Jordan Ross (Biochemistry, '13) secured a position in the Medical Research Apprenticeship Program at Washington University in St. Louis. His team of researchers explored the role of connexins (gap junction proteins) in the osteoblast signaling that induces osteoclast formation in bone tissue. These two types of bone cells have somewhat opposing roles in bone remodeling, and cell-to-cell communication determines the relative amounts of each. 

Rachael Sarrett (Psychology, pre-med, '14) is working with Dr. Timothy Kraft at UAB in the SIBS Undergraduate Research Program. The main focus of their research is using gene therapy to find a reasonable source of retinal photoreceptor replacement in humans which would cure blindness due to retinal disease. 

Jordan spent the summer at the University of Tennessee developing an organic synthesis of a novel MRI contrast agent. The cyclen ring decorated with three carboxylic acids can chelate and complex a radioactive gadolinium atom, and an azide tail coupled to the cylen derivative performs click chemistry with alkyne-tagged antibodies. The objective of this continued research is to develop a set of contrast agents that allow antibody-tagged tumors to be more visible in MRI scans. 

Callie Gibson (Psychology and History, '12) received funding from a Teagle Foundation grant to explore the consequences of social rejection. Building upon prior work in social and evolutionary psychology, Callie studied whether prior acceptance by a social group could serve as a buffer against the consequences of social rejection. Her research mentor was Dr. Stephen Chew, chair of psychology. They presented their findings at the American Psychological Association conference. 

Anna Worth (Biochemistry, '12) worked with Dr. Juan Vera at the Texas Children's Feigin Center in Houston. They evaluated the downstream functionality of genetically modified tumor-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Anna examined the expression of a transmembrane protein present on activated T cells and an interleukin-2 receptor in the modified T-cells expressing different TLR endodomains.

Luke Ellenburg (Biology, '12) participated in a summer research project at the UAB Comprehensive Diabetes Center with Dr. Hubert M. Tse to determine the role and importance of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) in innate immune signaling through analysis of the Toll-like Receptor (TLR) 4 pathway. The difference in expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines is relevant to Type 1 Diabetes research because these cytokines are partially responsible for T cell activation and the subsequent T cell mediated destruction of pancreatic beta cells associated with the disease.

Chris Walling (Mathematics and Computer Science, '12) worked with Dr. Steve Donaldson and Samford student Claire Richie on a computational model explaining their views on mental imagery systems. Their study addressed a central point of contention in the philosophical debate about mental imagery systems - are images stored as pictures or propositional information? Their model won first place at the southeastern conference of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM). 

Walter Turner (Chemistry, '12), Dr. Denise Gregory, and Dr. Lisa Nagy investigated the use of mushrooms to degrade pharmaceutical remnants found in wastewater. They proposed that the fungal enzymes that can degrade the phenol and ether linkages in lignin (a polymer found in wood) should also be able to degrade pharmaceuticals with similar ether and phenol linkages. The purpose of the study was to examine alternative treatments to detoxify waste streams.