Monday, November 18, 2002

WRITER: Rebecca Ayer, 706/583-0578, alea@uga.edu
CONTACT: Harry Daily, 706/542-5922, hdailey@uga.edu

UGA BIOMEDICAL DOCTORAL STUDENTS SELECTED AS ARCS SCHOLARS

ATHENS, Ga. — The Biomedical and Health Sciences Institute at the University of Georgia has selected eight doctoral students to receive $5,000 scholarships from the Atlanta chapter of the ARCS Foundation, Inc. The students will be recognized for their biomedical and health science studies at an awards banquet in Atlanta on Nov. 21.

ARCS (Achievement Rewards for College Scientists) was founded by a group of women in Los Angeles in 1958 and is dedicated to helping meet the country’s needs for scientists and engineers by providing scholarships to academically outstanding university students. Since its inception, ARCS has awarded more than $40 million to more than 9,000 university students in the natural sciences, medicine and engineering.

The Atlanta chapter was chartered in 1992 and has awarded scholarships to students from Emory University, the Georgia Institute of Technology and Morehouse College. This is the third year that UGA students have received awards from the ARCS scholarship program.

"We are honored that the Atlanta ARCS chapter has chosen to provide support to outstanding graduate students in the biomedical sciences at UGA," said Harry Dailey, BHSI director and ARCS Scholars selection committee chair. "This special group not only provides the scholarship awards, but also maintains lifetime contact with their scholars. The association with ARCS is a definite plus for UGA’s efforts to recruit outstanding graduate students in the biomedical sciences."

The 2002-2003 ARCS Scholars are Pamela Bonner, a Ph.D. candidate in the microbiology laboratory of Lawrence Shimkets; Scott Callison, a Ph.D. candidate in the medical microbiology laboratory of Mark Jackwood; Martin Moore, a Ph.D. candidate in the genetics laboratory of Kathy Spindler; Lowell Rayburn, a Ph.D. candidate in the genetics laboratory of Michael Bender; Andrew Reams, a Ph.D. candidate in the microbiology laboratory of Ellen Neidle; Julie Stanton, a Ph.D. candidate in the cellular biology laboratory of Kojo Mensa-Wilmot; Robert Waldo and Jarrat Jordon, Ph.D. candidates in the microbiology laboratory of Duncan Krause.

Bonner’s current research utilizes Myxococcus xanthus as a model system to understand how zinc metalloproteases modulate the extracellular matrix. The goal of her work is to provide insights into the role of similar proteins in the extracellular matrix of eukaryotes and pathogenic bacteria. She is planning to pursue a career in academia. Bonner, who hails from Portsmouth, R.I., received her B.S. from the University of Connecticut.

Callison is a doctoral student in the College of Veterinary Medicine studying viruses at the molecular level. His work is currently focused on Infectious Bronchitis Virus (IBV), a Coronavirus that affects poultry and serves as a good model for other Coronaviruses that infect a wide range of species, including humans. Following graduation, he hopes get involved with research focused on homeland defense with the ultimate goal of starting his own biotech company. Callison, a Mocksville, N.C. native, earned a B.S. from Appalachian State and an M.S. from UGA.

Jordan is studying the structure and function of proteins involved in the colonization of respiratory tissue by Mycoplasma pneumoniae, the leading causative agent of primary atypical pneumonia, which affects an estimated two million Americans each year. After completing his Ph.D. program in microbiology, he plans to attend medical school to learn more about the host’s role in infections. Jordan, from Jacksonville, Fla., received his B.S. from Valdosta State University.

Moore is investigating the pathogenesis of mouse adenovirus type 1. The human adenoviruses are responsible for 10 percent of respiratory disease found in children worldwide, and mouse adenovirus type 1 offers a promising model system of adenoviral disease. Moore, who is from St. Simon’s Island, received a B.S. in biology at UGA. His future career plans include teaching and researching virology and/or cancer at a major university.

Rayburn is investigating the role of a prohormone processing protease in Drosophila melanogaster. This protease is also present in humans and has been linked to diabetes and obesity and may have a role in cancer etiology. She plans on using her doctoral training in a career focused on linking the scientific community and general public. Rayburn, from Charlotte, N.C., received a B.S. degree from Davidson College.

Reams’ current research focuses on elucidating the mechanism behind gene amplification in Acinetobacter. The importance of gene amplification is underscored by its correlation with drug resistance and increase virulence in bacteria. After graduation, he would like to expand his research to pursue the role of gene amplification on oncogenesis and cancer progression. Reams, a native of Mission Viejo, Calif., earned his B.S. degree from California State University at Chico.

Stanton is focusing her research on Leishmania, the protozoan parasite that causes Leishmaniasis, a disease affecting more than 10 million people in Africa, Asia, Europe and South America. She is identifying the biological processes of this parasite, including the way it regulates protein synthesis. Stanton plans a career in academia. The Arlington Heights, Ill., native earned her B.S. at Truman State University in Missouri.

Waldo’s research work at UGA has focused on understanding the biology and pathogenesis of the bacterium Mycoplasma pneumoniae, a pathogen of the human respiratory tract and the leading cause of pneumonia in older children and young adults. He is planning a career in academia. Waldo, a Virginia native, earned a B.S. from Virginia Tech.

The Biomedical and Health Sciences Institute, which serves as UGA’s liaison for the ARCS scholarship program, brings together UGA scientists who conduct health-related research. In addition to encouraging research collaboration, the institute is developing new interdisciplinary curricula in biomedical and health-related fields for graduate and undergraduate students at UGA.

##