SACNAS
2017 SACNAS: The National Diversity in STEM Conference
Congratulations 2017 SACNAS Winners!
Aylin Flores
BMED Scholar (Sophomore)
Winning Poster: “Distinguishing Whether Rif2 and Orc4 Subfunctionalized or Neofunctionalized After Duplication"
Major: Biomedical Sciences
Mentor: Dr. Michael Lehker (Dean of the College of Health Affairs and Health and Biomedical Sciences Faculty)
Lab Research Focus: Infectious Diseases
Career Goal: Pursuing a MD/PhD
Programs: Biomedical Freshman Research Initiative
Experiences with current research: Being in Dr. Lehker’s lab has allowed me to grow academically and as a person. It has shaped me into becoming a responsible, independent student with problem solving sills. It has also taught me that failure is something that you will encounter time after time but does not define who you are and your capabilities. This research experience has allowed me to travel all over the nation. I am grateful to have chosen BMED because of the mentorship and opportunities that are provided. This summer I was able to attend the University of Buffalo, State of New York where I was able to conduct undergraduate research and present my poster at the ABCRMS and SACNAS Conference.
Daniela Barbosa
BMED Scholar (Junior)
Winning Poster: “Manipulation of Different Fabrication Parameters of PLGA/Minocycline Microparticles for the Treatment of Gliomas”
Category: Engineering, Physics and Mathematics
Major: Biomedical Sciences
Mentor: Dr. Sue Anne Chew (Health and Biomedical Sciences Faculty)
Lab Research Focus: BioEngineering
Program: MBRS-RISE
I am Daniela Barbosa part of the Biomedical Sciences Hybrid program and am currently conducting research in Dr. SueAnne Chew's laboratory. I have been working under her guidance through MBRS-RISE since my freshman year in college, Fall 2015. I have attended two summer research internships, in summer of 2016 I went to The University of MD Anderson Cancer Center and worked in Dr. Michelle C. Barton's laboratory. Then this summer 2017 I had the privilege to attend Brown University through Leadership Alliance and work in Dr. Robbert Creton's laboratory. I attended both SACNAS and ABRCMS conferences this year and had the fortune to be awarded on my UTRGV research under the engineering category in both conferences.
Jonathan Abshier
BMED Scholar (Sophomore)
Winning Poster: Genetic Variants in this CCSER1 Gene and its association with Alzheimer’s disease.
Major: Biomedical Sciences
Mentor: Dr. Chun Xu (Health and Biomedical Sciences Faculty)
Lab Research Focus: Neuroscience and Epigenetics
Career goal: I would like to pursue and MD/PhD degree so that I may treat patients with medicine that I hope to develop.
Programs: Biomedical Freshman Research Initiative and LSAMP (Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation) Fellowship
Research Experience: Research has definitely made me a more focus and driven student. You cannot do research and expect to put the minimum amount of effort into because it is a ton of work. I think it has pushed me to get things done and be more analytical with my school work.
I am an LSAMP fellowship. LSAMP is really a great program. I recommend it to all!
Jesus Franco
BMED Scholar (Senior)
Winning Poster: Optimization of the Fabrication Method of W/O/W Minocycline Loaded PLGA Microparticles for Glioblastomas
Major: Health and Biomedical Science (Senior)
Mentor: Dr. Sue Anne Chew (Health and Biomedical Sciences Faculty)
Lab Research Focus: BioEngineering
Career Goal: To receive a medical degree and open up my own clinic to serve the beautiful community of Brownsville, Texas where I was born and raised.
Programs: LSAMP (Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation) Fellowship
My research experience has opened up many doors in my life. Due to my experience in Dr. Sue Anne Chew's lab, I have had the opportunity to conduct research at other institutions such as The Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor, Maine and have had the honor to present my work at different conferences in the states of Texas, Maine, Florida, Atlanta, and Utah.