MCB Galileo Circle Scholarship Winners 2019

Graduate Student Winners

 

Erik Lehmkuhl Erik Lehmkuhl

"As a graduate student at the University of Arizona, I joined the lab of Dr. Daniela Zarnescu because of the novel, sophisticated research being performed in the lab and the collaborative learning environment that Dr. Zarnescu fosters. Our lab uses Drosophila to study the molecular mechanisms underlying Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, an age-related neurodegenerative disease often colloquially known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. My goal is to the physiological consequences of TDP-43 cytoplasmic insoluble complex formation, which is a hallmark characteristic of most forms of ALS."

 

Ernesto ManzoErnesto Manzo

"I am currently a sixth year PhD candidate in Dr. Daniela Zarnescu’s lab at the University of Arizona where I study a fruit fly model of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). My goals are two-fold; first, to determine the basis of altered glucose metabolism in motor neurons and glia expressing TDP-43 and, second, to identify glial genes that modulate neuronal dependent locomotor phenotypes affected by TDP-43."

 

 

Julie Huynh Julie Huynh

"It was a field of dead eggs that made me want to be in research for the rest of my life. I think about that moment often but only because it was such a defining one for me. At that point, I had been working in Dr. Johnny Fares’ lab for about a year and my main project at that time was working on screens to identify genetic suppressors of cup-5 (null) lethality in C. elegans. For the longest time, this technical jargon was literally all I understood of it: I was trying to find something that prevented something else from dying. I didn’t understand how I wasn’t just counting dead eggs and live worms and checking off genes on a list that had higher than 0% C. elegans viability. But conceptualizing that it was a tiny change in a gene that caused that drastic phenotype was the start of my understanding that I was helping uncover new biology on how the genetic mechanism of a small DNA change in this cup-5 gene was causing cell death."

 

Nikita FernandesNikita Fernandes

"I find the process of research itself very satisfying but when that research can be of use to alleviate pain and suffering in the world, it takes the pleasure of doing research to a whole new level. I am honored to be able to work on a project that aims to study the fatal neurodegenerative disease- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) or Lou Gehrig’s disease."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Undergraduate Student Winners

 

Bennet Van Camp Bennet Van Camp

"I am interested in studying the molecular basis of aging. My long term goal is to earn my doctorate and run my own aging research lab."

 

Brittany Williams

 

Brittany Williams

"The opportunity to participate in various research projects has cemented my research interests in biomedical research focused on health and disease, more specifically molecular pathogenesis."

 

 

Cathryn Sephus Cathryn Sephus

" Molecular and Cellularr Biology introduced me to a new facet of science, one where the scales were miniscule, but the implications were nothing short of magnificent." 

 

 

Gabe BirchakGabe Birchak

"I possess two primary research interests on which I have been working and intend to continue working: determining how the localization of a key enzyme in glycolysis—the pathway that metabolizes glucose to create energy—changes in the context of ALS and improving the ability to perform gene editing such that undesired mutations are not created, a major concern and inhibitor of gene editing’s clinical application."

 

Konner Kirwan Konner Kirwan

"Taken together, the four years of my continuous research experience, in both academic and non-profit environments, have demonstrated my commitment, curiosity, and passion for research. With a recent offer of admission, I will be pursuing a PhD in Neurobiology and Behavior at Columbia University."

 

 

Makayla Frietas

Makayla Frietas

"As I continued my studies and found that my focus distanced away from the medical usage, I discovered that my passion lies in understanding the structure and biomolecular mechanisms that give rise to the processes (and systems) I was learning about as a nursing major. Thus, after 2 1⁄2 years as a nursing major, I decided to trust my instincts and follow my passion: I gave up nursing and instead will be graduating in 2019 with a degree in Molecular & Cellular Biology."

 

 

 

 

Ester Bae  Esther Bae

"Currently, my research involves understanding mechanisms of chronic pain and drug discovery to replace opioids. Pain and addiction (and consequently, opioids) affect all generations, all races, and all socioeconomic classes. The opioid epidemic is no longer a stranger’s problem; it has become your neighbor’s problem. More importantly, it has become my problem – my problem to rigorously tackle through the continuous effort of research and outreach to the affected communities in Arizona."

 

Kayenat AryehKayenat Aryeh 

"Science has always been my favorite subject because it challenges everything around it, and it challenges me. Science is not made of right and wrong answers—instead it is made of hypotheses and conclusions. It never gets boring because there are always new questions that need more research to arrive at better conclusions."