidase and discussed how faculty mentorship and SURF support undergraduate career development.
Joshua Zarpinski, a junior majoring in chemistry and biomedical science at Radford University, described research this summer into a bacterial enzyme that can worsen intestinal side effects of some chemotherapy drugs. Zarpinski presented his work during the Board of Visitors meeting on June 6 alongside his research mentor, Dr. Kim Lane.
Zarpinski told the board his Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) project focuses on bacterial beta‑glucuronidase, “a protein found in everybody's body in 2 forms, human and bacterial,” and on a specific inhibitory portion he called the “z77 binding site.” He said his work examines how molecules bind to that site with the longer-term goal of helping structure‑based drug design.
Dr. Kim Lane, who introduced Zarpinski as a student in her lab, said the department emphasizes undergraduate research as a pathway to both graduate study and employment. “Nearly 100 percent of our graduates over the last 5 years have participated in some form of undergraduate research,” Lane said, noting students receive paid summer research opportunities both on campus and at external institutions.
Lane and board members highlighted recent undergraduate successes to illustrate the department's record of mentorship. The board packet and Lane's remarks cited a student who was an invited undergraduate speaker at the American Chemical Society national meeting and other undergraduates participating in NSF REUs and research programs at institutions such as Princeton and UT Dallas.
The presentation emphasized student development benefits beyond technical skills. Zarpinski and Lane said the SURF experience builds communication, professionalism and problem‑solving skills; Zarpinski described presenting to the Board of Visitors as part of that development. Lane reiterated departmental support for students seeking graduate school and career pathways.
The board responded with praise for the student presentation and for departmental mentoring. Lane and Zarpinski noted plans for continued research and conference participation in the coming academic year.
