University Excels Greatly in Research Competition

Five Delaware State University undergraduate and graduate students recently representing the institution well as they brought back awards – including three 1st place honors – in poster and oral research presentation competitions at the 19th Research Symposium of the Association of 1890 Research Directors.

Brian Galvez (center) -- 1st place Graduate Oral Presentation, with Dr. Stacy Smith and Dr. Gulnihal Ozbay. — Brian Galvez (center) — 1st place Graduate Oral Presentation, with Dr. Stacy Smith and Dr. Gulnihal Ozbay.

The following students won first place honors during the March 31-April 3 symposium in Jacksonville, Fla.:

Brian Galvez, a Natural Resources graduate students from Long Beach, Calif., took first-place in the graduate-level oral presentation category with project “Trophic Ecology of Juvenile Weakfish (cynoscion regalis) in the Delaware Bay using Stomach Content and Stable Isotope Analyses. His co-advisors were Dr. Gulnihal Ozbay and Dr. Stacy Smith.
Jasmine Harris, an Agriculture/Aminal and Poultry major of Dover, took first place in undergraduate poster presentation category with her project “The Effects of Estrous Synchronization Protocols on Meat Goat Mating, Pregnancy and Kid Performance.” Her advisor was Kwame Matthews.
Fedrica Williams, an undergraduate agriculture research assistant from Jamaica, took first-place for her oral presentation on her project “Towards an Integrated Understanding of Histone Modification and Gene Expression in Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) under Drought.” Her advisor was Dr. Venu Kalavacharla.

Ms. Williams, a native of Jamaica, is pursuing her second undergraduate degree at the University. After completing a BS in Agriculture/Plant Science in May 2018, she began a new academic journey. She is now a sophomore again, this time as a pre-nursing major. While working toward that second degree, is also working as a research assistant in the College of Agriculture, Sciences and Technology. She has aspirations to earn a Ph.D. in nursing.

The following students also won honors at the symposium:

Lily Lofton (l) -- 3rd place Oral Presentation; Jasmine Harris (r) -- 1st place Poster Presentation; with Dr. Kwame Matthews. — Lily Lofton (l) — 3rd place Oral Presentation; Jasmine Harris (r) — 1st place Poster Presentation; with Dr. Kwame Matthews.

Peace C. Asuzu, a graduate student from Nigeria in the Food Science and Biotechnology Program, took 2nd place in the oral category with her presentation on “Polyphenols and Other Phytochemicals from Medicinal Plants.” Her advisor was Dr. Alberta Aryee.
Lily Lofton, a junior Plant Science major from Heth, Arkansas, took 3rd place in the oral category with her presentation on “An Understanding of the Modification of Nucleosome Positioning.” Her advisor was Dr. Venu Kalavacharla.