Ouachita Stories

Students of Ouachita Baptist University’s Patterson School of Natural Sciences presented and were recognized at the recent Arkansas IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) conference in Fayetteville, Ark. Out of the 191 registered student presenters, 26 students were from OBU and three Ouachita students received honorable mentions for their work.

“The conference gives Ouachita students the opportunity to speak as experts on their own research work,” said Dr. Ruth Plymale, associate professor of biology. “Students are presenting their own work that they designed and carried out on their own, containing their own data – not information that they’ve read about. That is huge!”

INBRE is a program through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that distributes research funds to states such as Arkansas that are less competitive for NIH funding. INBRE funds undergraduate biomedical science research in biology, chemistry and physics.

“The key things our students see at conferences like this is that they are getting an excellent education at Ouachita,” said Dr. Tim Knight, dean of the Patterson School of Natural Sciences and professor of biology. “The success of our students is a real compliment to Ouachita and our faculty in the sciences. It’s also evidence of the work our students put into their research.”

The students who received honorable mentions were Logan Clay, Nolan Games and Chris Godwin.

Clay is a junior biology and psychology double major from Benton, Ark. His poster presentation described work done with Dr. Plymale on antibiotic-producing bacteria.

“The conference is a symposium that allows undergrad students to present their research funded by INBRE,” Clay noted. “Receiving honorable mention is huge because it shows that my work was considered important.”

Games is a senior biology and computer science double major from North Little Rock, Ark. His oral presentation described the herpesvirus work he researched over the summer with Dr. Craig Forrest at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS).

“Being chosen to speak at INBRE was an honor in and of itself,” Games said. “I was able to present my research, and it was a wonderful opportunity to share with students who were genuinely interested and engaging.”

Godwin is a senior biomedical sciences major from Mabelvale, Ark. His poster presentation described the work on interactions between synthetic cannabinoids and antidepressants he researched over the summer with Dr. William Fantegrossi at UAMS.

“The conference gave me an outlet that I could present the research I did at UAMS this summer and get feedback from a variety of people,” Godwin explained. “I was happy just to be able to talk about my research, but getting honorable mention made me feel more confident in the research I had done.”

Other Ouachita students who presented posters at the conference included:

• Alex Abbott, a senior biology major from Hot Springs, Ark.


• J.J. Askins, a sophomore biomedical sciences major from Sherwood, Ark.


• Rachel Bacon, a senior biology and Spanish double major from Bryant, Ark.


• Briley Baird, a senior biology major from Avery, Texas


• Brittany Beaver, a senior biology and psychology double major from Arkadelphia, Ark.


• Hannah Brandon, a senior biology major from Texarkana, Ark.


• Kesley Brown, a senior biomedical sciences major from Springdale, Ark.


• Cameron Brownlee, a junior biomedical sciences major from Redfield, Ark.


• Shelby Burchfield, a senior biology major from Benton, Ark.


• Callie Clement, a senior biology major from Little Rock, Ark.


• Madison Crosby, a senior biology major from Sheridan, Ark.


• Jake Edmondson, a senior biomedical sciences major from Benton, Ark.


• Savanna Harris, a junior biology major from Richmond, Ky.


• Cyntanna Hawkins, a senior biology major from England, Ark.


• Mary Beth Jones, a senior biomedical sciences major from Conway, Ark.


• Nick Kowalkowski, a senior biology and chemistry double major from Middleburg, Fla.


• Tori Lackey, a senior biology and Spanish double major from Lonoke, Ark.


• Dillon Luterek, a sophomore biology major from Georgetown, Texas


• Morgan Lynch, a senior biomedical sciences major from D’Hanis, Texas


• Justin McGee, a junior biomedical sciences major from Benton, Ark.


• Casey Roark, a senior biomedical sciences major from Benton, Ark.


• Matt Savage, a senior biomedical sciences major from Arkadelphia, Ark.


• Nathan Terry, a senior biology major from Bryant, Ark.


• Dillon Wester, a junior biology major from Rockwall, Texas


• Aaron Woodall, a senior biomedical sciences major from Maumelle, Ark.

 

By Sarah Davis

November 10, 2017