Six Westminster College senior molecular biology majors received undergraduate research grants from Westminster's Drinko Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning.

Julia Barker, a daughter of William and Deborah Nichols of Kennerdell, is a graduate of Franklin Area High School. Her research project is "Suppression of Ampicillin Resistance in Escherichia coli using a Variety of Short Double Strand Oligonucleotides."

Sirena Coon, a daughter of William and Susan Coon of Oil City, is a graduate of West Forest High School. Her research is "Expression of Hox Genes in Axolotls, Ambystoma mexicanum, during Forelimb and Hindlimb Regeneration."

Emily Fink, a daughter of Walter and Cynthia Fink of Stow, Ohio, is a graduate of Stow-Munroe Falls High School. Her research is "Specific Inhibition of Operon-Based Biofilm Synthesis in Staphylococcus aureus using RNA Interference."

Joseph Mack, a son of Maragaret Kolin of New Castle, is a graduate of Neshannock High School. His research project is "Suppression of Tetracycline Resistance in Escherichia coli using siHybrids."

Brandy Neely, a daughter of Yvonne Neely of Prospect and Jeffrey Neely, is a graduate of Slippery Rock Area High School. Her research is "The Effect of Varying Concentrations of α-phenyl-tert-butyl Nitrone on the Rate of Digit Formation and HoxA13 Expression in Axolotl Limb Regeneration."

Chase Saraiva, a son of Fernando and Trudy Saraiva of Camp Hill, is a graduate of Cedar Cliff High School. His research is "Inhibition of Biofilm Formation within the Bacterium Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae using siHybrids."

Coon and Neely are studying gene expression and rates of digit formation during salamander limb regeneration. Barker, Fink, Mack, and Saraiva are assessing the possibility of using RNAi to suppress antibiotic resistance and biofilm formation in prokaryotic organisms.

The students are advised by Dr. Joshua Corrette-Bennett, Westminster associate professor of biology.

"I look forward to working with each of these students as they break new ground in their respective fields of interest," Corrette-Bennett said. "I am very appreciative of the resources provided by the Drinko Center, which make these types of student research projects possible."

The Drinko Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning was created to enrich undergraduate education at Westminster through advancing world-class teaching as well as by participating in collaborations that address community and regional needs including strengthening K-12 education. The Undergraduate Research Initiative provides funding for students to conduct research and to present their research at regional and national conferences.

All grant recipients have the opportunity to participate in Westminster's Undergraduate Research Symposium in April.

Contact Corrette-Bennett at (724) 946-7208 or e-mail corretjc@westminster.edu for additional information about the research. Visit www.westminster.edu/drinko for more information about the Drinko Center.