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Spring Issue 2007
Regional Chapter News
AE-SOT Award Recipient Gains Research Experience
Below is the summary report from our AE-SOT Maryanne Stock
Student Research Award recipient from 2006. The Maryanne Stock Student
Award is named after a retired member of AE-SOT who served on the Executive
Committee for many years as the Secretary/Treasurer of the group. Ms.
Stock, a long-time employee of the University of Pittsburgh, was honored
in this way for her exemplary service over the years upon her retirement.
This award is given to support a student's thesis/dissertation/summer
research project in toxicology. The intent of this award is to encourage
students to formulate and conduct meaningful research in the field of
toxicology and to assist in the support of that research.
Harina Vin is a very promising high school student interested in
pursuing a career in science. Using results from studies supported by
her AE-SOT award, Harina recently participated in the Pennsylvania
Junior Academy of Sciences (PJAS) regional competition.
She was the first place winner in the Senior division category of
Biology. The first place winners qualify for the state PJAS competition
which was held May 20-21, 2007, at Pennsylvania State University (Main
Campus). She received the "Pennsylvania Science Talent Search
Outstanding Junior Award" from the Pennsylvania Academy of Sciences
based on the judges' comments on her presentation. This award included
a $100 check. Moreover, students at the PJAS meeting were allowed to
interview for Penn State Scholarships, and Ms. Vin received a $2000
yearly renewable scholarship to Penn State's Eberly College of Science.
Additionally, she was awarded the Gabrielle Maze Outstanding Student
Award which came with a $200 scholarship. The PJAS Region 7 Sr. M.
Gabrielle Maze Outstanding Student Award is given to only two students
per year. It is based on a First Place Award, interview with judges, and
high school record (transcript, etc). To be eligible, students develop
an experiment, prepare a written report, and give a 10-minute oral
presentation with audio visuals. A panel of two or more judges then
evaluates the student's project presentation against set criteria. Upon
completion of the presentation, the researcher may be questioned by the
judges for a time period of 5 minutes. The judges at the regional and
state meetings are sponsors, graduate students, college professors, and
scientists from industry.
The AE-SOT Executive Committee is extremely proud of her work, and
wishes Ms. Vin continued success in the field of Toxicology.
From Harina Vin
This summer, I had the opportunity to work under the supervision
of Adam Straub in a joint research project between
the laboratories of Dr. Aaron Barchowsky and Dr.
Donna Stolz at the University of Pittsburgh. The experience,
funded by both laboratories and a Maryanne Stock Student Research Award
from the Allegheny-Erie Regional Chapter of the Society of Toxicology,
gave me invaluable exposure to biomedical and public health research.
It instilled in me an interest in and appreciation for the field of
toxicological research. In the nine week internship, I learned about
arsenic in the environment and its relation to health, the liver and
liver diseases, and also about various techniques used in laboratory
research. Laboratory techniques and skills that I acquired included:
preparing liver sections for immunofluorescence analysis; designing,
implementing, and interpreting studies; imaging tissues and cells through
confocal microscopy; and quantifying and analyzing the images. I was
exposed to the field of toxicological research by directly participating
in experiments, as well as by attending formal laboratory meetings.
These meetings improved my ability to communicate and discuss my scientific
research. This experience has encouraged me to look into toxicology
as a career and has bolstered my interest in science. I cannot think
of a better way I could have spent my summer and I am lucky to have
had the chance to learn and contribute to a field that I find to be
so important and exciting.
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