MURFREESBORO — Ashley
Corson’s research will take her to the American Chemical Society’s national
conference later this month. It also is the subject of her MTSU Honors College
thesis.
Performing a chemistry research project —synthesizing or
making rapid compounds in order to kill the organism (three different varieties
of fungi) — with mentor and assistant professor Kevin Bicker for the past 18
months led her to this point.
Corson’s highly scientific project was among nearly 50
showcased during the annual MTSU Summer Research Celebration July 31 in the
Student Union Ballroom.
To view video from the celebration, visit https://youtu.be/1JuXXI9lg1Y.
“This definitely pushed me to do my best work, be
independent and think on my feet when the professor’s not here,” said Corson,
21, a senior biochemistry major from Greenbrier, Tennessee.
Nearly 90 students and 40 faculty participated in the summer
research through various means, including:
• URECA or Undergraduate Research Experience and Creative
Activity.
• National Science Foundation-sponsored REU or Research
Experiences for Undergraduates.
• MSPS or Master of Science in Professional Science, a
ground-breaking two-year master’s degree in the sciences, technology,
engineering and mathematics, or STEM, disciplines, equipping students to work
in public and private business enterprises and in the academic world.
• Two sections of professor Laura Dubek’s freshman
English class, “Research and Argumentative Writing,” that featured 30 students.
• The MTSU Honors College and College of Basic and Applied
Sciences and departments of recording industry, physics and astronomy,
engineering technology/mechatronics engineering, biology, psychology, chemistry
and the Women in STEM (WISTEM) Center.
Nontraditional student Charlotte “Cat” Archer, 54, of
Murfreesboro, traced four distinct movements — free speech and student rights,
civil rights for blacks, women’s rights and gay rights — in her research.
Archer, a senior majoring in women in gender studies
(sexuality track) and minoring in psychology, anticipates graduating in May
2016. Her report, which also will be used as part of her Honors thesis, raises
many questions.
“It is my hope we will answer some of these questions by
examining a current social movement, which has recently been very successful in
achieving some of the strategic goals for which they’ve been working over the
last few decades,” she said of the gay rights movement. She also plans an
expanded survey.
Dr. Jackie Eller, interim vice provost for research and dean
for the College of Graduate Studies, said she was “really impressed with the
diversity and quality of the presentations the students are doing” this summer.
For more information about MTSU’s research, call the Office
of Research at 615-898-5005 or visit http://www.mtsu.edu/research/.
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