Graduate Students Rewarded for Excellence

The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Houston recently recognized top students who have been awarded scholarships by the school and by outside entities.

Five GSBS students attended a luncheon honoring them as the 2000-01 President's Research Scholars. Each student received a $5,000 scholarship from the offices of Dr. James T. Willerson, president of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, and Dr. John Mendelsohn, president of The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center.

The students each gave a brief presentation of their research during the luncheon. Jennifer Bieszke, a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, described her work on the genetic causes of cancer. Her faculty advisor is Dr. Katherine Borkovich, associate professor of microbiology and molecular genetics.

Sara Bowne, a Ph.D. candidate and graduate research assistant in the Human Genetics Center, presented her work on retinal degeneration, which she conducts with her faculty advisor, Dr. Stephen Daiger, professor of human genetics and ophthalmology.

Darren Davis, a Ph.D. candidate and graduate research assistant in the Department of Cancer Biology, described his work on novel lung cancer therapies, conducted with the support of his advisor, Dr. David McConkey, professor of cancer biology.

Wendong Huang, pursuing his Ph.D. in the Department of Molecular Genetics, presented a slide show on his work studying skeletal formation. Huang's advisor is Dr. Benoit de Crombrugghe, professor of molecular genetics.

Alanna Morrison described her work on stroke research, which she conducts in the laboratory of her advisor, Dr. Eric Boerwinkle, professor and director of the Human Genetics Center.

"I was very impressed by the students and their work," said Dr. Willerson. "They are truly the best of the best."

Dr. George Stancel, dean of the GSBS, agreed, saying, "The most important thing about our graduate school is our students. You have to reward people for good work if you want them to continue to excel."

The GSBS also announced the first winners of the Shell Oil Company Foundation Scholarship Awards, which were inaugurated this year. The two students, Darren Davis and Dat Nghiem, each received $2,000 Shell Excellence in Toxicology scholarships, which will pay for a year's graduate study at the GSBS. The presentations were made by Betty Lynn McHam of Shell Oil Company Foundation.

"We are extremely grateful to Shell Oil for their continuing generous support," said Dr. Stancel.

Davis' work focuses on alternative chemotherapy treatments that don't have negative side effects on patients. His faculty advisor on this project is Dr. David McConkey. Nghiem studies illnesses in pilots and mechanics as a result of jet fuel. Through his work, which is also made possible by a grant from the U.S. Air Force, Nghiem hopes to develop therapies for treating these diseases. His faculty advisor is Dr. Stephen Ullrich, a professor of immunology.

The scholarships were made possible by a $15,000 grant from Shell Oil Company to the GSBS. With this amount, the school was able to award these scholarships, send six students to a national toxicology conference, and support the work of a first-year graduate student, Sayee Anakk, who is studying why drugs react differently in the male and female bodies. Her theory is that an enzyme present in the body causes these different reactions, and she is currently working to identify it.

In addition, The UT-Houston/M. D. Anderson Minority Faculty Association awarded a $500 scholarship to Joy Marshall, a GSBS student studying microbiology. Every year, the Minority Faculty Association awards a scholarship to one student in each of the six schools of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and the Allied Health programs at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center.

Lastly, the R.W. "Bill" Butcher Award was presented to Yuko Miyamoto, a student of Dr. Bradley McIntyre, professor of immunology. Miyamoto plans to pursue a career in biomedical research, and is an active volunteer in a variety of outreach activities, including frequently judging area science fairs. She received her $2,500 scholarship during a luncheon in her honor. At the same event, a plaque was also presented to Dr. Butcher, a former dean of the GSBS.

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©2006 Texas Medical Center

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