In The Spotlight: Class of 2009 Honors
Honors Degree with Distinction
To earn the Honors Degree with Distinction, a student must have accumulated a grade-point index of at least 3.400 at the time of graduation and have earned 30 credits in Honors courses. In addition he or she must have successfully defended a senior thesis to a committee of faculty approved by Biological Sciences and the University Honors Program. The senior thesis is based on research projects that students carry out for a year or more in a faculty laboratory. This represents a tremendous effort and these students are functioning as graduate students at their time of graduation.
The following students were recipients of the Honors Degree with Distinction:
| Picture | Name | Thesis | Advisor |
|---|---|---|---|
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Megan Fisher | The Effects of βB2-Crystallin Mutation on TGFβ Signaling Leading to Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) | Melinda Duncan, Biological Sciences |
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Sander Frank | Localization of Compartmental Gene Expression in the Developing Mouse Prostate | Robert Sikes, Biological Sciences |
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Gail Huckins | Ecological Effects of Marsh Erosion on Benthic Communities at Pasture Point, Indian River Bay | Douglas Miller, Marine and Earth Studies |
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Lauren Isaacs | The Role of Protein-Protein Interactions in Controlling Prox1 function | Melinda Duncan, Biological Sciences |
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Brittany Jackson | The Effects of High Pressure Processing on the Conformation of Viral Capsid Proteins | Kalmia Kniel-Tolbert, Animal and Food Sciences |
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Amber Majid | Association of the T-type Cav3.2 (α1H) VSCC with the α2δ1 Auxiliary Subunit in MLO-Y4 Cells | Mary C. Farach-Carson, Biological Sciences |
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Aivi Nguyen | ApoC-I Production During Cholesterol Efflux of Adipocytes | David Usher, Biological Sciences |
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Matthew Richards | Characterization and Cloning of the Human Perlecan Promoter Region | Mary C. Farach-Carson, Biological Sciences |
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Ritika Samant | The Screening of PDZ-Domain Array to Identify JAM-B Interacting Proteins | Ulhas Naik, Biological Sciences |
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Courtney Schnell | A Single Day Alcohol Binge on Postnatal Day Four Reduces Hippocampal CA1 and CA3 Neurons in Adolescent Rats | Anna Klintsova, Psychology |
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Jason Schoenfeld | Muscle Adaptation and Challenges to Motor Stability during Walking in Young Healthy Individuals | Katherine Rudolph, Physical Therapy |
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Milton Tan | The Influence of Native Plants on Population Dynamics of Bagworm Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis and Polyphemus Moth Antheraea polyphemus | Douglas Tallamy, Entomology and Applied Ecology |
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Nicholas Wehner | Examination of the Link Between Deforestation and Forest Avifauna Extinctions on Pacific Islands | Douglas Tallamy, Entomology and Applied Ecology |
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Coral Wille | Mechanisms of Horizontal Gene Transfer Among Vibrio cholerae | E. Fidelma Boyd, Biological Sciences |
Degree with Distinction
At the time of graduation, students earning a Degree with Distinction must have a cumulative grade-point index of at least 3.00, an index in their major of at least 3.50, and successfully defended a senior thesis.
The following students were recipients of the Degree with Distinction:
| Picture | Name | Thesis | Advisor |
|---|---|---|---|
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Charles Drummer IV | FAK activates Akt in PCa adhering to Collagen Type I | Carlton Cooper, Biological Sciences |
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Frankie Heyward | Stench or Sting: Elucidating the Sensory Systems of Unconditioned Fear to a Predator Odor in Rats | Jeffery Rosen, Psychology |
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Judith Keller | Prevalence of Campylobacter Species in Wild Bird Populations | W. Greg Shriver, Entomology and Applied Ecology |
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Mark Sausen | Identifying Potential, Additional Genomic Events in the Development of Myeloproliferative and Myelodysplastic Syndromes | Mary C. Farach-Carson, Biological Sciences |
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Michelle Smith | In Vivo Short-Term Effects of TiO2 Nanoparticles on Murine Sperm | Patricia DeLeon, Biological Sciences |
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Kathryn Teixeira | Quantitative Analysis of Breast Cancer Metastasis to Brain | Deni Galileo, Biological Sciences |
