The 17th Annual Student Research Symposium was held at Tecumseh hall with over 40 students presenting research posters from Haskell Indian Nations University and the University of Kansas. According to Professor Estela Gavosto, Director of the Office of Diversity and Science Training, student presenters were from Haskell/KU Bridge Program, KU Initiative for Maximizing Student Development (IMSD), and the KU Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP). The symposium was presented by the KU Office for Diversity in Science Training.
The Haskell/KU Bridge Program is a summer opportunity that supports research by Haskell students at KU. IMSD supports undergraduate students (including transfer students from Haskell) in biomedical research as they prepare to transition into graduate and PHd studies. PREP assists students preparing to enter graduate school after receiving their undergraduate degree.The symposium is also supported by the Institutional Research and Academic Career Development Award (IRACDA).
Shelby Williams, Haskell student, was presenting her research poster as part of Bill Welton’s course, Introduction to Soils. Approximately 5 students presented posters from the soils class. Students have worked on their soil research all semester. William’s poster focused on soil texture.
“I really liked this class because I learned some surprising things about soil. The reason I am presenting over soil texture is because of the astonishing things I learn about the different particle sizes that can tell so much about soil, the productivity of the soil and effective soil management,” said Williams.
Williams is a junior in the Haskell Environmental Science program. She hopes to take the method she has learned with soils in the midwest and use it in the region she is from in the southwest.
Brianna Marsh, a KU sophomore and neuroscience major, presented research conducted with a faculty member in the department of pharmacology and toxicology. Her poster presented research on devices of early detection of Alziehmer’s disease so patients can start early treatment. Marsh is from the KU IMDS program. She also presented a poster at last year’s symposium.
“This is a beautiful campus and it’s really nice being surrounded in a place with a lot of people I know that’s really comfortable. It’s great to have good feedback and good questions to bounce off of as well,” said Marsh.
Professor Gavosto said the students will have another opportunity to present at a KU symposium in a few weeks. According to Gavosto, John Augusto, Director of the KU Center for Undergraduate Research would like to see more Haskell student presenters at that symposium.
Gavosto has been involved with the symposium at Haskell for 16 years.
