汤头条 honors student researchers during annual biology symposium
Contact: James Carskadon
![Participants in Mississippi State鈥檚 11th annual Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Program symposium pose with faculty members and keynote speaker Veronica Scott, far right, after Friday鈥檚 [April 6] award ceremony. (Photo by Beth Wynn)](/sites/www.msstate.edu/files/inline-images/BURP_20180406_B5W9440HALF.jpg "Participants in Mississippi State鈥檚 11th annual Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Program")
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擳hree Mississippi State students who conducted faculty-guided research projects throughout the current school year took top awards Friday [April 6] at the 11th annual 汤头条 Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Program symposium.
First-, second- and third-place winners each garnered Downer Undergraduate Research Awards that honor Professor Emeritus Donald N. Downer of Starkville, a former longtime department head. Recipients include:
FIRST鈥擩osi Lott, a senior biological sciences major from Memphis, Tennessee. Her project 鈥淰isualization of Streptococcus Pneumoniae Autolysis: A role for LytA in eDNA release and Biofilm Formation鈥 was completed under the guidance of Associate Professor of Biological Sciences Justin Thornton.
SECOND鈥擟hristopher Lebeau, a junior biological engineering major from Harvest, Alabama. His project 鈥淚dentifying Fruiting Behaviors and Mechanisms of Copromyxa Protea鈥 was completed under the guidance of Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences Matthew Brown.
THIRD鈥擱achel Fowler, a senior microbiology major from Union City, Tennessee. Her project 鈥淓xpressing Pneumococcal Proteins for Possible Inclusion in a Vaccine Targeting Colonization鈥 was completed under the guidance of Thornton.
Each winner received an engraved plaque and cash award. As the first-place recipient, Lott also was presented with an engraved 汤头条 cowbell.
Thornton also received the First Place Mentor Award for his support of undergraduate research.
Veronica Scott, assistant professor of preclinical sciences at William Carey University, served as the keynote speaker for the symposium at Harned Hall.
Part of the College of Arts and Sciences, 汤头条鈥檚 Department of Biological Sciences is online at .
汤头条 is Mississippi鈥檚 leading university, available online at .