The NASA WV Space Grant Consortium offers scholarships and faculty research enhancement awards. Deadline: Oct. 1, 2009.

The 2009 Marshall University Annual Sigma Xi Research Day was be held on April 30 and May 1.  Congratulations to all the presenter who contributed to this year's successful and interesting program.

Special thanks to Dr. Tom Wilson (left), Physics Department, Marshall University for his keynote presentation "Novel Method of high-frequency (terahertz) acoustic wave generation and detection". 

Special thanks to Dr. Tom Wilson (left), Physics Department, Marshall University for his keynote presentation "Novel Method of high-frequency (terahertz) acoustic wave generation and detection". 

Congratulation to our student awardees.

Gregory Sammons: 1^st Place for Excellence in Oral Presentation

Emily John: 1^st Place for Excellence in Poster Presentation

Kathleen Brown: 2^nd Place for Excellence in Poster Presentation

Terry Boyce Jr.: 3^rd Place for Excellence in Poster Presentation

Joshua Titlow: Honorable Mention for Excellence in Poster Presentation

Joshua Hafer: Honorable Mention for Excellence in Poster Presentation

Research Day Schedule and Presentations; Photogallery

Two Marshall Student receive a Sigma Xi Grants-in-Aid of Research award. 

Katie Brown, senior in the Department of Biological Sciences, will receive a Sigma Xi Grants-in-Aid of Research award of $2,500.  Ms. Brown project, Nicotinic receptor signaling in retinal angiogenesis, is working under the direction of the Robert C. Byrd Biotechnology Science Center for School of Medicine Professor Dr. Piyali Dasgupta. This project uses primary human retinal cells in order to accurately reflect the physiological effects tobacco components have on smokers and non-smokers; therefore, making the research relevant to people who smoke, are exposed to second hand smoke, or chew tobacco. According to Ms. Brown, "the results of my studies will shed light on novel signaling pathways which could foster the hope of novel therapies in age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy."  More information

Laura Mitchell, a senior Psychology major with a minor in Biology, will receive a  Sigma Xi Grants-in-Aid of Research award of $400. Her study, "The role of familiarity in determining primitive group dynamics," will investigate the basic biological mechanisms that underlie group on group aggression. Crayfish serve as an appropriate model for the study of social aggression, because, as experimental evidence suggests, they are naturally aggressive. Although crayfish are not known to form any lasting social alliances, those who have been paired for a length of time do experience a reduction of overall aggression and can establish a stable dominance hierarchy, with the dominant having increased access to resources. The importance of this project is that it will investigate whether transient groups can confer benefits on their members during aggressive interactions.  If so, the investigation might give clues as to how groups and societies evolved, and what principles may govern their formation. It may therefore contribute in a larger sense to understanding what basic biological principles may govern aspects of human social behavior and group on group aggression.

Grants-in-Aid of Research Program awards grants of up to $1,000 to students from all areas of the sciences and engineering. Designated funds from the National Academy of Sciences allow for grants of up to $5,000 for astronomy research and $2,500 for vision related research. Students use the funding to pay for travel expenses to and from a research site, or for purchase of non-standard laboratory equipment necessary to complete a specific research project.  Application Deadlines: March 15 and October 15 annually.

The Marshall University Chapter of Sigma Xi is an affiliate of Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society, actively promotes scientific research and the promise of science and technology. Its goals are to foster interaction among science, technology and society; to encourage appreciation and support of original work in science and technology; and to honor scientific research accomplishments. The Marshall University Chapter of Sigma Xi holds its annual research day in April. This Research Day features student and faculty research presentations, luncheon, and keynote speaker.

Nominate New Members Electronically at https://www.sigmaxi.org/member/join/nom.msword.html