Reception honors students, mentors in NIH science programs


LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas Office for Diversity in Science Training hosted its seventh annual Fall Reception, which honors students and faculty mentors at KU and Haskell Indian Nations University participating in 2013-2014 programs funded by the National Institutes of Health to encourage underserved students to pursue careers in biomedical science.

The reception took place at 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24, in the Bruckmiller Room of the Adams Alumni Center. All KU faculty and staff were invited to attend to support the participants and mentors of these programs.

The director of KU's Office for Diversity in Science Training, James Orr, recognized 50 students who are returning and newly selected participants in five NIH-supported programs at KU and Haskell: Bridges to the Baccalaureate, Initiative for Maximizing Student Development, Institutional Research and Academic Career Development Award, Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program and Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement.

Estela Gavosto, associate director of the Office for Diversity in Science Training, announced the 2013 faculty mentor of the year, Teruna Siahaan from the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry. The mentor of the year is nominated by ODST students who worked in a research lab under the mentorship of the faculty member. This award was established in 2006 to recognize exceptional faculty mentors who engage students in research in their labs and make the success of these training programs possible.

More information on Office for Diversity in Science Training programs can be found online.

Participants are listed below by hometown, university, tribal affiliations (if applicable), major, NIH program and faculty mentor.

  • Montana Barnes, of Wellsville, is a junior at Haskell Indian Nations University studying environmental science. Barnes is part of Bridge working with Joy Ward, associate professor in the department of ecology and evolutionary biology. Barnes is affiliated with the Cherokee Tribe.
  • Albert Baxter, of Yuma, Ariz., is a junior at Haskell Indian Nations University studying environmental science. Baxter is part of Bridge working with Carole Tomlinson of Haskell Indian Nations University. Baxter is affiliated with the Fort Yuma Quechan Tribe.
  • Brook Bayless, of Topeka, is a sophomore at Haskell Indian Nations University studying environmental science. Bayless is part of Bridge working with Helen Alexander, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology. Bayless is affiliated with the Cherokee Tribe.
  • Chelsea Burgess, of Winslow, Ariz., is a junior at Haskell Indian Nations University studying environmental science. Burgess is part of Bridge working with Townsend Peterson, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology. Burgess is affiliated with the Comanche Tribe.
  • Jacob Dixon, of Vernonia, Ore., is a junior at Haskell Indian Nations University studying environmental science. Dixon is part of Bridge and is affiliated with the Seneca-Cayuga Tribe.
  • Mary Iorio, of Mandaree, N.D., is a junior at Haskell Indian Nations University studying environmental science. Iorio is part of Bridge working with Alex Brewer, an IRACDA researcher. Iorio is affiliated with the Hidatsa/Kiowa tribes.
  • Corey Leroy, of Lawrence, is a senior at Haskell Indian Nations University studying environmental science. Leroy is part of Bridge. Leroy is affiliated with the Northern Ponca Tribe.
  • Nikolai Nez, of Leupp, Ariz., is a senior at Haskell Indian Nations University studying medical laboratory science. Nez is part of Bridge working with Matthew Buechner, associate professor of molecular biosciences. Nez is affiliated with the Navajo Tribe.
  • Jacob Stops, of Billings, Mont., is a senior at Haskell Indian Nations University studying molecular biology. Stops is part of Bridge working with Liang Xu, associate professor of molecular biosciences. Stops is affiliated with the Crow Tribe.
  • Wes Stops, of Billings, Mont., is a senior at Haskell Indian Nations University studying environmental science. Stops is part of Bridge working with Cory Berkland, professor of chemical & petroleum engineering. Stops is affiliated with the Crow Tribe.
  • Justin Bauswell, of Kansas City, Kan., is a junior at Haskell Indian Nations University studying environmental science. Bauswell is part of the Bridge Program. Bauswell is affiliated with the Cherokee Nations Tribe.
  • Tyler Berry, of Sapulpa, Okla., is a junior at KU studying mechanical engineering. Berry is part of IMSD working with Holly Storkel, associate professor of speech-language-hearing. Berry is affiliated with the Cherokee Tribe.
  • Taylor Broadhead, of Topeka, is a junior at KU studying ecology & evolutionary biology. Broadhead is part of IMSD working Rafe Brown, associate professor of ecology & evolutionary biology.
  • Kimberly Cole, of Wichita, is a junior at KU studying chemical & petroleum engineering. Cole is part of IMSD working with Lorin Maletsky, associate professor of mechanical engineering.
  • Eder Davila-Contreras, of Lawrence, is a junior at KU studying biochemistry. Davila-Contreras is part of IMSD working with Wonpil Im, associate professor of molecular biosciences.
  • Carlos Fernandez, of Overland Park, is a junior at KU studying mechanical engineering. Fernandez is part of IMSD working with Lingjia Liu, assistant professor of electrical engineering and computer science.
  • Marcus Florez, of Bel Aire, is a junior at KU studying biochemistry. Florez is part of IMSD working with Elias Michaelis, Distinguished Professor of Pharmacology & Toxicology.
  • Alexander Fondaw, of Wichita, is a senior at KU studying biochemistry. Fondaw is part of IMSD working with John Karanicolas, assistant professor of molecular biosciences.
  • Joe Greenbaum, of Prairie Village, is a sophomore at KU studying biology. Greenbaum is part of the IMSD program.
  • Jordan Koch, of Lawrence, is a senior at KU studying mathematics. Koch is part of IMSD working with Mark Holder, assistant professor of ecology and evolutionary biology.
  • Alex Matlock, of Pflugerville, Texas, is a junior at KU studying biology. Matlock is part of IMSD working with Rob Ward, associate professor of molecular biology.
  • Ruben Medina, of San Antonio, is a junior at KU studying health, sport & exercise sciences. Medina is part of IMSD working with Mary Fry, associate professor of health, sport & exercise sciences.
  • Isaac Nichols, of Topeka, is a senior at KU studying mathematics. Nichols is part of IMSD working with Estela Gavosto, associate professor of mathematics.
  • Julio Ramirez, of Kansas City, Kan., is a senior at KU studying genetics. Ramirez is part of IMSD working with Maria Orive, associate professor of ecology and evolutionary biology.
  • Alexa Roy, of Shawnee, is a junior at KU studying neurobiology. Roy is part of IMSD working with Liang Xu, associate professor of molecular biosciences.
  • Kayla Sale, of Olathe, is a junior at KU studying biology and mathematics. Sale is part of IMSD working with Joy Ward, associate professor of ecology and evolutionary biology.
  • David Salt, of Lawrence, is a junior studying mechanical engineering. Salt is part of the IMSD program. Salt is affiliated with the Navajo Tribe.
  • Myette Simpson, of Lawrence, is a junior at KU studying mechanical engineering. Simpson is part of IMSD working with Lorin Maletsky, associate professor of mechanical engineering.
  • Christopher Trezza, of Smithtown, N.Y., is a senior at KU studying microbiology. Trezza is part of IMSD working with Matthew Buechner, associate professor of molecular biosciences.
  • Crisandra Wilkie, of Salem, Ore., is a senior at KU studying biology (cell biology). Wilkie is part of IMSD working with Teruna Siahaan, professor of pharmaceutical chemistry. Wilkie is affiliated with the Turtle Mountain Band of Cheppewa Tribe.
  • Julia Yang, of Manhattan, is a junior at KU studying biology and environmental studies. Yang is part of IMSD working with Sharon Billings, associate professor of ecology & evolutionary biology.
  • Katie Becklin-Atkinson is a researcher at KU with a doctorate in biology. Becklin-Atkinson is part of IRACDA working with Joy Ward, associate professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.
  • Kyle Bichsel is a researcher at KU with a doctorate in biomedical sciences. Bichsel is part of IRACDA working with Berl Oakley, professor in the Department of Molecular Biosciences.
  • Alex Brewer is a researcher at KU with a doctorate in philosophy and toxicology. Brewer is part of IRACDA working with Craig Lunte, professor in the Department of Chemistry.
  • Dana Tucker is a researcher at KU with a doctorate in biochemistry, cell & developmental biology. Tucker is part of IRACDA working with Brian Ackley, associate professor of molecular biosciences.
  • Lawrence Own is a researcher at KU with a doctorate in neuroscience. Own is part of IRACDA working with Nancy Muma, professor in the Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology.
  • Randi Cheatham has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Spelman College. Cheatham is part of PREP working with Paula Fite, assistant professor of applied behavioral science.
  • Maureen Connolly has a bachelor’s degree in environmental science from Haskell Indian Nations University. Connolly is part of PREP working with Stephen Egbert, professor with the Kansas Biological Survey. Connolly is affiliated with the Campo Kumeyaay Tribe.
  • Veronica Gonzalez has a bachelor’s degree in biology from the Universidad del Este. Gonzalez is part of PREP working with Mizuki Azuma, assistant professor of molecular biosciences.
  • Jenaqua Hairston has a bachelor’s degree in biology from Hampton University. Hairston is part of PREP working with Jackob Moskovitz, associate professor of pharmacology & toxicology. Hairston is affiliated with the Choctaw Tribe.
  • Simon Kelow has a bachelor’s degree in physics and astronomy from Northern Arizona University. Kelow is part of PREP working with John Karanicolas, assistant professor of molecular biosciences.
  • Sarena Senegal of Lake Charles, La., has a bachelor’s degree in chemistry (biochemistry) from Northwestern State University. Senegal is part of PREP working with Liang Xu, professor of molecular biosciences and Paul Hanson, associate professor of chemistry.
  • Jessica Lackey, of Concord, Calif., has a bachelor’s degree in indigenous & American Indian studies from Haskell Indian Nations University. Lackey is part of PREP working with Kelly Kindscher, professor-senior scientist of Kansas Biological Survey. Lackey is affiliated with the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma Tribe.
  • Diana Medina has a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Puerto Rico at Humacao. Medina is part of PREP working with Scott Hefty, associate professor of molecular biosciences.
  • Isaac Nzuki has a bachelor’s degree in applied behavioral science from KU. Nzuki is part of PREP working with Pam Neidert, assistant professor of applied behavioral science.
  • Cale Pete of Garnderville, Nev., is a senior at Haskell Indian Nations University studying environmental science. Pete is part of RISE working Kirsten Jensen, associate professor of ecology and evolutionary Biology. Pete is affiliated with the Washoe Tribe.
  • Allyson Prue, of Lawrence, is a junior at Haskell Indian Nations University studying environmental science. Prue is part of RISE working with Kelly Kindscher, professor and senior scientist of Kansas Biological Survey. Prue is affiliated with the Rosebud Sioux Tribe.
  • Cheyenne SunEagle, of Portland, Texas, s a senior at Haskell Indian Nations University studying environmental science. SunEagle is part of RISE working with Teruna Siahaan, professor of pharmaceutical chemistry. SunEagle is affiliated with the Pawnee Tribe.

Tue, 11/05/2013

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Ashley Urban

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