Rithi and Ben presented during the UCR Research Symposium

During the annual UCR Undergraduate Research Symposium, our lab was represented by two of our undergraduates, Rithi Krishnaraj and Benjamin Taylor. From building AI-driven software to exploring the microscopic “social lives” of sourdough bread, we’re proud of our undergraduates for showcasing how metabolomics data is both accessible and fascinating. 

Rithi presented her poster on the “FBMN-STATS-GUIde: An AI integrated Web Application for Statistical Analysis of Feature-Based Molecular Networking Results,” developed alongside Abzer

during this past year. This innovative web application aims to help researchers streamline the statistical analysis process for their non-targeted metabolomics data. It automates the data cleanup process, runs multivariate and univariate statistical tests, provides intricate visualizations, and integrates an LLM that allows users to receive parameter recommendations and biological interpretations of the statistical results. Rithi will also be presenting the FBMN-Stats-GUIde as a poster at the ASMS conference!

Benjamin presented his research, “The Sourdough Microbiome as a Model System to Study Microbial Interactions,” which focuses on how different microbial strains interact with each other through metabolite exchange. He worked alongside Kambria Phillips to combine cross-streaking assays with LC-MS/MS, which helped establish how the sourdough microbiome is a practical frameworkfor studying microbial ecology and training students in multi-omics research approaches.  

Congrats, Rithi and Benjamin! It was exciting to see how our undergraduates are representing the lab in the broader research community and the different research projects we are developing. We can’t wait to see how these projects conclude as they finish out their undergraduate degrees this Spring!