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Five UC Davis Students Receive “Special Merit in Research” Awards at 2006 CAMP Statewide Symposium

2006 UC Davis Award Recipient:

Kelechi Chikere is a recipient of a “ Special Merit in Research” award for his poster presentation in the Biological Life Science category. Kelechi's poster is titled “The Effects of Mutant Phytochromes on Light Dependent Pathways in Arabidopsis thaliana”. Kelechi is a Genetics major, with a minor in Economics and African-American Studies. Presently, he is working as an assistant researcher at the Center for Biophotonics Science and Technology (CBST). Kelechi is also president of the Black Engineers' Association (BEA), board member to the ASUCD Club Finance Council, and participant in the African-American Mentorship Program. Upon graduating in Spring 2006, Kelechi plans to apply to the PhD program. His research interests include plant genetics, nutritional genomics, pharmaceutical genomics and gene therapy. His goal is to work in academia and mentor underrepresented students, or in the biotechnology industry to develop products to combat health issues.

2006 UC Davis Award Recipient:

Geoffrey Lovely is a recipient of a “ Certificate of Excellence” for his poster presentation in the Veterinary Medicine category. Geoffrey's poster is titled “A Nuclear Phylogenetic Analysis of Emydid Turtles (Family: Emydidae)”. Geoffrey is a second-year Genetics major with a minor in African-American Studies. He is currently an assistant researcher in the Biology Undergraduate Scholars Program (BUSP) working with Dr. Brad Shaffer from the Department of Evolution and Ecology. When he is not working in the lab, Geoffrey tutors students in Chemistry. His main interests are gene therapy, gene regulation, herpetology, phylogenetics, and DNA-binding protein biology. Upon graduation in Spring 2007, Geoffrey plans to apply for graduate school.

2006 UC Davis Award Recipient:

Antonio Orozco is a recipient of a “ Special Merit in Research” award for his poster presentation in the Physical Sciences and Engineering category. Antonio's poster is titled “Dose Radiation Effects in FinFETs”. Antonio is an Electrical Engineering major and will be graduating in Spring 2006. Presently, he is working as an assistant researcher in the Mentorships and Opportunities for Research in Engineering (MORE) program. He currently conducts research under the supervision of Professor Colinge from the Department of Electrical Engineering and has a position as an Engineering Intern for Caltrans. In addition, Antonio is a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) and Chicano and Latino Engineers and Science Society (CALESS). Before applying to graduate school, Antonio plans to take some time off to decide which area of study he wishes to undertake. His aspiration is to gain a career in device physics or environmental industry and to pursue an advanced degree.

2006 UC Davis Award Recipient:

Edgar Sanchez is a recipient of a “ Special Merit in Research” award for his oral presentation in the Physical Sciences and Engineering category. Edgar's oral presentation is titled “Toxicity Effect of a Novel Contrast MRI Agent”. Edgar is a Biomedical Engineering major in his senior year. He is a recent assistant researcher in the Mentorships and Opportunities for Research in Engineering (MORE) program. He currently conducts research under the supervision of Professor Louie, studying Cell Toxicity Assays. Edgar is also an active member in Tau Beta Pi, an Engineering Honor Society. In his free time, Edgar volunteers at Imani Clinic, a medical student-run clinic in Oak Park, Sacramento. Upon graduation, Edgar aspires to attend graduate school and to ultimately obtain a Ph.D. degree. He is also thinking of one day starting his own business in the biomedical field.

2006 UC Davis Award Recipient:

Laura Solis is a recipient of a “ Special Merit in Reseach” award for her oral presentation in the Physical Science and Engineering category. Laura's oral presentation is titled “ Fruit of the Vine or Pickel Juice?”. Laura is in her third year as a Biochemistry major. She is currently conducting research in the Mentorships for Undergraduate Research Participants in the Physical and Mathematical Sciences (MURPPS) program under the supervision of Professor Augustine from the Department of Chemistry. Her research has included topics such as Cloning and Determining the Structure of the HST1 Protein and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Techniques on Wine. Laura plans on attending graduate school upon earning her baccalaureate.