Dr. Sara Sybesma Tolsma '84

Education:
Ph.D., Northwestern University
B.A., Northwestern College (Iowa)

712-707-7278
stolsma@nwciowa.edu

Dr. Tolsma's research efforts in cancer genetics and cell biology have been widely published in scientific journals and have received a number of awards. A Northwestern College alumna, she holds a doctorate in microbiology/immunology/virology from Northwestern University. She has three ongoing research projects. In collaboration with Dr. Laura Furlong, she is studying mayfly genetic variation in Northwest Iowa watersheds and in streams on Santa Cruz Island. With her Cell Biology students, she is measuring the anti-proliferative effects of plant extracts and chemicals in those extracts on human tumor cells in vitro. Finally, as a member of the HHMI-sponsored SEA-PHAGES and SEA-GENES groups, she is working on annotating mycobacteriophage genomes and exploring the functions of genes in phages Island3 and Sbash with students. She is expanding her phage research by raising antibodies to phage capsid proteins with her immunology students. She is also passionate about integrating science and Christian faith. She is an American Scientific Affiliation Fellow and serves as a subject book review editor for their journal, PSCF. She has published a number of essays in Perspectives: A Journal of Reformed Thought, which she co-edits, and she wrote a book with Dr. Jason Lief about the importance of engaging young people in conversations about science and faith. The 2015 recipient of Northwestern's annual Teaching Excellence Award, the 2021 recipient of the Faculty Excellence in Faith and Learning Award. She was appointed to the Northwestern College Endowed Professorship 2016-2021.

+Publications and presentationsAbigail M. Bastian, Marcus J. Blankenspoor, Gideon K. Fynaardt, Sadie A. Gilmeister, Emily E. Hurley, Madison Jones, Erika J. McKenney, Alexa N. Olguin, Micah N. Rens, Garrett Snyder, Anneka E. Sterk, Sophie M. Swart, Alaena Trevino, Ashley N. Van Egdom, Morgan C. Veach, Kip Cullinan, Kaarina Van Berkum, Lauren R. Pavich, Krista Starr, Byron Noordewier, and Sara S. Tolsma, Complete Genome Sequences of Microbacterium Phages Clayda5 and Gshelby23 and Gordonia Phages Wrigley and Santhid, Microbiology Resource Announcements, submitted. Deborah Jacobs-Sera, Lawrence A. Abad, Richard M. Alvey, Kirk R. Anders, Haley G. Aull,… Sara S. Tolsma, Philippos K. Tsourkas, … and Graham F. Hatfull (2020) Genomic diversity of bacteriophages infecting Microbacterium spp. PLOS ONE. June 18, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0234636. Lief, J. and Tolsma, S.S. (2019) Jesus Loves You and Evolution is True: Why youth ministry needs science. Fortress Press. Tolsma, S.S. (2019) Science in Church, God and Nature. https://godandnature.asa3.org/tolsma-science-in-church.html. Tolsma, S.S. (2019) What I Wish Christians Knew About Science/Scientists. Perspectives: A Journal of Reformed Thought. Bastian, A.M., Blankespoor,M.J., Fynaardt,G.K., Gilmeister,S.A., Hurley,E., Jones,M., Mckenney,E.J., Olguin,A.N., Rens,M.N., Sterk,A.E., Swart,S.M., Thurm, C.L., Trevino,A., Van,E.A., Veach,M.C., Pavich,L.R., Tolsma,S., Garlena,R.A., Russell,D.A., Jacobs-Sera,D. and Hatfull,G.F. (2022) Gordonia phage Santhid, complete genome. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/nuccore/OM818327 Bastian,A.M., Blankespoor,M.J., Fynaardt,G.K., Gilmeister,S.A., Hurley,E., Jones,M., Mckenney,E.J., Olguin,A.N., Rens,M.N., Sterk,A.E., Swart,S.M., Thurm, C.L., Trevino,A., Van,E.A., Veach,M.C., Pavich,L.R., Tolsma,S., Garlena,R.A., Russell,D.A., Jacobs-Sera,D. and Hatfull,G.F. (2022) Gordonia phage Wrigley, complete genome. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/nuccore/ON108651 Bastian,A.M., Blankespoor,M.J., Fynaardt,G.K., Gilmeister,S.A., Hurley,E., Jones,M., Mckenney,E.J., Olguin,A.N., Rens,M.N., Sterk,A.E., Swart,S.M., Thurm, C., Trevino,A., Van,E.A., Veach,M.C., Pavich,L.R., Tolsma,S., Garlena,R.A., Russell,D.A., Jacobs-Sera,D. and Hatfull,G.F. (2022) Microbacterium phage Clayda5, complete genome. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/nuccore/OM818329 Bastian,A.M., Blankespoor,M.J., Fynaardt,G.K., Gilmeister,S.A., Hurley,E., Jones,M., Mckenney,E.J., Olguin,A.N., Rens,M.N., Sterk,A.E., Swart,S.M., Trevino,A., Van,E.A., Veach,M.C., Pavich,L.R., Tolsma,S., Garlena,R.A., Russell,D.A., Jacobs-Sera,D. and Hatfull,G.F. (2022) Microbacterium phage Gshelby23, complete genome. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/nuccore/ON260817 Adair,D.M., Craig,L., Knudson,K.J., Maasdam,K.A., Marttila,K.M., Meyer,K.M., Olguin,A., Rentschler,M., Schmidt,E., VanTol,A.S., Blum,S., Noordewier,B., Tolsma,S., Garlena,R.A., Russell,D.A., Pope,W.H., Jacobs-Se,D. and Hatfull,G.F. (2021) Mycobacterium phage Neos5, complete genome. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/nuccore/MZ171381 Chartier,R., Clarke,A., Groen,L., Kleinhesselink,M., Koel,C., Korthals,M., Kramer,J., Raymon,G., Riensche,K., Sandbulte,S., Stecker,A., Strand,D., Wojciechowski,K., Almail,A., Noordewier,B., Tolsma,S., Garlena,R., Russell,D., Pope,W., Jacobs-Se,D. and Hatfull,G. (2021) Microbacterium phage Stormbreaker8, complete genome. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/nuccore/MZ171379

+Professional involvements and accomplishmentsMember, Christian Action Commission, Reformed Church in America, 1999-2005. Member, New Brunswick Theological Seminary Board of Directors, 2007-2014. Member, Sioux County Environmental Initiative Steering Committee, 2008-2019. Chair, Societal Issues Committee for the Iowa Academy of Science. 2009-2011. Member, Perspectives: A Journal of Reformed Thought Board of Editors, 2012 – 2019. Book review editor 2013-2015. Co-editor 2015 – 2019. Member, American Scientific Affiliation. 2010-present. Subject book review editor (biology, genetics, evolution, ecology) 2014-2022.

+MembershipsIowa Academy of Science American Scientific Affiliation American Microbiology Society

+HonorsFaculty Excellence in Faith and Learning Award, 2021 American Scientific Affiliation Fellow, 2017 Northwestern Endowed Professorship, 2016 Teaching Excellence Award, Northwestern College, 2015 Sabbatical leave, 2003-04 Teaching Excellence Award finalist, 2001 Gramm Travel Fellowship Award, Robert Lurie Cancer Center, Northwestern University, 1994 National Student Research Forum, Northwestern University student representative, 1994