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A group of biology majors from ��ܽ��Ƶ-Mansfield with an emphasis in cell and molecular genomics presented research at the recent Commonwealth of Pennsylvania University Biologists (CPUB) 56th Annual Meeting, including two taking home first place awards.

Four additional Mansfield biology majors earned second place in their respective research categories. CPUB was held this year on ��ܽ��Ƶ-Bloomsburg’s campus.

Kristen Fulford, a senior major, received the Outstanding Student Award for Mansfield — an honor given annually to a student at each PASSHE school. She also won first place with her oral platform presentation in Undergraduate and Graduate Cellular and Molecular Biology.

"This research experience has exposed me to the work ethic, research, and networking experience needed to be successful in graduate school," said Fulford, who will begin her Ph.D. pursuit at Indiana's BioMedical Gateway (IBMG) program at the IU School of Medicine this fall. "I would like to continue focusing on how the immune response plays a role in this. This made me look for umbrella programs that provided a micro and immuno pathway."

Fulford, who is set to graduate Magna Cum Laude in May, has been a very active student at Mansfield including being a four-year member of the Mounties women’s basketball team and a tutor for various biology and physics courses. She’s participated in STEM outreach events including “Bio on Wheels” for elementary school students and Wellsboro’s “Hometown Science Festival” for local community members, as well as serving as co-president of Mansfield Future Healthcare Professionals club — with which she helped carry out Mansfield’s Crucial Catch cancer awareness events in partnership with the American Cancer Society and the NFL.

Emma Wonsick, a junior biology-cell and molecular genomics major, was Mansfield’s other first-place finisher, winning for her completed work poster in Undergraduate Cellular and Molecular Biology.

"My research aims to better understand how the immune system functions during tumor development, which can lead to the discovery of new therapeutic targets and better models for testing cancer therapies," Wonsick said. "Studying cancer immunology could contribute to important advancements in immunotherapy, which is becoming a very effective cancer treatment."

She added, "The key lesson I've learned is that research is a continuous learning process. The goal is to discover something new, which can be a long and difficult process. Sometimes you will get unexpected results, and you get to try to figure out why, which may lead to a new, unexpected finding."

Additional Award-Winning Mounties

• Devin Andrews, a sophomore biology-cell and molecular genomics major, presented a work in progress poster and was awarded 2nd place in Undergraduate Cellular and Molecular Biology.
• Sadie Beers, a senior, biology-cell and molecular genomics major, gave an oral platform presentation and was awarded 2nd place Undergraduate Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology.
• Delaney Clark ’24, continuing education in biology and fisheries, presented a completed work poster and was awarded 2nd place in Undergraduate Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology.
• Kayla Howell, a senior biology-cell and molecular genomics major, presented a completed work poster and was awarded 2nd place in Undergraduate Cellular and Molecular Biology.

Jay Diya, a senior biology-cell and molecular genomics major, and Kylie Bornman, a junior biology-cell and molecular genomics major, also attended CPUB representing Mansfield. Diya gave an oral platform presentation, while Bornman presented a work in progress poster.

Kristen Long, associate professor of biology and CU's Robert Aronstam Family Research Fellow, advised seven of the eight biology majors through their research and prep for the CPUB event.

"She's really bought into me as a student," Fulford said. "If Dr. Long was not part of this process, I wouldn't be where I am. She’s the one who exposed me to research for undergraduate (REU) opportunities that were funded through the National Science Foundation. These are government-funded internships that give students at smaller schools the opportunity to do research at larger universities."

She added, "Her biology lab is such a special place because it’s small so we understand what everyone is going through and work together to reach our career goals. She has a track record of getting students into professional schools and every new student who's added just wants that same experience. Her lab has been known to produce competitive and successful students."

CPUB was founded in 1973 as an organization to provide support for the teaching and research activities of faculty in the biological sciences from the fourteen state-owned universities in the State System of Higher Education. Its activities have included scientific meetings, symposia, and institutes for the enhancement of the professional development of its members and associates. It also provides a forum for graduate and undergraduate students for the presentation of their research.