Welcome to Sigma Xi - Kansas State University Chapter
Sigma Xi was founded in 1886 to honor excellence in scientific investigation and encourage a sense of companionship and cooperation among researchers in all fields of science and engineering. The Greek letters "sigma" and "xi" form the acronym of the Society's motto, "Spoudon Xynones," which translates as "Companions in Zealous Research.
Check out the new Meet Sigma Xi video! Click here
K-State Sigma Xi Distinguished Lecture Series
David A. Bader
Distinguished Professor and Director of the Institute for Data Science, New Jersey Institute of Technology
We are excited to welcome Dr. David Bader to campus on Tuesday October 8th. We would like to share his itinerary for his upcoming visit with a reminder about two opportunities to engage with Dr. Bader.
Conversations w/ a Renowned Scientist, 12:00pm – 1:00pm, Eisenhower 118
For this month’s Conversation with the Dean and Leaders, graduate students are invited to an informal discussion with Dr. Bader to learn directly about his educational and professional journey. Light refreshments will be provided. Please register to attend.
Sigma Xi Lectureship, Wildcat Chamber, Student Union
Dr. Bader will give a formal presentation titled “Solving Global Grand Challenges with High Performance Data Analytics”. Please register to attend.
3:00pm – 3:25 pm: Social
3:25pm – 3:30pm: Introduction of Dr. Bader
3:30pm – 4:00pm: Dr. Bader’s Presentation
4:00pm – 4:20pm: Q&A Session
4:20pm – 5:00pm: Presentation of Sigma Xi Awards to:
Dr. Martha Mather & Dr. Ajay Sharda
Science Cafe
Check back for upcoming cafes
Kansas State Chapter Sigma Xi Science Café
K-State grad student and Sigma Xi member explores links between gut microbes and effective colon cancer care
Tanner Richie, left, pictured above with faculty mentor Sonny Lee, is conducting research about gut microbes and their relationship to better colon cancer care through personalized medicine.
MANHATTAN — Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer worldwide, according to the World Health Organization, and a Kansas State University graduate student is doing research to identify and improve effective colon cancer care.
Many cancer drugs are known to interact with the microbes that inhabit the human gut. Each person's microbes are unique to them — almost like a fingerprint composed of healthy microbes and disease-associated microbes. This diversity of microbes can cause challenges; microbial interactions with treatment drugs can lead to adverse reactions or drug inefficiencies.
Customizing a colon cancer care plan based on these and other factors is known as personalized medicine, and it provides the best possible chance of winning the battle with cancer. This is why scientists like Tanner Richie, K-State doctoral student in biology, Salina, work diligently to improve personalized medicine by identifying all the factors that influence colon cancer outcomes.
Measuring microbial changes in the gut can help identify chronic inflammatory diseases that may lead to colon cancers. Richie's thesis project, "Maintaining balance in the microverse: Investigating microbial impacts on host gut inflammation," examines how the many different types of intestinal microbes interact with each other and with the human body.
For years, scientists have known that these microbes can make us sick, keep us healthy or appear to do nothing at all. Richie's work suggests that certain gut microbes influence the likelihood of someone getting colon cancer and explores how the microbes are driving colon inflammation and outcompeting healthy microbes.
"Continuing this research into how microbes can lead to colon inflammation and compete with us for resources is really exciting and will help people with colon cancers by personalizing their medicine," Richie said.
Richie is first author on the article "Limitation of amino acid availability by bacterial populations during enhanced colitis in IBD mouse model," which was published in mSystems, a journal from the American Society for Microbiology.
She has contributed to three other scientific publications, and she is also the author of "Precision prescribing for colon cancer based on gut microbes," a general audience article published by the National Association of Science Writers.
Richie is mentored by Sonny Lee, assistant professor of biology and member of the Johnson Cancer Research Center at Kansas State University.
The Johnson Cancer Research Center advances cancer research with competitive award programs funded by its supporters. Their donations allow students and scientists to work together to create hope for a brighter future in cancer care.
K-State Sigma Xi Sponsors Three Minute Thesis Competition
Students from left to right: People’s Choice - Fei Xyza Asuncion, PhD student in Biological and Agricultural Engineering; 1st place - Endy Lopes Kailer, PhD student in Agronomy; 2nd place – Kylee Jennings, master’s student in Regional and Community Planning
Student Grant Opportunities
Application Deadline: March 15, 2024
Sigma Xi's Grants in Aid of Research (GIAR) program has been expanded and is now accepting Spring 2024 applications through March 15. Increased award amounts are now available:
Graduate student members—up to $5,000
Undergraduate members—up to $2,000
Non-members—up to $1,000
Special categories (all applicants)
Astronomy, meteor, and meteorite research—up to $5,000
Vision-related research—up to $2,500
Proposals are evaluated based on scientific merit and how well they align with the funding criteria. Visit sigmaxi.org/giar for guidelines, a list of fundable expenses, and more information about the program.
Students can nominate or self-nominate with the application process. For over 100 years, the acclaimed program has helped launch thousands of STEM careers by awarding an average of $200,000 in grant money annually. Don't miss out!
APPLY TODAY
K-State 2023 Sigma Xi Distinguished Lecturer
Dr. Laurie McNeil, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Bernard Gray Distinguished Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, presented the lecture, “The Interplay of Music and Physics.” Dr. McNeil's lecture can be viewed here
Dr. McNeil's lecture "Changing the Climate in Science" can be viewed by clicking here. The slides for Dr. McNeil's lecture can be downloaded here
Dr. McNeil’s visit was cosponsored by the Kansas State University Chapter of Sigma Xi, the Manhattan Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), KSU Department of Physics, Kansas Association for Women in Science and Engineering (KAWSE), and KCARE/KWRI.
Dr. Ganga Hettiarachchi named recipient of the 2023 K-State Sigma Xi Chapter's Outstanding Scientist
K-State chapter president Ignacio Ciampitti presents the 2023 Sigma Xi Outstanding Scientist Award to Dr. Ganga Hettiarachchi, professor of Soil and Environmental Chemistry within the Department of Agronomy. Dr. Hettiarachchi is one of the world’s leading scientists in the fields of trace metal and nutrient chemistry in soils. Her research at K-State focuses on understanding the chemistry of both nutrient and contaminant elements in soils, with the goal of developing solutions to agricultural or environmental problems.
Dr. Hettiarachchi's presentation was titled, “Manipulating Reaction Pathways for Managing Nutrient and Contaminant Elements in Soils.”
Dr. Charles Rice Named a 2023 Sigma Xi Fellow
Congratulations to Past K-State Sigma Xi chapter president, Dr. Charles Rice, University Distinguished Professor in the Department of Agronomy, on be named a Fellow of Sigma Xi.
