She is one of 60 outstanding graduate students in the United States selected by the Department of Energy, the National Science Foundation and the Oak Ridge Associated Universities to attend. She is sponsored by the DOE's Office of Science, which will cover all costs.

Selected students will attend lectures by Nobel Laureates in chemistry, physics or physiology/medicine.

Clark is conducting research on Desulfovibrio vulgaris, a model sulfate reducing bacterium (SRB), in order to characterize the role sulfate reducers may play in bioremediation of hazardous waste. Her current project involves investigating the ability of D. vulgaris to form biofilms and how this feature may be utilized to promote the reduction of toxic heavy metals and radionuclides.

Clark is working with doctoral adviser Matthew Fields, assistant professor of microbiology. The award is a tribute to Melinda's commitment to her efforts in the laboratory, says Fields. The opportunity to rub shoulders with some of our times' greatest thinkers and scientists will no doubt impact her graduate career as a Ph.D. student and exemplifies some of the hard work being conducted by graduate students at Miami University.