KU, Haskell students present research at diversity symposium


LAWRENCE — Student research related to biological and behavioral sciences was presented last month at the 14th annual University of Kansas- Haskell Undergraduate Research Symposium.

The symposium is sponsored by KU’s Office for Diversity in Science Training (ODST) and Haskell Indian Nations University. The symposium presenters included undergraduates and graduate-level students at both universities who participate in programs that encourage under-represented students to pursue research careers in biomedical science, including: the Bridges to the Baccalaureate Program at Haskell and KU, the Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement Program at Haskell (RISE), the Initiative for Maximizing Student Development Program at KU (IMSD) and the Post- Baccalaureate Research Education Program at KU (PREP). The Office for Diversity in Science Training is led by James Orr and Estela Gavosto.

Forty students presented posters of their research on Tuesday, April 22, at Tecumseh Hall at Haskell Indian Nations University.

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

Montana Barnes, of Wellsville, is a junior at Haskell studying environmental science. Barnes is a participant in the Bridge program working with Joy Ward, associate professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Barnes is affiliated with the Cherokee Tribe.

Justin Bauswell, of Kansas City, Kansas, is a sophomore at Haskell studying environmental science. Bauswell is a participant in the Bridge program. Bauswell is affiliated with the Cherokee Nations Tribe.

Albert Baxter, of Yuma, Arizona, is a junior at Haskell studying environmental science. Baxter is a participant in the Bridge program working with Carole Tomlinson of Haskell . Baxter is affiliated with the Fort Yuma Quechan Tribe.

Thaius Boyd is a freshman at Haskell studying environmental science. Boyd is a participant in the Bridge program working with Wonpil Im, associate professor of molecular biosciences. Boyd is affiliated with the Dine Tribe.

Chelsea Burgess, of Winslow, Arizona, is a junior at Haskell studying environmental science. Burgess is a participant in the Bridge program working with Townsend Peterson, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology. Burgess is affiliated with the Comanche Tribe.

Jacob Dixon, of Vernonia, Oregon, is a junior at Haskell studying environmental science. Dixon is a participant in the Bridge program and is affiliated with the Seneca-Cayuga Tribe.

Luanne Hale is a junior at Haskell studying environmental science. Hale is a participant in the Bridge program. Hale is affiliated with the Navajo Tribe.

Mary Iorio, of Mandaree, North Dakota, is a junior at Haskell studying environmental science. Iorio is a participant in the Bridge program working with Alex Brewer, an IRACDA postdoc. Iorio is affiliated with the Hidatsa/Kiowa Tribes.

LaReina Jim is a senior at Haskell studying environmental science. Jim is a participant in the Bridge program. Jim is affiliated with the Walker River Paiute Tribe.

Corey Leroy, of Lawrence, is a senior at Haskell studying environmental science. Leroy is a participant in the Bridge program. Leroy is affiliated with the Northern Ponca Tribe.

Jamie Long, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, is a senior at Haskell studying environmental science. Long is a participant in the Bridge program. Long is affiliated with the Cherokee Tribe of Oklahoma.

Michael Mason, of Winslow, Arizona, is a sophomore at Haskell studying environmental science. Mason is a participant in the Bridge program. Mason is affiliated with the Navajo Tribe.

Nikolai Nez, of Leupp, Arizona, is a senior at Haskell studying medical laboratory science. Nez is a participant in the Bridge program working with Matthew Buechner, associate professor of molecular biosciences. Nez is affiliated with the Navajo Tribe.

Timothy Ortiz is a junior at Haskell studying environmental science. Ortiz is a participant in the Bridge program working with Edward Peltier, associate professor of civil, environmental and architectural engineering. Ortiz is affiliated with the Navajo Tribe.

Jacob Stops, of Billings, Montana, is a senior at Haskell studying Molecular Biology. Stops is a participant in the Bridge program working with Liang Xu, associate professor of molecular biosciences. Stops is affiliated with the Crow Tribe.

Wes Stops, of Billings, Montana, is a senior at Haskell studying environmental science. Stops is a participant in the Bridge program working with Cory Berkland, professor of chemical & petroleum engineering. Stops is affiliated with the Crow Tribe.

Kenneth Flanders, of Lawrence, is a student at Haskell studying environmental science and working with Bill Welton, Haskell. Flanders is affiliated with the Kickapoo-Omaha-Ponca Tribe.

Devin Leitka, of Shawnee, Oklahoma, is a student at Haskell studying environmental science working with Bill Welton, Haskell. Leitka is affiliated with the Absentee Shawnee Tribe.

David Tyndall, of Red Lake-Cass Lake, Minnesota, is a student at Haskell studying environmental science, working with Bill Welton, Haskell. Tyndall is affiliated with the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Tribe.

Tyler Berry, of Sapulpa, Oklahoma, is a junior at KU studying mechanical engineering. Berry is a participant in the IMSD program 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 a participant in the IMSD program working with Rafe Brown, associate professor of ecology & evolutionary biology.

Kimberly Cole, of Wichita, is a junior at KU studying chemical & petroleum engineering. Cole is a participant in the IMSD program working with Lorin Maletsky, associate professor of mechanical engineering.

Eder Davila-Contreras, of Lawrence, is a junior at KU studying biochemistry. Davila-Contreras is a participant in the IMSD program working with Wonpil Im, associate professor of molecular biosciences.

Carlos Fernandez, of Overland Park, is a junior at KU studying mechanical engineering. Fernandez is a participant in the IMSD program 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 a participant in the IMSD program working with Elias Michaelis, professor of pharmacology & toxicology.

Alexander Fondaw, of Wichita, is a senior at KU studying biochemistry. Fondaw is a participant in the IMSD program working with John Karanicolas, assistant professor of molecular biosciences.

Joe Greenbaum, of Prairie Village, is a sophomore at KU studying biology. Greenbaum is a participant in the IMSD program.

Jordan Koch, of Lawrence, is a senior at KU studying mathematics. Koch is a participant in the IMSD program 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 a participant in the IMSD program 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 a participant in the IMSD program working with Mary Fry, associate professor of health, sport & exercise sciences.

Isaac Nichols, of Topeka, is a senior at KU studying mathematics. Nichols is a participant in the IMSD program working with Estela Gavosto, associate professor of mathematics.

Julio Ramirez, of Kansas City, Kansas, is a senior at KU studying genetics. Ramirez is a participant in the IMSD program working with Maria Orive, associate professor of ecology and evolutionary biology.

Alexa Roy, of Shawnee, is a junior at KU studying neurobiology. Roy is a participant in the IMSD program working with Liang Xu, associate professor of molecular biosciences.

Kayla Sale, of Olathe, is a junior at KU studying biology and mathematics. Sale is a participant in the IMSD program working with Joy Ward, associate professor of ecology and evolutionary biology.

David Salt, of Lawrence, is a junior studying mechanical engineering. Salt is a participant in the IMSD program. Salt is affiliated with the Navajo Tribe.

Christopher Trezza, of Smithtown, New York, is a senior at KU studying microbiology. Trezza is a participant in the IMSD program working with Matthew Buechner, associate professor of molecular biosciences.

Crisandra Wilkie, of Salem, Oregon, is a senior at KU studying biology. Wilkie is a participant in the IMSD program 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 a participant in the IMSD program working with Sharon Billings, associate professor of ecology & evolutionary biology.

Randi Cheatham has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Spelman College. Cheatham is a participant in the PREP program working with Paula Fite, assistant professor of applied behavioral science.

Maureen Connolly has a bachelor’s degree in environmental science from Haskell. Connolly is a participant in the PREP program working with Stephen Egbert, professor with the Kansas Biological Survey. Connolly is affiliated with the Campo Kumeyaay Tribe.

Jenaqua Hairston has a bachelor of science in biology from Hampton University. Hairston is a participant in the PREP program 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 a participant in the PREP program working with John Karanicolas, assistant professor of molecular biosciences.

Sarena Senegal of Lake Charles, Louisiana, has a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Northwestern State University. Senegal is a participant in the PREP program working with Liang Xu, professor of molecular biosciences, and Paul Hanson, associate professor of chemistry.

Jessica Lackey, of Concord, California, has a bachelor’s degree in Indigenous & American Indian studies from Haskell. Lackey is a participant in the PREP program working with Kelly Kindscher, professor-senior scientist of Kansas Biological Survey. Lackey is affiliated with the Cherokee Nation of OK Tribe.

Diana Medina has a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Puerto Rico at Humacao. Medina is a participant in the PREP program working with Scott Hefty, associate professor of molecular biosciences.

Isaac Nzuki has a bachelor’s degree in applied behavioral science from KU. Nzuki is a participant in the PREP program working with Pam Neidert, assistant professor of applied behavioral science.

Allyson Prue, of Lawrence, is a junior at Haskell studying environmental science. Prue is a participant in the RISE program working with Kelly Kindscher, professor-senior scientist of Kansas Biological Survey. Prue is affiliated with the Rosebud Sioux Tribe.

Cheyenne SunEagle, of Portland, Texas, is a senior at Haskell studying environmental science. SunEagle is a participant in the RISE program working with Teruna Siahaan, professor of pharmaceutical chemistry. SunEagle is affiliated with the Pawnee Tribe.

Wed, 05/14/2014

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Ashley Urban

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