A summer of scientific discovery is taking center stage in Marion as four Ohio State Marion students prepare to share what they uncovered while tackling some of today’s most pressing health challenges. Instead of spending their break at summer jobs, Nika Duff, Isabella Huth, Owen Hart, and Camryn Mackey devoted their months to hands‑on research in chemistry and biology, work that touches on antibiotic resistance, cancer, and diabetes. On Tuesday, September 8, the public will have the chance to hear their stories during Buckeye Talks on Tap, a free community lecture series hosted at Bucci’s Italian Scratch Kitchen.
Duff spent her summer in laboratory of Dr. Renee Bouley exploring how combinations of antibiotics might better fight stubborn bacterial infections. Her findings suggest that pairing certain older antibiotics with newer ones may help overcome resistance, a promising insight at a time when many treatments are losing effectiveness. Huth, working in the same lab, focused on identifying which bacterial genes make infections harder to treat. By removing specific genes and watching how the bacteria respond, she’s helping researchers understand how antibiotic resistance forms and how it might be prevented.
Working alongside Dr. Ruben Petreaca, Hart turned to yeast, the same organism used in baking, to investigate how breaks in DNA occur. These breaks can contribute to cancer, and his work helps illuminate the basic processes that allow them to form. Meanwhile, Mackey worked in Dr. Ryan Yoder’s lab, examining how the body’s GLP‑1 receptors respond to medications like Ozempic and Wegovy, drugs widely used for diabetes and weight management. She tested small‑molecule alternatives to see how precisely they target these receptors and whether they may have links to cancer risk.
Buckeye Talks on Tap aims to bring university research into everyday spaces, offering conversations that are lively, accessible, and grounded in real‑world relevance. The event will take place at Bucci’s Italian Scratch Kitchen inside Passenger & Rail Co., 320 W. Center St., Marion. Doors open at 5 p.m., with the talks beginning at 5:30 p.m. and followed by a short Q & A. Attendees will be entered into a door‑prize drawing provided by Marcie DeWitt of Anchor and Away Travel, and guests are welcome to enjoy dinner or drinks during the program.
Ohio State Marion invites the community to join this evening of discovery, connection, and shared learning — a chance to see how local students are contributing to global scientific conversations and how their work may shape the future of health and medicine.
The Ohio State University at Marion was established in 1957 in Marion, Ohio as one of four Ohio State regional campuses. The 187-acre campus provides an open access portal to Ohio's flagship university, faculty expertise, and the breadth and depth of opportunity synonymous with one of the country's top public universities. Students can earn a bachelor's degree in biology, business, education, engineering technology, English, history, leadership, psychology, or social work on the Marion campus or begin any of 200+ Ohio State degree programs. Ohio State Marion's caring community of world-renowned faculty scholars and researchers and dedicated staff are passionate about fostering the full potential of each student in an inclusive environment that embraces the idea of caring and personal attention. Ohio State Marion prepares students for meaningful careers through innovative, engaging, and inclusive learning experiences and seeks to be the destination of choice for those seeking a university education at a campus recognized for excellence in teaching, research, community outreach, and citizenship.