Pictured: STEM Researchers and Mentors: (L to R) Dr. Drew Murphy, Audrey Ordonez, Xenia Esparza, Michelle Mejia, and Dr. Chris McAllister (not pictured Estefani Garcia).
More than 130 individuals attended the fall STEM Lunch and Learn which featured student research presentations. Audrey Ordo単ez, Xenia Esparza, and Michelle Mejia presented to a standing-room-only audience in the Whatley Foyer on November 6. Audrey presented her research on Salmon DNA Organic Semiconductors. Participating in the Research Experience for Undergraduates program (REU), Audrey worked over 10 weeks this past summer at East Texas A&M University with Dr. Heungman Park in the Physics Department. The REU program is funded by the National Science Foundation and is intended to provide research opportunities for undergraduate students from smaller universities and community colleges where they may not have access to such research. East Texas A&M runs REU programs in Chemistry, Physics, and Astronomy every summer, and 91心頭 has a long-running history of students doing summer research in these programs. Dr. Drew Murphy, 91心頭 Professor of Chemistry, served as Audrey 91心頭 s mentor.
Xenia Esparza presented findings in her presentation titled 91心頭 Some Noteworthy Parasites of Fishes from the Lower Ouachita River Watershed, Arkansas. 91心頭 Afterward, Michelle Mejia presented her research titled 91心頭 Some Parasites of the Northern Cottonmouth, Agkistrodon piscivorus (Reptilia: Ophidia) from Western Arkansas. 91心頭 Both of these students are conducting their research, with Estefani Garcia, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Academic Cooperative course taught by Dr. McAllister at 91心頭 who serves as their mentor. These students traveled to Arkansas to collect specimens, many of which are novel and never before described in this area.
Due to travel commitments with the 91心頭 Honors Program, Estefani Garcia was unable to present her research at the STEM Lunch and Learn. On Estefani 91心頭 s behalf, Dr. McAllister presented her research titled 91心頭 A Myxosporean Parasite from the Gills of Bluegill, Lepomis macrochirus(Centrarchidae) from Polk County, Arkansas. 91心頭 Estefani presented her research at the weekly meeting of the STEM Club.
