Curriculum Vitae

Autumn Lee Sutherlin

ACU Box 28132                                                                   Work Phone: (325) 674-6511
Abilene, TX 79699                                                                     autumn.sutherlin@acu.edu

Education

Doctor of Philosophy, Purdue University, May 2003

  • Field: Biochemistry
  • Thesis Advisor: Victor W. Rodwell
  • Thesis Project: Structure and function of the enzymes of the mevalonate pathway of isopentenyl pyrophosphate biosynthesis
    • Characterization of the acetoacetyl-coenzyme A thiolase portion of the Enterococcus faecalis acetoacetyl-CoA thiolase/ HMG-CoA reductase fusion protein
    • Cloning and characterization of Enterococcus faecalis HMG-CoA synthase
    • Interactions of the first three enzymes of the mevalonate pathway

Bachelor of Science, Summa Cum Laude, Harding University, May 1997

  • Major: Biochemistry
  • Minor: Mathematics

 Selected Work Experience

2013 – Present            Director of Undergraduate Research
Abilene Christian University                                                                             Abilene, TX

  • Chair the University Undergraduate Research Council
  • Organize the Undergraduate Research Festival
  • Organize workshops for ACU faculty and students
  • Promote Undergraduate Research at ACU

2009 – Present            Associate Professor of Biochemistry
2003 – 2009                  Assistant Professor of Biochemistry
Abilene Christian University                                                                             Abilene, TX

  • Courses Taught
    • Chem 453/ Biol 472: Biochemistry I
    • Chem 454: Biochemistry II
    • Chem 463 and 464: Biochemistry Lab I and II
    • Chem 413: Physical Chemistry for Life Sciences
    • Chem 203: General Science for Elementary Teachers
    • Chem 131: General Chemistry II Lab
    • Chem 114: Introduction to  Organic and Biological Chemistry
    • Chem 113: Introduction to General Chemistry
    • Chem 111: Introduction to General Chemistry Lab
    • Chem 101: Consumer Chemistry
    • Honors Colloquia:
      • Science, Media, and Society
      • CSI: Abilene
  • Research Areas
    • The mevalonate pathway of isopentenyl pyrophosphate biosynthesis
    • The effect of a hand-held student response system on introductory chemistry students
    • The use of Blackboard and hand-held student response systems to implement constructivist techniques in a Biochemistry I class.
    • The effect of prompt type on knowledge construction in online discussion
  • Select Committees
    • Quality Enhancement Plan Development Team for Southern Association of Colleges and School accreditation
    • University Research Council
    • University Undergraduate Research Council
      • Chaired committee that designed the ACU office of undergraduate research and undergraduate research council
      • Steering Committee of the ACU Undergraduate Research Festival
    • College of Arts and Science Academic Council
    • Provost and Honors Dean College Search Committees
    • Health Professions Advisory Committee
  • Significant Student Interaction
    • Supervised research of over 25 undergraduate students
    • Visiting Faculty – ACU Study Abroad Fall 2007, 2009, and 2013
    • Academic Advisor for the Biochemistry Health Science Track Degree
    • Social Club Advisor
      • Tri Kappa Gamma 2003-2008
      • Alpha Kai Omega 2008-2011

2001 Biochemistry Teaching Assistant
Purdue University                                                                                  West Lafayette, IN

  • Conducted lectures on protein structure/ function
  • Directed help sessions

2000 Summer Graduate Intern
SmithKline Beecham Research Laboratories                                            Collegeville, PA

  • Worked in the Anti-Infectives Bioinformatics group in protein structure prediction.

 1997-1998 Associate Instructor of Physical Science
Harding University                                                                                            Searcy, AR

  • Courses Taught
    • Chem 114: General Chemistry Lecture and Lab
    • Chem 121: College Chemistry Lab
    • Chem 216: Organic and Biological Chemistry Lecture and Lab
    • PHS 116: Physical Science
  • Directed teaching assistants for laboratory courses

Selected Awards and Grants

2012-2013 College of Arts and Sciences Student Mentoring Award

2009-2010, 2010-2011, 2011-2012 ACU Mobile Learning Fellow

2004, 2005, 2006, and 2008 ACU Math-Science Grant Awardee

Publications

Ginger, G.S., A.L. Sutherlin, U.M. Akpanudo, L.E. James, M. Chen. The effect of structured divergent prompts on knowledge construction. Journal of Asynchronous Learning Networks. 18(2): 49-66 (2014).

Sutherlin, A.L., G.R. Sutherlin, U.M. Akpanudo. The effect of clickers in university science courses. Journal of Science Education and Technology. 22: 651-666 (2013).

Steussy, C.N., A.D. Robison, A.M. Tetrick, J.T. Knight, V.W. Rodwell, C.V. Stauffacher, and A.L. Sutherlin.  A structural limitation on enzyme activity; the case of HMG-CoA synthase. Biochemistry.  45: 14407 -14414 (2006).

Steussy, C. N., A. A. Vartia, J. W. Burgner, A. Sutherlin, V. W. Rodwell, and C. V. Stauffacher.  X‑ray crystal structures of HMG-CoA synthase from Enterococcus faecalis and a complex with its second substrate/ inhibitor acetoacetyl-CoA.  Biochemistry.  44: 14256-14267 (2005).

Sutherlin, A. and V. W. Rodwell.  A Multi-enzyme Mevalonate Pathway Bioreactor. Biotech. and Bioeng. 87: 546-551(2004).

Sutherlin, A., M. Hedl, B. Sanchez-Neri, J.W. Burgner II, C. V. Stauffacher, and V. W. Rodwell. Enterococcus faecalis 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A synthase, an enzyme of isopentenyl diphosphate biosynthesis. J. Bacteriol. 184: 4065-4071 (2002).

Hedl, M., A. Sutherlin, E. I. Wilding, M. Mazzulla, D. McDevitt, P. Lane, J. W. Burgner II, K. R. Lehnbeuter, C. V. Stauffacher, M. N. Gwynn, and V. W. Rodwell.  Enterococcus faecalis acetoacetyl-CoA thiolase/3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase, a dual‑function protein of isopentenyl diphosphate biosynthesis.  J. Bacteriol. 184: 2116-2122 (2002).

Rodwell V.W., M. Hedl, A. L. Sutherlin, D.A. Bochar, C.V. Stauffacher, and L. Tabernero. 2004. Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase. xPharm (web based), SJ Enna and DB Bylund (Eds.), Elsevier, NY (2004).

Conference Presentations

Sutherlin, A.L. Effect of student response systems on student achievement and study time in Science Classrooms. Biennial Conference on Chemical Education, State College, PA, (2012).

Sutherlin, A.L. I gave my students more work and they thanked me: Using Technology to Implement Constructivist Techniques. Biennial Conference on Chemical Education, State College, PA, (2012).

Sutherlin, A.L. Blended Biochemistry: Using technology outside of class to better reach students in class. American Chemical Society National Conference. Philadelphia, PA (2012).

Sutherlin, A.L. Give Students More Work and They’ll Thank You: Using technology to implement constructivist techniques. Educause Learning Initiative Annual Meeting. Austin, TX (2012).

Sutherlin, A.L.  G.R. Sutherlin, U. Akpanudo.  The Effect of Clickers in University Science Courses. Mid-South Educational Research Association Annual Meeting.  Oxford, MS (2011).

Sutherlin, A.L.  Trying to Find the Effect of Clickers.  Educause Learning Initiative 2011 Online Spring Focus Session “Seeking the Evidence of Impact.” (2011).

Sutherlin, A.L. Effect of student response systems on student achievement and study time.  ConnectEd Summit. Abilene, TX (2011).

Sutherlin, A. L. and G.R. Sutherlin. Effect of student response systems on student achievement and study time. Biennial Conference on Chemical Education. Denton, Texas (2010).

Sutherlin, A. L. Mobile Devices as Clickers. Turning Technologies Users Conference. Cambridge, MA (2010).

Sutherlin, A.L.  and G.R. Sutherlin.  The Effect of Immediate Feedback on the Achievement of Introductory Chemistry Students Using a Student Handheld Response System. Mid-South Educational Research Association Annual Meeting.  Hot Springs, AR (2007).

Steussy, C.N., A.D. Robison, A.M. Tetrick, J.T. Knight, V.W. Rodwell, C.V. Stauffacher, and A.L. Sutherlin.  A structural limitation on enzyme activity; the case of HMG-CoA synthase.  Midwest Enzymology Conference. Chicago, IL (2006).

Robison, A.D., J.B. Pond and A.L. Sutherlin.  The Roles of Active Site Aspartate and Alanine in Enterococcus faecalis 3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl Coenzyme A Synthase. American Chemical Society Southwest Regional Conference. Ft. Worth, Texas (2004).

Hedl, M., A. Sutherlin, E. I. Wilding, M. Mazzulla, D. McDevitt, P. Lane, J. W. Burgner II, K. R. Lehnbeuter, C. V. Stauffacher, M. N. Gwynn, and V. W. Rodwell.  Enterococcus faecalis acetoacetyl-CoA thiolase/3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase, a dual‑function protein of isopentenyl diphosphate biosynthesis.  Midwest Enzymology Conference. Chicago, IL (2001).

Bhat, A., M J. Bower, M. D. Cummings, K. K. Koretke, A. N. Lupas, R. B. Russell, C. Volker, A. L. Sutherlin.  Methods for Comparative Modeling for group SBAuto.  Fourth Community Wide Experiment on the Critical Assessment of Techniques for Protein Structure Prediction Conference. Pacific Grove, California (2000).

Professional Affliliations

American Chemical Society
American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Council on Undergraduate Research

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