First Presidential Awards for undergraduate research and mentoring at K-State honor mathematics student and a virologist

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Sources: Alyson Deines, 785-479-6952, aly@k-state.edu;
and Lorena Passarelli, 785-532-3195, lpassar@k-state.edu;
News release prepared by: Andy Badeker, 785-532-6415, abadeker@k-state.edu

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

FIRST PRESIDENTIAL AWARDS FOR UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH AND MENTORING AT K-STATE HONOR MATHEMATICS STUDENT AND A VIROLOGIST

MANHATTAN -- The inaugural Presidential Awards to honor work that promotes undergraduate research at K-State have been granted to a virologist and a student of mathematics.

Alyson Deines, senior in mathematics, Woodbine, is the recipient of the Presidential Award for Distinguished Undergraduate Student in Research. She receives $1,000 and a plaque. The award was established to recognize outstanding individual contributions to the discovery and creation of new knowledge at K-State.

Lorena Passarelli, assistant professor of biology, won the Presidential Distinguished Faculty Award for the Mentoring of Undergraduate Students in Research, which includes $2,500 and a plaque. The award, given to an assistant, associate or a full professor, is based on mentoring performed in the previous academic year.

"K-State encourages undergraduates to harness their talent and enthusiasm for research, starting as soon as they arrive on campus," said Jon Wefald, university president. "Honoring the work of Alyson Deines and Professor Passarelli is an opportunity to encourage mentoring efforts throughout the university."

Deines, a graduate of Chapman High School, is the daughter of Ruth and Alan Deines and a 2006 Goldwater Scholar. Her studies have focused on mathematical biology and number theory.

"I was drawn to research in general out of curiosity," Deines said. "I grew up reading about new developments in research, and I wanted to be a part of these discoveries."

The research that prompted her nomination for the award helped build an algorithm for the College of Veterinary Medicine, with the goal of increasing the accuracy of pain prediction during castration of cattle.

"Our goal is to be able to tell them that their current model is or is not accurate," Deines said.

Deines enjoys creating models in mathematics biology to see how variables might affect a given system. Number theory attracts her "because the math is very beautiful," she said. "The problems are easily described, but the solutions are often very deep." After her graduation from K-State in May, Deines will pursue graduate work in mathematics at the University of Washington in Seattle.

Passarelli teaches virology and biology in addition to running her molecular virology lab at K-State. Her history of mentoring undergraduates stretches back to 1991, when she was teaching at the University of Georgia in Athens. Since then she has been a mentor for the American Society for Microbiology Undergraduate Research Program, the Latino Institute Program and K-State's Summer Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program.

"I hope that my enthusiasm for research is contagious," Passarelli said, "and that it translates into productive student research and a fun learning climate."

Passarelli makes a point of discovering the strengths of her students so that she can match their qualifications with fellowships and other opportunities, she said. That helps make each student more competitive in the future. "I try to establish a collaborative relationship with students in which they learn as much about research as I learn about mentoring."

Passarelli earned her bachelor's degree in biology from Simmons College; a master's in microbiology is from the University of Connecticut; and a doctorate in genetics is from the University of Georgia. Her research currently concentrates on how insect viruses called baculoviruses regulate their genes and replicate.