For the Love of Science

Student Research Week highlights

• By Suzanna Cisneros
• April 4, 2016

The next generation of biomedical researchers were showcased at this year’s Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences 28^th Annual Student Research Week. Every year the students organize Student Research Week to showcase research from all of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) schools.

 

The theme for this year’s Student Research Week was “Molecular Basis of Life + Disease.”

 

“The essence of our theme was featured with our keynote speakers and student speakers whose research explores the scientific basis of how life works at a molecular level and how this understanding can help treat disease,” said Bala Meenakshi-Purna, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences student and event chair.

 

The Student Research Week committee included Meenakshi-Purna, Dylan Meyer, Narong Sok and Jessica Smith. Along with distinguished seminar presentations, students from different disciplines participated in a poster competition. Students presented research projects to faculty and peers.

 

The Student Research Week keynote speakers included Susan Amara, Ph.D., scientific director at the National Institute of Mental Health and National Institutes of Health, and Mario Capecchi, Ph.D.,whois renowned for his pioneering research on gene targeting in mouse embryo-derived stem cells. He was awarded the 2007 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

 

The Graduate School Association also hosted a Student Research Week dinner. The event included a silent auction, which raised more than $3,000 for scholarships.  Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences departments generously gave donations of $3,300. Twelve $500 scholarships were awarded to students. The GSA leadership team includes Cynthia Reinoso Webb, president, Courtney Jarvis, vice president, Somnath Pandey, public relations. Ravi Rajmohan, treasurer, and Derek Fleming, Dattesh Verlekar and Riccay Elizondo, Student Government Association senators.

 

Brandt Schneider, Ph.D., dean of the TTUHSC Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, said student committees and participants made Student Research Week a great success.

 

“This year, we had a tremendous turn out from all TTUHSC schools,” Schneider said.  “Student Research Week provides our colleagues at TTUHSC and the community a glimpse into the quality of TTUHSC student researchers.”

 

2016 Student Research Week Awardees

 

Third and Fourth Year Doctoral Students

First: Somnath Pandey

Second: Balakrishna Koneru

Third: Srinivasan Krishnan

 

First and Second Year Doctoral Students

First: Dylan Meyer

Second: Hannah Zhao-Fleming

Third: Tammy Nguyen

 

Master’s Students

First: Sara Powell

Second: David Curtis

Third: Katie Higgins

 

Undergraduates

First: Cody Fell

Second: Dalia Martinez-Marin

Third: Helen Scott

 

Third and Fourth Year School of Medicine Students

First: Jessica Turner

Second: Zoya Moghal

Third: Kenneth Verlage

 

First and Second Year School of Medicine Students

First: Victoria Burton

Second: Morgan Quezada

Third-place: Cheyenne Mangold and Suzanne Alkul (tie)

 

School of Medicine Residents and Fellows

First: David Pate (presented by Katherine Snodgrass)

Second: Brandon Trojan

Third: Byungkwan Hwang

 

School of Nursing Students

Graduate

First: Amy Hopkins and Krista Singleton

Second: David Deabreu and Monica Sherman

 

Undergraduate

First: Karyss McCullar and Jennifer Collins

Second: Katie May, Olivia Mazade and Morgan Nance

 

School of Health Professions Students

First: Marcy Lau

Second: Deanna Wann

Third: John Pape