Augsburg URGO and McNair Alums Enrico Barrozo and David Fowler along with their mentor, Asst. Prof. Matt Beckman (Biology) had their paper accepted for publication in Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior. The paper, entitled “Exposure to D2-like Dopamine Receptor Agonists Inhibits Swimming in Daphnia magna” was the product of two summers of research and work during the academic year by Enrico, David and Dr. Beckman with support from both the Augsburg URGO and McNair programs. This is the first study that definitively identified a neurotransmitter receptor signaling pathway involved in Daphnia swimming and will help to establish Daphnia as a model organism in which to study movement disorders such as Parkinson’s Disease.

Enrico is currently enrolled in the Genetics Ph.D. program at the University of Florida and David works a medical scribe in the Twin Cities and is applying for medical school admission.

Congratulations to McNair Scholar Amal Warsame (’16) who was awarded a Gilman Scholarship to study abroad Fall 2015!

The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program offers grants for U.S. citizen undergraduate students of limited financial means to pursue academic studies or credit-bearing, career-oriented internships abroad. Such international exchange is intended to better prepare U.S. students to assume significant roles in an increasingly global economy and interdependent world.

The Gilman Scholarship Program received nearly 2,900 applications for the fall and academic year terms, and more than 850 outstanding students were offered awards to participate in credit-bearing study abroad programs and career-oriented internships in countries all around the world.

On Tuesday, April 8, Augsburg TRIO McNair Scholars* Amineh Safi ’14 and David Fowler ’14 participated in the 11th annual Private College Scholars as the Capitol event. Each private college in Minnesota selects two students for the Private Scholars at the Capitol event annually to present their research using professional quality posters, wherein they lay out the scope of their projects, including the methods, sources, findings and implications of their work.

“The Capitol event gives our students another opportunity to refine their presentation skills,” says “Tina” Maria Tavera, Director of the TRIO McNair Scholars Program at Augsburg. “Plus, students get the chance to connect with their district representatives and highlight the tremendous quality of research being completed at Augsburg.”

Both Amineh and David were well prepared to discuss their work and answer questions from the dozens of people who milled around the rotunda space, reviewing individual projects. Amineh’s research topic, “Racializing Islam: Newspaper Portrayal of Crime Involving Muslims and Islam,” is a descriptive content analysis examining how crimes involving Muslims are portrayed in the Minneapolis Star Tribune and the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Continue reading “McNair Scholars shine at “Private College Scholars at the Capitol”” →