South Carolina College Students Honored for Outstanding Undergraduate Research  

The South Carolina Academy of Science (SCAS), in cooperation with the Charleston and Clemson Chapters of Sigma Xi, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the Explorer’s Club of Columbia, SC honored college students from around the state with awards for outstanding undergraduate research based on their presentations at the Academy’s Annual Meeting on March 20th, 2008 at Clemson University. Very many students presented research results at the Annual Meeting representing several South Carolina universities and colleges. Ten students were honored for outstanding undergraduate research.
Award recipients were selected by a panel of scientists from industry and academia from across South Carolina. The SCAS awards committee is chaired by Dr. Bill Pirkle, Department of Biology and Geology, University of South Carolina Aiken.

The winners are listed below with their respective university and the title of their research:

SCAS/SIGMA XI Awards for Outstanding Undergraduate Research

 Oral Presentations:

Physics, Astronomy, Mathematics, Computer Science & Geology: Christopher Lindner
Dept. of Physics & Astronomy, College of Charleston
A Numerical Study of Jets from Titled Black-Hole Accretion Disks

Molecular & Cell Biology Session A: Alena James 
Dept. of Chemistry, Winthrop University
Adiponectin Membrane Receptors: ADIPOR1 AND ADIPOR2

Molecular & Cell Biology Session B: Anika Dodds
 Dept. of Biology, Claflin University
Interleukin 1-Beta Expression in Solid Malignancies

Molecular & Cell Biology Session C: George Miller
 Dept. of Biology, College of Charleston
The importance of calcium and the mp20 protein in insect flight muscle using stretch activation

Chemistry & Biochemistry Session A: Chandra Potter
 Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry, College Of Charleston
Strong Base Multiple Anion Preparation of New spiro-Heterocycles Containing Benzisothiazole Dioxide with Pyrazoles or Isoxazoles

Chemistry & Biochemistry Session B: Larnelle Peterson
 Dept. of Chemistry, Francis Marion University
Synthesis and Crystal Structures of Some Inorganic-Organic Hybrids Containing Fluorosacharinate

Chemistry & Biochemistry Session C: Amanda Gerolstein
 Dept. of Biology & Geology, University of South Carolina Aiken
Expression of an anti-HIV Tat ribozyme in a tissue culture model

Chemistry & Biochemistry Session C: Theresa Ramos
 Dept. of Biology & Geology, University of South Carolina Aiken
Optimizing titer of a retroviral vector expressing an anti-HIV-1 tat hammerhead ribozyme

Poster Presentations

Heather Mentrup
Dept. of Biology & Geology, University of South Carolina Aiken
Toxicity of dieldrin to Daphnia magna acclimated to water and sediment from a potentially-contaminated constructed wetland

 Horace Byrne Explorers Club Award for Outstanding Frontier Science by an Undergraduate Student:

Greg Smith
Dept. of Physics & Astronomy, College of Charleston
Image analysis techniques in phase separation images recorded in microgravity

Invertebrate Biology Research Award

George Miller
Dept. of Biology, College of Charleston
The importance of calcium and the mp20 protein in insect flight muscle using stretch activation

American Associate for the Advancement of Science Award to the Outstanding Male & Female Undergraduate Scientists:

Larnelle Peterson - Dept. of Chemistry, Francis Marion University

Alena James – Dept. of Chemistry, Winthrop University