Stanford postdoctoral research scholar to deliver first Anita Zahs Memorial Lecture

Heidi Arjes, a Stanford University postdoctoral research scholar and Simpson College graduate, will deliver the inaugural Anita Zahs Memorial Lecture on Friday, Jan. 28, 2022. 

Arjes’ lecture, “Adaptation of Soil Bacteria to Imposed Stresses,” explains the correlation between bacterial response to stress and maintaining healthy soils during climate change. 

The virtual lecture will be held via Zoom at 3:30 p.m. CST. To register for the free webinar, visit simpson.zoom.us.

“Understanding how bacteria respond to stresses, both alone and in a community, will be critical for maintaining healthy soils during climate change,” said Arjes, who earned a Ph.D. focused in biology, genetics and microbiology from Washington University in St. Louis. 

Arjes graduated from Simpson in 2008 with degrees in biochemistry and German.

About the Anita Zahs Memorial Lecture Series

The Anita Zahs Memorial Lecture Series honors the memory of Anita Zahs, a 2005 Simpson graduate who died in 2019 at age 35. 

Zahs was an exemplary biochemistry student. She earned a doctorate degree in molecular and cellular biochemistry from Loyola University Medical Center in 2012 and was a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Colorado-Denver from 2012-16. She shared her love of science and the natural world as an assistant professor of biology at St. Ambrose University.

“I like to watch things grow and change with time, and I continue to be inspired by the variety of life around us,” Zahs once said. “My colleagues inspire me with their creativity and intelligence, and every student who walks into my office, lab or lecture inspires me with their determination, imagination and originality.”

The series is made possible through the generous donations of Zahs’ friends and family. 

About Simpson College
Simpson College is a private, liberal arts college located in Iowa with campuses in Indianola, West Des Moines and online. Founded in 1860, the college has 1,078 undergraduate and graduate students. Simpson offers 75 majors, minors and programs in addition to three graduate programs. Outside of the classroom, Simpson is a member of the NCAA Division III American Rivers Conference, hosts eight Greek houses on campus and sponsors many extracurricular options for student involvement.
 
Contact Information
Bryan Geelan, marketing communication director
Direct: 515-961-1608
Email: bryan.geelan@simpson.edu