Graduate student gives invited talk at Midwest DNA Repair Symposium
Posted on June 3, 2026 by Marketing and Communications
Magan Pittman, a graduate student in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, delivered her first conference talk at the 25th Annual Midwest DNA Repair Symposium, held May 30–31 at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas.
Pittman was selected as one of 22 invited oral presenters from among submitted abstracts and presented her work titled, “NEIL1 control of mitochondria-related gene expression and isoform usage.” The meeting brought together more than 177 faculty, researchers, postdoctoral fellows, graduate students and undergraduate students from across the Midwest and beyond to share new discoveries in genome maintenance and DNA repair.
For Pittman, the experience was especially meaningful. In addition to presenting her research to a broad DNA repair audience, she received enthusiastic and constructive feedback that opened new directions for her project.
“This is why we go to meetings,” said Ash Prakash, Ph.D., an associate professor of biochemistry and molecular biology and Pittman’s graduate advisor. “Magan received thoughtful feedback that will move her project forward in ways we had not considered before. It was exciting to see her give such a strong first conference talk and engage with leaders in the DNA repair field.”
The Prakash Lab’s work focuses on DNA repair mechanisms, including how NEIL1 and related base excision repair proteins help maintain genome integrity and influence mitochondrial biology, gene expression and disease-relevant cellular pathways.