Department of Biology
MSC 03 2020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001

(505) 277-0884

 

 

MARC Logo

MARC STUDENT RESEARCH

 

Carmelita Jaramillo talks about the Minority Access to Research Careers (MARC) program at the University of New Mexico. Filmed by Paul Szauter located at the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM.

 

Benefits of Being a MARC Scholar

· Present research at local & national scientific meetings

· Meet other scientists and students from around the country

· Participate in a 3 cr/hr seminar course on Ethics in Research

· Advisement to track timely graduation & post graduation plans

· Learn about graduate school possibilities

· Guidance to apply for graduate school

 

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Melanie Connick

Student:     Melanie Connick
Mentor:     Rebecca S. Hartley, Ph. D.

I'm working in the lab of Dr. Elizabeth Dirk in the Department of Chemical and Nuclear Engineering and the Center for Biomedical Engineering. Our lab focuses on aortic heart valve tissue engineering and biomaterials applications.  The valve consists of two cell types, valvular interstitial cells (VICs) and valvular endothial cells (VECs). Current research has shown there are five types of VIC cells present in heart valves and these different cell phenotypes all play an important role in tissue homeostasis. By studying how the different phenotypes are expressed, we will gain more insight into how the cells can be effectively used for tissue engineering applications.

Conferences or Scientific Meetings Attended: SACNAS 2010; 2010 Biology Research Day; 2010 David G. Whitten Symposium; SACNAS 2011; SACNAS 2012

Poster/ Presentation Titles:   Influence of Harvesting Method on Valvular Interstitial Cell in vitro, 2010

Summer Research Program: University of Washington- Seattle

Awards, Recognitions, & Honors:

  • MARC Scholar
  • Mentor for the Living & Learning Communities for the Fall of 2010
  • UNM SACNAS Lobos Chapter Communications Chair

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Larisa

Student:     Larisa Crippen Y Chavez
Mentor:      Kelly B. Miller, Ph. D.

Conferences or Scientific Meetings Attended: SACNAS 2012

Poster/ Presentation Titles:

Summer Research Program: Coming Soon

Awards, Recognitions, & Honors:

  • MARC Scholar

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Selina Garcia

Student:     Selina Garcia
Mentor:      Rebecca S. Hartley, Ph. D.

Conferences or Scientific Meetings Attended: SACNAS 2012

Poster/ Presentation Titles:

Summer Research Program: Coming Soon

Awards, Recognitions, & Honors:

  • MARC Scholar

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Rachel

Student:     Rachel Gomez
Mentor:      Debra Dunaway-Mariano

Conferences or Scientific Meetings Attended: SACNAS 2012

Poster/ Presentation Titles:

Summer Research Program: Coming Soon

Awards, Recognitions, & Honors:

  • MARC Scholar

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Daniel Lujan

Student:     Daniel Lujan
Mentor:      Bruce Hofkin, Ph. D. and Robert Miller, Ph. D.

Conferences or Scientific Meetings Attended: SACNAS 2011; SACNAS 2012

Many mosquito species preferentially take blood meals from either birds or mammals. Other mosquito species are less host specific and feed readily on both. Furthermore, some mosquitoes tend to alter their feeding patterns over the course of the year; early in mosquito season (May through mid-July), they feed primarily on birds. As the season progresses (mid-July through September), such mosquitoes take an increasingly larger proportion of their blood meals from mammals. We have examined the feeding patterns of three competent West Nile Virus (WNV) vectors in Bernalillo County, Culex quinquefasciatus (Say), Cx. tarsalis (Coquillett), and Aedes vexans (Meigen). This current study seeks to determine if any of these three species display this seasonal shift of feeding pattern that has been observed elsewhere. As such it may provide us with a more precise picture of mosquito feeding habits and the transmission dynamics of WNV in Bernalillo County

Poster/ Presentation Titles: Evaluation of Seasonal Feeding Patterns of West Nile Virus Vectors in Bernalillo County, New Mexico, USA: Implications for Disease Transmission

Summer Research Program: University of Nebraska- Lincoln

Awards, Recognitions, & Honors:

  • MARC Scholar

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Sara Maes

Student:   Sara Maes
Mentor:     Richard M. Cripps, Ph. D.

Conferences or Scientific Meetings Attended: SACNAS 2011; SACNAS 2012

Poster/ Presentation Titles: Coming Soon

Summer Research Program: Coming Soon

Awards, Recognitions, & Honors:

  • MARC Scholar

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Iris Olivas

Student:     Iris Olivas
Mentor:     Christopher C. Witt, Ph. D.

Conferences or Scientific Meetings Attended: SACNAS 2011; SACNAS 2012

I am studying the organisms that cause infectious diseases and their mechanisms. Currently, I am working on a project in Dr. Witt’s lab, concerning avian malaria.  I am screening tissues of birds from Peru to look for malaria parasites.  We are compiling data to analyze patterns of transmission relative to the bird’s habitat and elevation gradient.

Poster/ Presentation Titles:

Summer Research Program: Coming Soon

Awards, Recognitions, & Honors:

  • MARC Scholar

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Fatima Pino

Student:     Fatima Pino
Mentor:      Jennifer A. Rudgers, Ph. D.

Conferences or Scientific Meetings Attended: SACNAS 2012

Poster/ Presentation Titles:

Summer Research Program: Coming Soon

Awards, Recognitions, & Honors:

  • MARC Scholar

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Fernando Salazar-Miralles

Student:     Fernando Salazar-Miralles
Mentor:      Joseph A. Cook, Ph. D.

Conferences or Scientific Meetings Attended: SACNAS 2012

Poster/ Presentation Titles:

Summer Research Program: Coming Soon

Awards, Recognitions, & Honors:

  • MARC Scholar

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Ashley Smiley

Student:     Ashley Smiley
Mentor:     Christopher C. Witt, Ph. D.

Conferences or Scientific Meetings Attended: SACNAS 2012

Poster/ Presentation Titles:

Summer Research Program: Coming Soon

Awards, Recognitions, & Honors:

  • UNO Scholar
  • MARC Scholar

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Joe Villanueva

Student:     Joseph Villanueva
Mentor:      Charles Melancon, Ph. D.

Conferences or Scientific Meetings Attended: SACNAS 2011; SACNAS 2012

Poster/ Presentation Titles:   Probing the natural product biosynthetic potential of actinomycetes Actinosynnema mirum

Summer Research Program: Coming Soon

Awards, Recognitions, & Honors:

  • MARC Scholar

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