IU Kokomo biochemistry professor elected Fellow of Indiana Academy of Sciences

An Indiana University Kokomo faculty member has been elected a Fellow of the Indiana Academy of Science (IAS).

Hisako Masuda, associate professor of biochemistry, received the honor at the Academy’s recent annual meeting. She is IU Kokomo’s fifth faculty member to be recognized as a Fellow.

“Dr. Masuda’s work as a member of the governing council, as the chair of the Microbiology and Molecular Biology section, and several other roles is a wonderful continuation of our campus’s close relationship with the Academy,” said Michael Finkler, professor of physiology and former Academy president.

“To have the work that I’ve done recognized by my peers as something that’s worthwhile is very nice,” Masuda said. “Being part of an organization that supports science, and I can participate in their initiatives, makes me feel like I’m doing something significant to support scientific investigation and science in general in the state of Indiana.”

She’s been a member of IAS since joining the IU Kokomo faculty in 2014 and says she and her students benefit from it.

“I’m the only biochemist here, so it’s not on a daily basis that I would meet with biochemists who do the work I do,” she said. “Being part of the Academy, I get to meet faculty who do similar types of research, so we can talk about our approaches, share some ideas, share some experimental successes, and things like that.”

She takes students to the organization’s annual meeting as part of the Kokomo Experience and You (KEY), which provides hands-on experiential learning opportunities.

“Students who go after they’ve completed research, or who are in the process of research can present their work to scientists, government people, industry people, and fellow students,” Masuda said. “They must be able to explain their research to people who have scientific backgrounds and communicate their findings. They get more discipline-specific questions and clarifications and can discuss their findings in a more scientific manner than at other forums.”

Attending the meeting also allows them to meet scholars and researchers in many areas of science, giving them ideas about fields they might want to pursue.”

“The exposure to different talks and presentations about a topic that maybe isn’t taught at IU Kokomo allows them to see what is happening in that field,” she said. “They also get to see graduate students presenting, which can help them think about graduate schools and possibilities for later.”

She includes many undergraduate students in her research work, which focuses on bacterial biodegradation of environmental pollutants, attempting to degrade nylon waste using bacterial or fungal species, and trying to convert nylon into other useful products that can later be biodegraded by organisms to avoid ending up in landfills. She’s also conducted research with Kim Mossburg, senior lecturer in health science, exploring how plant-based diets impact the human microbiome and human health; with Kasem Kasem, professor of chemistry, on making models for electron energy levels; and with Lina Rifai, associate professor of vertebrate biology, on bird microbiomes, as well as others.

“Different students with different interests can join these research groups,” Masuda said. “Some like biodegradation, and some are more interested in health sciences and the human microbiome. It’s great for our collective work.”

Other IU Kokomo faculty members who have been IAS Fellows include: Finkler; Patrick Motl, dean of the School of Sciences; Gary Dolph, professor emeritus of biology; and Marcia Gillette, adjunct lecturer in chemistry.

A Fellow is a member of the Academy who has demonstrated service to the Academy and to the advancement of science in Indiana, service to education in science, and achievements in scientific research.

Education is KEY at Indiana University Kokomo.