USU Undergrad Biologists Showcase Research
Utah State University student researchers stepped into the spotlight April 13 as participants in the Biology Department’s Spring Undergraduate Research Symposium. Created in 2005, the semi-annual gathering gives undergraduates the opportunity to share their research and hone their presentation skills before peers and faculty.
“Working hands-on in a lab gives a new appreciation for how scientific data is obtained,” says Biology professor Anne Anderson, a symposium organizer and the college’s 2010 Undergraduate Research Mentor of the Year. “Conducting research and presenting one’s findings promotes confidence in abilities and a new way to interact with others outside the classroom. The students are getting more relaxed in this venue and it was a fun evening.”
“Working hands-on in a lab gives a new appreciation for how scientific data is obtained,” says Biology professor Anne Anderson, a symposium organizer and the college’s 2010 Undergraduate Research Mentor of the Year. “Conducting research and presenting one’s findings promotes confidence in abilities and a new way to interact with others outside the classroom. The students are getting more relaxed in this venue and it was a fun evening.”
The gathering featured a research poster competition with 22 undergraduate project entries.
Outstanding poster awards went to the following student researchers:
- Sherry Baker, “Understanding Melanoma and Carcinoma Metastasis,” faculty mentor: Daryll DeWald.
- Bryce Bott, “Endophytic Fungi in Some Desert Plants: A Preliminary Look at What’s There,” faculty mentor: Brad Kropp.
- Clay Gunnell, “Investigating the Endemicity of Aphonopelma Species (Araeae: Theraphosidae) in California’s Southern Coastal Ranges,” faculty mentor: James Pitts.
- Lyndie Jensen, “Expression and Purification of the Metastasis Suppressor KP-54,” faculty mentor: Daryll DeWald.
- Kyle Miller, “In Vitro Assessment of Antiviral Chemotherapy Against Drug-Resistant Influenza A/WSN/33 Virus Strains,” faculty mentor: Bart Tarbet.
Honorable mentions went to the following undergraduates:
- Clayton Bingham, “Analysis of Mammalian Size Distributions,” faculty mentor: Ethan White.
- Tasha Cosgrove and Nicole Peña, “Inheritance of Traits Mediating a Major Host Shift by a Seed Beetle,” faculty mentor: Frank Messina.
- Luis Darriba, “Phylogenetic Comparison of Bacteria from Fire-Impacted Sites,” faculty mentor: Anne Anderson.
- Cade Kowallis, “Cheatgrass Causes Variation in Nematode Populations,” faculty mentor: John Stark.
In addition to Anderson, judges for the competition were Biology Department faculty members Brett Adams, Mary Barkworth, MieJung Park, Will Popendorf, Dennis Welker and Ethan White.
Related links:
Contact: Anne Anderson, 435-797-3407, anderson@biology.usu.edu
Writer: Mary-Ann Muffoletto, 435-797-3517, maryann.muffoletto@usu.edu
Student Clay Gunnell was among five recipients of outstanding poster awards at the Spring 2010 Biology Undergraduate Research Symposium April 13 at USU.
Symposium coordinator Anne Anderson, left, professor and College of Science Undergraduate Research Mentor of the Year, meets with student Doug Holt at the gathering.
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