University of Saint Mary senior Christina Ward, Bonner Springs, Kan., won first place among undergraduate poster presentations in November at the University of Kansas’ Heartland Undergraduate Biochemistry Research Forum.
She did her research during a 10-week Research Experiences for Undergraduates at Kansas State University.
She also recently presented the same work at the Midwest Regional meeting of the American Chemical Society in Columbia, Mo., and gained authorship for it on a paper submitted to The Journal of the American Chemical Society.
The title of her research was “Purification and Characterization of Polyhydroxybutyrate CoA Synthases from Allochromatium vinosum Strains).”
Caroline Mackintosh, USM natural sciences and mathematics department chair, praised Ward’s work: “We’re so proud of Christina and excited for her future. She wants to pursue an M.D./Ph.D program, and this recognition of her undergraduate research will hopefully open a door for her. She really is a stand-out student here at USM.”