News

First Place Award to HCC-UST Students

Apr 6, 2016

A team of 3 students- Eric Castle (HCC alumnus and transfer student at UST), Jianyi Hou and Yicenia Aviles (current HCC students), who are part of 2015-2016 HSI STEM Research Program, traveled to San Diego, California to attend the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Annual Conference held on April 2-4, 2016. Their poster, titled “XLF and XRCC4 Interact With Telomeric Proteins” earned the first prize in the Undergraduate Research Poster Competition with approximately 200+ posters from students all across the nation representing top universities and colleges, including the IV League Institutions. The students were accompanied by their research mentors, Dr. Albert Ribes (UST faculty), Drs. Renu Jain and James Jabbur (HCC faculty), and Dr. Jyoti Wagle (HSI Research Coordinator at HCC). The students and faculty also had a chance to hear some of the top researchers in the field of biochemistry and molecular biology. HCC faculty travel was supported by Faculty Professional Development Fund and the student travel was funded by CAB Student Activity Fund Award.

Kudos to HCC and UST students for winning the top award from such a prestigious organization and congratulations to the faculty who provided such a wonderful educational experience to the students! 

UST-HCC STEM Articulation Grant from Department of Education is in the final year of the five year award that supported the undergraduate research for HCC faculty and students.  Each year, about 20-24 HCC students have had the unique opportunity to experience professional scientific research under the mentorship of selected HCC and UST faculty. The grant also provided equipment to upgrade chemistry curriculum at major HCC campuses. For additional information on the grant, please contact Dr. Juan Carlos Reina, HSI Program Director at HCC.