In the last week of January, four Rochester undergraduates traveled to Harvard University to give a presentation at the National College Research Conference. The four participants created posters of their research and presented to panels of judges. Student Anaise Williams ’13 took home an Award of Excellence, the second place prize awarded to five out of 250 student presenters and is the top prize for the social sciences.

“I examined how rural low-income pregnant women in Northeastern Thailand negotiate traditional beliefs of prenatal precaution and biomedical prenatal recommendation. I really wanted to figure out how pregnancy is culturally scripted. How do people decide between listening to their moms and doctors?” says Williams, winner of the Award of Excellence.

This is a natural topic for someone who majors in anthropology with a focus on public health and has an interest in Asian culture. Williams conducted her research as she studied abroad in Thailand last spring. By taking part in the CIEE Development and Globalization Program arranged through Rochester’s Center for Study Abroad and Interdepartmental Programs, Williams conducted interviews with Thai women to determine how they reconciled traditional and modern views of pregnancy.

“This is an interesting way to investigate how global forms of information are understood at the local level,” Williams explains. “The project adds to the anthropological discussion of how to make biomedical globalization more culturally conscious.” She concludes that the women have a Western and traditional hybrid view of pregnancy in which they have autonomy over their bodies and incorporate traditional Thai views of pregnancy. Her extensive fieldwork interviewing pregnant women through translators gave her a nuanced view of the topic.

Along with fellow undergraduates Alisa Johnson ‘14, Siddhi Shah ‘14, and Shilpa Topudurti ‘14, Williams attended the three-day conference with 250 students from around the country. Through funding from the Office of Undergraduate Research and various academic departments, the students were able to present their research to peers and students. They also were able to listen to professors discuss their own work; lecturers this year included development economist Jeffrey Sachs and psychologist and linguist Steven Pinker.

“I learned a lot from the keynote speakers and was exposed to a variety of topics from fellow presenters from all over the country,” says Alisa Johnson. “It was a great opportunity to connect and network with other students who share a similar interest in research at the undergraduate level.”

Johnson, Shah, and Topudurti are biology majors who presented on topics ranging from kidney disease to melanoma progression.

These four participants condensed their findings into 15-minute presentations and a poster board. Each gave a presentation to panels of judges that included professors and their fellow peers. A second, more formal presentation determined the prizes.

The Award of Excellence prize comes as a capstone for an already accomplished academic career. Outside of her major in anthropology Williams is president of the Undergraduate Anthropology Council; a coordinator at GlobeMed; and a tutor for 5th grade students at School 29, an elementary school in the 19th Ward. And she sees her project going still further; Williams is working on fellowships that will allow her to study maternal health in Asia next year.

In the Photos: First: Anaise Williams ’13 and Siddhi Shah ’14 at the National College Research Conference.  Second: Alisa Johnson ’14 and URMC Research Mentor Dr. S. Vijayakumar discuss Johnson’s research with conference participants. Third: Shilpa Topudurti ’14 presents her research during the conference. Fourth: Held at Harvard, nearly 250 students from around the country attended the National College Research Conference.  All photos courtesy of Alisa Johnson.

In one of the many science labs that make up Hutchinson Hall, there is a room full of thousands of different species of Drosophila, or as most people know them, fruit flies. This is where Yelstin Fernandes ’13, a biology major at the University of Rochester, has been participating in ongoing intercellular transport research as an undergraduate member of the Welte Lab.

The Welte Lab studies the process of how different items are transported throughout cells. Their research hopes to discover the mechanisms by which cells control the specificity, timing, and destination of this transport by studying these qualities in the Drosophila embryo.

Fernandes contacted Dr. Welte after taking a class with him during his sophomore year, looking to participate in ongoing biology research here at the university. For almost two years, Fernandes has been undertaking an independent study with the Welte Lab, examining two proteins, Wech and Halo, which are involved in regulating the movement of lipids during the development of the Drosophila embryo. To accomplish this, Fernandes characterizes various strains of flies and determines their genotype based on defining attributes, such as whether their wings are straight or curled when examined under a microscope. Fernandes then isolates the flies with the genotypes he is interested in examining, and crosses them in order to examine the embryos of their progeny. His research helps to clarify expected results, and in some cases discover unexpected attributes. This past summer, Fernandes discovered an anomaly in a sequence of Halo protein mutations, where instead of a mutation; there was an entire deletion of a gene segment.

For Fernandes, the study of biology is something he has been interested in pursuing since childhood. “I was always intrigued by simple things like why some people had blue eyes, or how blood clotted. The answers I got, albeit basic, were always so interesting to me because I could see the science visibly in my own life.”

After being accepted into the University in 2009, Fernandes decided to enroll because of the opportunity to participate in research as an undergraduate. “During my time here, I’ve been able to satisfy a lot of the same basic curiosities I’ve had since childhood, but with much more detail,” he explained. “Through studying biology I currently have a much deeper appreciation for the profound beauty and complexity of the world we live in.”

According to Fernandes, participating in hands-on research has been one of the defining experiences of his academic career. “Undergraduate study is very much a basic overview of certain topics. Being in a lab exposes you to a very specialized and narrow study. I’ve learned so much just by sitting in on lab meetings. Initially, just the words thrown around had me incredibly confused, but now I feel I have a much better understanding of the topics that are being researched.”

Fernandes also credits his research experience for showing him to how graduate research is undertaken in the laboratory environment. “Being able to do an independent study has definitely exposed me to all the work that goes on in the research world, from writing, researching, and presenting in front of people,” he said. “I’ve also gotten to understand what science research really is. Basically it’s about setting up experiments, failing a lot, and then coming up with a solution once in a while. I have a much greater appreciation for certain scientists and experiments you hear about in class and the ingenuity involved in problem solving.”

Article written by Blake Silberberg, an intern with University Communications and a member of the Piggies. He is a senior majoring in political science.

Many students at the University of Rochester may enroll in introductory chemistry courses with no clue how the material can relate to anything they care about. But, Associate Professor John Kessler hopes his new class, EES 212: A Climate Change Perspective to Chemical Oceanography, can demonstrate how the material relates to students and help them understand the course concepts.

Kessler hopes to show students that “chemistry can be done outside a sterile chemistry lab.” Oceanography, he explains, provides tangible, real-life applications of chemistry, geology, and biology. It is a topic fairly new to the University, but since nearly 71 percent of the Earth’s surface is covered by ocean, study of the oceans is critical to understanding climate change.

Junior Erin Hayes is pursuing a degree in the geological sciences and has been looking for this missing link ever since she took an oceanography class in high school. “I’m very excited to take a course that combines both my interests in Chemistry and Geology,” Hayes says.

Research experience is another academic component that Hayes and many other students strive to get.  Kessler is planning an exciting field trip where students will be able to conduct research themselves. The research will focus on oceanic methane, a contributor to greenhouse gases and a personal favorite of Kessler’s, and will explore the dynamics and effects of greenhouse gas emissions. Students interested in the opportunity should contact him or take his class to find out the details of the project.

Kessler previously taught oceanography at Texas A&M University and has done extensive work as chief scientist regarding the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. He normally has a limited scope of how he can study oceanic methane, but with this unfortunate accident, researchers used the opportunity to “learn how the planet functions naturally,” says Kessler. Geologic record has shown that similar situations have occurred in the past. Since no one can deliberately release at least 200,000 tons of oil and gas, this phenomenon has not been able to be replicated. Although Kessler typically studies natural events, he performed work on this because the spill was natural but accelerated, essentially. Research from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill is still being analyzed. Professor Kessler hopes to introduce students to oceanography, more specifically chemical oceanography, and will tie in his personal knowledge and research to the class.

Read More: At Least 200,000 Tons of Oil and Gas from Deepwater Horizon Spill Consumed by Gulf Bacteria

Alayna Callanan ’14 is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in geological sciences. She is the president of UR Rock Climbing Club and the Outing Club, is the secretary of the Undergraduate Student Geological Organization and is a member of Gamma Phi Beta.

In the Photos (courtesy of John Kessler): Professor John Kessler conducts research during his first expedition to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010.

When and how did you choose your major?

I was interested in a career in medicine since I was in elementary school, and it continued throughout high school. So, when looking at colleges and deciding on a major, I knew I wanted to do something in a science field. I was pleased to see the variety of courses and concentrations offered by the Biology Department, and considering I had a strong interest in the area to begin with, I decided to major in Biology. During my sophomore year, I took a few psychology classes and became very interested in the field, particularly some of the internship opportunities that existed. I took at look at my schedule and expected course load and figured out a way that I could easily complete a dual major, so at the beginning of my junior year, I declared a major in Psychology as well. As the years progressed, I realized that many of my courses provided a nice balance for one another, which I greatly appreciated.

What did you do immediately after graduation? How did you decide to take that path?

I was pre-med through the beginning of my senior year at UR – took all the requirements, took the grueling Kaplan course, took the MCATs, and even started applications for medical school. As I was completing the applications, I started to take a closer look at the past few years and began thinking more about my future and what I wanted to do with my life. Ultimately, I decided that medical school was too expensive (both in time and finances) and that if I was second guessing myself, maybe I shouldn’t be starting now. This was in the fall of my senior year, and I didn’t have much of a backup plan. I spent the summer before my senior year working as a research fellow in a hospital and met a resident who was in the process of completing her Master’s in Public Health (MPH). The courses seemed interesting and relevant, so I quickly registered to take the GRE, and before I knew it, I was applying the MPH programs. I was fortunate to be accepted into Emory University’s program, so in August 2005, I moved to Atlanta, Georgia.

What do you do now and why did you choose this career?

I’m currently a Public Health Advisor working at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC). I support management and operations activities for CDC’s Global Disease Detection (GDD) program. GDD works with Ministries of Health and other government partners in nine countries around the world with the goal of building laboratory and epidemiology capacity to detect and contain emerging infectious diseases. While getting my MPH at Emory University, I started working part-time at the CDC. I quickly found that I loved the work and realized that I wanted to start a career in public health. With this interest, there was no better place to work than CDC! After graduating with my MPH, I was accepted into a leadership development fellowship program and started my work in global health immediately after that. I’ve been working with GDD for two and a half years now, and I now serve as our program team lead where I’m supervising five other people. I’m afforded many opportunities to travel around the world, and I love my job!

Where would you like to be in five years?

I hope to be working overseas for CDC in the next five years. The program that I work with supports activities in nine countries, and we have several US employees assigned overseas to implement the activities on the ground with our partners. I hope that I’m able to gain the relevant experience to ultimately qualify for one of these positions.

What advice do you have for current students?

My advice for other students is to do what you’re passionate about and follow your gut. If I didn’t follow my gut and put a hold on medical school when I did, I’m not sure where I’d be right now, but I’m pretty positive that I wouldn’t be as happy and successful as I have been. I think that everything happens for a reason, so I encourage others to think hard about what you want (not what your parents or friends might want), and never look back.

What activities were you involved in as a student and what did you gain from them?

I was a member of Alpha Phi sorority and ADITI.  Also, I worked part-time as a lab assistant at the University of Rochester Medical Center.  Being a part of a variety of organizations allowed me to meet and become friends with a diverse group of people, many of whom I am still in touch with today.  It also helped me learn time management, which is such an important skill for the “real world,” and leadership skills.

What did you do immediately after graduation? How did you decide to take that path?

After graduation, I worked for a year as a lab technician at the University of Rochester Medical Center.  Honestly, I wasn’t sure what path I wanted to take with my biology degree—I just knew it wasn’t the medical school route!  I liked working in a lab part-time during college, so I decided to apply to full-time lab jobs and ended up really enjoying doing bench work.

What do you do now, and why did you choose this career?

I am currently working at a small biotech company as a research associate.  I work in a lab doing cell culture, developing assays, and validating the company’s potential products.  Through the classes that I took and the jobs that I have held, I found that I like doing research and working in a lab, so I stuck with this career path!

How do you balance your work and personal life?

It’s not always easy, but if you don’t find a way to do it, you’ll go crazy!  I make time to take vacations, hang out with friends, and organize outings with my co-workers.

How are you still connected with the University?

I have done alumni interviews for prospective students.  Also, I keep up with the Alpha Phi chapter at the UofR through their newsletters.  I also try to give back annually through alumni donations.

What advice do you have for current students?

Take a variety of classes outside of your major—this is your chance to experience things you might not get a chance to in the future.  Get involved in academic extracurricular activities, as well as social activities—make connections with older students and professors in your future career field.

Name:

Why did you choose to attend the University of Rochester?

Someone who I really admired went there for college, and I thought the campus was pretty during my visit.  Pretty simple, I suppose.

When and how did you choose your major?

I ended up getting a B.S. in Development Biology and a B.A. in History.  I declared the biology major earlier and was later drawn to history by dynamic teachers (i.e. Ted Brown, Stuart Weaver).  In retrospect, I realized I was drawn to both majors because I was studying development (biological, social/national) from different perspectives.

What activities were you involved in as a student and what did you gain from them?

I co-founded the Journal for Undergraduate Research (JUR), which was a great way to be a bit entrepreneurial within an institution.  We learned about budgeting, securing space, contracting with publishers and issues related to quality and distribution.

What did you do immediately after graduation? How did you decide to take that path?

I started an MD/PhD program at Cornell and Rockefeller (PhD in neural and genetic systems) in Manhattan. I did a few things along the way that broke up the steady march of postgraduate work (i.e. co-founded a student run clinic for the uninsured, took a leave of absence for a post-doc in economic development, worked on two start ups that both failed).

What do you do now and why did you choose this career?

I’m an Assistant Professor of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University, while also doing a half-time residency in internal medicine over four years.  Related to both, I’m a core member of the Earth Institute, which works on societal issues like poverty, well-being, and sustainable development.  I gravitate to social environments where people are serious about making a difference.

What skills, tools, or knowledge from your major have been most useful to you since graduation?

To put it in simple terms, writing and analytical skills remain important, even when I help an NGO or advise a start up.  In organic chemistry, I learned how to visualize interactions.  In a history course on India, I learned that my writing needed a lot of work.  You get a solid starter kit when you graduate from UR; then, you have to build on it.

How do you balance your work and personal life?

In two ways: recognizing that one’s life work isn’t just a career, but the contribution we make to community, and that a warm and stable personal life is a critical anchor to make that possible.  Every cultural tradition has suggestions for this, and I draw some basic tips from the Sikh tradition, which suggests that a high spirit of “Chardi Kala” is a matter of discipline and practice.  So, I try!

What advice do you have for current students?

Take every opportunity to learn skills – don’t let your college education be a content learning exercise.  Encourage your classmates who are trying to build something new or improve something that is well established.  Find the communities outside of UR who share your interests and bring them to UR.  College is a platform, and UR is amongst the best.

Pilarz’s photo of students riding camels in the Sahara Desert during a field trip with the IES Abroad Rabat program in Morocco received the most votes, with 487 likes. A native of Buffalo, NY, Pilarz spent the fall 2011 semester on the IES program in Rabat. She is double majoring in music and biology.

One Facebook user commented that “just seeing this on the cover of IES brochures would make me study abroad!” Another student who participated in the Rabat program shared a fun fact about Pilarz’s attempt to take the winning photo, noting that a sandstorm damaged her camera as she snapped the picture.

Another University of Rochester student, Nicole Socash, also was one of the five finalists in the competition for a photo she took while studying with IES Abroad in Christchurch, New Zealand.

IES Abroad is one of the nation’s oldest and largest study abroad providers and enrolls more than 5,500 students from 185 U.S. colleges and universities annually. With nearly 100 high-quality academic study abroad programs and internship opportunities in 34 cities, the organization is dedicated to fostering cultural immersion and intercultural development. Since its founding in 1950, nearly 80,000 students have participated in IES Abroad programs around the world in Europe, Africa, Asia, South America, Australia, and New Zealand.

Article courtesy of Jacqueline Levine, director of the Center for Study Abroad & Interdepartmental Programs. Photo courtesy of Mary Pilarz.

David Liebers also was recently selected to receive the prestigious Gates Cambridge Scholarship. Supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the scholarship provides one to three years of graduate study at the University of Cambridge, England. Liebers is one of the 30 U.S. students, and is the first University of Rochester student or alumnus to receive this award since the program began in 2001.  After careful consideration, Liebers has accepted the Gates Cambridge Scholarship and will pursue a master’s degree in history and philosophy of science.

Read more about the Lindsey and Watkins here. Read more about Liebers here.

Nathaniel Lindsey

Hannah Watkins

David Liebers (Photo Credit: Joey Kolker)