The Color of North: The Molecular Language of Proteins and the Future of Life
Taking us beyond the confines of our own experiences, in their book, The Color of North, Shahir Rizk Ph.D., and Maggie Fink '24 Ph.D., traverse the kingdom of life to uncover the myriad ways that proteins shape us and all organisms on the planet. Inside every cell, a tight-knit community of millions of proteins skillfully contorts into unique shapes to give fireflies their ghostly glow, to enable the octopus to see predators with its skin, and to make humans fall in love. Collectively, proteins orchestrate the intricate relationships within ecosystems and forge the trajectory of life. And yet, nature has exploited just a fraction of their immense potential.
Experience the Event
Presented by Department of Physics
Taking us beyond the confines of our own experiences, in their book, The Color of North, Shahir Rizk Ph.D., and Maggie Fink ’24 Ph.D., traverse the kingdom of life to uncover the myriad ways that proteins shape us and all organisms on the planet. Inside every cell, a tight-knit community of millions of proteins skillfully contorts into unique shapes to give fireflies their ghostly glow, to enable the octopus to see predators with its skin, and to make humans fall in love. Collectively, proteins orchestrate the intricate relationships within ecosystems and forge the trajectory of life. And yet, nature has exploited just a fraction of their immense potential.
Meet the Faculty: Shahir Rizk
Shahir Rizk Ph.D., is an associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry at Indiana University South Bend. His work in the Risk lab aims to develop engineered proteins for reversible self-assembly of nanostructures and biosensors for environmental pollutants. He is the first-ever IU South Bend faculty to be honored with the Cottrell Scholar Award; one of only eight Indiana University faculty to receive the award since its inception in 1994; and one of only 24 pre-tenure faculty nationwide to receive the award. He received his bachelors degree in biological sciences in 2000 from IU South Bend and his doctorate in biochemistry from Duke University in 2006.
Meet the Faculty: Maggie Fink '24 Ph.D.
Maggie Fink ’24 Ph.D., is an adjunct professor at Indiana University South Bend. Maggie Fink is an award-winning scientist, poet, and illustrator. She received her doctorate from the University of Notre Dame in Microbiology and her bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from Indiana University South Bend and a bachelor’s in theology from Northland International University. Maggie has received multiple awards for her scientific research. In 2021, she was recognized with the prestigious National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Award. She has also received the Joseph Ross Science Presentation award, a National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates Award, and the Carolyn and Lawrence Garber Research Fellowship. Her work has appeared in journals such as Protein Engineering Design and Selection and was presented at several national and regional scientific conferences. Maggie is also a co-inventor on a United States patent application for using proteins to detect the herbicide found in RoundUp in soil and drinking water. Maggie is a strong advocate for women in science, serving as a mentor for the Association of Women in Science (AWIS) and as a member of the Committee of Women Faculty and Students as well as the Leadership Advancing Socially Engaging Research (LASER).
For her work, Maggie received the Indiana University Women Helping Women Award, and was appointed as the Campus Lead Peer Mentor. As a writer, Maggie’s poetry appeared in Landlocked Lyres and received the award for Best Creative Writing at the Annual Indiana University South Bend Conference on Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities. In addition to her writing, she has also been recognized for her illustrative work and is known for incorporating her art into her scientific presentations. She is also engaged in science communication efforts locally and nationally. She participated in the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology “Art of Science Communication” workshop and presented her work at the Annual Indiana Science Communication Day.Maggie Fink is an award-winning scientist, poet, and illustrator. She is currently an adjunct professor at Indiana University South Bend. Maggie received her doctorate from the University of Notre Dame in Microbiology and her bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from Indiana University South Bend and a bachelor’s in theology from Northland International University. Maggie has received multiple awards for her scientific research. In 2021, she was recognized with the prestigious National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Award. She has also received the Joseph Ross Science Presentation award, a National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates Award, and the Carolyn and Lawrence Garber Research Fellowship. Her work has appeared in journals such as Protein Engineering Design and Selection and was presented at several national and regional scientific conferences. Maggie is also a co-inventor on a United States patent application for using proteins to detect the herbicide found in RoundUp in soil and drinking water. Maggie is a strong advocate for women in science, serving as a mentor for the Association of Women in Science (AWIS) and as a member of the Committee of Women Faculty and Students as well as the Leadership Advancing Socially Engaging Research (LASER). For her work, Maggie received the Indiana University Women Helping Women Award, and was appointed as the Campus Lead Peer Mentor. As a writer, Maggie’s poetry appeared in Landlocked Lyres and received the award for Best Creative Writing at the Annual Indiana University South Bend Conference on Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities. In addition to her writing, she has also been recognized for her illustrative work and is known for incorporating her art into her scientific presentations. She is also engaged in science communication efforts locally and nationally. She participated in the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology “Art of Science Communication” workshop and presented her work at the Annual Indiana Science Communication Day.