Ten Kansas State University graduate students earn honors at Research and the State
Friday, Nov. 30, 2018
Winners of the annual Research and the State competition with Carol Shanklin, dean of the Graduate School, center. From left: Niloy Barua, Sylvester Badua, Obdulia Covarrubias Zambrano, Emily Pascoe and Erin Ward. Not pictured are Kent Connell, Rory O'Connor, Balaji Aravindhan Pandian, Chandrima Shyam and Ana Stoian. | Download this photo.
MANHATTAN — Research on weed control for food crops, early pancreatic cancer detection, threats to the biodiversity of tallgrass prairie ecosystem, animal feed biosecurity, and the social and economic impact of sustainable textile production are the focus of some of the winning research presentations by Kansas State University graduate students who were selected to represent the university at the 16th Capitol Graduate Research Summit, Feb. 26, 2019, at the State Capitol in Topeka.
Ten students were chosen to present their work in Topeka based on their research presentations at Research and the State on Nov. 8. The event involved 43 participants from six academic colleges and 19 graduate programs. It was sponsored by the Graduate Student Council, the Graduate School and the Office of the Vice President for Research. Each winner received a $250 scholarship.
"The winners of Research and the State showcase the outstanding and diverse research being conducted at K-State that has direct benefit to the state of Kansas," said Carol Shanklin, dean of the Graduate School. "The winners will communicate the value of their research to the state legislators, the Kansas Board of Regents and the public when they present at the Capitol Graduate Research Summit in February. This event is one of the many opportunities that the Graduate School and the Graduate Student Council collaborate to enhance our graduate students' ability to communicate their research to the public."
The Capitol Graduate Research Summit is an annual statewide summit that features current research of graduate students at Kansas State University, the University of Kansas, the University of Kansas Medical Center, Wichita State University, Emporia State University, Fort Hays State University and Pittsburg State University. A university professor and an industry representative will judge the poster and student presentations. The top presenter from each university will be awarded a $500 scholarship. In addition, BioKansas will award a $500 scholarship to a student from each university whose research has the greatest potential for commercialization.
The following Kansas State University graduate students were selected to present at the Capitol Graduate Research Summit:
• Obdulia Covarrubias Zambrano, doctoral student in chemistry, Liberal, Kansas, for "Liquid biopsy: The simplest technique for pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer detection." Her faculty advisor is Stefan Bossmann, professor of chemistry.
• Erin Ward, master's student in family studies and human services, Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, for "Soy protein is an efficacious alternative to whey protein in fortified blended foods." Her faculty advisor is Brian Lindshield, associate professor of food, nutrition, dietetics and health.
• Emily Pascoe, doctoral student in apparel, textiles, and interior design, Forked River, New Jersey, for "Designing home goods for socially responsible production: A lions-in-four sponsored project for manufacture by multiskill-level artisans in Kerlala, India." Her faculty advisor is Sherry Haar, professor of apparel, textiles, and interior design.
• Rory O'Connor, doctoral student in biology, Coquille, Oregon, for "The future of woody plants in the great plains." His faculty advisor is Jesse Nippert, associate professor of biology.
• Kent Connell, doctoral student in biology, Cleveland, Tennessee, for "Plant-soil history has lasting effects on soil organic matter decomposition." His faculty advisor is John Blair, university distinguished professor of biology.
• Niloy Barua, doctoral student in chemical engineering, Chittagong, Bangladesh, for "High throughput screening of microbial interactions with microwell arrays." His faculty advisor is Ryan Hansen, assistant professor of chemical engineering.
• Chandrima Shyam, doctoral student in agronomy, State West Bengal, India, for "Rapid metabolism of 2,4-D increases the resistance in common waterhemp (Amaranthus tuberculatus) under high temperature." Her faculty advisor is Mithila Jugulam, associate professor of agronomy.
• Balaji Aravindhan Pandian, doctoral student in agronomy, Tamil Nadu, India, for "Genetic basis and inheritance of mesotrione tolerance in grain sorghum." His faculty advisor is Mithila Jugulam, associate professor of agronomy.
• Sylvester Badua, doctoral student in biological and agricultural engineering San Jose City, Nueva Ecija, Philippines, for "Potential of soy protein as an alternative seed lubricant in row crop planters." His faculty advisor is Ajay Sharda, assistant professor of biological and agricultural engineering.
• Ana Stoian, doctoral student in pathobiology, Bucharest, Romania, for "Survival of African swine fever virus (ASFV) in feed ingredients under transboundary shipping conditions." Her faculty advisor is Bob Rowland, professor of diagnostic medicine/pathobiology.
