Biology Students Attend the 2006 Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students

Five CSU Dominguez Hills (Minority Biomedical Research Support (MBRS) Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement (RISE) program students Sylvia Bonilla (Biology); Julissa Castaneda (Biology); Jazmyn Marquez (Biology); Onyeka Uzomah (Biology); Jennell Plummer (Psychology); and one Initiatives for Minority Student Development (IMSD) student Jesse Castellanos (Biology) attended the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS) in November in Anaheim, California.

“The chance to speak with keynote speakers after their talks gave me the opportunity to see how they are on informal terms,” said Uzomah. “I loved how the scientific and professional sessions were organized, and I enjoyed interacting with mentors and recruiters from other schools.”

ABRCMS is the largest professional conference for biomedical students attracting approximately 2,600 individuals a year. The conference is designed to encourage underrepresented minority students to pursue advanced training in the biomedical and behavioral sciences and provide faculty mentors and advisors with resources for facilitating students’ success.

“I was amazed at how many great topics there were,” says Marquez. “My only regret about the conference was that I did not have the time to go to every session that sounded interesting.”

More than 280 representatives from graduate programs at U.S. colleges and universities as well as scientists from government agencies, foundations, and professional scientific societies joined ABRCMS in the exhibitors program to share information about graduate school and summer internship opportunities. These representatives present research opportunities, funding sources, and professional networks. During the three-day conference, 1,000 students participated in poster and oral presentations in the biomedical and behavioral sciences.

“Attending the ABRCMS conference was truly an eye opener,” says Castaneda. “I was able to meet many great people that will impact the direction that I decide to take as I apply for a graduate program.”

- Tigress Briggs

(L-R) Jazmyn Marquez, junior (Biology); Sylvia Bonilla, senior (Biology); Jennell Plummer, senior (Biology); Julissa Castaneda, senior (Biology); and Onyeka Uzomah, senior (Biology).

Photo courtesy of Tigress Briggs