Kristi Turton (MSc Candidate)

Kristi Turton is a Masters student at the University of Lethbridge. She works with nanoparticles called carboxysomes, in the Wieden Lab.

"This image is the structure of a beta-carboxysome determined by electron microscopy pdb:6OWF, submitted by Sutter et al., 2019. This image of the structure is crucial as it shows the complex nature of the carboxysome shell as well as its large volume. Understanding how this structure forms and stores biomolecules can advance its use as a biotechnology tool."

What is your research about?

My point of research is studying nanoparticles, macomolecular structures that capture and store other biomolecules, for application. Specifically, my thesis focuses on a large nanoparticle called the carboxysome. It is naturally used to encapsulate the RuBisCO enzyme, which improves carbon capture in phototrophic bacteria. Other groups have studied the carboxysome for use in plants. However, I am trying to determine how it forms and captures biomolecules so that it can be used in other industries.

What made you go into industry or academia? How did you get involved with your current research?

I first got interested in being a graduate student and working in academia in my third year of my undergraduate program. At that time I had starting working with the University of Lethbridge iGEM (internationally Genetically Engineered Machines) team. I instantly fell in love with wetlab research, project design, and synthetic biology. I then worked hard to get into graduate school for the next two years. Now I am working in the Wieden lab at the University of Lethbridge. I am lucky to have picked this lab as my supervisor, Dr. H.J Wieden, gave me an amazing synthetic biology project associated with nanoparticles, a topic I have been greatly interested in since the Uleth iGEM team's project in 2018.

What excites you about your work?

What excites me about my work is that there are so many questions to be answered. It is always so cool to learn what other groups have learned that are in my realm of research and I am always thinking of things I want to find out. Then thinking about all the cool experiments I could do. It keeps things interesting as well as challenging.

What are the impacts of your work?

Essentially, my work is leading to a tool for researchers and industry. I believe that my work may contribute to others, and be beneficial to a multitude of groups, whether it is for future research or industry leaders.

What is a fun fact about yourself?

I love the arts. As a hobby I am a novice musician. I have also recently gotten into painting.