Johnson Cancer Research Center selects 27 students for research training awards
Friday, Dec. 10, 2021
Davanté Hammer, senior in microbiology and pre-medicine, is the recipient of a Cancer Research Award from the Johnson Cancer Research Center at Kansas State University. | Download this photo.
MANHATTAN — The Johnson Cancer Research Center at Kansas State University has selected 27 undergraduate students for its Cancer Research Award program, which provides faculty-mentored research training and monetary awards.
The program encourages students to get involved in research early on and consider careers in cancer research and medicine. Any undergraduate interested in doing cancer-relevant research is eligible to apply, including non-STEM majors. Awardees receive $1,500 and faculty mentors receive $1,000 per student for research expenses. The funding allows students to devote more time to research and less to non-academic jobs.
"This award allows me to further focus on my research and school work without having to stress nearly as much about financials," said Davanté Hammer, senior in microbiology and pre-medicine. "Being able to focus on research allows me to learn more about useful lab techniques, the role research plays in our understanding of science, and its role in health care."
The Johnson Cancer Research Center, in the College of Arts and Sciences, supports the cancer research and training of its faculty members, undergraduate and graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. All programs are funded through private donations.
"This opportunity allows students to apply what they’re learning in classes to real-life research problems and engages them in their education, a critical factor for success," said Sherry Fleming, the center's director and a professor of biology. "These are some of the university's — and the state's — most outstanding students, working closely with excellent faculty on projects to combat cancer."
The awardees will be recognized at a banquet in the spring, attended by their families, university faculty and administrators, and donors who make the awards possible.
The following students received Cancer Research Awards; included is each student's faculty mentor. A list that includes their research project titles is at cancer.k-state.edu/awards/studentawardees.html.
Mae Cook, freshman in chemistry, Abilene, mentored by Duy Hua, university distinguished professor of chemistry; Savannah Parks, junior, in animal sciences and industry, and dance and the human experience, Auburn, mentored by Kate Digby, associate professor of music, theatre, and dance; Abigail Parker, senior in biochemistry and microbiology, Berryton, mentored by Ruth Welti, university distinguished professor of biology; Mikaela Garcia-Escamilla, junior in biochemistry, Garden City, mentored by Thomas Mueller, research assistant professor of biology.
From Greater Kansas City: Kaden Creamer, junior in medical biochemistry and pre-medicine, Olathe, mentored by Ping Li, associate professor of chemistry; Caleb Kutz, junior in biology and pre-medicine, Overland Park, mentored by Jocelyn McDonald, associate professor of biology; and Ashley Panagakis, junior in biology and pre-physician assistant, Shawnee, mentored by Kathrin Schrick, associate professor of biology.
Emily Cranwell, senior in biological systems engineering, mentored by Thomas Mueller, research assistant professor of biology, and Hailey Casey, sophomore in biology and integrated health studies, mentored by Katsura Asano, professor of biology, both from Hays; Morgan Phillips, junior in life sciences and pre-optometry, Hollenberg, is mentored by Masaaki Tamura, professor of anatomy and physiology.
From Manhattan: Carson Gido, senior in biochemistry, mentored by Brian Geisbrecht, professor of biochemistry and molecular biophysics; and Mia Thompson, sophomore in biochemistry and pre-medicine, mentored by Sherry Fleming, professor of biology.
Indera Coffel, senior in biology, pre-medicine and philosophy, Mound City, mentored by Shay Logan, assistant professor of philosophy; Kennedy Ayre, senior in life sciences, pre-medicine and integrated health studies, Pawnee Rock, mentored by Ruth Welti, university distinguished professor of biology; Hannah Miller, senior in biochemistry, Rossville, mentored by Om Prakash, professor of biochemistry and molecular biophysics; Davanté Hammer, senior in microbiology and pre-medicine, Scandia, mentored by Sherry Fleming, professor of biology.
From Wichita: Ashlyn Bugbee, senior in microbiology and pre-medicine, mentored by Kalyani Payaram, assistant professor of biology; Taylor Bugbee, senior in biology and pre-medicine, mentored by Nick Wallace, associate professor of biology; Taryn Lubbers, junior in life sciences and pre-medicine, mentored by John Tomich, professor of biochemistry and molecular biophysics; and Hieu Nguyen, senior in biology and pre-medicine, mentored by Kathrin Schrick, associate professor of biology.
From out of state: Louie Cabrera, senior in microbiology and pre-medicine, mentored by Heather McCrea, associate professor of history, Apple Valley, California; Lucy Fischer, senior in animal sciences and industry, Hinsdale, Illinois, mentored by Govind Vediyappan, professor of biology; Jane Eilers, sophomore in chemistry, St. Charles, Missouri, mentored by Christer Aakeroy, university distinguished professor of chemistry; Claire Richardson, junior in biology, pre-medicine and nutrition and health, St. Joseph, Missouri, mentored by Jocelyn McDonald, associate professor of biology; and Grace Calo, senior in veterinary medicine, Floral Park, New York, mentored by Masaaki Tamura, professor of anatomy and physiology.
From out of country: Qiling "Elaine" Zeng, junior in medical laboratory science and pre-medicine, China, mentored by Ping Li, associate professor of chemistry; and Daniel Tran, senior in food science, Vietnam, mentored by Richard Todd, associate professor of plant pathology.
