02/19/24

By FHSU University Communications

HAYS, Kan. –Nineteen students, nine faculty members, and two graduate school representatives from Fort Hays State University traveled to Manhattan for the 22nd annual Kansas IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (K-INBRE) Symposium, held on January 13-14, 2024. This event, led by the University of Kansas Medical Center, aims to prepare and inspire promising students for careers in bioscience.

FHSU participants, along with those of nine other institutions in Kansas and Oklahoma, presented their research through oral and poster presentations over the course of the event. Several undergraduate students were acknowledged for their remarkable achievements. Students from FHSU included:

Camryn Greving, senior in Biology from Prairie View, presented “Distribution of the 2-micron Plasmid in Various Strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae” –oral presentation.

Paige Mattick, a junior in Biology from Colorado Springs, Colo., presented “Screening Environmental Soil Samples for Antibiotic Production” –poster presentation.

Gabriella Rueschhoff, senior in Biology from Manito, Ill., presented “CRISPR Analysis of the MYB Domain Transcription Factor Asymmetric Leaves 1”–poster presentation.

Audrey Rymer, a junior in Biology from Hays, Garret Rymer, a senior in Biology and Chemistry from Hays, and Jonathan Ferguson, a junior in Biology from Kensington, presented “An Analysis of Presence of Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria in Wastewater Systems: A Strategy to Assess Population Health in Kansas Counties” –joint poster presentation.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for our students to showcase their research and network with biomedical researchers throughout Kansas and neighboring states,” said Dr. Tara Phelps-Durr, Chair of Biological Sciences at FHSU. “We appreciate the conferences and funding opportunities offered by K-INBRE.”

About K-INBRE:

K-INBRE is a multi-disciplinary network designed to inspire undergraduates to pursue careers in biomedical research, enhance research capacity through faculty development and retention, and expand the biomedical research infrastructure connecting several academic institutions. More information about the program can be found at www.k-inbre.org.