June 2015: Svetlana Kholodar

Svetlana Kholodar, 5th-year PhD student in Prof. Murkin's group.

• First-author publication: Kholodar S. A., Allen C. L., Gulick A. M., and Murkin A. S. (2015) The Role of Phosphate in a Multistep Enzymatic Reaction: Reactions of the Substrate and Intermediate in Pieces, J. Am. Chem. Soc., V.137, N 7, P. 2748-2756.

"My research project focused on the investigation of the function of a nonreacting phosphate group in enzymatic catalysis using diverse experimental methods such as organic synthesis, kinetic isotope effect measurements and protein X-ray crystallography.

My experience as a graduate student at UB was enjoyable because of the great people working in the Chemistry Department, possibilities for collaboration, and for meeting famous researchers from all over the world at the departmental seminars.

Outside of lab I enjoy learning Italian, listening to symphonic metal, training my cat Isk and going for bicycling adventures."