Summer Research Program Dean’s Award winners announced

Texas A&M University student Carla Bassil was one of the Dean’s Award winners of the Texas A&M College of Medicine Summer Undergraduate Research Program Poster Presentation.

Bassil, along with Pamela Horton (St. Edward’s University) and Akhila Reddy (Texas Tech University), were honored during Research Day, which is the culmination of the summer program. During the event, participants present their research to judges, students and faculty, with the top three presentations each receiving a cash award.

“Everyone who participated in the 2019 Summer Research Program did an outstanding job presenting their projects in both oral and poster formats,” said Brett Mitchell, PhD, associate professor in the College of Medicine and director of the Summer Undergraduate Research Program. “The judges have an extremely difficult task to pick the top three out of so many terrific projects and presentations. Their deliberation lasted a long time, but once again they selected three outstanding researchers.”

The Summer Research Program is designed to give undergraduate students from any institution who have an interest in pursuing a future career in biomedical research the opportunity to work in a laboratory and perform a research project during the summer. In the 10-week program, students work closely with Texas A&M University College of Medicine faculty on research projects in basic or clinical science disciplines.

Selected participants are matched with a faculty mentor in their area of interest and assist with a research project, gaining insight into the development and implementation of biomedical research.

Bassil worked with Michelle Hook, PhD, from the Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics. Horton worked with Mariappan Muthuchamy, PhD, from the Department of Medical Physiology and Reddy worked with Phillip West, PhD, from the Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology.

The program also features group activities, including weekly meetings in which principles of scientific investigation, ethical aspects of human and animal experimentation and career development are discussed. Students also attend scientific seminars and workshops.