Delta State professors awarded INBRE Grants for research on environmental and biological sciences

Cleveland, MS (12/03/2024) — CLEVELAND, Miss. - Delta State University is proud to announce that two professors in the Division of Mathematics and Sciences, Dr. Nina L. Baghai-Riding and Dr. Severine Groh, have been awarded Research Initiation Grants from the Mississippi IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (MS-INBRE). These highly competitive grants recognize the significant potential of each professor's new research project, both of which will extend through August 31, 2025.

Baghai-Riding's research project, titled "Testing for Manmade Chemicals from Mississippi Delta Plants," investigates the impact of agricultural pesticides on local plant species. The project will focus on four abundant weedy plants that bloom in the fall-Johnson grass, tall goldenrod, late boneset, and ragweed-all of which are tall, pollen-producing, and easy to sample. By comparing flowers and pollen collected from sprayed agricultural fields to those in unsprayed areas, the study aims to identify pesticide residues and analyze their effects on plant morphology. The research will utilize advanced equipment, including ELISA kits, a JEOL scanning electron microscope, and compound light microscopes.

"Our region's unique agricultural landscape provides a critical setting for examining how pesticides may influence local flora and fauna," said Baghai-Riding. "By understanding the extent of contamination in these plants, we can provide vital insights into both ecosystem health and public well-being."

Groh's project explores the regulation of adipogenesis, building on data from her post-doctoral research at the University of Iowa. The project aims to enhance understanding of the molecular mechanisms behind fat cell development, which has broad implications for addressing metabolic health issues.

Groh said, "I am so grateful to MS-INBRE as the funding will be instrumental for me to offer meaningful research experiences in biomedical research to our students which will not only enrich their curriculum but hopefully give them a taste for research that will serve them well for their post-graduation endeavors."

Both professors will mentor a group of core students in their laboratories, providing hands-on research opportunities that will prepare students for future careers in science. Students involved will learn valuable research and technical skills, and their experiences will serve as steppingstones for applications to graduate and professional programs. Some of the methodologies and techniques will also be incorporated into Delta State's upper-division science courses in the Spring 2025 semester, including BIO 415 - Materials and Methods in Environmental Science, BIO 428 - Endocrinology, and CHE 434 - Environmental Chemistry.

For further information, please contact:

Dr. Nina Baghai-RidingEmail: nbaghai@deltastate.edu

Dr. Severine GrohEmail: sgroh@deltastate.edu

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