HHMI 
 Undergraduate Research Scholars 
 Summer 2006

  Thirty-one students were selected to be HHMI Research Scholars for the Summer 2006. They include seniors, juniors, and a sophomore from the University of Delaware, three students from Lincoln University, and one from Delaware State University.

Bisola Awoyemi, Lincoln University Brian Grindel,  Biology Ritika Samant,  Biology
Aly Bourreza, Biochemistry Caitlin Haag,  Biology Jennifer Schnitker,  Chemistry
Karla Boyd,  Biology Lindsay Higdon,  Biology Daniel Silverio, Chemistry
Owen Brady, Biology James Kelleher, Biology Alfred Smith, Biochemistry
Colleen Cheong, Biology Evan LeBois, Biochemistry Sara Sterling,  Biology
Talisha Cox, Lincoln University Gregory Madden,  Biology Brittany Stokes, Lincoln University
Corinne Decker, Biology Rowan Michael,  Biology Joshua Stottmann,  Chemical Engineering
Chaitu Devulapalli, Biology Andrea Passarelli,  Chemistry Sarah Swain, Biochemistry
Michael Dignan,  Chemical Engineering Anant Patel, Biochemistry Javier Velasquez, Chemical Engineering
Charles Drummer, Biology Matthew Rosborough,  Chemical Engineering Franck Yehiri, Delaware State University


Lum Zoni,  Biochemistry




Bisola Awoyemi

Lincoln University





Research Mentor:
Jeffrey B. Rosen, Pyschology

Project Title:  Expression of The Genes Egr-1 and C-Fos in the Brain of Rats Following Exposure to a Predator Odor

Presentation: Summer 2006 Symposium,


Aly Bourreza
Biochemistry '08
Research Mentor: John Koh, Chemistry and Biochemistry

Project Title: Effects of Anti-Androgens on Androgen Receptor Cells

Honors, Awards, and Activities: 2007 Quaesita Drake Scolarship to outstanding Senior  woman in Chemistry and Biochemistry, Study Abroad Ambassador, Coxswain Men's Crew Team, Third Place 2007 Sigma Xi Sundergraduate Research Symposium Talk,

Presentation: Summer 2006 Symposium, ASBMB Undergraduate Poster Competition Experimental Biology Meetings April 2007, Washington, DC, Summer 2007 Symposium, ASBMB Undergraduate Poster Competition Experimental Biology Meetings April 2008, San Diego, CA.,

  
Karla Boyd
Biology '07
Research Mentor: Carlton Cooper, Biological Sciences

Project Title: The Affects of Bone Marrow Components on Akt and FAK Activation

Honors, Awards, and Activities: Phi Kappa Phi, Beta Beta Beta Biology Honor Society, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, Honors Degree with distinction

Presentations: Summer 2005 Symposium, Summer 2006 Symposium, National American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), April 14-18, 2007 Los Angeles.

Fall 2007: MD/PhD program Boston University


 
Owen Brady
Biology '08
Research Mentor:  Deni Galileo, Biological Sciences

Project Title:
Assessing Effects of Carbon Nanobombs on Cancer Cells

Honors, Awards, and Activities:

Presentation:
Summer 2006 SymposiumSummer 2007 Symposium,


 
Colleen Cheong

Biology '08
Research Mentor: Ulhas Naik, Department of Biological Sciences

Project Title: Developmental Expression Pattern of Calcium and Integrin Binding Protein 1 (CIB-1)

Honors, Awards, and Activities: Alpha Lambda Delta First  Year Honor Society, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society,

Presentation: Summer 2005 Symposium, Summer 2006 Symposium, Summer 2007 Symposium


Talisha Cox,

Lincoln University




Research Mentor: Thomas Hanson, College of Marine Studies and Delaware Biotechnology Institute

Project Title: Tellurium resistant marine microorganisms

Presentation:
Summer 2005 Symposium
Summer 2006 Symposium,

Corinne Decker
Biology '08
Research Mentor:  Melinda Duncan, Biological Sciences

Project Title: Beta-crystallin regulation of the lens cytoskeleton

Honors and Awards: 2nd place Biochemistry and Molecular biology 4 at University of Maryland Baltimore County  9th Annual Undergraduarte Research Symposium Oct 2006, Second Place 2007 Sigma Xi Undergraduate Research Symposium Talk,

Presentation: Summer 2006 Symposium, UMBC 2006 Undergraduate Research Symposium, Experimental Biology Meetings April 2007, Washington, DC, 2007 Fight for Sight Summer Fellowship, Summer 2007 Symposium,

 
Chaitu Devulapalli 
Biology '07
Research Mentor: Jeffrey Rosen, Psychology

Project Title: Increase in egr-1 Protein after Fear Conditioning of Rats

Presentation: Summer 2006 Symposium, Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society,

Fall 2007:


Michael Dignan

Chemical Engineering '08

Research Mentor: Roberta Colman, Chemistry and Biochemistry

Project Title: Modifying ASL to Create a More Stable Enzyme

Honors, Awards, and Activities: 2007 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Junior Award, 2007 Stanley Jacob Schechter Award to junior student in Chemical Engineering with disctiction in arts, humanities and/or social sciences, Summer 2007 HHMI Scholar,  

Presentations: Summer 2006 Symposium Summer 2007 Symposium,  


Charles Drummer
Biology '08

Research Mentor:
Morris Birnbaum, HHMI Investigator, University of Pennsylvania

Project Title: Regulation of Lipid Metabolism in Drosophila

Honors, Awards, and Activities: HHMI 2006 Summer EXROP Scholar, Alpha Lambda Delta First  Year Honor Society, United Negro College Fund (UNCF)-Merck Undergraduate Science Research Scholarship Award for 2007-08,

Presentations: First Place Poster, Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS) Nov. 2006, Anaheim, CA, Experimental Biology Meetings April 2007, Washington, DC,


Brian Grindel

Biology '08

Research Mentor:  Mary Farach-Carson, Biological Sciences

Project Title: Evaluation of Candidate Serum and Tissue Biomarkers in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Honors, Awards, and Activities: 2007 Barry  M. Goldwater Scholarship, 2007 Richard M. Johnson Jr. Memorial Award to junior biological sciences major.

Presentations: Summer 2006 Symposium, Summer 2007 SymposiumASBMB Undergraduate Poster Competition Experimental Biology Meetings April 2008, San Diego, CA.,


 
Caitlin Haag
Biology '08
Research Mentor: Randall Duncan, Biological Sciences

Project Title: Determine Effect of Mechanical Stimulus on Ahnak Expression

Honors, Awards, and Activities:  Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society,

Presentation: Summer 2006 Symposium, Undergraduate Poster Competition at the 2007 Experimental Biology  Meetings in Washington DC

   
Lindsay Higdon 
Biology '07
Research Mentor: Deni Galileo, Biological Sciences

Project Title:  Effect of Bcl-2 on Apoptosis on the Developing Chick Embryo Brain

Honors, Awards, and Activities: Alpha Lambda Delta, NSCS, and Kappa Alpha Theta, Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society,  Degree with Distinction.

Presentations: Summer 2005 Symposium, Summer 2006 Symposium, Honorable Mention in the ASBMB Undergraduate Poster Competition at the 2007 Experimental Biology  Meetings in Washington, DC,

 
Fall 2007: MD Program University of Maryland School of Medicine.

James Kelleher 
Biology '07
Research Mentor: David Usher, Biological Sciences

Project Title:  The function of Spot 14 in Adipocytes

Honors, Awards, and Activities: Coordinator ACS Student Affiliate Mentor Program, Honors Degree with distinction.

Presentations: Summer 2005 Symposium. ASBMB Undergraduate Poster Competition, San Francisco, CA April 2006, Summer 2006 Symposium, Merck Index Award in Chemistry, ASBMB Undergraduate Poster Competition at the 2007 Experimental Biology  Meetings in Washington, DC,

Fall 2007: Postbaccalaureate Intramural Research Training Award at the National Institutes of Health

 
Evan LeBois
Biochemistry '07
Research Mentor: Erica Selva, Biological Sciences

Project Title: Phenotypic Characterization of Alg10 in Drosophila

Honors, Awards, and Activities: Beta Beta Beta Biology Honor Society, Charles Peter White Scholar 2005, 2nd place Biological Sciences 3 at University of Matryland Baltimore County  9th Annual Undergraduarte Research Symposium Oct 2006, 2007 Sigma Xi Undergraduate Honors Thesis Award, Degree with Distinction, Imperial College  London Summer Exchange Program 2007.

Presentations: Summer 2005 Symposium, Summer 2006 Symposium, UMBC 2006 Undergraduate Research Symposium, ASBMB Undergraduate Poster Competition and symposium presentation at the 2007 Experimental Biology  Meetings in Washington, DC, 2007 Sigma Xi Undergraduate Thesis Award.

Fall 2007: Graduate School in Pharmacology at Vanderbilt University


 
Gregory Madden
Biology '08
Research Mentor: Randall Duncan, Biological Sciences

Project Title:
Control of Cellular Tension by Actin Fibers in Osteoblasts

Honors, Awards, and Activities:  2007 Summer HHMI Scholar,

Presentations:
Summer 2006 Symposium,
Poster at the 2007 Experimental Biology  Meetings in Washington, DC, Summer 2007 Symposium, ASBMB Undergraduate Poster Competition Experimental Biology Meetings April 2008, San Diego, CA.,

 
Rowan Michael
Biology '08
Research Mentor: Patricia DeLeon, Biological Sciences

Project Title:  Vesicular Transport and Cytoplasmic Droplet Genesis in Sperm

Honors, Awards, and Activities: Alpha Lambda Delta First  Year Honor Society, National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Summer 2007 HHMI Scholar,

Presentation: Summer 2006 Symposium, Summer 2007 Symposium

  

Andrea Passarelli
Chemistry '08
Research Mentor: Douglass Taber, Chemistry and Biochemistry

Project Title: Stereoselectivity of Allylic Ester Addition by HSnBu3

Honors, Awards, and Activities: Vice President ACS Student Affiliate, 2007 Quaesita Drake Scolarship to outstanding Senior  woman in Chemistry and Biochemistry, Summer 2007 HHMI Scholar Resident Assistant,

Presentations: Summer 2006 Symposium, Summer 2007 Symposium 71st Intercollegiate Student Chemists' Conference April 2007 Salisbury University


Anant Patel
Biochemistry '07
Research Mentor:  Tatyana Polenova, Chemistry and Biochemistry

Project Title: Double quantum filtering NMR to analyze the nuclear pulposus

Honors, Awards, and Activities: PBL Peer facilitator in CHEM-342

Presentation: Summer 2006 Symposium,

Fall 2007:

Matthew Rosborough
 
Chemical Engineering '07
Research Mentor: Eric Furst, Chemical Engineering

Project Title: Nonlinear Microrheology and Micromechanics

Honors and Awards: Amerandas Hess Corporation Award to Jr Chemical Engineer, Chemical Engineering Class of 1952 Scholarship, 2007 Chemical Engineering Alumni Laboratory Award, 2007 Chemical Engineering Inductrial Sponsors Undergraduate Research Award.

Presentation: Summer 2006 Symposium, Senior Thesis defense

Fall 2007:
Process Engineer at Invista, Seaford, DE

 
  Ritika Samant
Biology '09
Research Mentor: Ulhas Niak, Biological Sciences

Project Title: Role of JAM-A in Breast Cancer Cell Growth and Metastasis

<>Honors, Awards, and Activities: 2007 Beckman Scholar, First Prize 10th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium in the Chemical and Biological Sciences, 2008-9 Goldwater Scholar,

Presentation:
Summer 2006 Symposium,
Summer 2007 Symposium, Alpha Lambda Delta First Year Honor Society,

 
Jennifer Schnitker
Chemistry '08

Research Mentor: Honors, Awards, and Activities:Klaus THeopold, Chemistry and Biochemistry

Project Title: Tris(pyrazolyl)borate Complexes: Synthesis and Analysis

Honors, Awards, and Activities: Coordinator ACS Student Affiliate Mentor Program, Summer 2007 HHMI Scholar,

Presentation: Summer 2006 Symposium, Summer 2007 Symposium,

  
Daniel Silverio 
Chemistry '07
Research Mentor: Douglass Taber, Chemistry and Biochemistry

Project Title: Synthesis of asymmetrical pyrazine compounds

Honors, Awards, and Activities: Sophomore class representative to the  Chemistry and Biochemistry Undergraduate Curriculum Committee, Secretary ACS Student Affiliates, 2005 HHMI Summer Scholar

Presentation: Summer 2005 Symposium, Summer 2006 Symposium, UMBC 2006 Undergraduate Research Symposium, 2007 Amierican Institute of Chemists Award in Chemistry, 2007 Gene J. and Frances E. Schiavelli Undergraduate Research Fellowship for student with special promise as a research scientist, Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society, poster at 2007 ACS Meeting, Chicago, IL, 71st Intercollegiate Student Chemists' Conference April 2007 Salisbury University

Fall 2007: PhD program in Chemistry, Boston College

Alfred Smith
Biochemistry '07

Research Mentor: Neal Zondlo, Chemistry and Biochemistry

Project Title: Synthesis of Polyguanidiniums via Alpha Guanidino Acids

Honors, Awards, and Activities: PLTL Peer-facilitator in Chemistry, PBL Peer facilitator in CHEM-342, 2005 HHMI Summer Scholar.

Presentations: Summer 2005 Symposium. ASBMB Undergraduate Poster Competition, San Francisco, CA April 2006, Summer 2006 Symposium,

Fall 2007: Medical School


Sara Sterling
Biology '07
Research Mentor: David Usher, Biological Sciences

Project Title: The Regulation of ABCG1 and ABCA1 in Cholesterol Efflux

Honors, Awards, and Activities:
  Alpha Lambda Delta, Phi Sigma Tau, Degree with distinction.

Presentation: Summer 2006 Symposium,

Fall 2007:


Brittany Stokes

Lincoln University




Research Mentor: 
Patricia DeLeon, Biological Sciences

Project Title:
SPAM1 Expression in Prostate cancer- a Possible Marker for Metastatic Tumor

Presentation: Summer 2006 Symposium,
 
Joshua Stottmann
Chemical Engineering '08
Research Mentor: Anne Robinson, Chemical Engineering

Project Title:  High Level Expression & Characterization of GPCR

Presentation: Summer 2006 Symposium,

 
   Sarah Swain
Biochemistry '07

Research Mentor: Vicky Funanage, A. I. duPont Hospital for Children

Project Title: Targeted Gene Repair in the SMA causing gene, SMN

Honors, Awards, and Activities: President of the Undergraduate Associates of the Ameriocan Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Historian for Beta Beta Beta Biology Honor Society.

Presentation: Summer 2006 Symposium, ASBMB Undergraduate Poster Competition at the 2007 Experimental Biology  Meetings in Washington, DC

Fall 2007: Research Biochemist, A. I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE.
 
Javier Velasquez
Chemical Engineering '07
Research Mentor: Anne Robinson, Chemical Engineering

Project Title: In Vitro Characterization of GPCRs

Honors, Awards, and Activities:  2004 HHMI Summer Scholar

Publication: Steven E. Bane, Javier E. Velasquez, and Anne Skaja Robinson, Expression and Purification of Milligram Levels of Inactive G-Protein Coupled Receptors in E. coli, Protein Expression and Purification, Protein Expr Purif 52(2): 348-55.

Presentation:
2004 Summer Research Symposium
, Summer 2006 Symposium,

Fall 2007:

      

      

        

Franck Yehiri

Delaware State University


Research Mentor:
Mary C. Farach-Carson, Biological Sciences

Project Title: Heparanase in the Mediation of Growth Factor Delivery During Endochondral Ossification

Presentation: Summer 2006 Symposium,

2007 Plans: Graduate School at Rutgers University
 
   Chati Lum Zony
Biochemistry '08

Research Mentor: Roberta Colman, Chemistry and Biochemistry

Project Title: Isolation and characterization of GST pi and JNK

Honors, Awards, and Activities: Delaware African Student Association, National Society of Collegiate Scholars, McNair Scholar, Summer 2007 HHMI Scholar,

Presentation: Summer 2006 Symposium, First Place Poster, Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS) Nov. 2006, Anaheim, CA, Summer 2007 Symposium,



Return to HHMI Undergraduate Research Scholars Page, University of Delaware HHMI Home Page
Created 14 May 2006, Last up-dated 29 April 2008 by Hal White [halwhite at udel.edu]
Copyright 2006, Harold B. White, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Delaware