JESSICA BROWN

Major: Chemistry

Mentor:

Research Interests:

Pharmaceutical research on drugs prescribed to patients with HIV/AIDS and Diabetes.  My interest stems from knowing people with these diseases, my fascination with treatment methods, and concern about the effect of current treatments on the body.

Awards:

2012-2013 Angela Sharon Smith Award, Hawk assistant scholarship (CAE advising center), RISE Fellow

2011-2012 McCrimmon Scholarship

2010-2011 UNCP Merit Scholarship

ARMANDO CORONA

Major: Chemistry

Mentor:

Research Interests:

My interests are mainly on chemistry research, but I am always interested in trying new fields of research. Previously I have done research with the synthesis of peptides and determining their specific structures using specific instrumentation.

Science-related Conferences Attended:

UIC Summer Research Symposium 2012 - University of Illinois at Chicago
Illinois Summer Research Symposium (ISRS 2012) - University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Pembroke Undergraduate Research and Creativity Center (PURC 2012) - UNC Pembroke
Symposium for Young Neuroscientists And Professors of the South East (SYNAPSE 2012) - University of South Carolina at Columbia
North Carolina Academy of Sciences (NCAS 2012) - Campbell University
The State of North Carolina Undergraduate Research Symposium (SNCURCS 2011) - East Carolina University
Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS 2011) - Saint Louis, MO
Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS 2010) - Charlotte, NC

Research Presentations:

Poster: Biodiesel production from vegetable oils by using TMAH as a catalyst – North Carolina Academy of Sciences (NCAS 2012) in Campbell University and Pembroke Undergraduate Research and Creativity Center (PURC 2012) in UNCP

Oral: Solid-phase peptide synthesis and solid state NMR analysis of GRF (1-29) - UIC Summer Research Symposium 2012 at The University of Illinois at Chicago and Illinois Summer Research Symposium (ISRS 2012) at The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Research/Career Internships:

University of Illinois at Chicago - Chemistry - Yoshitaka Ishii (Summer 2012)

Clubs and Professional Organizations:

Chemistry Club President
Gamma Sigma Epsilon (Chemistry Honor Society) Member

Awards/Honors:

UNCP Dean's List (Spring 2012, Fall 2011, Spring 2011)
UNCP RISE Fellowship Cohorts 5, 6, 7

SARAH HAFNER

Major: Biology & Chemistry

Mentor:

Research Interests:

Neurobiology, Immunology

Biology, specifically biochemistry, is fascinating. I love discovering not only how life systems interact, but why they interact, why there are breakdowns, and how the scientific community can prevent or reverse them.

Research Goal:

Conduct research in Multiple Sclerosis, either recreating nerve sheathings or slowing the immune attack on nerve fibers.

MYCAH SEWELL

Major: Biology

Mentor:

Research Interests:

I have always been interested in learning how life is affected by genetics and microscopic organisms like bacteria as well as other disease-causing agents like viruses.

Academic experience:

Maintained a GPA of 3.5 since elementary school

National Honors Society in high school

Science National Honors Society in high school

JORDAN SMINK

Major: Biology

Mentor:

Research Interests:

I have diverse research interests that include field biology and conservation as well as bacteriology as it pertains to medicine.  

Research Experience

RISE Fellow 2011-2012: “The Effect of Parks’ Management Techniques on Terrapene carolina”

Eastern Virginia Medical: “Outer Membrane Vesicles Cause Sepsis in vivo”

Research Presentations

Pembroke Undergraduate Research and Creativity Symposium April 2012

RISE End-of-Summer Research & Creativity Presentation August 2012

Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students November 2012: Abstract Submitted

Conferences Attended

Eastern Virginia Medical School Department of Surgery Residency Research Day June 2012

Pembroke Undergraduate Research and Creativity Symposium April 2012

North Carolina Academy of Sciences March 2012

Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students November 2011

Pembroke Undergraduate Research and Creativity Symposium April 2011

MARSALIS SMITH

Major: Biology

Mentor:

Research Interests:

I plan to seek a Ph. D. in the field of biomedical engineering.  I have always found the field of neurobiology very interesting since taking Anatomy and Physiology in high school. After I obtain my degree, I plan on continuing to perform research and helping to advance the field of neurobiology that improves the quality of life.

Education:

Bachelor of Science in Textile Engineering – 2010, NC State University

Research Experience:  

Although I have worked in research laboratories as an employee at DuPont, and have learned many valuable lessons during my time there, I have little academic research experience.  In the upcoming year, I hope to greatly append to my research experience with the help of RISE mentors and staff.

Conferences Attended:

Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers

• Regional Leadership Development Conference (Tampa, FL – 2008)
• National Technical Career Conference (Denver, CO - 2007)

About Me:

I am a second degree seeking student majoring in Biology.  I hope to obtain a degree from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke (UNCP), and use the opportunities presented through the RISE program and other programs here at UNCP to make myself a competitive applicant for various prestigious graduate programs.  I hope to enter the field of biomedical engineering after my time spent at Pembroke using every resource and opportunity presented to me from available faculty and staff.