Explore our research

Mechanisms of bacterial defense andviral counter-defense

CRISPRS

We aim to understand the mechanisms that bacteria use to defend themselves from phage infection and counter mechanisms that phages use to subvert bacterial immune systems. Much of the lab focuses on CRISPR systems but we are also interested in other immune pathways. Read more about our research.

Genome engineering

Cas9 Genome Editing
We use Cas9 genome editing technologies to for loss and gain of function studies related to host parasite interactions in humans, plants, and insects. We are also developing new technologies designed to improve surgical repair of defective genes.

Host-parasite interactions

host parasite
We are interested in understanding the co-evolution between hosts and their parasites. Current research focuses on infections by Chlamydia, Ebola, Salmonella, and Helicobacter.

News

Ava Graham selected for the 2023 Barry M Goldwater Scholarship

Ava Graham, 2023 Goldwater Scholarship Winner, stands beside her mentor, Royce Wilkinson

Undergraduate researcher Ava Graham won the prestegious 2023 Goldwater Scholsrship for her research on a CRISPR-based molecular diagnostic tool for RNA viruses. You can read more about her award at this link.

The Goldwater Scholarship is annually awarded by the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation to honor former Unites States Senator Barry Goldwater. You can read more about the scholarship at this link.

Ava is pictured here with her mentor, Royce Wilkinson.

Ava Graham and Lenny Triem presented at the 2023 National Conference on Undergraduate Research

Ava Graham and Lenny Triem at the 2023 National Conference on Undergraduate Research

Undergraduate researchers Ava Graham and Lenny Triem recently presented at NCUR 2023 at the University of Washington–Eau Claire on their research on repurposing a CRISPR system as a molecular diagnostic for RNA viruses.

The National Conference on Undergraduate Research is an annual conference sponsored by the Council on Undergraduate Research. It is hosted at a different campus each year, and its purpose is to promote undergraduate research and creative activity.

Lenny and Ava are pictured here with their research poster.

Laina Hall and Pushya Krishna selected for the 2021 Barry M Goldwater Scholarships

Goldwater award

Undergraduate researchers Laina Hall and Pushya Krishna won the prestigious Barry M Goldwater scholarship.

Pictured with mentors Dr. Wiedenheft (left) and Andrew Santiago-Frangos (right).  

The Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation was established by Congress in 1986 to serve as a living memorial to honor the lifetime work of Senator Barry Goldwater.

This is awarded to to college sophomores and juniors who intend to pursue research careers in the natural sciences.

  

List of 2021 Scholars

About the award »

 

CRISPR's under the big sky

Doudna Award

Dr. Jennifer Doudna- Winner the Stibitz and Wilson award

Read more »

CRSIPRconference

CRISPR conference 2017 was held in Big Sky, Montana

Read more »

 

MSU News

Research in the Wiedenheft lab is supported by