Students present posters at Texas Undergraduate Research Day

MSU biology students Ashley Gravelle and Jae Cho will present posters at this year's Texas Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol on Monday, February 14, 2011. More than 80 research projects will be presented in high-quality poster format to reflect the work of 140 undergraduate students representing 50 universities in Texas.

Gravelle, whose discipline is in cell and molecular biology, will present "Brassinolides promote the gravitropic response of maize roots by disrupting actin filament organization." Her advisor is Dr. Magaly Rincon-Zachary.

Cho, a biology and chemistry major, will present "Enrichment and Isolation of Methanogens from Local Sources." His advisors on the project are Drs. James Masuoka, Salim Azzouz and Dale McDonald.

The purpose of the Undergraduate Research Day is to showcase the experiences of undergraduate students engaged in research for Texas legislators and the public. The program highlights how research conducted by undergraduate students positively influences Texas - and Texans - with the theme: Transforming Texas Through Undergraduate Research.

The event is coordinated by the Council of Public University Presidents and Chancellors (CPUPC) and the Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas, Inc (ICUT).