For Alumni

The Drake University Science Collaborative Institute (DUSCI) offers several avenues for alumni to connect with Drake and get involved with our undergraduates.

Science graduates could share their career experiences and current research endeavors by being part of the Drake University Science Colloquium Series or Life After Drake Series.

September 14, 2012, 12:00-12:50, Olin 206 - James Armstead, Dwolla Title: Come with a Dwolla Account! Description: Dwolla allows users to connect to their social community and location to share and spend money via smart phone or online. The only cost is the 25-cent fee for transactions over $10 while all transactions under $10 are free. The Iowa startup was created after the CEO became fed up with paying $50,000 in transaction fees to the card networks each year. Since then, Dwolla has grown to more than 100,000 users with nearly 10,000 merchant accounts.

October 5, 2012, 12:00-12:50, Olin 206 - James Sacco – Pharmacy, Drake University Title: Genetic variation and sulfonamide drug hypersensitivity Description: Severe adverse reactions have been reported in certain individuals taking sulfonamide drugs. These effects arise from a toxic hydroxylamine metabolite of these drugs that forms in the liver and ultimately provokes a harmful immune response, leading to hypersensitivity reactions. One reason for individual susceptibility to the toxic effects of sulfonamides may be minute differences in the DNA sequences in the genes that code for enzymes that remove these hydroxylamine metabolites. Our research hypothesis is that individual genetic differences in two such genes, CYB5A (cytochrome b5) and CYB5R3 (cytochrome b5 reductase) result in variability in the metabolism of sulfamethoxazole hydroxylamine in human liver.  This talk will outline the results of our experiments as well as their implications to other areas of study such as lung cancer.

Life After Drake, Wednesday, October 10th, 7p.m. to 8p.m., Bulldog Theater, Dr. Amy Bingaman "My Life's Journey and the Lessons I Learned"

November 2, 2012, 12:00-12:50, Olin 206 - Julia Moffit – Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Des Moines University Title:  Cardiovascular deconditioning, depression and cardiac arrhythmias: Mechanisms and targets. Description:  There is a bidirectional relationship between cardiovascular disease and psychological depression.  Our current studies investigate the role of the autonomic nervous system in mediating the increased susceptibility to cardiac arrhythmias in an animal model of psychological depression and cardiovascular deconditioning.  In addition the role of connexin43 proteins, critical for maintaining electrical stability in the heart, are further examined in these processes.

Spring 2008 Bradley Brennan, Drake graduate and Ph. D. candidate at Arizona State University,"Global Sustainability:  Energy in the 21st Century"

Fall 2007 Christopher R. Field, Drake graduate and Ph. D. candidate at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, "Towards Navigating the Forest of Interactions in a Neutrophil: Studying Enzyme-Catalyzed Reaction Kinetics using an Acoustically Levitated Drop Reactor for In Stillo Measurements"

Spring 2007 Casey O'Donnell, Department of Science and Technology Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY,  "Breaking (into) the Video Game Industry: Work, Play, and the Global Economy"

Fall 2011 Dr. Todd Janus, Neurologist, Iowa Health Physicians, " Life in Science and Medicine After Drake"

Fall 2009 Dr. Angela J. Grippo, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Northern Illinois University, " Life as a Bulldog: How Drake Shaped My Career as a Psychologist"

Fall 2008 Dr. Paul Bush, Criminalist, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Ankeny, Iowa, "Life After Drake" Following an Educational Path to Fulfillment"

Spring 2007 Dr. Ann Hornschemeier, Deputy Project Scientist, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD "From Drake University to X-rays in Space"

Spring 2006 Dr. Albena Ivanisevic, Associate Professor of chemistry at Purdue University "The fabrication and characterization of biological and chemical architectures."

• The Alumni Advisory Board comprises a group of alumni who form connections with current Drake students for the purposes of mentoring and advising in anticipation of graduation and careers in science- and math-related fields. If you are interested in serving as an Alumni Advisory Board members, contact Maria Valdovinos at maria.valdovinos@drake.edu.