News · Wiedenheft Lab

Blake Wiedenheft.

AppointmentJuly 2025

Blake Wiedenheft named the Winifred Asbjornson Plant Sciences Chair

Blake Wiedenheft, who grew up in Glasgow, Montana, became Montana State University's Winifred Asbjornson Plant Sciences Chair on August 15, 2025. The endowed chair was created through a campaign led by Montana farmers. With it he is building a research program on the wheat stem sawfly, a pest that cost Montana growers an estimated $66 million in 2024. A year earlier he received agInnovation's Agricultural Research and Innovation Award.

Ava Graham, 2023 Goldwater Scholar, standing beside her mentor Royce Wilkinson in the lab — Ava with her mentor, Royce Wilkinson.

Award2023

Ava Graham selected for the 2023 Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship

Undergraduate researcher Ava Graham won a 2023 Goldwater Scholarship for her research on a CRISPR-based molecular diagnostic for RNA viruses. The scholarship supports college sophomores and juniors who plan research careers in the natural sciences, mathematics and engineering.

Ava Graham and Lenny Triem standing beside their research poster at NCUR 2023 — Lenny and Ava with their research poster.

Conference2023

Ava Graham and Lenny Triem present at the 2023 National Conference on Undergraduate Research

Undergraduate researchers Ava Graham and Lenny Triem presented their research on repurposing a CRISPR system as a molecular diagnostic for RNA viruses at NCUR 2023, hosted by the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire. The National Conference on Undergraduate Research is an annual conference sponsored by the Council on Undergraduate Research, held on a different campus each year to promote undergraduate research and creative activity.

Laina Hall and Pushya Krishna with their mentors Blake Wiedenheft and Andrew Santiago-Frangos — Pictured with mentors Dr. Wiedenheft and Andrew Santiago-Frangos.

Award2021

Laina Hall and Pushya Krishna selected for 2021 Barry M. Goldwater Scholarships

Undergraduate researchers Laina Hall and Pushya Krishna both won 2021 Goldwater Scholarships, awarded to sophomores and juniors who intend to pursue research careers in the natural sciences.

List of 2021 scholars

Attendees of the CRISPR 2017 conference in Big Sky, Montana, throwing hats in the air with mountains behind them — CRISPR 2017 in Big Sky, Montana.

Event2017

CRISPRs under the Big Sky

The CRISPR 2017 conference was held in Big Sky, Montana. Jennifer Doudna was also honored at Montana State University as a winner of the Stibitz and Wilson Award.