MSU Denver Postbaccalaureate Bridge Program

The initial spark for these programs came in early February 2021: almost a year into the pandemic, 8 months after the murder of George Floyd, just past 100 days after my partners hematopoietic stem cell transplant, about a month after the attack on the Capitol, and a couple of weeks after helping empty my friend’s apartment after his passing. Stunned, angry, exhausted, bitter, and deeply sad at the state of the world, these programs allowed me to redirect my energy into imagining a reality I actually wanted to live in. Fast forward to Feb 2024, here with this amazing team who transformed a spark into a powerhouse, we’re presenting our vision of hope for a better reality.

As a synthetic chemist, I’m like a culinary artist, concocting molecules that range from hefty carbohydrates to petite peptides. With my team of eager undergraduate researchers, we embark on adventures through the intricate world of molecule-making. In the classroom, I hold the title of teaching the seemingly terrifying yet mysteriously fascinating subject of Organic Chemistry. My teaching philosophy revolves around genuine connection and unwavering support. Not just another professor; I’m a steadfast ally, ready to roll up my sleeves and tackle academic challenges alongside my students. This commitment has cultivated a tight-knit community affectionately known as the Dr. A-Team (or simply the A-Team), where students flourish as researchers, assistants, interns, and enthusiastic learners. My journey, like many, is colored by both triumphs and trials. It’s these experiences that fuel my passion for education and innovation. They’re the reason I eagerly joined this extraordinary postbaccalaureate initiative—because I believe in the power of change and the transformative impact of education.  

I am interested in:

1. how cognitive (student performance, problem-solving strategies), affective (attitudes, motivations), and contextual (instructional, institutional) factors, individually and in combination, can be leveraged to make education accessible to all students, especially those from at-risk and underrepresented student groups and
2. the design and use of problem-solving strategies and modules that can be adapted to individual students’ needs.

The research performed by my group is focused on photochemical and photophysical properties of biologically relevant systems. We use both spectroscopic and theoretical techniques to examine the utility of intrinsic probes, the role of the local solvent environment, and photoinduced electron- and energy-transfer processes in peptides and proteins.

I am a biochemist who loves mapping the unique 3D structure of RNAs and figuring out how those structures drive function. I’m especially fascinated by structures in RNA viruses that function to hijack cellular machinery upon infection. Throughout my time at MSU Denver, I’ve become invested in developing and enriching equitable pathways for students to gain research experience – which is essential to intellectual and scientific development. That is why I’m so excited to participate in the ACS Bridge Postbaccalaureate Program to help recent graduates explore the scientific method, gain confidence and the self-efficacy to persist to careers in STEM.

Since joining the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in 2010 as an organic synthetic polymer chemist, I have engaged in an extensive array of renewable energy projects spanning organic photovoltaics, battery technology, hydrogen storage materials, carbon capture initiatives, and a variety of catalysis efforts. This role has afforded me the unique opportunity to lead and facilitate numerous large-scale collaborations, bringing together industry partners, national laboratories, and academic institutions. One of the most rewarding elements of my career has been the opportunity to host and mentor visiting students. Reflecting on my own journey as a scientist, one-on-one mentoring relationships have catalyzed my most significant personal and professional growth. The holistic mentorship ethos embedded in these post-baccalaureate programs, coupled with the dedicated and thoughtful engagement of this dynamic team, is what initially attracted me to this work. The opportunity to contribute to the development of the next generation of scientists, through both technical mentorship and personal support, continues to be a driving source of motivation for me in my involvement with this program.

Award Number: DE-SC0024497

PIs: Megan Lazorski (Lead), Shailesh Ambre, Melissa Gish, David Mulder, Wade Braunecker

Collaborators: Reid, Obadiah, Gaffney, Kelly, Cordones-Hahn, Amy

DOE Prime Contract No: DE-AC36-08GO28308

Subcontract Agreement Number: SUB-2023-10424       

MSU Denver Subcontract PIs: Megan Lazorski

Collaborators: Shailesh Ambre, Shalini Srinivasan, Josh Martin, Meg Filbin

PIs: Garret Miyake (Lead), Niels Damrauer, Seonah Kim, Tehshik Yoon, Amber Krummel, Zachary Wickens, Bonnie Buss, Megan Hill, Steven Lopez, Robert Paton, Joe Zadrozny, Megan Lazorski, Chern-Hooi Lim (Supporting)

Award Number: 2318141

MSU Denver Subaward PI: Megan Lazorski

Federal Award No.: DE-EE0011104

Subcontract Agreement Number: 402749-402750-7201

MSU Denver Subcontract PIs: Megan Lazorski

Collaborators: Shailesh Ambre, Shalini Srinivasan, Josh Martin, Meg Filbin

Spring 2023 Funding Source: BioInspired Light Escalated Chemistry Energy Frontier Research Center

MSU Denver Joint Appointee: Megan Lazorski

NREL Collaborators: Garry Rumbles and Obadiah Reid