Loyola Marymount University’s (LMU) 2025 Seaver Spotlight event celebrated “the building where science happens,” marking the 10th anniversary of the opening of the Life Sciences Building, completed in 2015.
The award-winning, often benchmarked facility is the hub of intellectual engagement and science research at LMU, providing a platform for industry leaders and community groups to engage in educational presentations and events for students of all ages, and facilitating a 100 percent increase in the number of students applying to enroll in the Frank R. Seaver College of Science and Engineering in the last 10 years.
Three professors highlighted their current research projects, all involving LMU undergraduate and graduate students as co-investigators and, in some cases, co-authors. These projects reflect LMU’s commitment to providing undergraduate students with hands-on, impactful research experiences that help prepare them for future careers.
Katie Mouzakis, associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry, studies viruses—including COVID-19—with the goal of developing new antiviral therapies. Using biochemical, biophysical, and computational methods, her research team examines viral RNA structures to understand and disrupt critical steps in the virus life cycle. Focusing on a specific step in the life cycle of a virus, they’ve so far identified seven molecules that target the intended RNA structure, inhibit its function, and have antiviral activity. Mouzakis also transformed an advanced biochemistry lab course into a semester-long research project to expand student access to authentic, real-world research experiences.
Kristen Covino, associate professor of biology, presented her research on bird ecology, “Bird Science with Migrants, Gulls, and Datasets.” With North American bird populations down by 2.9 billion since 1970, her research focuses on climate change impacts on songbird (warbler) migration and the ecological role of the great black-backed gull, an endangered species. Her work shows that climate change is shifting songbird migration considerably earlier in spring and a bit later in fall, possibly disrupting breeding, food sourcing, and seasonal activities. Covino offers students opportunities to participate in both lab and field research; her research integrates resources such as the local Bear Divide Banding Station in the San Gabriel Mountains and analysis of national datasets from the U.S. Geological Survey’s Bird Banding Lab.
Robert Musci, assistant professor of health and human sciences, researches mitochondrial DNA (the powerhouse of the cell) to understand aging and age-related disease. His research challenges the long-held belief that mitochondrial turnover slows with age, revealing instead that a portion of mitochondria may cease turnover with age. Mitochondrial turnover is a biological function that replaces damaged mitochondria with new ones to maintain cellular health and function. In addition to further understanding the biology of aging, Musci’s work aims to uncover how exercise—the most effective intervention for healthy aging—can preserve mitochondrial function and extend healthspan, the years lived free of disease.
Closing the event, Tina Choe, Dean of Seaver College, reflected on remarks she made at the LMU Life Sciences Building’s 2015 opening: “In this space that encourages learning through discovery and invites collaboration essential to the sciences, you can count on great things to come.” Ten years later, she affirmed that Seaver College’s collective community continues to advance scientific knowledge and nurture the next generation of innovators tackling global challenges for the betterment of society.
