Senior Biology Majors Awarded Prizes and Presented Capstone Research at District Symposium
Posted on Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Seven Westminster College senior biology majors presented their capstone research projects at the annual Tri-Beta District 3 Biology Symposium March 20 at Gannon University.
Westminster was recognized as the college with the most students represented at the symposium.
Samantha Botzum earned first prize in her section for her poster "Detection of GABAergic Interneurons within the Lateral Horn of Drosophila melanogaster." The award includes a wall plaque and a grant to use for travel expenses to the National Tri-Beta Symposium in Colorado in May.
Botzum is a daughter of Donn and Joanne Botzum of Medina, Ohio, and a graduate of Highland High School. Her research adviser was Dr. Katherine Robertson, Westminster assistant professor of biology.
Chase Saraiva, a molecular biology major, earned second place in his section with "Inhibition of Biofilm Formation in Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae Using siHybrid Mediated Silencing."
Saraiva is a son of Fernando and Trudy Saraiva of Camp Hill and a graduate of Cedar Cliff High School. His research was supervised by Dr. Joshua Corrette-Bennett, Westminster associate professor of biology.
Julia Barker, a molecular biology major, presented "Suppression of Ampicillin Resistance in Escherichia coli Using a Variety of Short Double-Stranded Oligonucleotides." Barker is a daughter of William and Deborah Nichols of Kennerdell and a graduate of Franklin Area High School. Her research adviser was Corrette-Bennett.
Sirena Coon, a molecular biology major, presented "Expression of Hox genes in Axolotls, Ambystoma mexicanum, during Forelimb and Hindlimb Regeneration." Coon is a daughter of William and Susan Coon of Franklin and a graduate of West Forest High School. Her research was conducted under Corrette-Bennett's supervision.
Emily Fink, a molecular biology major, presented "Specific Inhibition of Operon-Based Biofilm Synthesis in Staphylococcus aureus Using siHybrids." Fink is a daughter of Walter and Cynthia Fink of Stow, Ohio, and a graduate of Stow-Munroe Falls High School. Her research was supervised by Corrette-Bennett.
Natasha Goldberg presented "Evaluation of the Effectiveness of a Transgenic Zebrafish BMP Reporter Line Using BMP Antagonists and a Bone Morphogenic Protein." Goldberg is a daughter of Gayle Hess, Pittsburgh, and David Goldberg, New Castle, and a graduate of Schenley High School. Her research advisers were Dr. Marosh Furimsky, Westminster assistant professor of biology, and Dr. M. Tsang at the University of Pittsburgh.
Brandy Neely, a molecular biology major, presented "The Effect of Varying Concentrations of a-phenyl-tert-butyl nitrone on the Rate of Digit Formation in Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) Limb Regeneration." Neely is a daughter of Yvonne Neely, Prospect, and Jeffrey Neely and a graduate of Slippery Rock Area High School. Corrette-Bennett was her research adviser.
Contact Robertson at (724) 946-7213 or e-mail robertkl@westminster.edu for more information.
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