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Thirteen students receive life sciences research awards

June 14, 2004

KALAMAZOO--Thirteen Western Michigan University graduate and undergraduate students were selected this spring to receive Monroe-Brown Foundation Life Sciences Research Awards.

This is the seventh year the Monroe-Brown Foundation has made such awards to help WMU graduate and undergraduate students make strides in the realm of academic research. Names of the recipients were announced during a campus reception.

"The Monroe-Brown Foundation Life Sciences Research Award reception is always a wonderful event, showcasing the talents of our graduate and undergraduate students and their faculty mentors," says Dr. Leonard Ginsberg, interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. "It demonstrates WMU's emphasis on student-centered research and its commitment to enhancing the educational experience for both undergraduate and graduate students."

The award facilitates graduate and undergraduate research by pairing a student with a faculty mentor. The student then studies a topic of interest in his or her academic field. Graduate students who receive the award receive a $2400 scholarship to be used for travel expenses and research supplies or as a stipend. Undergraduate students who receive the award benefit from a $2,000 scholarship, of which $500 goes to the mentor's laboratory expenses related to the project. Project topics range from literature to biology and sociology to nuclear physics.

Monroe-Brown Foundation Award Recipients

Leslie O. Adebayo of Kalamazoo, a junior majoring in biomedical sciences, received the Monroe-Brown Foundation Life Sciences Research Award for his research project titled "Structural Study of Flagellin Protein." His faculty mentor is Dr. Brian Tripp, assistant professor of biological sciences. Adebayo is the son of Femi and Bridget Adebayo.

Greg M. Delgoffe of Menominee, Mich., a junior majoring in biomedical science, received the Monroe-Brown Foundation Life Sciences Research Award for his research project titled "Localization of Num1p in Dynein Complex of Saccharomyces Cerivisiae." His faculty mentor is Dr. John Geiser, assistant professor of biological sciences. Delgoffe is the son of Michael A. and Donna R. Delgoffe.

Marla A. Fisher of Kalamazoo, a graduate student in biological sciences, received the Monroe-Brown Foundation Life Sciences Research Award for her research project titled "Using Biotechnology for Environmental Risk Assessment: Quantifying Levels of Gene Expression in the Common Carp (C. carpio) Exposed to Environmentally Relevant Levels of PCB Contaminants." Her faculty mentor is Dr. Charles Ide, director of environmental studies. Fisher is the daughter of Kenneth and Marian Fisher.

Nabeeh A. Hasan of Battle Creek, Mich., a senior majoring in biological sciences and mathematics, received the Monroe-Brown Foundation Life Sciences Research Award for his research project titled "A Novel Approach to Characterizing Genes Underlying Traits of Developing Parasitic Plant Feeding Organs." His faculty mentor is Dr. Todd Barkman, assistant professor of biological sciences. Hasan is the son of Ahmed I. and Melody Hasan.

Justin J. Koenig of Auburn, Ind., a senior majoring in biomedical science, received the Monroe-Brown Foundation Life Sciences Research Award for his research project titled "The Role of Microglia in the Deafferentation Process." His faculty mentor is Dr. Christine Byrd, associate professor of biological sciences. Koenig is the son of Mark L. and Sue A. Koenig.

Zarraz M. Lee of Kalamazoo, a senior majoring in biomedical science, received the Monroe-Brown Foundation Life Sciences Research Award for her research project titled "Green Fluorescent Protein as a Tool to Analyze Metal Induced Gene Expression in Sinorhizobium meliloti." Her faculty mentor is Dr. Silvia Rossbach, associate professor of biological sciences. Lee is the daughter of Wei Keat Lee and Lay Im Khoo.

Venkata R. Malapaka of Kalamazoo, a graduate student in biology, received the Monroe-Brown Foundation Life Sciences Research Award for his research project titled "Engineering Salmonella typhimurium Flagellin Protein by Inserting Green Fluorescent Protein and Carbonic Anhydrase II." His faculty mentor is Dr. Brian Tripp, assistant professor of biological sciences. Malapaka is the son of Venkata Subrahmanyam.

Teresa L. May of Sparta, Mich., a senior majoring in biomedical science, received the Monroe-Brown Foundation Life Sciences Research Award for her research project titled "Function of the Yersinia pestis Outer Membrane Protein M (yopM)." Her faculty mentor is Dr. Bruce Bejeck. May is the daughter of Dale V. and Vicky L. May.

Irene F. Murunga of Kalamazoo, a senior majoring in biomedical science, received the Monroe-Brown Foundation Life Sciences Research Award for her research project titled "Structural and Biochemical Studies of CCH and RAN 1." Her faculty mentor is Dr. David Huffman, assistant professor of chemistry. Murunga is the daughter of Sisco E. and Esther Murunga

Alhaji U. N'Jai of Kalamazoo, a graduate student in biochemistry and chemistry, received the Monroe-Brown Foundation Life Sciences Research Award for his research project titled "Affymetrix and Real-time PCR Analysis of Benzo(a) Pyrene in Gene Expression in Rat Livers." His faculty mentor is Dr. Jay Means, professor of chemistry. N'Jai is the son of Alhaji Hamidu N'Jai and Jenabu Seck.

April R. Reedy of Kalamazoo, a senior majoring in biomedical science, received the Monroe Brown Foundation Life Sciences Research Award for her research project titled, "Physical Mapping of Temperature Sensitive Mutants on Tanapoxvirus Genome." Her faculty mentor is Dr. Karim Essani, professor of biological sciences.

Julie A. Ryan of Geneva, Ill., a graduate student in biological sciences, received the Monroe-Brown Foundation Life Sciences Research Award for her research project titled, "Sublethal Effects of Disease in an Aquatic Host-Microparasite System." Her faculty mentor is Dr. Steven L. Kohler, associate professor of environmental studies. Ryan is the daughter of Jack A. Ryan.

Walton K. Yeboah-Amoako of Berrien Springs, Mich., a senior majoring in biomedical sciences, received the Monroe-Brown Foundation Life Sciences Research Award for his research project titled "GDNF Expression in Various Skeletal Muscle Fiber Types." His faculty mentor is Dr. John Spitsbergen, associate professor of biological sciences. Yeboah-Amoako is the son of Anthony K. and Esther Yeboah-Amoako.

Media contact: Cheryl Roland, 269 387-8400, cheryl.roland@wmich.edu

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