Glycoscience Resources, Education, and Training

aliarslangorsi on November 14, 2024

The field of glycoscience, which studies the structure and function of carbohydrates and their derivatives, is essential for advancing biomedical research, bioengineering, and material science. Yet, it remains one of the least understood and most technically challenging areas of molecular biology. To bridge this gap, the National Science Foundation (NSF) has invested in a Biofoundry initiative designed to democratize access to glycoscience research, technologies, and educational resources.

The NSF-supported Biofoundry will focus on the development of novel research methods and technologies related to glycoenzymes and glycoproteins, which are vital for understanding biological processes across the tree of life. These complex molecules are involved in key biological mechanisms, such as cellular communication, immunity, and tissue development. However, due to their structural diversity and complexity, studying them requires specialized equipment and expertise.

Through the Biofoundry, researchers and students will have access to cutting-edge tools and facilities, removing barriers that have historically limited the reach of glycoscience. This democratization effort includes the creation of instructional programs and resources aimed at training a new generation of scientists. These initiatives will emphasize hands-on experiences, equipping researchers from diverse backgrounds with the skills necessary to work with glycoenzymes and glycoproteins effectively.

Furthermore, the Biofoundry will contribute to scientific collaboration, fostering partnerships between academic institutions, industry, and government agencies. By integrating advanced technologies like automation and high-throughput analytics, the project will accelerate discoveries in glycoscience and their applications in fields ranging from drug development to agricultural biotechnology. This transformative approach has the potential to revolutionize our understanding of glycoscience and broaden its impact across numerous scientific and engineering disciplines.

Dr. Lance Wells Featured on the ChemTalk Podcast

steven on October 21, 2025

Dr. Lance Wells Featured on the ChemTalk Podast

Episode 61: Dr. Lance Wells on Glycobiology

The term “glycobiology” may be unfamiliar to many students, as it is an undertaught but extremely important field that is linked to nearly every facet of cellular biology. Glycobiology is the study of carbohydrates, also known as glycans. On this exciting episode of Let’s Talk Chemistry edited by David Alvia, hosts Erin Suh, Jasmine Winter, and Diya Garrepally dive into our interview with Dr. Lance Wells. Dr. Wells shares his research on XLID, an intellectual disability syndrome linked to mutations in OGT, an enzyme that adds a type of glycan, called O-GlcNAc, onto proteins. He also shares how glycans can be used to modify drugs through a process called glycosylation to make them more effective. We hope you enjoy!


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Glycobiology at the Frontier: What’s Next for the Sweet Science?

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Dr. Megna Tiwari and Glycoscience Education

steven on October 21, 2025

Dr. Megna Tiwari and Advancing Glycoscience Education:
Her Path from Infectious Agents to Glycobiology to Science Education

Dr. Megna Tiwari A Journey Through Science and Education

Dr. Megna Tiwari’s scientific journey has been anything but linear—beginning as an undergraduate fascinated by biology, continuing through work as a blood bank laboratory technician, and advancing through a master’s, Ph.D., and postdoctoral training.

Her early research focused on infectious agents, but an unexpected encounter with glycobiology sparked a new scientific passion. Captivated by the intricate world of glycans, she began exploring how these small but powerful sugar molecules influence nearly every biological process—a realization she often sums up with the phrase, “From small sugars come big things.”

By the end of her Ph.D., Dr. Tiwari’s curiosity had expanded beyond the lab bench to include the question of how students thrive in science. This led her to combine her love for glycobiology with a growing dedication to science education research.

Now a postdoctoral researcher with Dr. Erin Dolan and the BioF:GREAT team, Dr. Tiwari is helping to democratize glycoscience—developing, testing, and sharing glycoscience teaching materials designed to work across diverse classrooms and learning environments. Her overarching goal is to build national capacity for glycoscience education, ensuring that students and educators alike have access to the tools and knowledge needed to bring this vital field into mainstream biological education.

Dr. Megna Tiwari's Seminar at Morehouse College

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JAAG Software: A Glycan Modeling tool Developed by BioF:GREAT Team Members

steven on October 16, 2025

JAAG Software: A Glycan Modeling tool Developed by BioF:GREAT Team Members

Chin Huang Develops JAAG Software

Chin Huang, a graduate student in Dr. Kelley Moremen’s BioF:GREAT laboratory, has developed a web-based tool that helps glycan modeling by Alphafold 3.

AlphaFold 3 can accurately model glycans with proper stereochemistry only when using the BAP+CCD syntax, but manually creating these inputs is tedious and error-prone. To streamline the process, JAAG—a lightweight, user-friendly web tool—automates the conversion of glycans drawn by users into BAP+CCD syntax. This makes it easier for scientists to model glycoproteins and glycan–protein interactions, helping even AlphaFold 3 beginners generate reliable, stereochemically valid structures effortlessly.

Link to JAAG Manuscript

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UGA receives $18M NSF award to democratize glycoscience

on February 10, 2024

The University of Georgia’s Complex Carbohydrate Research Center (CCRC) has received an $18 million award from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to advance glycoscience accessibility and research. This funding will support the establishment of the BioFoundry: Glycomaterials Research, Education, and Analysis Training (GREAT), an initiative aiming to democratize the study and application of glycoscience.

Glycans, critical biomolecules found on cell surfaces, play significant roles in cellular communication and biological functions. However, despite their importance alongside nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids, glycoscience remains underrepresented in education and research. The BioFoundry at UGA will aim to change this by providing resources, education, and hands-on training in glycoscience. The facility will give researchers access to advanced tools and training, helping them conduct projects using state-of-the-art technologies like mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) without needing to own such expensive equipment themselves.

Moreover, the initiative will extend its educational impact by offering training and resources across all academic levels, from K-12 to higher education and industry research. The BioFoundry will also offer reduced-cost or free services for clients whose research aligns with the project’s goals, even facilitating short-term training programs in Athens, GA, for eligible researchers.

This effort aligns with the CCRC’s long history of contributions to glycoscience, expanding applications from medical research to biofuel production and plant-based materials.