Megan E. Filbin, Ph.D. Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Along with teaching a variety of biochemistry courses, I lead an active undergraduate research group. We study mechanisms of translation regulation, with a special emphasis on biomolecular structure.
I am passionate about inclusion and STEM equity and I promote these through many mechanisms:
- Director of MSU Denver’s Center for Advanced STEM Education.
- Co-director of a NSF REU in RNA and Genome Biology in collaboration with the University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus.
- Member of the Board of Directors for the MSU Denver Postbaccalaureate Bridge Program.
- Co-founded the RNA@PUI supergroup of faculty (and future faculty) and students at primarily undergraduate institutions.
Co-founder of MSU Denver’s annual Women in STEM Conference.
Current Members
Fernando Urrutia B.S. Biochemistry, 2025 | Postbac Scholar
I am a postbac research assistant in the Filbin Lab, and my project involves probing of the BRV 3’ cap-independent translation enhancers using selective 2’OH acylation analyzed by primer extension (SHAPE) to map the secondary structures. I plan to attend graduate school and continue doing research in RNA structural biology (with an emphasis on RNA viruses).
Andrea Valencia-Espinoza B.S. Biology, 2027
I am a MSU Denver Patton Scholar, currently investigating how student-generated mutant variants influence the function of the BRV RNA-1 cap-independent translation enhancer. My research focuses on analyzing the biochemical effects of these mutations to gain a deeper understanding of how alterations in the viral genome impact replication and overall viral function. After graduation, I plan to attend medical school and pursue a career as a trauma and emergency general surgeon, continuing my commitment to both scientific inquiry and patient care.
Dawson Lee B.S. Biochemistry, 2027
My main project is to identify Hawthorne and Hackberry hybrids in Red Rocks Park, using DNA extraction and sequencing, in collaboration with Professor Tyler Williams at the Community College of Denver. I am also assisting in the study of blackcurrant reversion virus and the structure of its non-coding RNA by utilizing mutants and testing their ability to translate proteins. After graduating from MSU Denver, I intend to pursue graduate school to become a professor.
Alumni
Steven Mendoza, B.S. Biochemistry 2025
Steven graduated with a B.S. in Biochemistry in the spring of 2025. He is currently a first-year Ph.D. student in the Department of Biology and Biochemistry at the University of Houston.
Veronica Henderson-Davis, B.A. Neuroscience 2019 (CU Boulder) | Postbac Scholar Biochemistry 2025
Veronica completed her post-baccalaureate studies at MSU Denver in 2025 and began a her Master’s degree in Biomedical Science at Rocky Vista University. She plans to pursue medical school for intensive medicine after completing her graduate degree.
Bosun Olabode, B.S. Biology 2024 | B.A. Psychology 2017
Bosun graduated with a B.S. in Biology and minor in Chemistry in the spring of 2024. He is currently serving in the U.S. Air Force and plans to apply to medical school with a focus on neurology, cardiology or nephrology.
Kate VandeVenter, B.S. Biochemistry 2024 | A.A.S. Biology 2022
Kate graduated with a B.S. in Biochemistry and minor in Biology in the spring of 2024. She is currently taking prerequisite classes to apply for a M.S. in Nutrition.
Julie Lee, B.S. Biology 2023
Julie graduate magna cum laude with a B.S. in Biology in the spring of 2023. She completed a Postbaccalaureate Research Fellowship at the National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, in the lab of Dr. Joseph M. Ziegelbauer 2024. She is currently a medical student at the Medical College of Wisconsin.
Amy Argabright, B.S. Biochemistry 2023
Amy graduated with a B.S. in Biochemistry in the spring of 2023. She is currently a Ph.D. student in the Structural Biology, Biochemistry & Biophysics Program at the University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus.
Liheng Zhou, B.S. Chemistry 2022 | Biology 2022
Liheng graduated summa cum laude with a B.S. in Chemistry and a B.S. in Biology in the spring of 2022. She is currently a medical student at Western University of Health Sciences.
Zach Zimmerman, B.S. ACS Chemistry 2022
Zach graduated with a B.S. in Chemistry (ACS) in the spring of 2022. He is currently a Ph.D. candidate in the lab of Dr. Megan R Hill, in the Department of Chemistry at Colorado State University.
John Manalastas, B.S. Biochemistry 2022 | Health, Leisure & Exercise Science 2014
John graduated with a B.S. in Biochemistry in the spring of 2022. He is currently a Professional Research Assistant in the Department of Immunology at the University of Colorado, School of Medicine.
Nathan Nowling, B.S. Biology 2021 | Biochemistry 2018
Nate graduated with a B.S. in Biochemistry in the spring of 2018 and returned to complete his degree in biology in the fall of 2021. He is currently a Ph.D. candidate in the lab of Dr. Ning Zhao in the Molecular Biology Program at the University of Colorado, School of Medicine.
Jami Parker, B.S. Biochemistry 2021
Jami graduated with a B.S. in Biochemistry in the spring of 2021. She has accepted a position as the Director of Product Development and R&D at UMBO, a Denver-based functional mushroom start-up company.
Elizabeth Spear, B.S. Biochemistry 2019
Elizabeth graduated with a B.S. in Biochemistry in the fall of 2019. She is currently a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Microbiology at the University of Colorado, School of Medicine, jointly in the labs of Dr. Jeffrey S. Kieft (NYSBC) and Dr. Linda van Dyk.
Scott-Wesley Bean, B.S. Biochemistry 2018
Scott-Wesley graduated summa cum laude with a B.S. in Biochemistry in the fall of 2018, and earned top honors in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry. He is currently a Ph.D. student in the Biochemistry, Cell, and Developmental Biology Graduate Program at Emory University.
Jorge Chalit, B.S. Biochemistry, B.A. Psychology 2018
Jorge graduated with dual B.S. in Psychology and Biochemistry in the spring 2018. He is currently a medical student at the Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences.
Laura Baquero Galvis, B.S. Biology 2017
Laura graduated with a B.S. in Biology in the fall of 2017. She is currently a Ph.D. candidate in the Molecular and Cellular Biology Program at the University of Washington, in the lab of Dr. Sergei Doulatov .
Isaiah Jackson, B.S. Biochemistry 2017
Isaiah earned his B.S. in Biochemistry in 2017. He is currently a medical student at Howard University.
Dr. Liz Shields, B.S. Business Administration 2010 | Biology 2016 | Pharm.D. 2020
Graduating Cum Laude from Metro in the spring of 2016, Liz earned her second Bachelor’s degree, in Biology. She completed her Doctorate of Pharmacy from the University of Colorado, Skaggs School of Pharmacy in 2020. Liz is a Pediatric Clinical Pharmacist in the Investigational Drug Pharmacy at The Children’s Hospital Colorado.
Evan Morrison, B.S. Chemistry & Philosophy 2016
Evan earned a double-major in Chemistry and Philosophy in spring 2016. He is currently a Ph.D. candidate in the Molecular Biology Program at the University of Colorado, School of Medicine, in the lab of Dr. Olivia Rissland.
Cesar Garcia, B.S. Chemistry 2016
Cesar graduated in the fall of 2016 with a B.S. in Chemistry with a concentration in Criminalistics. He currently a Lab Technologist II in Research & Development at ADA Carbon Solutions, now Advanced Emissions Solutions (ADAES). He plans to continue working at ADAES with the goal of becoming a lab manager.