New England College Students and Faculty Present Research at the 2024 NH-INBRE Conference
Since joining the NH-INBRE network, the College has received $3.7 million in grants to support faculty and student biomedical research.
Five faculty and 10 students from New England College (NEC) presented research at the 2024 New Hampshire IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (NH-INBRE) Annual Meeting. This two-day conference hosts science students and faculty from 10 New Hampshire colleges and universities.
NEC student William Scala, Health Science and Kinesiology ’24, presents his research.
“NEC has received about $3.7 million in funds from INBRE over the past 15 years,” stated Debra Dunlop, Professor of Biology and Health Science and Principal Investigator for the INBRE Research Support and Training Grant at NEC. “Those funds support our faculty and student research training in biomedical sciences. In the Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) at NEC, students are mentored on research activities involving biofilms, sea slug neurobiology, computational chemistry, and Parkinson’s Disease. These high-impact opportunities allow our students to live what they learn as they prepare for careers in biomedical science, psychology, chemistry, biotechnology, and healthcare.”
NEC students who participate in SURP are invited to showcase their research with a poster or oral presentation at the conference.
Ella MacGregor, Health Science ’25, discusses her research with conference attendees.
The following projects were presented by NEC students and faculty this summer:
- Accuracy of Producing Deliberate Smiles in People with Parkinson’s Disease: Natalia Gonzalez, Criminal Justice and Biology ’27; Dr. Sarah Gunnery, Associate Professor of Psychology and Community Mental Health
- The Relationship Between Computer and Human Measured Face Expressivity, Stigma, Health, and Health-Related Quality of Life in People with Parkinson’s Disease: Ella MacGregor, Health Science ’25; Dr. Sarah Gunnery, Associate Professor of Psychology and Community Mental Health
- The Search for Biofilm Genes—A Transposon Mutagenesis Saga: Austin Laquerre, Biology ’24; Angelica Valente, Biotechnology ’26; Dr. Lori Koziol, Professor of Biology and Health Science
- Exercise and Lactate on Esports Performance: Jessica Dutkus, Kinesiology ’25; Dr. Hannah Nelson, Professor of Kinesiology
- Whole-Body Regeneration in a Nudibranch: Abigayle Chapin, Biology ’24; Dr. James Newcomb, Professor of Biology and Health Science
- Role of the Nervous System in Regeneration: Will Scala, Health Science and Kinesiology ’24; Haleigh Bilodeau, Biology ’24; Abigayle Chapin, Biology ’24; Dr. James Newcomb, Professor of Biology and Health Science
- Molecular Dynamics Simulations Through Hydrogels: Ivy Brooks, Criminal Justice major and Chemistry minor ’25; Dr. Matt Young, Associate Professor of Natural and Social Sciences
- Molecular Dynamics Simulations Through Hydrogels: Ben Albrecht, Biology ’25; Dr. Matt Young, Associate Professor of Natural and Social Sciences
Dr. Matt Young, Associate Professor of Natural and Social Sciences
“The INBRE collaboration emphasizes what is best about our approach to education at NEC,” added Dr Wayne Lesperance Jr., President of NEC. “Students and faculty work together as scholar-practitioners engaged in critically important research. We are incredibly proud of their hard work and success.”
Dr. James Newcomb, right, Professor of Biology and Health Science
NH-INBRE is a state-wide initiative that seeks to build a strong institutional research culture and provide research training opportunities for both students and faculty at primarily undergraduate colleges. The Annual Meeting was held in August at the Omni Mount Washington Resort in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire.
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