CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Marshall University students earned two of the three awards presented today by the West Virginia Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (WV EPSCoR) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) in the Undergraduate Researcher of the Year competition at the Capitol. Marshall freshman Zachary Tackett of Proctorville, Ohio, was chosen first runner-up for his biochemistry poster titled, “Identification of Fluoroquinolone Resistance Proteins in Staphylococcus aureus.” He won $500.The awards were presented by Paul Hill, director of WV EPSCoR, during a reception that followed Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol. Ninety-nine students representing eight public institutions and four private institutions took part in the event, displaying posters of their projects on both levels of the Capitol’s rotunda area. Fourteen Researcher of the Year finalists were chosen from the 99 participants, and the three winners were picked from the 14 finalists. We had two juniors and a freshman who walk away with checks,” Marshall Interim President Michael J. Farrell said after congratulating the winners. “What does that say? It says we’re doing good things here at Marshall University." Zach Tackett began his research during his junior and senior years at Fairland High School. As outstanding as he is, he chose Marshall because it provided the best opportunity for him and his continuing research.” Tackett described himself as “very shocked” when Hill called his name during the ceremony in the lower rotunda. But, he said he’s also aware that research at Marshall is moving quickly ahead." As Interim President Farrell said, we took home the majority of the checks today,” and stated that “Research in the area of biotechnology is advancing at a rapid pace.” Participants praised WV EPSCoR for allowing the students to show their work to legislators and visitors at the capitol.

Second Place

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