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Williams Student Researcher Awarded ASM Microbiology Fellowship
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass., Nov. 3, 2008 -- The American Society of Microbiology has awarded an Undergraduate Research Fellowship to Catherine Small of Jersey City, N.J. The fellowship will help support her research on "Molecular Responses of Cyanobacteria to Stress." Small is a member of the Class of '09 at Williams College in Williamstown, Mass.
The fellowship aims to increase the number of underrepresented undergraduate students with a demonstrated ability to pursue graduate careers in microbiology. Each fellow receives a $3,500 stipend and a two-year ASM student membership. Fellows, whose research abstracts are accepted, have the chance to present their research results at the 2009 ASM General Meeting in Philadelphia, Pa.
Small, a biology and English double major, is interested in the physiological and molecular responses of Prochlorococcus to environmental stress. Prochlorococcus is a marine cyanobacterium found in tropical and subtropical oceans, from surface waters down to depths of about 200 meters. Cyanobacteria obtain their energy through photosynthesis.
"My experiments mimic oceanic conditions to see how this organism behaves in a variety of settings," said Small. Her project particularly focuses on how genome level differences between strains of Prochlorococcus affect responses to temperature and light stresses.
Small conducts her research in the lab of her ASM mentor, Claire Ting, assistant professor of biology at Williams College and Small's senior thesis advisor. Ting's research addresses genome level differences between closely related photosynthetic organisms, and how these differences translate into selective advantages for photosynthetic capacity and tolerance to abiotic stress. Small has worked with Ting over the past two summers.
Amid her academic success, what does Small like best about Williams? She said, "I really like that Williams has helped me grow in several different capacities." An unsurprising response given Small's extracurricular involvement on campus. In addition to being Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BIMO) 1960s Scholar, she is a Baxter Fellow for Dodd House and a Community Engagement Committee member for Dodd neighborhood. Small is also an activity coordinator for Relay for Life, co-president of the Anime Club, and social chair and enthusiastic member of Dance Dhamaka.
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Williams College is consistently ranked one of the nation's top liberal arts colleges. The college's 2,000 students are taught by a faculty noted for the quality of their teaching and research, and the achievement of academic goals includes active participation of students with faculty in this research. Students' educational experience is enriched by the residential campus environment which provides a host of opportunities for interaction with one another and with faculty beyond the classroom. Admission decisions are made regardless of a student's financial ability, and the college provides grants and other assistance to meet the demonstrated needs of all who are admitted. Founded in 1793, it is the second oldest institution of higher learning in Massachusetts. The college is located in Williamstown, Mass. To visit the college on the Internet: www.williams.edu
News: Montano
The fellowship aims to increase the number of underrepresented undergraduate students with a demonstrated ability to pursue graduate careers in microbiology. Each fellow receives a $3,500 stipend and a two-year ASM student membership. Fellows, whose research abstracts are accepted, have the chance to present their research results at the 2009 ASM General Meeting in Philadelphia, Pa.
Small, a biology and English double major, is interested in the physiological and molecular responses of Prochlorococcus to environmental stress. Prochlorococcus is a marine cyanobacterium found in tropical and subtropical oceans, from surface waters down to depths of about 200 meters. Cyanobacteria obtain their energy through photosynthesis.
"My experiments mimic oceanic conditions to see how this organism behaves in a variety of settings," said Small. Her project particularly focuses on how genome level differences between strains of Prochlorococcus affect responses to temperature and light stresses.
Small conducts her research in the lab of her ASM mentor, Claire Ting, assistant professor of biology at Williams College and Small's senior thesis advisor. Ting's research addresses genome level differences between closely related photosynthetic organisms, and how these differences translate into selective advantages for photosynthetic capacity and tolerance to abiotic stress. Small has worked with Ting over the past two summers.
Amid her academic success, what does Small like best about Williams? She said, "I really like that Williams has helped me grow in several different capacities." An unsurprising response given Small's extracurricular involvement on campus. In addition to being Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BIMO) 1960s Scholar, she is a Baxter Fellow for Dodd House and a Community Engagement Committee member for Dodd neighborhood. Small is also an activity coordinator for Relay for Life, co-president of the Anime Club, and social chair and enthusiastic member of Dance Dhamaka.
END
Williams College is consistently ranked one of the nation's top liberal arts colleges. The college's 2,000 students are taught by a faculty noted for the quality of their teaching and research, and the achievement of academic goals includes active participation of students with faculty in this research. Students' educational experience is enriched by the residential campus environment which provides a host of opportunities for interaction with one another and with faculty beyond the classroom. Admission decisions are made regardless of a student's financial ability, and the college provides grants and other assistance to meet the demonstrated needs of all who are admitted. Founded in 1793, it is the second oldest institution of higher learning in Massachusetts. The college is located in Williamstown, Mass. To visit the college on the Internet: www.williams.edu
News: Montano
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