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Science students impress judges at Virginia Academy of Science meeting

Liberty University Associate Professor of Biology Kyle Harris and his student research team won a grant from the Virginia Academy of Science.

A group of students and faculty from Liberty University’s Department of Biology & Chemistry won two grants for their research Saturday, Oct. 28, after attending the Virginia Academy of Science Fall Undergraduate Research Meeting at Hampden-Sydney College.

During the meeting, 28 poster presentations of research proposals from universities across Virginia were showcased to a panel of judges, and nine grants of $750 were awarded to winning presentations in order to assist students as they undergo research.

Liberty Associate Professor of Biology Kyle Harris said receiving the grants from an outside community of scientific researchers is extremely encouraging for the students involved, especially after months of researching topics of interest.

Harris noted that becoming a larger presence in the scientific community not only enables Liberty to become a leader in scientific research, but also gives Liberty students and faculty an ability to share the Gospel with secular institutions of higher education.

“VAS is a great platform to present our scientific projects for this academic year, but we also see it as a platform to point people toward Christ,” Harris said. “To tell people, ‘We have science students here, and we’re Christians’ is a testimony of who we are as believers and scientists.”

Liberty students presented their proposals alongside renowned schools, such as the University of Virginia and Virginia Tech. Harris said that competing directly with top Virginia schools gives Liberty a reputation as an accomplished, research-driven institution.

Liberty presented five proposals at the meeting. Out of the two that received grants, one was a proposal to study the characterization of pH (potential of hydrogen, which is a scale of acidity) regulation in a specific type of fungal pathogen called Cryptococcus neoformans. This research may help gain insight on ways to help stop the spread of the pathogen.

Junior Kristen John with the research poster she presented to the VAS.

The proposal was presented by Liberty junior cell and molecular biology major Kristen John, along with Liberty Associate Professor of Biology Dr. Michael Price. With the grant money they received, Price said they plan on purchasing supplies that will enable them to explore how the pathogen reacts to changes in environmental pH.

This investigation began in Dr. Price’s molecular techniques class, with John continuing it outside of the classroom on her own time. John said it was extremely encouraging to be recognized by a distinguished judging panel.

“It’s reassuring when you put in a lot of long hours and late nights in the lab and then are actually able to present what you’re doing,” John said. “It’s just rewarding to know that the work that I am doing could potentially benefit the lives of people in the future.”

Liberty’s second winning proposal was presented by a team of students: senior zoo and wildlife major Nathan Chandler, junior biomedical sciences major Mackenzie Lecher, senior biomedical sciences major Austin Minuto, junior zoology major Samuel Owens, senior zoology major Abbie Suttle, and senior environmental biology major Caroline Williams.

Alongside Harris, they proposed research into the negative effects of pesticides on invertebrates by studying the growth and development of crawfish when exposed to Atrazine, a commonly used herbicide. Harris said his group of students will use the grant money the rest of the calendar year to experiment with different variables related to the research.

“It will allow us to do some very particular stains of tissue, and that will be the evidence that we use to see how even low dosages of pesticide use can have potentially an impact on the environment and the development of these organisms, and not in a good way,” Harris said.

As students and faculty in the Department of Biology & Chemistry continue their research and utilize their grant money, they are looking forward to presenting their findings through Liberty’s Research Week and at the Big South Undergraduate Research Symposium, both of which will be held in April 2018.

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