ECSC Excellence Awards went to FAIZ ABED, EDEN STARK and VINCENT LOMBARDO

On Saturday, April 20, approximately 360 participants from 17 institutions of higher education — mostly undergraduates in the physical, chemical, biological and social sciences — attended the 67th Annual Eastern Colleges Science Conference on the campus of Providence College in Rhode Island.

Wagner College undergraduates gave three platform presentations and 12 poster presentations of their empirical research. One Wagner student submitted a completed scientific paper for consideration for an excellence award. For many, it was the first time they had presented their research in the context of a scientific meeting.

Three Wagner students, shown in the photo here, won excellence awards for their presentations:

• Faiz Abed, a biology major who was mentored by Dr. Ammini Moorthy, won for his poster presentation, “Teratogenic Effects of Stannous Chloride at Various Concentrations on Zebrafish (Danio rerio) Embryos”
• Eden Stark, a microbiology major mentored by Dr. Kathleen Bobbitt, won for her poster presentation, “Presence of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in Wagner College Athletic Facilities”
• Vincent Lombardo, a physics major mentored by Dr. Otto Raths, won for his platform presentation, “The Brachistochrone Problem”

Next spring, the ECSC host will be Marist College. Wagner students who are beginning empirical research are encouraged to present their findings there next year. For more information about the conference, please visit the ECSC website. — or for more information, email Dr. Donald Stearns.

• Joanna Emilio — “Analyzing the effect of Di-n-pentyl phthalate on the development and viability of Drosophila melanogaster” — Dr. Heather Cook, Wagner College research adviser
• Corey Gaylets — “Modification of a yeast strain toward the creation of a light-activated elongation factor” — research completed during a summer internship at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine under supervision of Dr. Brendan Cormack; Dr. Christopher Corbo, Wagner College research adviser
• Felicia Rubertone — “Analyzing the effect of BPA on viability and development of Drosophila melanogaster” — Dr. Heather Cook, Wagner College research adviser

Corey Gaylets won a special award for best student presentation from a four-year institution.
“The kind of research these students are accomplishing is not only award-worthy,” said Wagner College biology professor Donald Stearns, “it is taking our students to exciting places and enhancing the reputation of Wagner College as an institution of higher education. Congratulations to all.”