Three Lyon College students spent their summer conducting advanced scientific research, culminating in presentations at the 13th annual Arkansas Undergraduate Summer Research Symposium in Little Rock earlier this month. The event, hosted by the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, brought together undergraduate and high school researchers from across the state.
Jada-Lynn King, a senior from Carrollton, Texas, joined the symposium through the Arkansas IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence summer program. Working in the UAMS lab of structural biologist Tudor Moldoveanu, King explored novel therapeutic approaches to trigger specific forms of cell death in cancer cells.
Meanwhile, sophomores Lydia Morales-Castillo, of Batesville, and Sonja Ramirez, of Southside, conducted research under Lyon College chemistry professor Matthew Thompson. Their project focused on purifying the TraI helicase protein to aid studies into the mechanisms behind the spread of antibiotic resistance. At the symposium, Ramirez earned recognition as one of the top 10 poster presenters, an honor selected by the event’s judges.
In total, the event included 79 poster presentations and 12 oral presentations from students across Arkansas, allowing them to exchange ideas and share findings in a professional environment. The work of the Lyon College students highlighted the range of hands-on research opportunities available at the institution, providing early-career scientists real-world experiences in advanced labs.
The Arkansas Undergraduate Summer Research Symposium offers a platform for young researchers to showcase their efforts and network within the scientific community, further fostering academic and professional growth.