Research Presentations
October 3, 2012
UT Tyler Office of Marketing and Communications
UT Tyler 2012 LSAMP Academy Students Contribute to Conference
October 3, 2012
Media Contact: Hannah Buchanan
Editor/Writer–Strategic Communications & Media Relations
Marketing and Communications
The University of Texas at Tyler
903.539.7196 (cell)
October 3, 2012
Six students from The University of Texas at Tyler participated in the 2012 UT System Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation Undergraduate Research Conference at UT El Paso.
The students presented posters of their undergraduate research projects conducted under the supervision of faculty mentors during the LSAMP Summer Research Academy.
Student participants are listed by hometown with their research field, faculty mentor and research poster title.
BUDA – Isaac Hemby, biology, Dr. John Placyk, “Molecular Phylogenetics of the Ribbonsnakes Thamnophis sauritus and T. proximus.”
HENDERSON – Sadie Hillis, biology, Placyk, “DNA Barcoding in Ribbonsnakes: A Modern Method for Distinguishing Species.”
KILGORE – Lakshman Raut, electrical engineering, Dr. David Hoe, “Stream Cipher Design for RFID Tags Using Cellular Automata.”
OVERTON – Justin Hazlerig, biology, Dr. Blake Bextine, “Gene Knockdown in Homalodisca vitripennis Cell Cultures.”
TYLER – John Hyde, mathematics, Dr. Casey Mann, “An Algorithmic Approach to Pentagonal Plane Tiling.”
Raut placed first in the engineering poster competition. Hillis was awarded third place overall in the science poster competition.
As top placer in this year’s UT Tyler LSAMP poster contest, Hyde also gave an oral presentation about his research. In addition, UT Tyler chemistry major Lauren Herrington of Palestine also presented a poster of the research she conducted at UT Austin this past summer.
Dr. Neil Gray, chair and professor of chemistry, accompanied the student delegation. Dr. Stephen Rainwater, Lecil and Barbara Chandler professor of computer science, also participated in his role as UT Tyler LSAMP program campus director.
Gray and Dr. Neil Ford, professor of biology, serve on the advisory committee for the program.
The UT LSAMP program is supported by the National Science Foundation and provides undergraduate research experiences in an effort to increase the number of students from underrepresented populations pursuing graduate level studies in science, technology, engineering and mathematics programs.
Each student received a fellowship stipend for their participation and faculty mentors received funding for supplies and materials to support their students’ research activities.
For more information about the UT Tyler LSAMP Summer Research Academy, contact Rainwater, 903.566.7235 or srainwater@uttyler.edu.
One of the 15 campuses of the UT System, UT Tyler offers excellence in teaching, research, artistic performance and community service. More than 80 undergraduate and graduate degree programs are available at UT Tyler, which has an enrollment of almost 7,000 high-ability students at its campuses in Tyler, Longview and Palestine.