K-INBRE Symposium: A Successful Gathering of Scientific Minds

The Kansas IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (K-INBRE) held its annual symposium from January 13 to 15, 2023, bringing together some of the brightest minds in the scientific community. The event was a huge success, attracting over 500 attendees from across the state.

The K-INBRE symposium provides a platform for the exchange of ideas and collaboration between researchers and students in the field of biomedical research. The event is a testament to the strength of the scientific community in Kansas and demonstrates the power of bringing together talented and dedicated people to advance the frontiers of science.

The theme of this year's symposium was "Innovation in Biomedical Research." Student attendees participated in a variety of events including lectures from guest speakers, oral presentations, poster sessions, and networking opportunities. These sessions allowed participants to share their research findings and gain new insights into the latest developments in the field.

The student attendees were hugely successful over the course of the symposium, receiving not just 10, but 11 outstanding students with certificates for their research posters & presentations. The competition was fierce, with many applicants submitting phenomenal work. The judges were so impressed by the quality of the submissions that they decided to award an additional certificate beyond the usual 10-award regimen. This extra recognition is a testament to the strength and talent of the bioscience students in Kansas.

The recipients of the 2023 K-INBRE Poster Awards were Christopher Kywe, Navya Singh, Manish Bhatta, Cole King, Feras Mohammed Awad-Ejied, McKenzie Connor, Will Sydzyik, Joel Sydzyik, Mia Thompson, Courtney King, and Gabrielle Hightower. These 11 students are a shining example of the future of the bioscience field, and KU is proud to recognize their achievements.

In addition to the presentations and posters, the symposium also featured a series of workshops and networking events, providing attendees with the opportunity to engage with their peers and build connections that will help them in their careers.

The 2023 K-INBRE Symposium was a resounding success, providing a platform for the exchange of ideas and fostering collaboration between researchers and students in the field of biomedical research. It was a celebration of the hard work and dedication of the next generation of bioscience researchers in Kansas.

 

 

The full listing of the KU Students who presented at the Symposium and their areas of research: 

Oral Presentation

Audrey Rips-Goodwin (Tera Fazzino, Psychology) Title: Determining the Accuracy of Food Labeling for Hyper-palatable and non-Hyper-palatable Foods. She received an Honorable Mention for best student oral presentation.

 

Poster Presentation

BrunoJoel Hatungimana (Joanna Slusky, Molecular Biosciences) Title: Design of a fluorescent outer-membrane protein.

 

Marchella P. Djojopurnomo (Lynn Hancock, Molecular Biosciences) Title: A GntR-Family Transcription Factor Controls Alpha-Mannosidase Expression in Enterococcus Faecalis.

 

Jeff P. Goff (Adam Smith, Pharmacology and Toxicology) Title: Effects of Social Defeat Stress on Approach-Avoidance Decision Making in Male Prairie Voles.

 

Christopher Kywe (Brian D. Ackley, Molecular Biosciences) Title:  Identifying effectors responsible for mab-5/Hox mediated innate immune response. Christopher was awarded Best Poster.

 

Kelly N. Knowles (Tera L. Fazzino, Psychology) Title: Hyper-palatable, High Energy Density, and Ultra-processed Foods in the Global Food System.

 

Navya Singh (Laird Forrest, Pharmaceutical Chemistry) Title: Synthesis of a Hyaluronic Acid-Deferoxamine Conjugate for Local Treatment of Bone Regeneration. Navya won an award for Best Poster.

 

Eva T. Morrison (Justin P. Blumenstiel, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology) Title: Validation of a workflow for the identification of novel transposable element insertions in Drosophila virilis pooled long reads.

 

Carlos Schwindt (Benjamin Sikes, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology) Title: Understanding the Mask Mycobiome.

 

Anna Wenninger (Roberto De Guzman, Molecular Biosciences) Title: Determining the translocon structure of T3SS in virulence proteins by expressing and purifying MH21 in IpaC

 

Lydia Manley (Yoshiaki Azuma, Molecular Biosciences) Title: The role of the C-Terminal Domain of Topoisomerase II in Mitosis.

 

Meridia Bryant (Jenny Gleason, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology) Title: Running on empty: effect of starvation stress on Drosophila sturtevanti courtship.

 

Chi Dung Luu (Hannah Kinmonth-Schultz, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology) Title: Optimization of carbohydrate detection in wheat using Sucrose/D-Fructose/D-glucose Assay.

 

Emalee Andrews (Adam Smith, Pharmacology and Toxicology) Title: Identification of CRH dense brain regions in the fore- and mid- brain of pair bonded male and female prairie voles.

 

Emily Proctor (Joanna Slusky, Molecular Biosciences) Title: Computational Prediction of Chloroplast Outer Envelope β-barrel Proteins.

 

Aylar Atadurdyyeva (Robert Unckless, Molecular Biosciences) Title: Good things come in three: Drosophila-Wolbachia-fungus tripartite interactions.