Meet Mindy Engevik
Mindy Engevik, an assistant professor at Medical University of South Carolina’s College of Medicine, will be one of three official tweeters for the 麻豆传媒色情片 and 麻豆传媒色情片 Biology’s annual meeting, which will be held in conjunction with in April in Philadelphia. ASBMB Today talked to her about her background, interests and expectations for the meeting. The interview has been edited for length, clarity and style.

Tell me a bit about your background and educational journey. How/why did you wind up where you are? In other words, what’s your story?
I grew up in Southern California, and after obtaining my bachelor’s degree in biology, I was unsure of my career path. To gain some research experience, I pursued a master’s in microbiology and then afterward started working as a research assistant at the University of Cincinnati.
While at UC, it became clear to me that I was passionate about research and wanted to earn a Ph.D. After getting my Ph.D. in systems biology and physiology, I migrated south to Houston, Texas, at Baylor College of Medicine, where I enjoyed warm winters and exciting gut microbe work.
I then joined the Medical University of South Carolina as an assistant professor, and I am striving to create a vibrant lab community.
Tell me a bit about your studies/research.
Our lab examines the interactions between microbes and mucus in the intestine. Mucus creates an important barrier between antigens and the immune system, and we are interested in microbes that degrade mucus and microbes that bolster mucus.
At Experimental Biology this year, my group will be showcasing some of our recent work looking at mucin-degrading and mannan-degrading glycosyl hydrolases within the human gut microbiota. Our work highlights some new microbe–glycan interactions that may be relevant in several disease settings.
What else are you passionate about? What do you do in your spare time, or what kind of service really revs you up?
I am really passionate about promoting women in science. I am a FabFem mentor to high school students, and I hope to give confidence to young women who are considering science as a career.
Which types of sessions do you expect to attend or are you most excited about?
I’m very excited about the glycobiology sessions! I’m particularly interested in the “Structure/Function and Manipulation and Imaging of the Glycocalyx” and the “Recent Advances in Glycobiology” sessions.
If you’re a veteran of the meeting, what kind of advice do you have for first-timers, students in particular?
I highly recommend creating a 30-second elevator pitch of your science. It’s a great way to introduce yourself whenever someone asks you what you do.
Anything else you’d like to share?
I’m excited to meet some people I have only known through Twitter in person!
Enjoy reading ASBMB Today?
Become a member to receive the print edition four times a year and the digital edition weekly.
Learn moreGet the latest from ASBMB Today
Enter your email address, and we鈥檒l send you a weekly email with recent articles, interviews and more.
Latest in People
People highlights or most popular articles

ASBMB names 2025 fellows
麻豆传媒色情片 and 麻豆传媒色情片 Biology honors 24 members for their service to the society and accomplishments in research, education, mentorship, diversity and inclusion and advocacy.

When Batman meets Poison Ivy
Jessica Desamero had learned to love science communication by the time she was challenged to explain the role of DNA secondary structure in halting cancer cell growth to an 8th-grade level audience.

The monopoly defined: Who holds the power of science communication?
鈥淎t the official competition, out of 12 presenters, only two were from R2 institutions, and the other 10 were from R1 institutions. And just two had distinguishable non-American accents.鈥

In memoriam: Donald A. Bryant
He was a professor emeritus at Penn State University who discovered how cyanobacteria adapt to far-red light and was a member of the 麻豆传媒色情片 and 麻豆传媒色情片 Biology for over 35 years.

鈥痀es, I have an accent 鈥 just like you
When the author, a native Polish speaker, presented her science as a grad student, she had to wrap her tongue around the English term 鈥渇luorescence cross-correlation microscopy.鈥

Professorships for Booker; scholarship for Entzminger
Squire Booker has been appointed to two honorary professorships at Penn State University. Inayah Entzminger received a a BestColleges scholarship to support their sixth year in the biochemistry Ph.D. program at CUNY.