1. University News Services - The University of Iowa
file:///Users/Shameika/Desktop/University%20News%20Services%20-%20The%20University%20of%20Iowa.html[10/2/15, 5:03:44 PM]
University of Iowa News Release
Dec. 14, 2006
UI Students Garner Awards At Research Conference
Two University of Iowa undergraduate students received awards for
research they presented at the Annual Biomedical Research Conference
for Minority Students (ABRCMS), held Nov. 8-11 in Anaheim, Calif.
Shameika Wilmington (photo, left) and Wanakee Carr (photo, right)
were among the students honored at the conference, which is organized
by the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) and supported by a
grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences. Now in its sixth year, ABRCMS is
the largest professional conference for biomedical students. More than 2,500 people attended this
year's conference, including 1,633 students, 421 faculty and program directors, and 418 exhibitors.
Wilmington, from Davenport, Iowa, is a senior majoring in biochemistry. Her research focused on
how proteins (known as LEM) in the nuclear envelope of the cells of Drosophila fruit flies can
influence gene expression and cause defects. Wilmington's faculty mentor is Pamela Geyer, Ph.D.,
UI professor of biochemistry.
Carr, from Des Moines, Iowa, is a junior majoring in biology. She was recognized for her research
on the effectiveness of a new electrochemical water disinfection system. Carr's faculty mentor is
Martine Dunnwald, Ph.D., UI research scientist in pediatrics.
ABRCMS 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.
During the four-day conference, more than 1,100 students participated in poster and oral
presentations in nine sub-disciplines in the biomedical and behavioral sciences. All undergraduate
student presentations were judged, and those receiving the highest scores in each scientific discipline
and in each educational level were given awards during the final banquet. A total of 120
undergraduates received monetary awards of $250 for their outstanding research.
Wilmington and Carr are both scholars in the Iowa Biosciences Advantage (IBA) program at the UI.
IBA, funded by an Initiative for Maximizing Student Diversity grant from the National Institutes of
Health, aims to enhance the academic and research competitiveness of underrepresented minority
students at the undergraduate level and facilitate their progress toward careers in the biomedical,
behavioral, and biophysical sciences by providing a challenging, supportive and diverse learning
environment. Nine IBA scholars from the UI were accepted to present their research at the
conference. More information on IBA is available at http://www.uiowa.edu/iba/.
STORY SOURCE: University of Iowa Health Science Relations, 5139 Westlawn, Iowa City, Iowa
52242-1178
MEDIA CONTACT: David Pedersen, 319-335-8032, david-pedersen@uiowa.edu.
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2. University News Services - The University of Iowa
file:///Users/Shameika/Desktop/University%20News%20Services%20-%20The%20University%20of%20Iowa.html[10/2/15, 5:03:44 PM]