Through the student research travel fund, my research partners and I were able to attend a regional American Anatomist Association conference in Hamilton, Ontario. We presented two different research projects that we have worked on throughout our undergraduate careers. One is titled the “Morphology of Semispinalis Capitis” to which we won an award given to the top undergraduate presentation. The second project, “Variations in the Anatomical Positioning of the Mandibular Foramen,” was selected to be given as an oral presentation in front of various officials and researchers in the field. Obtaining the funds for this experience was critical to improving not only our research methods and guiding us toward better research techniques, but it also gave us an opportunity to connect with other figures in the community so that we can enhance our communication skills with professionals. This is definitely an experience that more students should have and could not have been possible without all of the donations made.

Saamera Awali, an undergraduate researcher in my lab attended and presented at the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (SICB) Conference in both 2018 and 2019. Saamera received support to attend the January 2019 conference in Tampa from funds raised from last year’s campaign. She was able to present a poster where she investigates how “Exposure to environmentally-relevant concentrations of atrazine causes changes in cytochrome P450 and glutathione-S-transferase activity in the hepatopancreas of crayfish (Faxonius virilis).”

Saamera stated, “I had the opportunity of networking and sharing my findings with others. This opportunity to travel, network, and enhance my education wouldn’t have been possible without the help of the funds I received from the crowdfunding campaign to cover the cost of the trip. Even a dollar donated will make a difference.” Please listen as Saamera shares her experiences about being able to attend a conference with support from last year’s crowdfunding campaign.

Please donate today to help Detroit Mercy Biology undergraduates! Any amount will help!

Selena Cholak, an undergraduate researcher in Dr. Najor’s lab attended and presented at American Society of Cell Biology (ASCB) annual conference in San Diego, California (December, 2018). Selena was supported by funds raised from last year’s campaign. She was able to present a poster where she investigates how the “COP9 Signalosome, a multi-protein complex that functions in developmental processes in epithelial cells.”

Selena stated, “The atmosphere of the conference was welcoming; I was able to experience the positive contributions of my research to the greater scientific community. This was an enriching educational opportunity for me and other young researchers to share our original projects, encourage questions and welcome discussion. Through the help of the Travel Fund, the costs of attending the ASCB conference were subsidized. However, without funding, the cost of travel is a barrier for I, and fellow undergraduate researchers. For this reason, we have launched a fundraising campaign to help undergraduate students afford travel to research conferences where 100% of your donations go to directly help us offset the costs of attending research conferences.” Please listen as Selena shares her experiences about being able to attend a conference with support from last year’s crowdfunding campaign.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGFzSoGl0a0&feature=youtu.be

Please donate today to help Detroit Mercy Biology undergraduates! Any amount will help!

Because of your help last year, several of our undergraduate research students were able to present their research and represent the University of Detroit Mercy at both regional and national conferences.

John Sherwood, an undergraduate researcher in Dr. Kagey’s lab presented at the Midwest Drosophila meeting in southern Illinois where he was the only undergraduate student selected to give a presentation at the conference. The title of this talk was “Mary Shelley (CG6191) co-localizes with the Notch signaling pathway and has a role in cell-survival in Drosophila eye and wing development.”

John stated that “this experience not only was a unique opportunity for me to present my research to a scientific community of over 100 people all working with the same model organism, but it also was a valuable opportunity for me to receive feedback on my work. I will be writing my Honors Thesis on this project and submitting it for publication in the spring so getting feedback at this conference was very helpful.” Please listen as John shares his experiences about being able to attend a conference with support from last year’s crowdfunding campaign.

Please donate today to help Detroit Mercy Biology undergraduates! Any amount will help!