Garrett Honzay, a senior majoring in biochemistry and molecular biology, is advised by Kenton Rodgers, a professor of chemistry and biochemistry, and Gudrun Lukat-Rodgers, a research professor in chemistry and biochemistry. He has been working in the Rodgers Lab in Sugihara Hall for the past three years on research investigating the enzymes that catalyze the final two steps in heme b biosynthesis unique to Gram-positive bacteria, with the goal to develop antibiotics for antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Garrett Honzay, a senior biochemistry and molecular biology major, received the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Award. The five-year fellowship provides three years of financial support to students who are pursuing full-time research-based masters and doctoral degrees in science, technology, engineering or math or STEM education.
“Being awarded the Graduate Research Fellowship from the National Science Foundation is a huge achievement, and not one that I thought was in my stars to achieve,” Honzay said. “I applied with the knowledge that the review process is rigorous and competitive.
Receiving this award means everything to me because scientists at the NSF believe I am a promising student that will produce ambitious and impactful scientific results.”
Honzay is advised by Kenton Rodgers, a professor of chemistry and biochemistry, and Gudrun Lukat-Rodgers, a research professor in chemistry and biochemistry.
Honzay has been working in the Rodgers Lab in Sugihara Hall for the past three years on research investigating the enzymes that catalyze the final two steps in heme b biosynthesis unique to Gram-positive bacteria, with the goal to develop antibiotics for antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
“My favorite thing about being involved in research was realizing the breadth and depth of the research that happens at NDSU, the U.S. and the entire world. It is absolutely astounding how much information is being uncovered on a daily basis, and it’s even crazier how little the general public knows of it,” he said.
After he graduates in May, Honzay will join the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Molecular and Cellular Biology program to study and conduct research in biochemistry.
“This fellowship affords me a good amount of academic freedom. It will travel with me wherever I go and support my research goals, no matter the university I enroll in or lab I decide to join in graduate school,” Honzay said. “This is truly a rare opportunity among the graduate students in America, and I plan to use this strength to make the largest impact I can.”
Griffin Newell and Hieu X Le, both students in NDSU’s psychology department, received honorable mentions for the Graduate Research Fellowship.
