TRIO Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program

Eastern Washington University

Biology

Devin Mumey Selected as an EWU McNair Scholar and Awarded Summer Research Internship

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Devin Mumey Selected as an EWU McNair ScholarCongratulations to new McNair Scholar Devin Mumey! Devin was selected by the McNair Scholars’ selection committee on the basis of his passion for research, commitment to attaining a PhD, and overall potential for success in graduate school.

The federally-funded TRIO Ronald E. McNair Post-baccalaureate Achievement Program at EWU selects motivated and talented juniors and seniors who are first-generation and low-income college students, and/or from groups underrepresented at the doctoral level to introduce them to academic research and provide them with effective strategies for getting into and graduating from PhD programs.

Devin Mumey is an undergraduate at Eastern Washington University working towards a major in Biology with a focus on Plant Sciences and a minor in Chemistry. He is interested in studying hybrid fruits and crossbreeding, as well as disease resistance. For his McNair Summer Research Internship, he will be working with Dr. Jessica Allen collecting and identifying lichen species. Future research interests include blueberry scorch disease and blackberry orange rust, as well as creating cold-hardy cultivars of tropical fruits, and the tissue culture and propagation of rare or endangered plants.

We look forward to accompanying Devin as his research unfolds!

13 McNair Scholars Present at EWU’s 2022 Student Research & Creative Works Symposium

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13 McNair Scholars Present at EWU’s 2022 Student Research & Creative Works SymposiumOn May 11, EWU held the 2022 Student Research and Creative Works Symposium. The Symposium has been held virtually for the last two years, and being back in person allowed for a different level of engagement as scholars discussed their research (both proposed and completed) with fellow students, faculty, and the EWU community. Many scholars shared their work in poster format in the PUB, while others had the opportunity to give longer talks to packed classrooms. McNair scholars shared their experiences with us for this article.

 

Graduating McNair scholar Lucia Roussa:

After a long couple of years of virtual meetings it was really nice to see all of the other student projects in one room. It felt so rewarding that so many people were interested in my research. Poster sessions are really great because they allow people to take in the information at their own pace. I had people leave and come back with more questions, which tells me that they were thinking about my poster even after they left! I really enjoyed being a part of an energetic room of student researchers.

New McNair scholar Alexander Dodson:

Presenting at Eastern Washington University's Research and Creative Works Symposium was an amazing opportunity. Everyone was super kind and excited for me to tell them about the research I am doing. I would recommend everyone attend or present at the symposium!

New McNair scholar Arcelia Madrigal:

I loved presenting at the symposium because it was a lot more personal since I had my professors and friends visit my poster. I was able to see the creative work of those in my community.

The mission of the federally-funded TRiO Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program at EWU is to increase diversity in academia by supporting first-generation and low-income and/or students underrepresented at the graduate level who plan to go on to earn a PhD. When scholars from diverse backgrounds become leaders in their fields, they bring forth exciting and relevant research questions. They grow to be role-models, increasing both representation and opportunities for future students. The 13 McNair scholars who presented at the symposium reflect the many different areas of study where our scholars are gaining expertise.

 

We are consistently impressed with the breadth and depth EWU’s McNair scholars bring to their research, and we look forward to experiencing the impact of their work!

 

Haili Poss presents her research proposal poster, Sex Guilt and Attitudes towards Sex Work.
Badradin Mohammed presents his research proposal poster, Water Politics: A Case Study of Hydro Politics Among Nile River Stakeholders.
Arcelia Madrigal presents her research poster, An Analysis of Character: Strong’s PurposeFull People Program Components.
Katie Gower presents her research, Policy & Practice: Investigating Homelessness Discourse in Spokane, Washington.
Alexander Dodson presents his research poster, Potential Effects of the American and Pride Flag on Our Judgments of Others.
Malek Chreiki presents his research proposal poster, Design and Delivery of Gamma-Retroviral CRISPR Plasmids
Serena Camacho presents her research poster, Understanding the Role Gender Might be Playing in Your Child's ASD Evaluation.
Saul Bautista presents his research proposal poster, Honduran Tribes and their Historical Erosion.
Lucia Roussa presents her research poster, Freshwater Sponges in Eastern Washington: Environmental Constraints, Species Composition, and Associated Photobionts.
Christina Hudson presents her research poster, Transforming Yourself Through English.
Ashley Destin presents her research poster, Feline Red Blood Cell Shape and the Impacts of Cytauxzoonosis.
Saul Bautista presents his research proposal poster, Honduran Tribes and their Historical Erosion.
Arcelia Madrigal presents her research poster, An Analysis of Character: Strong’s PurposeFull People Program Components.
Lucia Roussa presents her research poster, Freshwater Sponges in Eastern Washington: Environmental Constraints, Species Composition, and Associated Photobionts.
Alexander Dodson presents his research poster, Potential Effects of the American and Pride Flag on Our Judgments of Others.
Haili Poss presents her research proposal poster, Sex Guilt and Attitudes towards Sex Work.

EWU McNair Scholar Lucia Roussa Receives Excellence in Academic Achievement Award

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Excellence in Academic Achievement Award from EWU’s Environmental Science ProgramCongratulations to EWU McNair Scholar Lucia Roussa! Lucia has been selected by the faculty of the Environmental Science Program to receive the “Excellence in Academic Achievement Award” for 2022. Lucia’s professors remarked about her active pursuit of undergraduate research experiences, success in obtaining competitive summer research opportunities external to EWU, and experience as a McNair scholar to further prepare herself for her goal of attending graduate school and ultimately becoming a research scientist. Her professors noted that she executed a successful project on aquatic invertebrates at Turnbull Scholar in summer 2020 despite the COVID-19 constraints, and that she is currently in the midst of an exciting project examining the algal symbionts of freshwater sponges using molecular techniques.

Lucia is double majoring in Environmental Science and Biology at EWU. Her research interests include Phycology, marine microbiology, and conservation science in coastal marine ecosystems. In 2021, Lucia participated in an EWU McNair Summer Research Internship under the mentorship of Dr. Camille McNeely, Professor of Biology, where she investigated the relationship between freshwater algal abundance and diversity by analyzing the eutrophication of wetlands in Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge. She then went on to work with Dr. Jessica Allen to analyze the phylogeny of freshwater sponges across greater Eastern Washington.

Lucia was one of only 13 interns selected for an internship quantifying Moon Jellyfish (Aurelia labiata) using aerial photographs with CICOES (Cooperative Institute for Climate, Ocean, and Ecosystem Studies) through the University of Washington under mentor Dr. Julie Keister. Lucia was invited to continue participating in this research.

Lucia will begin attending North Carolina State University’s Doctoral program in Marine, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences in Fall 2022.

EWU McNair Scholar Malek Chreiki Awarded Schwalm Scholarship

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Malek Chreiki Receives 2022 Schwalm ScholarshipCongratulations to new EWU McNair Scholar Malek Chreiki! Malek has been selected to receive the 2022 Schwalm Scholarship through the EWU Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Physics. The committee was impressed with Malek’s academic achievements, dedication to interdisciplinary research and community service work.

This upcoming summer, Malek will be researching Design and delivery of Gamma-Retroviral CRISPR Plasmids with faculty mentor Dr. Jason Ashley. Malek presented his research proposal poster for this project at EWU’s 2022 Student Research and Creative Works Symposium.

Malek is double majoring in Biology with Biotech Option and Physics along with a minor in Organic Chemistry at Eastern Washington University. His goal is to earn a PhD in molecular biology to research and develop novo genetic engineering biotech products.

EWU McNair Scholar Lucia Roussa Accepted to NC State PhD Program

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Lucia Roussa Accepted to the Doctoral program in Marine, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences at North Carolina State UniversityCongratulations to EWU McNair Scholar Lucia Roussa! Lucia accepted an offer with a competitive support package from North Carolina State University’s Doctoral program in Marine, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences.

Lucia is double majoring in Environmental Science and Biology at EWU. Her research interests include Phycology, marine microbiology, and conservation science in coastal marine ecosystems. In 2021, Lucia participated in an EWU McNair Summer Research Internship under the mentorship of Dr. Camille McNeely, Professor of Biology, where she investigated the relationship between freshwater algal abundance and diversity by analyzing the eutrophication of wetlands in Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge. She then went on to work with Dr. Jessica Allen to analyze the phylogeny of freshwater sponges across greater Eastern Washington.

Lucia was one of only 13 interns selected for an internship quantifying Moon Jellyfish (Aurelia labiata) using aerial photographs with CICOES (Cooperative Institute for Climate, Ocean, and Ecosystem Studies) through the University of Washington under mentor Dr. Julie Keister. Lucia was invited to continue participating in this research.

The EWU McNair staff are excited for Lucia and we know she will contribute high quality, impactful research in her graduate program. Click here to read more about Lucia and her research.

EWU McNair Scholar Seth McCullough Accepted to Master of Science Program at James Madison University

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EWU McNair Scholar Seth McCullough Accepted to Master of Science Program at James Madison University

Congratulations to EWU McNair Scholar Seth McCullough! Seth has been accepted with funding and a teaching assistantship to the Master of Science in Biology program at James Madison University College of Science and Mathematics. In this two year program, students are provided a rigorous experience in research and thesis writing.

Seth is double majoring in Environmental Science and Biology. His research interests include coastal marine ecosystems, restoration ecology, and how climate change is affecting relationships within ecologic communities. Seth completed an EWU McNair Summer Research Internship in 2021 under the mentorship of Dr. Justin Bastow, Assistant Professor of Biology at EWU.

The EWU McNair staff are excited for Seth and we know he will contribute high quality, impactful research in any graduate program he attends. Click here to read more about Seth and his research.