Story by Logan Jackson
When Eric Fritschi arrived on the University of Missouri campus as a freshman, he knew he wanted to get involved in research. The Freshman Research in Plants (FRIPS) Program allowed him to do just that.
Now, as Fritschi heads toward graduation, he’s built an incredible research portfolio.
“I didn’t know what I would enjoy about research, but I always knew I wanted to give it a shot,” said Fritschi, who will graduate with a biochemistry degree and the Honors Certificate from Mizzou. Fritschi will also earn minors in biological sciences and chemistry. “Having great opportunities, like FRIPS, was fantastic for launching me directly into the world of research. Coming to Mizzou, I don’t think I understood the value of these types of programs. Looking back at the fellowships and awards I’ve been privileged enough to participate in, I’m really thankful for these opportunities.”
Fritschi grew up in Columbia, Missouri, and was well aware of the research opportunities that Mizzou had to offer, as his father, Felix Fritschi, is a professor and researcher in College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR). Felix Fritschi was recently recognized by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) as a Fellow and has secured millions of dollars in research funding over the years.
Eric Fritschi has forged his own research path as a Tiger. The FRIPS Program connected Fritschi with Antje Heese, an associate professor of biochemistry. Fritschi has stayed active in her lab throughout his time at Mizzou.
“There are definitely a lot of great faculty who I’ve interacted with, and what’s been great for me is that they are willing to work with me in a variety of ways,” Fritschi said. “Dr. Heese, especially, has been really instrumental in helping me grow as a scientist. She’s pushed me as a thinker and has allowed me to do more and more in her lab. I’ve been able to design and perform my own experiments, and it’s been great to try and synthesize new understanding from the lab work.”
Like most new researchers, Fritschi’s early days in Heese’s lab consisted of gaining a better understanding of the various equipment and learning the proper techniques to utilize that equipment. Soon, though, he was added to a project led by one of Heese’s graduate students. That research was centered on the VESICULAR TRAFFICKING 5 (VES5) protein and was focused on understanding how VES5 related to iron nutrient deficiency response in plants, specifically, the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana.
That work led Fritschi to begin his own project, which is still tied to VES5. He has been studying the role of that protein in iron accumulation and photosynthetic compounds, among other focuses.
“There is some new equipment in the Bond Life Sciences Center that I’ve been using, and it’s been a lot of fun to try and see how the components that I’ve measured in the past lead into the photosynthetic efficiency that I’m measuring now,” Fritschi said.
Fritschi’s efforts in the lab have led to numerous awards and honors. He’s earned a MizzouForward Undergraduate Training Grant, the Dudley Alexander Research Internship and several travel awards from the Interdisciplinary Plant Group (IPG) and the Honors College. He also earned an American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB) Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship and another ASPB travel award. Those honors have allowed Fritschi to travel across the country to interact with professionals tied to his interest areas.
Fritschi was able to turn his research opportunities into Honors College credit, too.
“I’ve gotten to engage in several courses that were of interest to me through the Honors College,” Fritschi said. “Being able to register early was a huge bonus, and I enjoyed having the opportunity to interact with students from across campus.”
Fritschi will head to Michigan State University to pursue a Ph.D. in biochemistry and molecular biology this fall.
“I’m really excited about this next step,” Fritschi said. “In a lot of ways, this opportunity was afforded to me because of my involvement in research here at Mizzou. These programs prepared me for this, and I feel very qualified for what comes next. I received excellent training and the research opportunities just kind of continued to snowball. It’s been a real privilege to be part of the research community at Mizzou.”