Contributors
Marissa Locke Rottinghaus

Marissa Locke Rottinghaus is the science writer for the ASBMB. She was born and raised in Kansas and developed her love of science and writing at a young age. Marissa earned her B.S. in biological sciences and a minor in Spanish from DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois. She then went on to pursue a Ph.D. in immunology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, where she studied the role of type I interferons in viral pathogenesis. Before joining the ASBMB in 2023, Marissa worked as a managing editor at The American Association of Immunologists as well as a freelance writer and editor. Her hobbies include reading, baking, crafting, exercising and spending time with family and friends.
Articles by Marissa Locke Rottinghaus

Annual Meeting
It’s time to take the fast track to #DiscoverBMB!
Sept. 18, 2023
The early-decision abstract program allows researchers to receive a decision by Nov. 1. Submit yours by Oct. 12.

Observance
Top-notch papers by postdocs
Sept. 15, 2023
During National Postdoc Appreciation Week, learn about the postdoc first authors of the most-read papers in ASBMB’s journals.

Annual Meeting
#DiscoverBMB spotlight talks to showcase members’ findings
Sept. 13, 2023
Vahe Bandarian, chair of the ASBMB Meetings Committee, offers advice for making your abstract competitive and other tips.

Feature
Next-gen biopsies take the sting out of diagnosis
Sept. 6, 2023
Researchers are developing noninvasive tests using exosomes, proteomics and bodily fluids.

Journal News
Breast milk from rhinos and dolphins and whales, oh my!
Aug. 29, 2023
In study of diverse mammals’ breastmilk, researchers find shared immunomodulatory components.

Interview
Serine proteases: ‘The quintessential signaling molecule’
Aug. 22, 2023
Meeting organizers discuss using serine proteases ‘as allies’ for drug development.

Annual Meeting
Showcasing the future of BMB
Aug. 16, 2023
Discover BMB 2024 co-chairs Vanina Zaremberg and Benjamin talk about cutting-edge thematic sessions and how to make your meeting experience worthwhile.

Society News
2023 ASBMB election results
Aug. 9, 2023
Learn about the president-elect, interim treasurer and newly elected and re-elected members of Council and committees.

Blotter
ASBMB calls for student loan relief
Aug. 4, 2023
In public hearing testimony to the Department of Education, ASBMB calls for student loan relief programs and expresses concern about how student loans disadvantage the scientific workforce

Blotter
Crime scene biochemistry at the Capitol
July 28, 2023
ASBMB committee members and staff educate congressional staffers on biochemistry with an immunoassay demonstration.

Journal News
JBC editors weigh in on AI in science publishing
July 24, 2023
In an editorial, they say they’ll allow its use in manuscript preparation but not during the review process.

Blotter
ASBMB expresses concerns about proposed NIH budget cuts
July 21, 2023
If passed, the appropriations bill would cut NIAID’s budget by almost 23%, NINDS’s budget by 5% and both NCI and NIGMS’s budgets by almost 3%.

Blotter
ASBMB raises concerns about proposed NIH subaward policy
July 7, 2023
The society says the new policy, if adopted, will discourage collaboration and heighten administrative burden on scientists.

Blotter
ASBMB responds to proposed NIH NSRA fixes
July 6, 2023
The society applauds removal of grades from the application, inclusion of applicant special circumstance statement and reviewer bias training.

Announcement
Avoid FOMO by catching #DiscoverBMB 2023’s greatest hits
June 26, 2023
The ASBMB offers access to all recorded oral presentations from Seattle in an easy-to-browse collection for purchase.

Blotter
Biochemists and molecular biologists meet with federal agencies
June 23, 2023
ASBMB members meet with NIH, NSF, USDA, DOE and more to discuss basic science funding and programs.

Journal News
Cholesterol lures in coronavirus
June 20, 2023
New study shows that cholesterol aggregates can promote SARS-CoV-2 infection to help the virus invade cells.

Announcement
MCP seeks new editor-in-chief
June 16, 2023
Longtime leader Al Burlingame will step down at the end of the year.

Journal News
New diagnostic finds intact sperm in infertile men
June 14, 2023
Researchers discover novel protein biomarkers to visualize well-developed sperm to determine if surgical sperm extraction may be successful.

Pride
'I hope that our actions show our members that we are doing our best to support them'
June 6, 2023
A Q&A with ASBMB Policy Manager Raechel McKinley on the organization’s national-level advocacy for LGBTQIA+ scientists, trainees and students.

Interview
'CoA as the central core'
June 2, 2023
ASBMB meeting on CoA and its derivatives will take place in Wisconsin in August and will feature sessions on metabolism, intracellular cross talk, proteostasis, autophagy and technological advances in mass spectrometry.

Announcement
Meet the 2023 ASBMB Advocacy Training Program delegates
May 24, 2023
ASBMB announces a new cohort of 12 ASBMB Advocacy Training Program delegates who will learn about science policy and advocacy through this summer externship

News
ASBMB members meet with lawmakers on the Hill
May 18, 2023
In 48 meetings, scientists advocated for budget increases for NIH, NSF and DOE.

News from the Hill
Researchers to advocate for fundamental science on Capitol Hill
May 17, 2023
Sixteen ASBMB researchers from 16 states to meet with U.S. senators and representatives on Capitol Hill to advocate for basic science research funding for NIH, NSF, DOE

Journal News
High-fat diet ‘turns up the thermostat’ on atherosclerosis
May 11, 2023
Researchers show phospholipid derivatives from a Western diet promote increased levels of gut-derived bacterial toxins, systemic inflammation, atherosclerosis plaque formation.

Journal News
Biochemists identify cause of rare disease
May 5, 2023
Finding that a mutation in a DNA-replication protein causes the ataxia-like condition has immediate impact on patient care.

Blotter
ASBMB calls for better wages and benefits for postdocs
May 2, 2023
The society urges the NIH to require institutions to provide basic benefits, training plans and professional development for them.

Journal News
Overcoming missed connections to battle Alzheimer’s
April 27, 2023
Researchers identify a protein that may allow some people to resist dementia despite plaque accumulation.

Blotter
ASBMB cautions against sacrificing science funds to make debt-ceiling deal
April 20, 2023
Society emphasizes the importance of preserving research from scientists supported by the NIH, NSF and DOE.

Journal News
A second chance for a healthy heart
April 19, 2023
Researchers use cellular reprogramming to make damaged organ almost good as new.

Blotter
ASBMB urges NIAID to prioritize DEAI
April 6, 2023
The society calls upon the institute to expand the use of research supplements, support scientists with disabilities and those in the LGBTQ+ community.

Journal News
Finding a way to combat long COVID
April 5, 2023
Recent study reveals neurodegenerative biomarkers after COVID-19 and gives clues for monitoring and potential treatment.

Journal News
Peering into ocular waste recycling
April 4, 2023
Researchers uncover a mechanism that causes blindness and could lead to targeted therapies.

Blotter
ASBMB calls for 10% budget increase for NIGMS
March 31, 2023
In testimony to federal appropriators, the society argues a big boost for the institute is long overdue.

News
National Academies report calls for antiracist reforms
March 22, 2023
Institutions must make significant, structural changes, the authors say.

Blotter
ASBMB cautions against drastic immigration fee increases
March 21, 2023
The USCIS proposed increasing its filing fees for employment-based visas by up to 2,050%. The ASBMB said the hike “is likely to harm the retention of highly skilled foreign-born scientific researchers.”

Journal News
The ‘Rapunzel’ virus: an evolutionary oddity
March 14, 2023
Extremely long tail provides window into how bacteria-infecting viruses assemble.

Journal News
Seeking leukemia’s Achilles heel
March 8, 2023
Researchers identify potential therapeutic for acute myeloid leukemia that targets a DNA repair protein.

Annual Meeting
Puzzling out science
March 7, 2023
JBC Herbert Tabor Early Career Investigator Award winner Ethan J.C. Walker will share his findings on methionine and protein stability at Discover BMB.

Announcement
ASBMB comments on proposed changes to grant review
March 6, 2023
The society expresses support for measure to reduce bias and calls for pilot study and triage reform.

Journal News
Reimagining drugs for rare brain disorder
Feb. 16, 2023
Researchers develop a new pipeline to screen a large number of existing compounds to find a therapy for an ataxia.

Journal News
Harnessing good fats to relieve MS symptoms
Feb. 8, 2023
Researchers find that fish oil derivative reduces and delays disease–causing inflammation in mice.

Blotter
ASBMB calls for broad federal effort to support scientists with disabilities
Feb. 2, 2023
Society endorses NIH moves toward disability inclusion and urges other agencies to follow suit.

Blotter
ASBMB makes recommendations to support bioeconomy
Feb. 1, 2023
Society advocates for immigration and funding reforms to diversify the workforce and measures to ensure equitable access to standardized data and tools.

Blotter
ASBMB lauds parts of defense authorization that bolster HBCUs
Jan. 27, 2023
Law orders the creation of a pilot program to increase research capacity and improve training and infrastructure.