Cal State Fullerton science and engineering students and their faculty mentors will participate in the California State University’s 29th annual Biotechnology Symposium, which begins today through Saturday, Jan. 7, at the Santa Clara Marriott.
Student researchers will present their projects, with several scholars nominated for competitive CSU research awards. This year, 290 research posters from 22 CSU universities, including CSUF, were accepted for presentation. With more than 700 participants registered, it also is expected to be the largest symposium yet, organizers said.
The annual event brings together students, faculty members and administrators, as well as biotech professionals working in academia, government and industry. Sponsored by the CSU Program for Education and Research in Biotechnology (CSUPERB), the symposium is designed to broaden student exposure to the latest biotechnologies, innovations and career paths in the life sciences.
Four CSUF undergraduates are among 10 contenders for the 2017 Glenn Nagel Undergraduate Student Research Award. The students, their major and faculty mentors are:
- Saumya Jani, biological science; faculty mentor is Marcelo E. Tolmasky, professor of biological science
- Carolina Mendoza Cavazos, biological science; faculty mentor is Esther Chen, associate professor of biological science
- Sandra Rodriguez Beltran, chemistry; faculty mentor is Nicholas Salzameda, associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry
- Carina Sandoval, biological science; faculty mentor is Melanie Sacco, associate professor of biological science
The CSU established this award in honor of the late Glenn Nagel, a CSUF chemistry professor who received the University’s Outstanding Professor Award in 1987 and the CSUPERB Andreoli Faculty Service Award in 1996.
Biology graduate student Noopur Dave, whose faculty mentor is Veronica Jimenez, assistant professor of biological science, is one of seven CSU student finalists for the 2017 Don Eden Graduate Student Research Award. The winners of the student awards will be announced at the symposium. For more information about the symposium, visit online.