The Environmental Factor – May 2019: Young Scientists Shine at the Spring Symposium

The NIEHS Scholars Connect Program (NSCP) marked the end of its 2018-2019 training on April 19 with its annual Spring Symposium. Each of the ten undergraduate researchers formally presented her work.

Mackenzie Roberts, of Duke University, and Susanna Kaffer, of North Carolina State University (NCSU), received first prize. Hannah Schrader, also of NCSU, received an honorable mention.

“I am so proud of all these young ladies,” said Erica Reed, PhD, director of the NIEHS Office of Science Education and Diversity. “They did a great job.”

Chandra Jackson, Ph.D., chaired the symposium. She leads the NIEHS Social and Environmental Determinants Group for Health Equity.

From the right, notable scholars are Kaffir, Roberts and Schrader, who have been given an honorable mention. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

Three are recognized as the best scholars

The selection of an outstanding scholar is based on activities conducted throughout the year, including attendance, presentations, and feedback from mentors. The competition was intense.

“I really appreciate all the support and guidance I’ve received,” Roberts said. She studied the effects of inflammatory protein pools, called ASCs, on brain cells. “We isolated the spots from the activated cells, and then treated [other cells] With stains to see how the cells responded. “

“McKenzie was a great choice for us,” said her mentor, GJ (Jean) Harry, PhD, head of the Neurotoxicology group for the National Toxicology Program (NTP). “She has interest, ability, and confidence. And she has fun.”

Curiosity and work ethic – a winning combination

Kaffer touched on the question of why Clomid, a common infertility medication, works better for some women than others. She studied a condition called unexplained infertility, looking for links between thinner endometriosis after clomid treatment and changes in estrogen response and inflammation.

They grow in confidence from the day they enter our door. Erica Reid

Her mentor, Steve Wu, PhD, of the Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory (RDBL), said Kaffer has curiosity, an important characteristic of a successful scientist. “Suzy is a dedicated researcher who is willing to get out of her comfort zone and spend time tackling scientific questions,” Wu said.

Schrader discovered how mutations in a gene called RMRP affected mitochondrial dysfunction in developing zebrafish. These mutations can cause hypoplasia of cartilage and hair, known as severe dwarfism, in humans.

NSCP helps build networks

This year, for the first time, the deans of graduate admissions from NCSU, Duke University School of Medicine, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) participated in the program’s seminar series. In another start, each entry presented her work at a forum or conference outside of the NIEHS, although doing so is not a requirement of the programme.

“It’s amazing that students can build the networks and feedback they get,” said National Schistosomiasis Control Program coordinator Suchchandra Bhattacharjee, Ph.D.

From left, Bhattacharjee and the 2018-2019 NSCP class – Parks, Qureshi, Hussam, Lawrence, Roberts, Lula, Potts, Kaffir, Ross and Schrader, with Reid. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

Building confidence

“For a lot of them, the most important thing they do is ‘I can do it,’” Reid said. “They grow in confidence from the day they walk in our door.”

“These scholars also have their school work, school graduation applications, and serve as ambassadors for the National Schistosomiasis Control Program in the Community,” Bhattacharjee noted. “They all have excellent work ethic.”

Since 2012, the NSCP has recruited students from underrepresented groups for research and extension training at NIEHS through three-semester paid internships, starting in June. The program supports the objective of the NIEHS Strategic Plan to enhance a diverse workforce in the environmental health sciences by encouraging scientists to pursue careers in the field or in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

“I’ve been on the NSCP since its inception, and it has grown into an amazing program,” said Harry.

The 2019-2020 program will begin June 3 with 10 participants from Saint Augustine University, William University of Peace, North Carolina Central University, NCSU, and UNC.

(John Yewell is a contract writer for the NIEHS Office of Communications and Public Liaison.)

from San Jose News Bulletin https://sjnewsbulletin.com/the-environmental-factor-may-2019-young-scientists-shine-at-the-spring-symposium/