Student research wins award

Biochem student receives award at regional research conference

On November 11–12, six students from Walla Walla University presented their scientific research at the Murdock College Science Research (MCSR) Conference in Vancouver, Washington.

The conference, which welcomes 28 undergraduate institutions from across the Pacific Northwest, allows students to present research conducted with professors from their universities. Biology and chemistry majors from WWU prepared one oral presentation and three poster presentations.

Kristen Whitley, senior biochemistry major, was selected for the Molecular and Cell Biology Murdock Poster Prize for her poster presentation. Her research, in collaboration with Loma Linda University, is on targeting mitochondrial proteins to potentially help treat neuroendocrine prostate cancer. Hers was one of only 15 projects to be honored.

“It is always exciting for them to see how the work they are doing fits in with stories with students from other school’s research,” said Cecilia Brothers, assistant professor of biology.

To learn more about undergraduate opportunities in the sciences, visit wallawalla.edu/ areas-of-study.