Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship 2007 Recipients

CATEGORY A
Research and Doctoral Universities

Christopher Aakre, Stanford University
Project: Biological Function of the Tomato LRR–RLK in Xanthomonas–Host Interactions
Mentor: Dr. Mary Beth Mudgett

I am incredibly excited to be working under the sponsorship of ASPB this coming summer. The SURF will allow me to focus in depth on a problem that particularly interests me—that is, how plant pathogens use effector proteins to colonize their hosts and promote disease. I am extremely grateful to my mentor, Dr. Mary Beth Mudgett, and to everyone else in the lab for their encouragement and support.

Robert Billmyre, University of Maryland, College Park
Project: Auxin Transport in Charophytes: Examining the Roots of Land Plant Evolution
Mentor: Dr. Heven Sze

I am excited to be able to continue my research this summer, thanks to the generous aid of ASPB. This award will enable me to devote my full energy to my research for the first time in my college experience, and for that I am extremely grateful. I would also like to thank Dr. Heven Sze and Dr. Todd Cooke, at the University of Maryland, for their help throughout my project.

Lihan Deng, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Project: Study of the Function of EPIP1 and EPIP2 Proteins
Mentor: Dr. Elena Shpak

I thank ASPB for this honored award. This is a great acknowledgment for me and a wonderful opportunity to continue my research in plants, where my greatest interest lies. I can’t wait to get started, and I am looking forward to the ASPB meeting to meet other plant biologists. I also thank my mentor, Dr. Elena Shpak, for her support and guidance.

Christine Falaschetti, Loyola University, Chicago
Project: Regulation of Starch Synthesis in Wheat: The Unique Endosperm ADP-GlcPPase
Mentor: Dr. Miguel Ballicora

I cannot begin to express how overjoyed I am at receiving such a prestigious honor from ASPB. I extend many thanks to ASPB for awarding me this very generous opportunity. Without the encouragement and guidance of my research mentor, Dr. Miguel Ballicora, and the very talented individuals in his lab, I would never have imagined this possible. The fellowship will allow me to expand my love of scientific research and narrow my focus for graduate school. Finally, I look forward to meeting and learning from students and professors who share similar interests in plant biology at the conference in Mérida next year.

Ashley Hipps, Cornell University
Project: Determining the Molecular Mechanisms of Temperature Modulation of Defense Responses in Arabidopsis thaliana Through int Mutants
Mentor: Dr. Jian Hua

I am very grateful to ASPB for granting me the SURF award, and I’m looking forward to an exciting summer of research. This is an excellent opportunity for me to become more involved in biological research at Cornell. I thank my mentor, Dr. Jian Hua, for her guidance and encouragement and Dr. Beth Krizek for first introducing me to plant research last summer.

Charles Mason, Pennsylvania State University
Project: Heterologous Biosynthesis of Flavonoid Metabolites and Characterization of Induction Properties of a Transcription Factor in Fungal Challenged Maize Plants
Mentor: Dr. Surinder Chopra

It is an honor to be one of the recipients of the 2007 ASPB SURFs. I plan on making the most of my learning experience this summer. I thank ASPB for the opportunity to expand my horizons on a subject I love to study. I also thank my mentor, Dr. Surinder Chopra, Farag Ibraheem of the Maize Genetics Lab, and the faculty members of the agroecology curriculum for their guidance and support in all of my endeavors.

Ryan Mayle, Michigan State University
Project: cpDNA Mutations as a Genetic Indicator of Oxidative Damage in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii Under High Light Conditions
Mentor: Dr. Barb Sears

I thank ASPB for this great opportunity. I really look forward to a fun and productive summer doing research. The fellowship is an awesome thing for me, and I am very grateful to ASPB for assisting me in my desire to explore the details of chloroplast genetics. I also thank my mentor, Dr. Barb Sears, for her support.

Amy Rymaszewski, University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee
Project: Identification of Novel Signaling Components in the EMS1 Signal Transduction Pathway Using Activation Tagging
Mentor: Dr. Dazhong Zhao

I was completely shocked that I was awarded a 2007 SURF. My first response was, “Holy Photosynthesis!” I thank ASPB for awarding me the fellowship. This is a wonderful opportunity to advance my career in plant genetics and have a greater understanding of a subject I am passionate about. The knowledge I will gain from this experience is something that will stay with me for a lifetime and benefit me greatly. I especially thank my professor Dr. “Dave” Zhao for helping me throughout this experience. He has been the most amazing mentor; Dave shares the knowledge he possesses and makes learning a fun experience.

Christian Santa Maria, University of California, Davis
Project: Sister Chromatid Cohesion in Plants: Comparing Centromeres to Chromosome Arms
Mentor: Dr. Simon Chan

I am deeply honored and thrilled to be a recipient of the ASPB SURF award. I express my most profound gratitude to ASPB for presenting me with this privilege and to my mentor, Dr. Simon Chan, for allowing me to work with him and his team. I also thank my parents, Davey and Glenda, and my two younger sisters, Christine and Abbey, for their constant love, guidance, and encouragement. I anticipate that this will be a valuable learning experience for me as I conduct relevant scientific research and advance my understanding of the field in preparation for graduate school. I am very excited about this summer, and I look forward to presenting our findings at next year’s ASPB conference.

Amy Schroeder, Truman State University
Project: Roles of Conserved Serine and Tyrosine Residues in the Active Site of Tyrosine Ammonia-Lyase
Mentor: Dr. Joseph Jez

I am incredibly grateful to be awarded a SURF grant for summer 2007 from ASPB. I am looking forward to expanding my knowledge and experiences in plant biology while also continuing my research. I thank ASPB for awarding me with this fantastic opportunity. I also extend my thanks and appreciation to my mentor, Dr. Joseph Jez, and everyone involved with the Jez lab. They have guided me in countless ways to become a more experienced plant biologist.

Blaire J. Steinwand, Colorado State University
Project: Sucrose Induced Expression of the PAP1 Gene in Arabidopsis thaliana
Mentor: Dr. Dan Bush

It is an honor to be selected as a recipient of a SURF award for the summer of 2007. As an aspiring scientist, I am very excited about the opportunity to make progress in my research and further my understanding of the many aspects of plant biology over the course of the summer. I thank ASPB for this award and my mentor, Dr. Dan Bush, together with Bettina Deavours and others from the Bush lab, for all their support and teaching along the way.

Roxana Godiwalla, University of Wisconsin–Whitewater
Project: Effects of Calcium on the Growth of Various Mutant Plants
Mentor: Dr. Catherine Chan

It is a great a honor and privilege to be awarded a SURF from ASPB! Being provided with such an opportunity, I can continue my growth as a student and researcher. It is with these great opportunities that individuals develop into more refined researchers. I look forward to the rewards and knowledge of continuing research this summer with my mentor. Special thanks to Dr. Catherine Chan and colleagues in the Chan lab.

Tazley Hotz, East Tennessee State University
Project: Salicylic Acid–Methyl Transferase Required for Plant Innate Immunity
Mentor: Dr. Dhirendra Kumar

I thank ASPB for awarding me a SURF for the summer of 2007. This is a wonderful opportunity for me and will be invaluable to my education and future pursuits. I also thank my mentor, Dr. Dhirendra Kumar, for giving me the chance to be a part of his lab. I am looking forward to continuing my research this summer and presenting my work at the 2008 conference.

Janelle Johnson, San Francisco State University
Project: WAKL4 Cis-Acting Elements in Response to Environmental Minerals
Mentor: Dr. Zheng-Hui He

Receiving the SURF from ASPB could not have come at a better time in my life. I have been working hard in school, so having this opportunity to focus on my research with Dr. Zheng-Hui He during the summer is priceless. I am very thankful for the chance to improve my research abilities as a molecular plant biologist. I would not be where I am if it was not for the encouragement of my family and professors, who believed in me.

Stacy Kowsz, Rochester Institute of Technology
Project: Quorum Sensing Signal Mimics in Modern and Ancient Corn Types
Mentor: Dr. Michael Savka

It is such an honor to receive a SURF from ASPB, which will allow me an excellent opportunity to plan and carry out research over the summer. I am looking forward to conducting the research project that I proposed, and I am very grateful for the funding provided by ASPB. I also thank my mentor, Dr. Michael Savka, for his efforts and guidance. I excitedly anticipate the summer, as well as the opportunity to attend the ASPB meeting during the summer of 2008.

ASPB Education Forum (continued): Four Times the Fun at the ASPB Booth!