Research symposium sets record

By Douglas Carey
University Grants and Research Office

A record number of students participated in the 25th Annual Central California Research Symposium, held April 22 at the University Business Center.

The symposium is hosted by the Grants and Research Office at Fresno State in cooperation with University of California, San Francisco Fresno Medical Education Program, Children's Hospital Central California and Alliant International University.

According to Dr. Thomas McClanahan, co-chair of the symposium and associate vice president for Grants and Research at Fresno State, the symposium brings together medical investigators, students and faculty from a variety of disciplines to share the results of their scholarly work. He noted that that over 100 presentations -- 59 oral and 56 poster -- were made at the event, which included new award categories in the humanities and the sciences.

In his opening remarks, Dr. McClanahan cited research as a key to the mission of higher education.

“Research invigorates the academic environment, not merely at major research universities, but liberal arts colleges and comprehensive universities as well. Research invigorates faculty by keeping them current in their fields. It invigorates students by emphasizing in depth study. Ultimately, it benefits the broader community through practical applications that stem from research."

Two students from Fresno State captured first-place honors for their oral presentations. Justin Costa received graduate honors for his project, "Inhibition of Angiogenesis: Isolation of anti-angiogenic components from Livestona chinesis plants," while Thihan Padukkavidana was the undergraduate winner for his presentation, "Genetic Experiments on Transgenic Tobacco Plants Expressing Nematode Cell Death Genes."

In the poster competition, the two first-place winners were Victoria Gomes ("Molecular Analysis of Putative Avirulence Genes in Phytophthora capsici") and Richard Moss ("Secondary Production and Biomass of Aquatic Insects and Seed Availability in Flooded Agricultural Fields of the Southern San Joaquin Valley, California").

A complete list of winners follows. For copies of the abstracts or any questions, please contact Douglas Carey at 8-0840 or visit http://www.csufresno.edu/grants/symposium.htm.

Graduate Award for Best Oral Presentation ($250):

Justin Costa - Inhibition of Angiogenesis: Isolation of anti-angiogenic components from Livestona chinesis plants

Honorable Mention for Graduate Oral Presentation (no cash award):

Scott Peat - A Phylogenetic Analysis of Sarcocystis Neurona

Undergraduate Award for Best Oral Presentation ($250):

Thihan Padukkavidana - Genetic Experiments on Transgenic Tobacco Plants Expressing Nematode Cell Death Genes

Award for Best Poster Presentation: ($250 for each first-place winner):

1st place: (Session I)

Victoria Gomes - Molecular Analysis of Putative Avirulence Genes in Phytophthora capsici

1st place: (Session II)

Richard Moss - Secondary Production and Biomass of Aquatic Insects and Seed Availability in Flooded Agricultural Fields of the Southern San Joaquin Valley, California

Honorable Mention (no cash award):

Alyssa Wright - Embryology of the Plant Pathogen Meloidogyne Incognita

Award for Best Humanities Presentation: ($250 award):

Blair Hollingsworth - 19th Century Luddism and its Modern Equivalents

Honorable Mention (no cash award):

Sandra Cooper- The Afterlife of Zenobia of Palmyra

Award for Best Sciences Presentation: ($250 award):

Christopher A. Hamm - Distribution and Phylogeny of the Malagasy Aphaenogaster