Bienkiewicz Lab

Ewa (Ava) A Bienkiewicz Ph.D.

Biomedical Sciences Department
College of Medicine
Florida State University
1115 West Call Street
Tallahassee, FL 32306-4300
Office: MSR 3350-J
Lab: MSR 3360
Phone: (850) 645-7326
Email: ewa.bienkiewicz@med.fsu.edu

Dr. Bienkiewicz's Faculty Profile

Research Interests

The Bienkiewicz Laboratory research interest is in the area of protein structure, stability, and biomolecular interactions in the context of human pathology and therapeutic interventions. Molecular mechanisms of Alzheimer's disease, stroke, tramatic brain injury, and function of the non-pathological form of the prion protein are being investigated. The focus is on intrinsically disordered proteins and misfolding in neuronal degeneration/survival and vascular injury events. 

Experimental Approaches Used:

• Circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy 
• Surface plasmon resonance (SPR)
• Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC)
• Fluorescence
• UV/Vis spectroscopy
• Gel electrophoresis
• Protein cloning, expression, and purification
• Neuronal cell culture
• Animal model of stroke

Bienkiewicz Lab Members 

    Stephen Beesley, Ph.D.    Post-doctoral Researcher

     Boris Faynberg
     Medical Student
     Class of 2018

Nina Hayes
Undergraduate DIS studentMajor: Biological Science
Future Plans: Med School

Former Lab Members

Efrosini Artikis
Directed Independent Study (DIS) undergraduate student
Major: Biochemistry
Currently : Ph.D. Biophysics Program
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

Michelle Jones
Directed Independent Study (DIS) undergraduate student
Major: Biological Sciences
Currently : Liberty University College of Osteopathis Medicine

Mark Kastner
Laboratory Assistant
Major: Sports Science
Currently:  College of Medicine, FSU

Bryan Thiel
Directed Independent Study (DIS) undergraduate student
Major: Biological Sciences
Currently : Medical School, Miami, FL

Julia Bourg
Undergraduate Womein in Math, Science and Engineering (WIMSE) student
Lab Research Assistant
Major: Biophysics
Currently: Ph.D. Biophysics Program,
U. Michigan, Ann Arbor

Omar Cadenas
Undergraduate Research Opportunity (UROP) studentMajor: Biological Sciences
Future plans: Medical School

Chad Hall
Undergraduate student
Lab Research Assistant
Major: Biomedical Engineering

William Johnson
Research Assistant
Currently : College of Medicine, FSU

Mayuri Joshi
Directed Independent Study (DIS) undergraduate student
Major: Biochemistry
Currently : College of Medicine, FSU

Serina Lees
Directed Independent Study (DIS) student
(Aug 2008-Dec 2009)
Major: Biology
Currently : Infection Control Practitioner, Houston Methodist

Shawn Stott
Undergraduate Directed Independent Study (DIS) student
(August 2009-May2010)
Major: Biology
Currently : Dental School, University of Florida

Patrice Williams, MPH
Undergraduate Honors Program student
Lab Research Assistant
Double Major: Biomathematics and Music
Currently : 
Council on Research and Creativity Coordinator
Office of Proposal Development
Office of the Vice President for Research
Florida State University

Dr. Bradley Groveman
Graduate student (Ph.D.)
Department of Biomedical Sciences (CoM)
Major Professor: Dr. Xian-Min Yu
Co-advisor: Dr. Ewa Bienkiewicz
Currently: NIH, Post-doctoral Fellow
(Mentor:  Dr. Byron Caughey)

Some of the Bienkiewicz Lab students' research accomplishments:

Efrosini Artikis (2011-2013)

• Mentored Research and Creative Endeavors Award, Undergraduate Office of Research, FSU, 2012
• Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Award, National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, FSU (conducting research in collaboration with Dr. Anant Paravastu), 2013
• Travel award (oral presentation), Rice Regional Undergraduate Symposium, 2013
• Outstanding Biophysics and Structural Biology Presentation Award, Rice Regional Undergraduate Symposium, 2013
• Travel award (poster presentation), Protein Society Symposium, Boston, 2013
• Best Undergraduate Poster Award, Protein Society Symposium, Boston, 2013

Julia Bourg (2009-2011)

• 1st Place, The Joseph E. Lannutti Undergraduate Research Award, at the FSU Physics Department's Annual Research Symposium Poster Session, 2010
• Poster award, Women in Science, Math and Engineering Program, 2010
• 1st Place, The Joseph E. Lannutti Undergraduate Research Award, at the FSU Physics Department's Annual Research Symposium Poster Session, 2011
• Recognition for Extended Involvement in Research, Women in Math, Science, and Engineering (WIMSE) Society, 2011

Patrice Williams (2008-2010)

• NIH Minority Health International Research Training Program Award (Kumasi, Ghana), 2009
• Bess Ward Honors Thesis Award, 2009
• 2nd Place in Tri-beta Biological Honor Society’s: 4th Annual Undergraduate Research Poster Competition, FSU, 2009
• “Meeting of the Minds” Atlantic Coast Conference Travel Award, 2009
• Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students Travel Award, 2009
• Featured Student Star on Florida State University Blackboard, 2010
• Recommended by the National Screening Committee of the Institute of International Education (IIE) for a grant under the Fulbright U.S. Student Program for the academic year 2010-11 to Ghana/GH/AF, 2010
• Graduated with Honors (Thesis title: “Protective role of vitamin B12 in Alzheimer’s disease”), 2010