Graduate Student
University of Georgia
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
05/2022 – 08/2022 Undergraduate Research Student, Center for Undergraduate Research
and Scholarship (CURS), Augusta University, Augusta, GA
08/2022 – present Undergraduate Research Assistant with Dr. Shogo Mori, Department of
Chemistry & Physics, Augusta University, Augusta, GA
Research focuses:
• Development of less pathogen resistant antibiotics through
homologation
• Characterization of novel enzyme in homologation pathway HphA
through selective mutagenesis and substrate consumption with high
performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
08/2022 – 12/2022 05/2023 – present Teaching Assistant, Augusta University, Augusta, GA
• CHEM 3411 Organic Chemistry I
Mentor, Dr. Shogo Mori’s laboratory, Augusta University, Augusta, GA
HONORS AND AWARDS
• S-STEM Scholar American Association for the Advancement of Science and
National Science Foundation, 2023
• Travel Award ($1000) American Association for the Advancement of Science, 2023
• Dean’s List Augusta University, Spring 2022 & Fall 2022
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP
08/2023 – present 09/2023 – present American Chemistry Society
American Association for the Advancement of Science
RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS
1
Skyler Owens, CV
1. 2. 3. Owens, S.L., Ahmed, S., Lang, R., Stewart, L., Mori, S* (2024) Homologated Amino
Acids Containing Natural Products. (Review paper to be submitted to ChemBioChem;
proposal for submission has been accepted by the journal)
Owens, S.L., Mori, S* (2024) Characterization of a Homologation Enzyme HphA by
Enzymatic Assays and Site-Directed Mutagenesis (Undergraduate Thesis in preparation)
Stewart, L. E.; Owens, S.L.; Ahmed, S. R.; Lang, R. M.; Mori, S* (2024) Characterization
of HphA – the first enzyme in the enzymatic homologation pathway for l-phenylalanine
and l-tyrosine. ChemBioChem (Invited). Manuscript in preparation.
RESEARCH PRESENTATIONS AT CONFERENCES
1. 2. 3. Owens, S.L., Ahmed, S., Steward, L., Lang, R., & Mori, S*. Characterization of HphA:
The first enzyme in the homologation pathway. Paper to be presented at the American
Chemical Society Spring National Conference. March 17-21, 2024. New Orleans, LA.
Owens, S.L., Ahmed, S., Steward, L., Lang, R., & Mori, S*. Characterization of HphA:
The first enzyme in the homologation pathway. Paper presented at the 12th Annual
Summer Scholars Research Symposium. July 25, 2023. Augusta University, Augusta,
GA.
Owens, S.L., Kumar, T., & Kindred, M. (2022). Press play to increase activity. Paper
presented at the 11th Annual Summer Scholars Research Symposium. July 21, 2022.
Augusta University, Augusta, GA.