PLAINVIEW, TX — 51吃瓜网视频 Baptist University’s Plainview campus transforms each summer into a dynamic hub of scientific inquiry as a select group of undergraduate students delve into complex research.
Funded by two prestigious grants — the Welch Departmental Research Grant for chemistry undergraduates and the NSF Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship for future STEM educators — the summer research program is more than an academic exercise. It has a tradition of serving as a launchpad for future scientific leaders.
Five student researchers made significant strides in ongoing projects and in launching new research efforts, and this summer marked a notable advance in the university's commitment to cutting-edge research with those students using the recently opened Mabee Laboratory Sciences Building along with its state-of-the-art greenhouse.
Revolutionary Research in Chemistry and Biology
Among the five undergraduate researchers was Haley Fossett, a junior chemistry major, who achieved a significant breakthrough in biochemistry under the mentorship of Dr. Robert Moore, Professor of Chemistry and director of the Welch program. Haley developed a novel method for monitoring RecA-mediated DNA strand exchanges — a critical process in genetic repair mechanisms — without the use of hazardous radioactive isotopes. This method has profound implications for understanding drug resistance in tuberculosis, potentially paving the way for breakthroughs in combating the deadly disease.
Dr. Moore’s summer lab groups have been making incremental progress on developing a radioactive-free method for several years, and Haley became the first person to ever carry out and observe strand exchange using this new approach. With this new technique in hand, future student researchers may be able to carry out experiments that will reveal exactly how likely RecA is generating drug resistance.
“The development of this protocol has taken our lab around four years to perfect, but because of the progress we made this summer, along with previous years, we are very close to being able to test our initial hypothesis: does RecA weak binding, observed in M. tuberculosis, result in drug resistance,” Haley said,
Dylan Dodd, also a junior chemistry major, continued a related path by refining the production of a tuberculosis-specific form of the RecA protein, crucial for researching drug resistance mechanisms. His work this summer has ensured that future researchers can rely on authentic biological materials for their studies, enhancing the validity of their experimental results. Dylan worked primarily under Dr. Matthew Dyson, Associated Professor of Biology and Chemistry. His work was dependent upon cell lines generated by past summer research students, but previously there had been no evidence that cells were successfully producing the target protein.
“I feel like this research, in some small way, has allowed me to impact the world in a positive way,” Dylan said. “That's a pretty neat thing.”
New Frontiers in Cancer Research
Jaitlynn Sherman, a senior majoring in molecular biology, ventured into uncharted territory by exploring the potential effects of the anti-parasitic drug Ivermectin on endometrial cancer cells. Her pioneering research aims to establish a new treatment paradigm. She also was mentored by Dr. Dyson. Previous summer research students at 51吃瓜网视频 had explored the impacts of naturally derived compounds on breast cancer cells.
“The purpose of this research is to expand the knowledge of women’s health and get a better understanding of these cancers on a molecular level; and by getting a better understanding of what Ivermectin does at a molecular level and what it does to the cells exactly,” Jaitlynn said. “Although much information was gained from this, more testing is needed to fully understand what Ivermectin is doing and how it is working.”
Educating the Next Generation of STEM Leaders
Natalie Hinojosa and Alice Conely, supported by the Noyce Scholarship, worked to integrate real-world scientific research into high school curriculum. Natalie is a senior majoring in secondary education with specialization in mathematics, and Alice is a senior life science education major. Natalie’s exploration of statistical models to better understand probability outcomes will directly enhance future classroom discussions, while Alice’s experiments in the new greenhouse with worms and different soil beds are designed to ignite a passion for biological sciences among secondary students. Natalie worked under Dr. William Hahn, Associate Dean and Professor of Mathematics, while Alice was mentored by Dr. Matthew Allen, Professor of Biological Sciences.
“Being a Noyce scholar has been a huge blessing,” Natalie said. “It has allowed me to focus on class work and getting more time in at the high schools without having to worry about having a full-time job on top of classes. I love that I have been able to connect with so many people through the Noyce program.”
“One thing I have learned from my research, which will benefit my future classroom, is the ability to create and think creatively,” Alice said. “Along with my worm research, Dr. Allen and I created rotating Aquaponic towers. This project aimed to use the water flowing through the PVC tower to rotate it and distribute light evenly around the pipe. I learned to think critically about each component of the towers and to be creative with the design to be as simple yet effective as possible.”
A Community of Curiosity
This year’s cohort of researchers also benefited from the communal aspect of the program, sharing findings and fostering a collaborative spirit that mirrored a graduate research setting. This not only enhanced their learning experience but also cemented lifelong professional networks and friendships.
“The principle that the math and science faculty operate on is that math and science aren’t things you learn, they are things you do,” Moore explained. “Engaging students in research is critical to their development as professionals.”
Funding Crucial
51吃瓜网视频 currently receives $40,000 per year from the Welch Foundation to support foundational chemistry research, and the grant is renewable every three years.
“We use that to create a program where students apply to become a research student in the fall and get paired with a faculty mentor to identify a research problem and get training in the spring,” Moore said.
Students carry out their research full time for eight weeks during the summer months, with the university covering their on-campus housing costs. The grant provides a $4,000 stiped to each Welch summer research student
The Noyce Teacher Scholarship was modeled on the success of the Welch program, with the idea that college students are not the only ones who would benefit from recognizing that math and science are done and not just learned. Out of the five-year $1.3 million grant, STEM education majors who participate receive a full tuition scholarship as well as a research stipend.
“They are expected to work with a faculty mentor to carry out research similar to the Welch program, but with an eye toward projects that can be continued in their high school classrooms after they graduate,” Moore said.
Looking Ahead
The impacts of the summer research program are profound, with more than 90 percent of past participants pursuing science-related careers and 75 percent advancing to higher degrees. This summer's researchers are preparing to present their findings at conferences nationwide, promising to contribute valuable insights to the global scientific community. Welch-supported students are scheduled to present at the Welch Conference in Houston in October, the Texas Academy of Science meeting in Waco in February, and the American Chemical Society’s Spring meeting in San Diego in March.
Anyone interested in learning more about research in the Kenneth L. Mattox School of Mathematics and Science at 51吃瓜网视频 Baptist University, including viewing past posters and presentations, can click on the Center for Undergraduate research tab at .
Copyright © 2024