How CELA and CLEAR Empower Biochemistry Research</h1> <article> <h1>How CELA and CLEAR Empower Biochemistry Research</h1> <p>kviancou — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 15:24:30 +0000</p> <span>How CELA and CLEAR Empower Biochemistry Research</span> <span><span>kviancou</span></span> <span><time datetime="2026-03-23T11:24:30-04:00" title="Monday, March 23, 2026 - 11:24">Mon, 03/23/2026 - 11:24</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>The <a href="/center-engaged-liberal-arts">Center for Engaged Liberal Arts (CELA)</a> fosters a community where students connect academic learning with real-world application. For Julia Ludwig ’27, that community has helped her build meaningful experiences beyond the classroom, form lasting friendships, and give back whenever possible.</p><p>In her first year at �鶹��Ƶ, Ludwig joined a research lab for her winter term project. “What was meant to be a short-term project became the longest and most transformative research experience of my undergraduate career,” she says. “I was trusted to shape questions, interpret unexpected results, and follow curiosity where it led.”</p><p>Conducting research at �鶹��Ƶ gave Ludwig the foundation and confidence to seek out opportunities at other institutions. During a summer research experience at Ohio State University, using the skills she gained in �鶹��Ƶ research communities, including the �鶹��Ƶ Summer Research Institute, she felt empowered to help cultivate a collaborative dynamic among her new peers. “Having come from an environment where friendship and teamwork meant the same thing, I was able to adapt well and connect with others, motivating graduate students and lab leaders to celebrate their successes outside of the lab,” she says.</p><p>Through leadership roles within CELA, Ludwig has given back to the community that shaped her values. <a href="/clear">The Center for Learning, Education, and Research in the Sciences (CLEAR)</a> creates an inclusive and welcoming environment for students interested in STEM fields. As a CLEAR mentor, Ludwig supported fellow students in STEM courses. Later, as a CLEAR coordinator, she oversaw new cohorts of mentors and helped them grow into their roles. “Over time, I discovered that my greatest strength was not only achieving goals but also empowering people to uplift themselves and find solutions.”</p><p>Ludwig is grateful for how CELA has strengthened both her academic confidence and her sense of purpose. “I found something transformative in �鶹��Ƶ’s academic rigor and culture of cooperation.”</p><p>After �鶹��Ƶ, Ludwig, who majors in <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/chemistry-biochemistry">biochemistry</a>, plans to pursue an MD-PhD, with the goal of bridging clinical insight with biochemical and neurobiological research.</p><p>Ludwig is a nominee for the CELA Award, recognizing outstanding engagement and achievement in connecting academic pursuits with experiential learning.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Through hands-on research, peer mentorship, and leadership in CLEAR, Julia Ludwig ’27 is preparing for a future at the intersection of medicine and neurobiological science.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2026-03-22T12:00:00Z">Sun, 03/22/2026 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">By Kate Martin ’26</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3846">Engaged Liberal Arts</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2358">Undergraduate Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2594">CLEAR</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=4075">Neuroscience</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=4265">Biochemistry</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/chemistry-biochemistry" hreflang="und">Chemistry and Biochemistry</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/neuroscience" hreflang="und">Neuroscience</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Tanya Rosen-Jones ’97</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-article-header field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">0</div> </article> <article> <h1>Goldwater Scholarship Recipient Tanisha Shende ’26 Aims to Make Virtual Reality More Accessible</h1> <p>ygay — Thu, 01 May 2025 19:43:41 +0000</p> <span>Goldwater Scholarship Recipient Tanisha Shende ’26 Aims to Make Virtual Reality More Accessible</span> <span><span>ygay</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-05-01T15:43:41-04:00" title="Thursday, May 1, 2025 - 15:43">Thu, 05/01/2025 - 15:43</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>The Goldwater Scholarship, one of the most prestigious national undergraduate scholarships in the natural sciences, engineering, and mathematics, provides funding for educational endeavors. Shende will spend the upcoming summer conducting research at the MIT Media Lab in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with plans to work on the ethics and governance of technology at Harvard University’s Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society.</p> <p>“I am still exploring research areas,” says Shende, “But I’ve already done a lot of work in making existing technology more accessible for disabled people and developing assistive technology. Regardless of my specialization, I want the technology I study and develop to contribute to social good.”</p> <p>Read more about Shende’s academic journey and career goals in this interview.</p> <figure class="captioned-image"> <figcaption>Shende. Photo by Rosen Jones</figcaption> </figure> <p> </p> <p><strong>How does this scholarship align with your career goals?</strong><br> My goal is to earn a PhD in computer science and a JD or a graduate degree in technology and policy. I am still exploring research areas, but I’ve already done a lot of work in making existing technology more accessible for disabled people and developing assistive technology. Regardless of my specialization, I want the technology I study and develop to contribute to social good, so I want to conduct research in an academic or industry setting while also collaborating with non-profit organizations, legislative bodies, governmental agencies, etc. The Goldwater Scholarship provides logistical support—I will apply my award to my tuition—but more importantly, it has identified me as a high-performing and high-potential researcher to graduate programs and fellowships. This visibility and credibility will be crucial as I move toward my goals because I want to be a creative and influential voice in the field. </p> <p> </p> <p><strong>How does this scholarship build on your previous studies and activities at �鶹��Ƶ? </strong><br> My research areas include human-computer interaction, human-centered design, and accessibility. I study the ways that technology can reinforce and mitigate social issues, such as how AI can describe images and surroundings to blind and low-vision people, but also how it can perpetuate labor exploitation and environmental harm and how it can transcend geographical and physical limitations but remain a legally ambiguous space where digital harm outpaces existing regulation and case law. My work is inherently interdisciplinary, so I took advantage of �鶹��Ƶ’s course offerings as a STEM major with a sociology minor. </p> <p>My computer science, mathematics, and data science education have been invaluable in developing my technical foundation, but I’ve found my humanities and social sciences courses to be equally useful. For example, during my first year, I wrote a review paper on the impact of stigma and forced assimilation on autistic people for my Research and Reasoning in STEM course under <a href="/gunnar-kwakye">Professor Gunnar Kwakye</a>. Then I studied the experiences of disabled people in healthcare and higher education in <a href="/alicia-smith-tran">Associate Professor Alicia Smith-Tran</a>’s Medical Sociology course. That summer, at Cornell University, I developed a research study on the experiences and challenges of autistic people in social virtual reality, and I contributed to a study on disability disclosure in the workplace, university, and social media. </p> <p>During my second year, I became more immersed in educational equity through my positions in <a href="/undergraduate-research">OUR</a> and <a href="/clear">CLEAR</a>, and I took <a href="/daphne-john">Associate Professor Daphne John</a>’s sociology course Unequal Educations. These experiences supported my summer research at Gallaudet University on the impact of augmented reality on d/Deaf and hard-of-hearing learners. My research projects at Cornell and Gallaudet were heavily featured in my Goldwater application. I highlighted my interdisciplinary interests and community involvement in my personal statements and activities section. My win symbolizes the culmination of these studies and activities.</p> <p><br> <strong>How did �鶹��Ƶ shape or influence you as an academic, thinker, and person?</strong><br> As a small, liberal arts institution, �鶹��Ƶ carries a love for humanity that’s inspired my work. From the long history of student protests to the multitude of community-engaged organizations, the people here hold empathy for each other and the world as a whole. I began college as a physics major, intent on studying galaxies and stars, but during a September night at the observatory, I found myself more interested in the happenings on the ground than in the stars. At another institution, I may have clung strictly to the sciences, but �鶹��Ƶ and its students hold so much respect for the humanities that I felt encouraged to embrace human-centered technology. There’s a real audience here for work that leverages academia and technology for social good. Despite being a computer science and mathematics major, I’ve been able to enter the spaces of other disciplines due to the many opportunities here, such as the Athens Democracy Forum Student Delegation and the Law and Justice Scholars Program.</p> <p>On a more personal level, I’ve appreciated the freedom and trust given to me by faculty and staff. I’m ambitious, and I’ve found many wonderful mentors here who’ve encouraged that fire and supported me professionally and personally. They’ve taken an interest in my ideas and goals, given me advice and opportunities, and nominated me for awards. Whenever I had an original idea for a research project or campus initiative, they supported me and gave me the connections and resources needed to execute it. I’m so fortunate to have people who recognize my potential and are committed to cultivating it rather than holding me back. Their confidence in me has boosted my self-esteem and self-efficacy. </p> <p><br> <strong>What are your plans for 2025-26?</strong><br> During the academic year, I will continue my ongoing research projects in computer science and education and prepare my papers for publication and presentation. Furthermore, I will apply to a variety of graduate programs, including PhD programs in computer science, JD-PhD programs, and master’s programs at the intersection of technology, public policy, and sociology. I am also preparing to apply for fellowships and scholarships, including the National Science Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowship Program and the Thomas J. Watson Fellowship. </p> <p>Beyond my academic work, I’m excited to continue working toward educational equity and responsible technology. I will attend the Athens Democracy Forum in October as a student delegate and implement programming on technology and democracy at �鶹��Ƶ. Through my positions at OUR and CLEAR, my goal is to further boost the visibility and accessibility of STEM and undergraduate research through workshops, mentorship, and community-engaged research on systemic barriers. Finally, I will continue working with adult education providers and learners through the <a href="/bcsl">Bonner Center for Service and Learning</a> to design a technological system supporting educational attainment, retention, and success.</p> <p>Research is central to my character and the language through which I contribute to social good. I learned about the Goldwater Scholarship during my second year, and I read articles about �鶹��Ƶ’s previous winners and wanted to be like them. Although the scholarship has financial benefits, its main draw for me was its status as a prestigious signifier of excellence and potential within research. It validates that I’m capable of the rigorous, advanced research I’ve always dreamed of doing. This recognition is meaningful for someone who has struggled with visibility, self-doubt, and exclusion, who has had to build her confidence brick by brick in spaces that don’t always recognize her right away. It tells me and the world that I belong here.</p> <p><br> <strong>What activities were/are you involved in at �鶹��Ƶ?</strong><br> I am an <a href="/bcsl/programs/engaged-learning-lab/ell-current-projects">Engaged Learning Lab Research</a> fellow at the Bonner Center, working to systematize communication and transitions between adult education programs in northeast Ohio. I conduct research on computer science education under <a href="/cynthia-taylor">Associate Professor Cynthia Taylor</a>. Within <a href="/undergraduate-research">Undergraduate Research</a> and the Center for Learning, Education and Research in the Sciences, I am a research ambassador, <a href="/clear/tutoring/branches-community-leaders">BRANCHES</a> community leader, and <a href="/undergraduate-research/programs/strong">STRONG</a> scholar. I am a consultant within the �鶹��Ƶ Research Group, conducting political research sanctioned by the U.S. State Department, and I am a 2025-26 Law and Justice scholar. Additionally, I am a 2024-25 <a href="/career/set/obs">Ashby Business Scholar</a> and a peer career advisor for the <a href="/career/career-communities/finance-business-and-consulting">Business, Consulting, and Finance Career Community</a>. Finally, I serve on the <a href="/current-students/senate">Student Senate</a>’s Academic Affairs and Health and Wellness committees.</p> <p><br> <strong>What’s the best advice you’ve received at �鶹��Ƶ?</strong><br> A healthy level of entitlement can be a survival skill. If there is a certain future you want, you need to convince yourself that you deserve it and you’ll do whatever it takes to obtain it. If you reject yourself before anyone else does, then you’re not allowing other people the chance to see you and believe in you. When you're already navigating a world that’s against you due to class, identity, or circumstance, you can’t afford to be one of the forces working against your own potential. This is easier said than done, and typically, the social factors influencing this mindset begin in early adolescence. Still, I think it’s helpful to fake it until you make it.</p> <p> </p> <hr> <p><em><a href="/fellowships">Connect with Fellowships & Awards</a> to learn more about the fellowships and awards opportunities available to students.</em></p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Shende is among 441 Goldwater Scholarship recipients from an estimated pool of 5,000-plus college sophomores and juniors applicants.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2025-05-01T12:00:00Z">Thu, 05/01/2025 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Office of Communications</div> <div class="text-content field field--name-field-intro-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>“Research is a central component of my character and the language through which I contribute to social good,” says Tanisha Shende ’26, a <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/computer-science">computer science</a> and <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/mathematics">mathematics</a> major from Lodi, New Jersey. </p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=4150">Mathematics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=4153">Computer Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2373">Awards and Honors</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3898">Stem</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2594">CLEAR</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-faculty field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/gunnar-kwakye" hreflang="und">Gunnar Kwakye</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/alicia-smith-tran" hreflang="und">Alicia Smith-Tran ’10</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/daphne-john" hreflang="und">Daphne John</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/cynthia-taylor" hreflang="und">Cynthia Taylor ’02</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/mathematics" hreflang="und">Mathematics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/computer-science" hreflang="und">Computer Science</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Tanisha Shende ’26 researches virtual reality to make existing technology more accessible for disabled people.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Tanya Rosen Jones</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Sabriya Rosemond Named Director of CLEAR</h1> <p>swargo — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 17:00:00 +0000</p> <span>Sabriya Rosemond Named Director of CLEAR</span> <span><span>swargo</span></span> <span><time datetime="2021-06-22T13:00:00-04:00" title="Tuesday, June 22, 2021 - 13:00">Tue, 06/22/2021 - 13:00</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Sabriya Rosemond has been appointed director of the Center for Learning, Education, and Research in the Sciences (CLEAR), an interdepartmental resource for faculty and students dedicated to expanding on �鶹��Ƶ’s tradition of leadership in science education and historical commitment to diversity.</p> <p>CLEAR supports �鶹��Ƶ’s goal of promoting the persistence and success of all students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) fields through an array of activities, ranging from campus-wide learning communities to departmental action and reflection teams.</p> <p>“It is my great pleasure to welcome Sabriya Rosemond to �鶹��Ƶ as our new director of CLEAR,” said Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences David Kamitsuka. “She brings both excellent training as a scientist and expertise in inclusive science pedagogy, and I am confident that she will be an invaluable leader and resource for faculty, staff, and students as we pursue our mission and tradition of leadership in science education.”</p> <p>As director of the CLEAR program, Rosemond will be a member of �鶹��Ƶ's Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) <a href="/news/oberlin-selected-hhmi-inclusive-excellence-initiative">Inclusive Excellence</a> leadership team to support inclusive excellence in STEM. She also will facilitate campus-wide learning communities and recruit, train, and supervise peer mentors, tutors, and student workshop leaders along with coordinating professional development programming.</p> <p>“I am delighted about joining the �鶹��Ƶ College community and its longstanding tradition of equity in higher education,” said Rosemond. “As the new CLEAR director, I look forward to steering the center's continued growth, collaborating with students, staff, and faculty in ongoing equity and inclusion-focused efforts in STEM, as well as developing new programming aimed to ensure the success of all students in STEM.”</p> <p>Rosemond comes to �鶹��Ƶ from Florida International University, where she was the assistant director of the Learning Assistants Program.</p> <p>At FIU, Rosemond helped design and cofacilitated a remote teaching workshop series that introduced faculty to tools and activity structures used to support student learning through collaborative active learning. She also led the development of a toolkit designed to support faculty with teaching practices that build strong classroom communities. Prior to FIU, she was a member of the biology department at Davidson College as a visiting assistant professor and a Consortium for Faculty Diversity postdoctoral fellow.</p> <p>Rosemond earned a bachelor of science in biology at Hampton University and a PhD in molecular and cell biology at the University of California, Berkeley. Her graduate work focused on understanding how proteins fold into their proper structures. She was a postdoctoral fellow and the research coordinator for the Biology Scholars Program at UC Berkeley where she completed equity-focused science education research and taught courses that focused on navigating science as an undergraduate, professional development, and barriers that inhibit student success in science and the gap in understanding between the science community and the general public. </p> <p>Rosemond says her experience as an undergraduate in traditional STEM classrooms influenced her desire to create more engaging, equitable, and inclusive STEM learning environments.</p> <p>For more information about the Center for Learning, Education, and Research in the Sciences visit <a href="/clear">CLEAR</a>.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2021-06-22T12:00:00Z">Tue, 06/22/2021 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Scott Wargo</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2594">CLEAR</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2583">College of Arts and Sciences</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2367">Science & Math</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Courtesy Sabriya Rosemond</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Q&A with Nicollette Mitchell ’13 HHMI Inclusive Excellence STEM Fellow</h1> <p>hhempste — Wed, 30 Aug 2017 18:25:53 +0000</p> <span>Q&A with Nicollette Mitchell ’13 HHMI Inclusive Excellence STEM Fellow</span> <span><span>hhempste</span></span> <span><time datetime="2017-08-30T14:25:53-04:00" title="Wednesday, August 30, 2017 - 14:25">Wed, 08/30/2017 - 14:25</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>During master’s degree work on climate change at the University of Arizona, Nicollette Mitchell ’13 mentored young scientists and advocated for inclusive learning environments. So when the graduate in geology and Africana studies discovered a fellowship opportunity within �鶹��Ƶ’s <a href="/news/oberlin-selected-hhmi-inclusive-excellence-initiative">Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI)</a>’s Inclusive Excellence initiative, a program that promotes the success of all students in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math), she saw values that reflected her own. </p> <p>“This fellowship stood out to me because it’s in line with my own commitment to scientific excellence and social equity, and it would allow me to really make an impact in the lives of young scientists,” says Mitchell. “�鶹��Ƶing to do that work at �鶹��Ƶ was a no-brainer.”</p> <p>This fall, Mitchell will return to �鶹��Ƶ as the college’s first HHMI Inclusive Excellence STEM fellow. In this role, she will work with students and partners across campus to develop targeted student programming and nurture STEM access, engagement, and success.</p> <p>“I’m looking forward to being a resource for current students,” says Mitchell. “The Center for Learning, Education and Research in the Sciences (CLEAR), the �鶹��Ƶ Workshop and Learning Sessions (OWLS), and other related activities did not exist when I was a student at �鶹��Ƶ, so I’m really excited about all of the new possibilities for student engagement. I’m also thrilled to be back at �鶹��Ƶ in a new position and closer to my mentors in the geology and Africana studies departments.”</p> <p><strong>Find out more about Mitchell in this Q&A</strong></p> <p><strong>1. What’s your favorite spot on campus?</strong><br> The Arb, hands down. I wish I went there more when I was a student—it’s a hidden gem. I may or may not have memories of sledding down the hill using lunch trays. As an administrator, I do not recommend this activity to current students.</p> <p><strong>2. Cats or dogs?</strong><br> Cats. I have two!</p> <p><strong>3. What’s your passion? </strong><br> I love learning new things and seeing new places, because traveling and learning puts life in perspective.</p> <p><strong>4. Go-to ice cream flavor?</strong><br> Rocky road</p> <p><strong>5. Where can we find you on campus?</strong><br> I will be based at the CLEAR center in the Science Center, Mudd library, and elsewhere on campus where there’s CLEAR programming. I’ll be living in Third World House.</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2017-08-30T12:00:00Z">Wed, 08/30/2017 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Communications Staff</div> <div class="text-content field field--name-field-intro-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Geology and Africana studies graduate Nicollette Mitchell will return to �鶹��Ƶ as the first HHMI Inclusive Excellence STEM fellow.</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2594">CLEAR</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2764">Science Center</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2367">Science & Math</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Nicollette Mitchell ’13, the college’s HHMI Inclusive Excellence STEM fellow.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Nicollette Mitchell</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>An Eye-Opening Experience</h1> <p>anagy — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 18:03:18 +0000</p> <span>An Eye-Opening Experience</span> <span><span>anagy</span></span> <span><time datetime="2016-11-07T13:03:18-05:00" title="Monday, November 7, 2016 - 13:03">Mon, 11/07/2016 - 13:03</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Three science students received honors for their presentations at the <a href="http://www.abrcms.org/">Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students</a> (ABRCMS) in November.</p> <p>A team of seven attended the conference in San Antonio, Texas, where they gained exposure to a program of scientific sessions, professional development workshops, student oral and poster presentations, and talks by leading scientists. One of the featured speakers was Sonia Shah ’90, an investigative science and health journalist, who spoke about how poverty, war, and environmental disruption led to the widespread Ebola outbreak in West Africa.</p> <p>Marisa Aikins, a senior physics major, and Anne Chege, a junior biochemistry major, took home prizes for their poster presentations in biophysics and neuroscience, respectively; junior biochemistry major Edmund Korely won the oral competition for presenting the neurotoxicology research he conducted with Assistant Professor Gunnar Kwakye last summer.</p> <p>The �鶹��Ƶ team also included Hudson Bailey, Gifty Dominah, and Michelle Johnson, all senior neuroscience majors, and Gabriel Moore, senior biology major.</p> <p>This is the second year �鶹��Ƶ has attended the ABRCMS, which is one of the largest professional conferences for underrepresented minority students who are pursuing advanced training in STEM fields. “Both this year and last year, our students have fared incredibly well at ABRCMS—in the number of prizes won, how their presentations were received in general, and what a valuable experience it was for the students,” says Marcelo Vinces, director of �鶹��Ƶ’s Center for Learning, Education, and Research in the Sciences (CLEAR).</p> <p>Vinces says students benefit in ways beyond the practical experience of presenting their work. “Students meet representatives from graduate and professional schools who are there to recruit students. They attend professional development sessions. And in addition to the plenary and keynote talks, there are numerous talks across many disciplines in science, math and engineering that the students were able to attend. I even witnessed our students asking questions at these scientific sessions, which is a great experience. Finally, but not least, it is a rare opportunity to see such a large gathering of scientists and engineers of color. It is eye-opening and in many ways affirming. It's why I started attending conferences like these when I was a graduate student.”</p> <p>Vinces says a focus group has been working on ways to support �鶹��Ƶ’s science students of color. The focus group has proposed several ideas: the formation of a peer-mentoring group; creation of a residence hall for science majors, most likely in Afrikan Heritage House; and a pre-matriculation bridge program for incoming students from underrepresented minority students in the sciences.</p> <p>Korley, who won the oral presentation, came to �鶹��Ƶ with ambitions of working in medicine. He says the experience helped him re-evaluate and reaffirm his career goals. “Upon matriculating at �鶹��Ƶ, a crux I often thought about was that a physician heals one person at a time, while a researcher has the opportunity to heal the world. Going to ABRCMS, a microcosm of outstanding biomedical researchers, has definitely cemented my interest in a research career. The exciting work of researchers I met working on translational genomics and other areas of research with a clinical component has especially drawn my interest. The field is nearing its potential to create powerful, accessible, and preventative medicine for all.”</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2014-12-12T12:00:00Z">Fri, 12/12/2014 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Amanda Nagy</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2367">Science & Math</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2363">Academics & Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2594">CLEAR</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Author and investigative science journalist Sonia Shah ’90 was a keynote speaker at the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Alison Williams</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> </main></body></html>