Courtesy Troy University
Five Troy University students have been awarded more than $1,700 in grants from Beta Beta Beta for three biological sciences research projects. Receiving grants are (front, from left) Elena Brown, Callie Bennett, Katrina Bokenfohr, Madison Cooper, (back) Dr. Christi Magrath, associate professor of biological science, Dr. Joong-Wook Park, assistant professor of biological science, and student William Heath Sapp. Sapp, a senior biology major from Maylene, received funding to continue studying the development of yeast cells. He hopes his research will confirm the discovery of a new assessment method. The research project is under the direction of Magrath. A student team, under the direction of Park, will undertake a study of Gulf tar balls. Cooper, a senior biology major from Avon, Ohio, Bokenfohr, a junior exercise science major from Enterprise, and Bennett, a junior biology major from Geneva, will collect DNA from the outside and the inside of tar balls to study the bacterial community structure and potential pathogens in the tar balls.
Elena Brown, a senior biology major from Jacksons Gap, will study the impact of a 2014 chemical spill on the bacterial community contained in the Elk River (W.Va.). A chemical used for coal purification leaked into the river, but little research on its properties and toxicity to humans and the environment exists. Brown will study DNA collected from bacteria to help develop biodegradation strategies for future spills and establish safety regulations for the handling of the chemical MCHM. Park supervises this project as well. (TROY photo/Mark Moseley)