Later this month, three EPCC students are going to Austin to present the findings of their research at a scientific conference.
Bridges to the Future research program’s main objective is to “recruit students,” according to Pablo Mendoza, biology instructor and director of the Bridges to the Future Grant.
“We have the students present their projects to attract other students to the program,” said Mendoza.
Bridges to the Future is scheduled to send Amber Sybrant, Yadira Arellano and Yamil Ramos to Austin, Texas, to present their research.
“It’s intimidating,” said Sybrant, about going to Austin to Present. “I’m confident in my work and I feel like I can explain my research.”
Sybrant researched Trypanosoma cruzi which
causes Chagas’ disease.
She explained that her objective is to find the toxic concentration for both the parasite and the host cells.
The reason for her study is to develop a more effective drug to treat Chagas’ disease.
Arellano said the name of her research project “The Effect of Physiological Concentration of Leptin on Dendritic Cells” is just a long name for every thing she includes in her research.
Her objective is to find out if leptin causes cells to live longer.
Leptin plays an important role in energy, body weight and appetite.
Arellano said it took her two months to get the results from her experiment.
She said she is still working on the research because of a new discovery she has made.
“I was excited, nervous and all the synonyms that relate,” said Arellano when she was chosen to present her project in Austin.
Ramos’ research consists of a new method to measure bioassayable growth hormone (BGH).
“It’s more cost effective and more efficient in a study,” said Ramos about finding a new way to measure BGH. When asked why he chose to research this he said, “My professor at UTEP introduced me to her study and I was interested.”
“I’m excited, but I’m a little too busy to think about it,” he said.
“I feel unprepared, but I’m not.”
The three of them are going to Austin to participate in the Annual Biomedical Conference for Minority Students.
The conference is a three-and-a-half-day event, Nov. 7-10, which includes scientific sessions, professional development workshops, posters and exhibits of graduate programs and funding opportunities in the biomedical sciences held each fall.
Students interested in Bridges to the Future can contact Pablo Mendoza at 831-2211.
