The UConn Office of Undergraduate Research recently announced the selection of 39 undergraduate students to receive 2022 Summer Undergraduate Research Fund (SURF) Awards in support of their summer undergraduate research projects.
Of those who received awards, 10 were MCB majors and include:
Katherine Bohner '23 (Molecular and Cell Biology, CLAS) Project Title: Loading and Localization of Iodine Nanoparticles (INPs) in Advanced Patient Derived Xenograft (PDX) High-Grade Gliomas (Glioblastoma Multiforme, GBM) with Closed and Open Blood-Brain Barriers (BBB) Faculty Mentor: Dr. Henry Smilowitz, Cell Biology
Nicole Calder '23 (Molecular and Cell Biology, CLAS) Project Title: Effects of Overexpression of Leucine-Rich Repeat-Containing G Protein-Coupled Receptor 6 (Lgr6) on Bone Tissue in Mice Faculty Mentor: Dr. Archana Sanjay, Orthopedic Surgery
Alex Clonan, Dec. '22 (Electrical Engineering, ENG; Molecular and Cell Biology, CLAS) Project Title: Developing a Physiologically Inspired Model of Human Speech Recognition in Noise Faculty Mentor: Dr. Monty Escabi, Electrical and Computer Engineering
Taylor Domingue '23 (Molecular and Cell Biology, CLAS) Project Title: Investigating the Biogenesis and Disassembly of F-Actin-Rich Cytoplasmic Territories During Intrinsic Apoptosis Faculty Mentor: Dr. Kenneth Campellone, Molecular and Cell Biology
Caryssa Drinkuth, Dec. '22 (Molecular and Cell Biology, CLAS) Project Title: Epigenetic-Based Therapeutics for Opioid Use Disorder Faculty Mentor: Dr. Gregory Sartor, Pharmaceutical Sciences
Rayna Esch '23 (Molecular and Cell Biology, CLAS) Project Title: Role of Perimuscular Connective Tissue Injury and Repair in Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva Faculty Mentor: Dr. David Goldhamer, Molecular and Cell Biology
Alexandra Goldhamer '23 (Molecular and Cell Biology & Human Rights, CLAS) Project Title: Defining the Neural Circuit Responsible for Diet-Induced Obesity Faculty Mentor: Dr. Natalie Sciolino, Physiology and Neurobiology
Abigail Interrante '24 (Molecular and Cell Biology, CLAS; Nutritional Sciences, CAHNR) Project Title: Obesity-Induced Metabolic Dysfunction and Inflammation in the CETP-ApoB100 Transgenic Mouse Model Faculty Mentor: Dr. Ji-Young Lee, Nutritional Sciences
Stephanie Schofield '23 (Molecular and Cell Biology, CLAS) Project Title: Investigating the Role of Sigma-S Regulated Genes on Antibiotic-Induced Stress Response and Treatment Failure Faculty Mentor: Dr. Wendy Mok, Molecular Biology and Biophysics
Emily Strickland '24 (Molecular and Cell Biology, CLAS) Project Title: Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis) Resistance in Pumpkin Ash (Fraxinus profunda) Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jill Wegrzyn, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
In addition, several undergraduates from different programs will be performing research in MCB laboratories this summer. They include:
Erik Choi '23 (Physiology and Neurobiology & Economics, CLAS) Project Title: Understanding the Fate of Stem Cells in FOP After Knockout of the Sox9 gene Faculty Mentor: Dr. David Goldhamer, Molecular and Cell Biology
Shane Connolly '23 (Biological Sciences, CLAS) Project Title: Impact of Protist Grazing on Medicago truncatula Through Alteration of Bacterial Community Structure Faculty Mentor: Dr. Daniel Gage, Molecular and Cell Biology
Nitanta Garag '23 (Biomedical Engineering, ENG) Project Title: The Relationship of Novel Human Genes to 3D Genome Organization and Function Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jelena Erceg, Molecular and Cell Biology
Milan Patel '23 (Physics, CLAS) Project Title: Modeling Accurately Matters: Characterizing Optimal Use of NOE Restraints for MD Simulation of Small Proteins and Peptides Faculty Mentor: Dr. Eric May, Molecular and Cell Biology
Romir Raj '24 (Biomedical Engineering, ENG) Project Title: The Role and Mechanism of Homologous Chromosome Pairing Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jelena Erceg, Molecular and Cell Biology
These UConn students were selected from an exceptionally strong group of applicants representing diverse areas of academic inquiry.
We congratulate them and wish them luck with their summer projects!