Budding researchers
UD undergrads to present research at minority student conference
10:07 a.m., Nov. 4, 2011--Addressing topics as diverse as the importance of kinship networks to African American single mothers, to the effect of viper venom proteins on melanoma cells, eight University of Delaware students will present their research at the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS), Nov. 9–12, in St. Louis.
Three of the students — Angelica Montes, Sharrone Temple and Rohan Patel — won competitive funding awards from ABRCMS to support their travel to the conference.
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Now in its 11th year, ABRCMS is designed to encourage underrepresented minority students to pursue advanced education in the biomedical and behavioral sciences, including mathematics, and to provide faculty mentors and advisers with resources for facilitating student success.
UD’s student participants will present research they worked on this past summer with faculty mentors, according to Rosalind Johnson, who directs the Network of Undergraduate Collaborative Learning Experiences for Underrepresented Scholars (NUCLEUS) program and the Arts and Humanities Summer Institute, both programs of the Alliance for Summer Scholars at UD. The alliance includes more than a dozen summer experiential programs across the University.
“Our summer alliance programs continue to work with each other throughout the year supporting undergraduate research at the University,” Johnson said. “Last year only one UD student went to this conference, so we are very excited to have so many UD students attending this year.”
Stacey Chambers, a senior from Wilmington, Del., majoring in human development and family studies, will present “African American Single Motherhood: The Strengths of Kinship Networks.” Her faculty mentor was Bahira Sherif Trask. Chambers is a student in the McNair Scholars Program at UD.
Michelle Francis, a junior from Wilmington, Del., majoring in medical technology, will present “Crosslinking Venom Protein to Melanoma Cells.” Her faculty mentor was Mary Ann McLane. Francis is a student in the Idea Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) and the Network of Undergraduate Collaborative Learning Experiences for Underrepresented Scholars (NUCLEUS) programs.
Alexia Hay, a junior from Randolph, Mass., majoring in exercise science, will present “Effect of Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injury on Vertical Ground Reaction Forces During Walking in Non-Copers.” She was mentored by Lynn Snyder-Mackler. Hay is a student in the INBRE/NUCLEUS programs.
Jeffrey Lopez, a senior from Washington, D.C., majoring in biochemistry, will present the “Behavior of D Dihydrouridine Synthase in Escherichia coli.” Lopez is a student in the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) and NUCLEUS programs. He was mentored by Bruce A. Palfrey at the University of Michigan.
Angelica Montes, a junior Honors Program student from Bear, Del., majoring in medical technology, will present “The Role of Medical Interpreters in Health Care Delivery.” Her faculty mentor was Barret Michalec. She is a student in the McNair Scholars/NUCLEUS programs.
Rohan Patel, a sophomore Honors Program student from Greenville, Del., majoring in quantitative biology, will present “Structure and Dynamics of the A2A Adenosine G-Protein Coupled Receptor.” His faculty mentor was Edward Lyman. Patel is a student in the HHMI/NUCLEUS programs.
Kendall Poole, a junior from Newark, Del., majoring in exercise science, will present “Impaired Control of Quick Movements in People with Parkinson’s Disease.” He is a student in the McNair Scholars Program. His faculty mentor was Christopher Knight.
Sharonne Temple, a senior from Smyrna, Del., majoring in biology, will present “Zinc Inhibits the Fibrillization of the Amyloidogenic SEVI Precursor, PAP248-286.” She was mentored by Ayyalusamy Ramamoorthy at the University of Michigan. She is a student in the HHMI, McNair and NUCLEUS programs.
Article by Tracey Bryant
Photos by Evan Krape and Kathy F. Atkinson