COBRE Project leaders mentor undergraduate students
91福利鈥檚 Center for Undergraduate Research (CUGR) has announced the 2024-25 academic year fellowship awardees. This year鈥檚 awards were supported by CUGR, Office of the Vice President for Research and Dean of the Graduate School, Maine EPSCoR office (through an NSF award), EPIC program, and 91福利 Space (through a Maine Space Grant Consortium [MSGC] award).
The CUGR Research and Creative Activities fellowships were developed to enhance and increase undergraduate student involvement in faculty-supervised research and are supported through the office of the Vice President for Research. Each fellowship provides $3,000 per student for costs associated with the project.
The 2024-25 Academic Year MSGC Undergraduate Research Fellowship awards help provide research opportunities to undergraduate and graduate students in aerospace technology, space science, human exploration and space development, Earth science and other science- or engineering-related fields. The focus of proposed projects funded by the fellowships must be aligned with the research priorities of NASA鈥檚 Earth and space science strategic enterprises. Selected projects will be awarded up to $3,000 each.
Among the awarded projects, 17 were led by COBRE faculty:
2024-25 Academic Year CUGR Research and Creative Activities Fellowship
- Elaina Cote, Molecular and Cellular Biology, 鈥淯sing Paralyzation Assays to Assess the Function of Periactive Zone Proteins at the Neuronal Synapse in C. elegans,鈥 advised by Zhao Xuan
- Toby Dunne, Biochemistry, 鈥淯nderstanding GPCR Desensitization by Autophagy to Treat Chronic Conditions,鈥 advised by Joshua Kelley
- Gabriella Giftos, Microbiology, 鈥淓xamining the Role of Receptor-Mediated Endocytosis in JC Polyomavirus Infection of Primary Kidney Cells,鈥 advised by Melissa Maginnis
- Emily Hammond, Biomedical Engineering, 鈥淥ptimizing 3D Breast Cancer Heterospheroid Production To Enhance Diagnostics And Instrument Testing,鈥 advised by Karissa Tilbury
2024-25 Academic Year MSGC Research Experience
- Maddison Coffin, Biology, 鈥淪wimming in Protein: Mylpf Protein Helps Zebrafish Build Muscle Strength,鈥 advised by Jared Talbot
- Angelina White, Biology, 鈥淲hat Cues Help Muscle-Forming Cells Migrate to Different Regions of The Body?,鈥 advised by Jared Talbot
2024-25 Academic Year EPIC Research and Creative Activities Fellowships
- Ben Curtis, Biochemistry, 鈥淰alidating a Novel Drug Screen and Candidate Drugs Against Influenza A Infection in Zebrafish,鈥 advised by Benjamin King
- Myla Schneider, Biology, 鈥淭he Evaluation of Paroxetine and Cetirizine Combination in JC Polyomavirus Infection,鈥 advised by Melissa Maginnis
2024-25 Academic Year NSF Research Fellowships
- Seth Ashby, Microbiology, 鈥淒etermining Essential Genes Contributing to the Regulation of the Mitochondrial Unfolded Protein Response (UPRmt),鈥 advised by Suzanne Angeli
- Sydney Brown, Molecular and Cellular Biology, 鈥淓valuation of cellular calcium flux in response to JC Polyomavirus infection,鈥 advised by Melissa Maginnis
- Daniela Chavez de Paz Solis, Biology, 鈥淭he Role of Inflammatory Mechanisms in Muscle Fiber Regeneration of Zebrafish Affected By Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy,鈥 advised by Clarissa Henry
- Oyku Goktug, Biochemistry, 鈥淚nvestigating DPM3 Deficiency: Mechanisms of Muscle Resilience in Dystroglycanopathies,鈥 advised by Clarissa Henry
- Benjamin Hunt, Biology, 鈥淎n Investigation of Neurodegenerative Mechanisms Associated with cat-4 Gene Mutations via their Impact on Clarinet (CLA-1) Localization,鈥 advised by Zhao Xuan
- Jasper Makowski, Microbiology, 鈥淐haracterization of the role of L-type calcium channels in BK Polyomavirus infection,鈥 advised by Melissa Maginnis
- Melisa Matonsi, Biochemistry, 鈥淚dentifying Key Genes for the Prolongation of the Mitochondrial Unfolded Protein Response (UPRmt),鈥 advised by Suzanne Angeli
- Mason Soares, Microbiology, 鈥淚nvestigating Myosin Essential Light Chain Function,鈥 advised by Jared Talbot
- Mary Tanner, Biology, 鈥淚nvestigating how muscle-driven movement promotes cartilage growth,鈥 advised by Jared Talbot
The full list of awardees is available on .