From left, Hannah Horowitz, Kerry O’Bannon and Jed Walker presenting a poster on cell biology.
Over 125 Lee University students attended a math and science research symposium hosted by the Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. The event opened with a high school mathematics competition, followed by the first round of physical chemistry research defenses, given by Lee seniors.
Poster presentations were given, focusing on the subjects of genetics, cell biology, biochemical synthesis and molecular biology, physics, introduction to general, organic, and biochemistry, and how to mentor future mathematicians.
“Our goal is to provide our students with an opportunity to present their research in a formal setting,” said Dr. Lori West, Lee associate professor of biology and symposium coordinator. “They have put a significant amount of time and energy into their projects, and we are proud of the work they have done.”
Megan Shertzer, a Lee graduate, closed with the keynote address titled “Diverging from the Central Dogma: Understanding Long Non-coding RNA Function.”
The next day seniors presented physical chemistry and biology senior research defenses.
Ms. Shertzer graduated from Lee University in May 2012 with a bachelor’s in biochemistry. At graduation, she was awarded the Charles Paul Conn Award and the Biochemistry Departmental Award. Her first research experience was at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and she is now working on her thesis project at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
For more information on Lee’s Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, call 614-8275.