Undergraduate Research: A Gateway to Conferences and Accomplishments for MSUM Dragons
One of the many perks of doing research is the opportunity to travel to conferences. At MSUM, we take pride in offering this experience to our undergraduate students as part of our Dragons community.
Jayden Taylor, Hadiya Farrahmand, Paige Ackerson and Tapash Dahal, all undergraduate students in the Biosciences department at MSUM embraced this opportunity. Paige began her research journey exploring the antimicrobial effects of Tea Tree oil, in Microbiology lab in Fall 2023, while Jay, Hadiya and Tapash delved into immunological research after the Student Academic Conference in Spring 2024. Following countless hours of data analysis and scientific exploration, these students were ready to present their findings at regional and national conferences.
This semester, the students presented their work at the American Society for Microbiology – North Central Branch (ASM-NCB) Meeting at Mankato, Minnesota. Their conference travel was supported by the Judith Strong and College of Science, Health and Environment (CSHE) Research Fund and the Student Activity Fee Allocation Committee (SAFAC). Additionally, Hadiya Farrahmand earned a travel award to attend and present at the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Students (ARBCMS) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Not only did she attend and present, but she also won in her presentation category – a proud moment for all of us!
Here’s what the students have to say about their experiences:
“Attending the ASM NCB and ABRCMS conferences was an incredible and inspiring experience. These events provided me with the opportunity to present my research, connect with professionals and peers in the field, and learn about cutting edge advancements in microbiology and related sciences. Engaging with researchers who share similar interests was both motivating and educational, as I gained new perspectives and valuable feedback on my work. The conferences also highlighted the importance of diversity and collaboration in science, and I left feeling more confident in my ability to contribute to the field. Overall, these experiences deepened my passion for research and reaffirmed my commitment to pursuing a career in science and medicine.”
“Attending ASM NCB was the best experience I have had while attending MSUM. The conference set a precedent for the rest of my scientific endeavors. It brought me closer to science fields that I didn’t think I would ever be interested in, such as soil microbiology. I created bonds that I have not found somewhere else while being able to contribute to the wealth of knowledge at the scientific conference.”
“Attending ASM NCB was an amazing opportunity. All the graduate and undergraduate speakers were well informed in their research which made it easy to follow along. The poster presentations were my favorite as I was able to more easily digest the information. It was great to be in an environment with like-minded people.”
“Attending the ASM NCB conference has helped me with exposure to new experiments people are doing. Also, I have gotten better understanding of career opportunities in science fields while listening to other people talk about their research. With attending the conference it has help me present our research to others people and get experience of what it like presenting to people“.
All of this did make for a busy Fall semester, but who said making memories and having fun while sciencing hard would be effortless?
With Dragon Pride,
Microbial Pathogenesis Lab at MSUM.