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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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.

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.

NSF invests in BioFoundries to drive advances across science and engineering

on February 10, 2024

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has announced a significant investment in biofoundries designed to advance synthetic biology and biotechnology across multiple research institutions. This initiative will establish facilities capable of integrating cutting-edge technologies like synthetic biology, machine learning, and laboratory automation. The goal is to accelerate innovations and develop sustainable biomanufacturing processes.

Among the newly funded projects is the NSF iBioFoundry at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, which will focus on protein and cellular engineering, leveraging AI and automation to optimize synthetic biology research. These biofoundries will also serve as hubs for collaboration, engaging researchers, industry experts, and policymakers to address global scientific and engineering challenges.

Other biofoundries include the NSF Ex-FAB BioFoundry, which will explore organisms in extreme environments to advance biotechnology, and the NSF CREATE initiative aimed at democratizing biotechnology tools, particularly for underserved academic institutions. These investments reflect NSF’s commitment to enhancing scientific research and fostering educational opportunities in biotechnology and AI fields.

For more details on this NSF initiative, you can read further at and Mirage News.

Solid-Phase-Supported Chemoenzymatic Synthesis and Analysis of Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycan Glycopeptides

on February 10, 2024

Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) play critical roles in various biological functions, particularly in regulating cellular processes in the nervous system. Their structural complexity arises from glycosaminoglycan (GAG) chains attached to core proteins, which makes understanding their structure-function relationships a scientific challenge. Recent advances have been made using solid-phase-supported chemoenzymatic synthesis to address these complexities and provide accurate tools for analysis.

The chemoenzymatic synthesis method employs a combination of solid-phase synthesis techniques and enzymatic modifications to construct glycopeptides that mimic natural CSPGs. This approach allows for precise control over the sulfation patterns and chain lengths of the glycosaminoglycans. Researchers use immobilized peptide resins to streamline the synthesis and ensure efficient enzymatic modification, resulting in a highly defined structure for subsequent analysis.

Advanced analytical techniques, such as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and mass spectrometry, are then used to characterize the synthesized glycopeptides. These methods confirm the structural integrity and provide insight into how different sulfation patterns affect biological activity, such as interactions with proteins or roles in cell signaling.

This solid-phase-supported chemoenzymatic strategy represents a significant advancement in glycoscience. It not only facilitates the production of structurally diverse CSPG mimics but also aids in deciphering the complex biological roles of glycosaminoglycans in processes like neurodevelopment and tissue repair. For more in-depth studies and applications, these methods pave the way for designing novel biomaterials and therapeutic agents targeting CSPG-related functions.