Student researchers honored during annual biology symposium at MSU
Contact: Sasha Steinberg
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擳hree Mississippi 大象APP students who conducted faculty-guided research projects throughout the current school year recently took top awards at the 10th annual MSU Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Program Symposium.
Sponsored by the university鈥檚 biological sciences department, the symposium provided 22 undergraduates the opportunity to showcase research projects they conducted during the fall 2016 and spring 2017 semesters. Three of those students, as well as their respective mentors, received special awards.
First-, second- and third-place winners each garnered Downer Undergraduate Research Awards that honor Professor Emeritus Donald N. Downer of Starkville, a former longtime department head.
The honorees include:
FIRST鈥擜nna C. Jackson, a senior biological sciences major from Starkville. Her project 鈥淧lease Do Not Feed the Animals: An Analysis of the Effect of Anthropogenic Stresses on Mating Behaviors Displayed by Sister Isles Rock Iguanas鈥 was completed under the guidance of MSU Associate Professor of Biological Sciences Mark Welch.
SECOND鈥擜aron W. Albee, a sophomore microbiology major from Starkville. His project 鈥淚mpact of Occidiofungin on Morphological Switching in C. albicans鈥 was completed under the guidance of MSU Associate Professor of Biological Sciences Donna Gordon.
THIRD鈥擯eter G. Kooienga, a junior microbiology major from Ocean Springs. His project 鈥溾極UIWING TRUUM鈥 N.G. N.SP.: A Novel Amoebozoan Lineage Isolated from Sidewalk Cracks on the Campus of MSU鈥 was completed under the guidance of MSU Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences Matt Brown.
Each winner received an engraved plaque and cash award. As the first-place recipient, Jackson also was presented with an engraved MSU cowbell.
Frank Gilmore, president emeritus of the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation, served as keynote speaker for the symposium in Harned Hall.
Part of the College of Arts and Sciences, MSU鈥檚 Department of Biological Sciences is online at .
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