Students to Present Research at Kaler Science Lecture Series
The event will be held on Friday, Nov. 1 at the William M. Staerkel Planetarium.
Still intrigued with their significant summer microbiology research, two community college students will present their findings and experiences this week as part of Parkland College's James B. Kaler Science Lecture Series.
Parkland College student Adam Zwawi and Ray Elementi, a recent College of DuPage transfer to the University of Illinois, will present "Symbiotic Success and Safe Harvests: Bridging Beneficial Bacteria and Food Safety in Crops" on Friday, Nov. 1 at 7 p.m. at the William M. Staerkel Planetarium.
The presentation will include their research findings from the 2024 Microbial Interactions Create Research Opportunities for Community College Students program (MICRO-CCS).
Zwawi worked in Plant Biology Professor Katy Heath's lab, investigating the quality of bacterial symbionts in soybeans. Elementi, who worked in Professor Matthew Stasiewicz's lab, developed a way to screen preharvest produce for microbes that affect food safety.
Chelsea Lloyd, one of the principal investigators of MICRO-CCS and a professor of microbiology at Parkland, will also discuss how to seek and prepare competitive applications for this and other summer research opportunities.
MICRO-CCS is a collaborative summer research experience for undergraduates (REU) between UIUC and Parkland College funded through the National Science Foundation. The program provides scientific training and mentorship plus stipends, housing, and travel allowances to community college students nationwide.
The program begins with a one-week research techniques boot camp to acclimate students to the research environment and provide baseline techniques to help build their confidence in the lab. Following boot camp, trainees spend nine weeks immersed in UIUC research labs investigating microbial interactions in food, agricultural, and environmental sciences and end the summer presenting their work at an undergraduate research symposium.
The lecture series was named for UIUC astronomer Jim Kaler, who spoke at the series each year for over 20 years. Admission for all Kaler Lectures are $2 or free for members of the Friends of the Staerkel Planetarium.
Following the Nov. 1 talk, the planetarium will show Season of Light at 8 p.m., featuring the cultural traditions associated with the time of the year when the days are shortest. Tickets may be purchased in person or online. For a show schedule, call 217/351-3446 or visit parkland.edu/planetarium.