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Learn more about the BioCORE Scholars Program
(Many thanks to David Rither in Educational Technology & Media for creating this video.)
The BioCORE Scholars Program was also featured in The Falcon, SPU's student newspaper, The article, "BioCORE encourages community" was written by Lu Aleman and appeared on Oct. 24, 2018.
SPU graduates its first BioCORE Scholars
Photos from the Pinning Ceremony
(Many thanks to David Rither in Educational Technology & Media for creating this video.)
The BioCORE Scholars Program is proud to recognize the first cohort of students to graduate from the program, as part of the SPU Class of 2019. The graduates were recognized at a special pinning ceremony on Friday, June 7, 2019. In front of family, friends and faculty, each of the graduating seniors were honored by a faculty advisor or research mentor, and received a golden microscope pin to wear on their graduation gown.
The graduates are:
Laarni Aguila (BS Cell and Molecular Biology), honored by faculty advisor, Dr. Richard Ridgway
Hayley Cheyney Kane (BS Physiology), honored by research mentor, Dr. Cara Wall-Scheffler
Cienn Joyeux (BS Cell and Molecular Biology), honored by research mentor, Dr. Janet Bester-Meredith
Simone Neal (BA Life Sciences), honored by faculty advisor, Dr. Charlotte Pratt
Leslie Rodriguez-Salas (BS Biochemistry), honored by research mentor, Dr. Jenny Tenlen
The Biology department is incredibly proud of each of our Scholars, who developed into confident student leaders who served as Peer Mentors and Learning Assistants to newer Scholars. All five Scholars plan to continue their education in graduate programs in medicine, biomedical research and forensic science.
BioCORE Scholars and Mentors
Photos of previous cohorts
Meet our 2019 BioCORE Scholars, Peer Mentors and Learning Assistant. (Back row) Yoska Habtom, Egypt Adams, Richo Abenojar, Zoie Bailey, Jessica Bekele, Seyed Emad Shirazi (Peer Mentor), Evelin Laris, Gio Gonzalez, Scarlett Amezcua, Abdullah Bashmail, Grace-Anne Valverde, Anahi Tapia. (Front row) Front row: Cienn Joyeux (current Scholar), Leslie Rodriguez-Salas (Learning Assistant), Angie Vazquez (Peer Mentor), Menna Hailemariam (Peer Mentor), Sydney Olea Suarez, Hailey Cheyney Kane (current Scholar), Victoria Bowman, Thy Bach, Jessica Cannon. [Not pictured: Peer Mentor Laarni Aquila]
At the "Welcome" reception, Scholars were greeted by Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences - Sciences Division, Dr. Bruce Congdon and by Dr. Sandy Mayo (Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion). Scholars introduced themselves, then photos were taken of the new and current BioCORE Scholars. New Scholars then met with their Peer Mentors (Menna Hailemariam, Emad Shirazi and Angie Vazquez) and Learning Assistant (Leslie Rodriguez-Salas), while enjoying cake.
BioCORE Scholars Research Week
Research students and mentors
During the week of June 10-14, 2019, eight BioCORE Scholars participated in independent research with faculty in the Biology and Chemistry departments. The scholars and their projects were:
- Scarlett Amezcua, Jessica Bekele and Giovanny Gonzalez: Assay Development for Siderophores Binding to Siderocalin Proteins: the Claw Experiment (mentored by Dr. Ben McFarland, Professor of Chemistry, and Mary Chaffee, BS Physiology '14)
- Zoie Bailey, Abdullah Bashmail and Victoria Bowman: Quantifying Metals in Algae, Clam and Oyster Samples by Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (mentored by Dr. Karisa Pierce, Professor of Chemistry, and Israel Zamudio, BS Physiology '21 and BioCORE Scholar)
- Egypt Adams and Yoska Habtom: Identifying Homologs of RNA Binding Proteins in Tardigrades (mentored by Dr. Jenny Tenlen, Associate Professor of Biology)
Please also see previous Research Week students and mentors.
BioCORE Scholars Activities
BioCORE Scholars Activities and Events
BioCORE Scholars regularly participate in community-building and networking activities, including social outings, meetings with researchers and health care professionals, and other events.
Above: Dr. Tracie Delgado, who will join the SPU Biology Department faculty in September 2019, was the keynote speaker at the spring quarter event on April 16, 2019. Dr. Delgado inspired students with her own journey to becoming a PhD-trained scientist and educator.