LU prepares for annual Research Day
By Carli Harris
Issue date: 4/29/09 Section: News
Langston University's School of Arts and Sciences will hold its ninth annual Research Day Symposium on May 1, 2009 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the agriculture building.
Dr. John Coleman, an associate professor in the Langston University chemistry department and a coordinator of the event, described Research Day as a chance for the community to see what students are working on. He said approximately 40 students will present their research-which is predominately in the fields of math and science-using poster presentations, as well as oral powerpoint presentations.
"Research Day gets students engaged in hands-on projects in their field of study, which enhances the education experience," Coleman said.
Several of the students presenting this year also presented their research at the Beta Kappa Chi National Institute of Science competition in Virginia this past March. Five Langston students placed in the competition, and their wins included first, second, and third place prizes. The first place winner was Shabree Nichols, a junior biology major who studied the effects of vitamins C and E on hepatic and renal bio-transformations in diabetic rats.
"I think what helped me to win was that I made the material more accessible to the audience and the judges," Nichols said. "I decided to use the metaphor of the body running like a well-oiled machine, and when one thing goes wrong, it causes problems elsewhere." She said that her Research Day presentation will also be straightforward and easy for her audience to understand.
Sheree McDaniel, an LU senior majoring in biology, earned second place for her research on ovarian cancer cells.
"I was interested in cancer research because there are people in my family who have suffered from different types of cancer and I really wanted to make a difference," McDaniel said.
Her Research Day presentation will examine which structural features are important for the cell killing ability of cancer cells as opposed to normal cells.
Junior chemistry major Alex Henderson placed third in the competition. He is studying to become a cardiologist, and his research is centered around tissue engineering a heart valve. Henderson was also recognized for his work with an internship in cardiology at Rice University in Houston, Texas.
"For me, Research Day is a chance to show the results of all the hard work and effort I've been putting in and get some feedback," Henderson said. "I'm glad we have it at Langston."
Dr. John Coleman, an associate professor in the Langston University chemistry department and a coordinator of the event, described Research Day as a chance for the community to see what students are working on. He said approximately 40 students will present their research-which is predominately in the fields of math and science-using poster presentations, as well as oral powerpoint presentations.
"Research Day gets students engaged in hands-on projects in their field of study, which enhances the education experience," Coleman said.
Several of the students presenting this year also presented their research at the Beta Kappa Chi National Institute of Science competition in Virginia this past March. Five Langston students placed in the competition, and their wins included first, second, and third place prizes. The first place winner was Shabree Nichols, a junior biology major who studied the effects of vitamins C and E on hepatic and renal bio-transformations in diabetic rats.
"I think what helped me to win was that I made the material more accessible to the audience and the judges," Nichols said. "I decided to use the metaphor of the body running like a well-oiled machine, and when one thing goes wrong, it causes problems elsewhere." She said that her Research Day presentation will also be straightforward and easy for her audience to understand.
Sheree McDaniel, an LU senior majoring in biology, earned second place for her research on ovarian cancer cells.
"I was interested in cancer research because there are people in my family who have suffered from different types of cancer and I really wanted to make a difference," McDaniel said.
Her Research Day presentation will examine which structural features are important for the cell killing ability of cancer cells as opposed to normal cells.
Junior chemistry major Alex Henderson placed third in the competition. He is studying to become a cardiologist, and his research is centered around tissue engineering a heart valve. Henderson was also recognized for his work with an internship in cardiology at Rice University in Houston, Texas.
"For me, Research Day is a chance to show the results of all the hard work and effort I've been putting in and get some feedback," Henderson said. "I'm glad we have it at Langston."
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