New England College Students and Faculty Present Research at the Annual 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.

Four faculty and eight students from New England College (NEC) presented research at the 2023 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.

Ella MacGregor, Health Science ’27, presents her research to a conference attendee.

“Over the last 14 years, NEC has received $3.7 million in INBRE grants,” stated Debra Dunlop, Dean of the Science, Health and Exercise Division at NEC. “Those funds support our faculty and student research training in biomedical sciences. In the Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP), 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.

Vincent Leone, Health Science ’23, discusses his research with NEC faculty and students.

The following projects were presented by NEC students and faculty this summer:

• Perceptions of Deliberate Expressions in People with Parkinson’s Disease: Dr. Sarah Gunnery, Associate Professor of Psychology; Keegan Finley, Criminal Justice and Psychology ’24; Ella MacGregor, Health Science ’27; and collaborators at Keene State College
• The Use of Noldus FaceReader to Measure Facial Expression in Parkinson’s Disease: Keegan Finley, Criminal Justice and Psychology ’24, and Dr. Sarah Gunnery, Associate Professor of Psychology
• Pseudomonas Biofilms and Motility: Vincent Leone, Health Science ’23; Kaitlyn Simpson, Health Science ’23; and Dr. Lori Koziol, Professor of Biology and Health Science
• Quality of Life and Activity Participation Predict Physical Health in Care Partners of People with Parkinson’s Disease: Ella MacGregor, Health Science ’27, and Dr. Sarah Gunnery, Associate Professor of Psychology
• Investigating Potential Priming of Rhinophore Regeneration in Berghia stephanieae: William Scala, Kinesiology ’24; Haleigh Bilodeau, Biology ’24; and Dr. James Newcomb, Professor of Biology and Health Science
• The Nervous System Is Important for Cell Division During Regeneration of Rhinophores in the Nudibranch Berghia stephanieae: Haleigh Bilodeau, Biology ’24; William Scala, Kinesiology ’24; and Dr. James Newcomb, Professor of Biology and Health Science
• Simulations of Hydrogels Using Molecular Dynamics: Haley Hildreth, Health Science ’24, and Matthew Young, Associate Professor of Natural and Social Sciences
• Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Hydrogels: Cali McAllister, Biology ’24, and Matthew Young, Associate Professor of Natural and Social Sciences

Dr. James Newcomb, Professor of Biology and Health Science

“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.”

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 on August 7 and 8 at the Omni Mount Washington Resort in Bretton Woods, N.H.