MBRS RISE Cohort Attends National Conference for Minorities in the Sciences

Eleven students from the Minority Biomedical Research Support (MBRS) - Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement (RISE) program at California State University, Dominguez Hills, attended the annual conference of the Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) in Kansas City, Mo., in October. The conference, designed to provide resources for students who are pursing advanced degrees in the sciences, featured career advancement workshops, scientific symposia, exhibitors, student presentations and noted scientists. This year’s theme was “Stretching the Imagination to Support Leadership and Sustainability.”

“It was great to participate in an event designed specifically for underrepresented minorities and undergraduate students who wish to pursue a higher education in the sciences,” says senior Erick Medina, biology. “There are not many events that present career options to underclassmen solely in the sciences, and SACNAS is such an event to expose career opportunities after a baccalaureate degree.”

Resources on such subjects as pursuing a doctoral degree, selecting an academic specialty and applying for graduate school were available at the conference through mentoring opportunities with representatives from colleges, universities, government agencies, laboratories and research hospitals. Exhibitors interacted with and recruited minority students for graduate school, research internships, financial aid, fellowships, summer programs and post-doctoral positions. In addition, oral and poster presentations provided students the chance to meet, share research, and receive professional guidance from working scientists.

“Opportunities like those in SACNAS give students insight on what it is like to be a graduate student and what may lie ahead," says Laura Robles, dean of Graduate Studies and Research. “Foremost are the mentoring opportunities available. Students meet faculty and professional staff from top graduate schools, governmental agencies and laboratories from across the country and are able to ask questions about what concerns them and what it is like to be a scientist.”

The director of the MBRS RISE program at Dominguez Hills, Robles served as treasurer on the SACNAS Board of Directors from 2001 to 2006. In 2004, she received the SACNAS Distinguished Undergraduate Institution Mentor Award.

Two CSU Dominguez Hills students had the experience of presenting their research at SACNAS, senior Onyx Uzomah, biology, and Naomie Olivos, a student in the university’s cytotechnology certificate program. Uzomah participated in the 2007 Minority Health and Health Disparities International Research Training (MHIRT) program in Buenos Aires, working with Dr. Armando J. Parodi, Department of Glycobiology at the Fundacion Instituto Leloir. She presented her results at the SACNAS conference on “The Production of an Antibody against the Alpha Subunit of the Glucosidase II Enzyme.” Olivos presented a poster titled “The Role of Soluble Type II Transforming Growth Factor-β Receptor (sTβRII-Fc) in Attenuating Up-regulation of TGF-β and Over-expression of VEGF in Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma,” which she researched at Dominguez Hills with the help of her faculty mentor, Cheryl Jackson-Harris, professor of clinical sciences.

The Cal State Dominguez Hills delegation also included senior Sylvia Bonilla, biology; senior Sandra Benitez, psychology; sophomore Renecia Watkins, biochemistry; senior Julissa Castaneda, biology; senior Jazmyn Marquez, biology; senior Abraham Gallegos, biology; junior Cordale Johnson, biology; junior Paul Maldonado, chemistry; and junior Steve Martinez, chemistry. Joining them were Teresa Ramirez (Class of ’04, B.A., biology), a MBRS RISE alumna, and Katherine Bates, assistant professor of biology. SACNAS provided the funds for lodging and travel for all 11 students to attend the conference.

“My first time at the SACNAS conference was an interesting and unique experience,” says Benitez. “I was able to be among a large number of peers who all have the same dedication and motivation to go on to graduate school as I do, and that in itself was a very good feeling. Being able to meet with the recruiters was the best part of the conference for me. I was able to talk to some schools that I had never considered before and learned great information about programs offered. The information I learned at SACNAS was beneficial and I hope to have an experience like that again soon.”

“Students often leave SACNAS with active leads to summer programs and graduate schools,” notes Robles. “The students get into the network and are linked with the right people to help them be successful and become part of the scientific community.”

- Tigress Briggs

Photos above: The Dominguez Hills MBRS RISE cohort attends the annual conference of the Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science in St. Louis. Pictured, L-R: Sophomore Renecia Watkins, biochemistry; senior Sandra Benitez, psychology; junior
Steve Martinez, chemistry; junior Cordale Johnson, biology; senior Jazmyn Marquez, biology; senior Julissa Castaneda, biology; senior Onyx Uzomah, biology; senior Abraham Gallegos, biology; senior Erick Medina, biology; junior Paul Maldonado, chemistry; and senior Sylvia Bonilla, biology.

Onyx Uzomah presents her research from the 2007 Minority Health and Health Disparities International Research Training (MHIRT) program in Buenos Aires.

All photos courtesy of Tigress Briggs