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K-State Today

February 2, 2015

K-State students earn honors for presentations at annual K-INBRE bioscience symposium

Submitted by Communications and Marketing

Six Kansas State University students were among the 20 undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral students honored for their scientific research presentations at the 13th annual Kansas Institutional Development Award Network of Biomedical Research Excellence, or K-INBRE, symposium Jan. 17-18 in Topeka.

The annual symposium is part of the K-INBRE initiative to identify and recruit promising college science students into careers in biomedical research in Kansas.

Throughout the year K-INBRE students work in laboratories alongside scientist mentors to develop research projects. These projects give students early hands-on experience in putting the scientific method into practice. Overall, 129 students presented their findings at the symposium.

The following K-State students received cash prizes for their presentations:

• Amanda Bradley, senior in biology, poster presentation, "Role of glucosylceramide synthase in cell-type differentiation of plants."

• Luke Kicklighter, junior in microbiology, poster presentation, "Targeting gap junction intercellular communication for triple negative breast cancer treatment."

• Erika Peters, junior in microbiology, poster presentation, "Characterization of start domains and co-regulators linking metabolism to development."

• Adam Schieferecke, junior in microbiology, poster presentation, "Generation of improved oncolytic myxoma virus."

• Katherine Sensenich, senior in microbiology and pre-medicine, oral presentation, "Identification and functional testing of natural variants of myxoma virus inhibitors of the antiviral protein kinase R."

• Zheng Zhao, senior in biological and agricultural engineering, poster presentation, "Rapid microfluidic Exosearch for early diagnosis of ovarian cancer."

Led by KU Medical Center, K-INBRE is a collaborative network students, faculty and staff at 10 campuses in Kansas and northern Oklahoma: Kansas State University, KU Medical Center, Emporia State University, Fort Hays State University, Haskell Indian Nations University, Pittsburg State University, University of Kansas, Washburn University, Wichita State University and Langston University in Langston, Oklahoma.