Ouachita Stories

Twenty-eight students and six faculty members from Ouachita Baptist University attended the Arkansas IDeA Network for Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) Conference this semester in Fayetteville. Students presented the results of their research, competing for cash prizes.

The presentations were divided into three disciplines: biology, chemistry and physics. Twenty-three colleges from five states attended, and 113 presentations were given.

Ouachita senior biology major Mikki Gaines won first place in the biology poster division and received $300. She presented a poster on her experiment involving ajulemic acid and its effects on osteosarcoma.

“I was very excited,” said Gaines, a Hope, Ark., native. “I didn’t expect it with so many students being there.”

Ajulemic acid is a derivative of marijuana, and osteosarcoma is a type of bone cancer mainly found in children. Her project revolved around treating the cancer cells with the acid.

“I worked very hard with Dr. Lori Hensley and Amy Eubanks to find promising results toward treating osteosarcoma,” Gaines explained.

Also earning a top spot was senior chemistry major Tanner Simon. He won third place in the chemistry poster division, earning $100. Simon’s experiment dealt with different types of pharmaceutical drugs, what makes them effective and why. Gaines worked with Dr. Marty Perry on his research.

“It’s a good opportunity for our students to be able to present research they did,” said Dr. Joe Jeffers, dean of OBU’s Patterson School of Natural Sciences.

“My favorite aspect of the conference was the chance to visit new places and see all the other research students had been doing over the last year,” said Simon, a Denton, Texas, native. “We all work really hard on our research, and this is one of our rewards for our hard work. Also, INBRE is a great conference to compare your ability to present your work.”

In order to present a poster at the INBRE Conference, students had to have completed a form of scientific research in one of the three disciplines. Then they had to design a poster with the information about their research project.

On the poster is a summarizing piece called the abstract. Students submit a form with their abstract to the INBRE committee in order to receive a spot in the presenting room. The students are then divided into two groups. Each group presents their posters for an hour at the event.

On the forms the students submitted to INBRE there was an option to present the information orally. Only six students from each scientific category were chosen for the opportunity. Senior biology majors Dusty Barnette, Chris Chandler and Abby Dekle were all selected.

“I like being able to explain what I have learned to other people so they can gain the knowledge,” said Dekle, a Sachse, Texas, native.

For Dekle, the INBRE Conference was another source of encouragement for her next major goal in life: medical school.

“Ouachita is really competitive and is really preparing me for the future,” Dekle said.

Many of these students will present their research in other forums, including Ouachita’s annual Scholars Day in the spring.

For more information, contact Dr. Joe Jeffers at [email protected] or (870) 245-5216.

By Nicci Fillinger and Jessica Wasmund