Science Student Wins Award for Research
Campbell University student, Jackie West-Denning, a
pre-med major from Spring Lake, NC, won first place for excellence in research
from the Collegiate Academy of the North Carolina Academy of Science (CANCAS).
The John B. Derieux Award for Excellence in Research was presented to Denning at
the CANCAS/North Carolina Academy of Science annual meeting on March 19. CANCAS
is a branch of the North Carolina Academy of Science (NCAS), serving
undergraduate students across North Carolina.
In conjunction with her advisor, Dr. Debora Weaver,
Denning presented a paper titled, “Adaptation of Effect of Aminoglycoside
Antibiotics on Cellular Functions of Kidney Epithelial Cell Line (LLC-PK1): A
Model System for Nephrotoxicity.” In this project, Denning designed a laboratory
exercise to be used in college level courses to teach students how to study
kidney cells. The presentations are from all areas of science and are divided
into sessions according to the scientific discipline. Faculty judges attend each
session to evaluate the undergraduate presentations that are interspersed with
presentations from faculty and graduate students. If the research is of a
sufficiently high quality, students are chosen from each discipline to receive
the Derieux Award.
“As director of CANCAS, I see research that is being
done by students from across the state,” said Dr. Karen Guzman, assistant
professor of science. “I knew that our undergraduates were capable of performing
research of the same high quality as any other institution.”
Denning, who is pursing a Bachelor of Science degree in
biochemistry, was recently interviewed by the St. Louis University School of
Medicine, and is scheduled to be interviewed by East Carolina’s Brody School of
Medicine. She is a member of the Campbell University Choir and a head lifeguard
for the university pool.
“I enjoyed working with Dr. Weaver on kidney cell
differentiation,” Denning said. “We didn’t plan to present the lab results, but
when the opportunity came up we decided to try. It worked out better than I
expected! I hope more of our students will be able to present research at this
meeting in the future.”
Bulletin 0083-4/05/05
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