Ohio Branch ASM

University Student Awards

The winners of OBASM Awards for presentations at the 2007 OBASM Meeting were:

• Donald C. Cox Award for Research Excellence:
  • Jennifer A. Gaddy, Miami University, "The maturation of Acinetobacter baumannii biofilms is mediated by an outer membrane protein A (OmpA) paralog"
• J. Robie Vestal Award for Research Excellence:
  • George S. Hamaoui Jr., Ohio Wesleyan University, "Identification of Microbial Signatures in Biogenic Cave Ferromanganese Deposits (FMD)"
• N. Paul Hudson Award for Research Excellence:
  • Andrea M. Crabb, Denison University, "The GacA/GacS Two Component System Regulates Virulence Factors Produced by Burkholderia cenocepacia"
• Ohio Branch ASM Award for Research Excellence:
  • Christin N. McQueary, Miami University, "Different Biofilm and Motility Phenotypes Displayed by Acinetobacter baumannii strains 19606 and 17978"
• Allan A. Ichida Undergraduate Research Award:
  • Stefanie L. Ward, Wright State University, "Physiological characterization of carbon metabolism in two unique bacterial symbionts of plants: Bradyrhizobium BTAi and Methylobacterium 4-46"

The winners of OBASM Awards for presentations at the 2006 OBASM Meeting were:

• Donald C. Cox Award for Research Excellence:
  • Eric R. Rhodes, Miami University, "The Investigation of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans (Aa) Genes Potentially Involved in Iron Acquisition"
• J. Robie Vestal Award for Research Excellence:
  • Melinda E. Clark, Miami University, "Identification of Molecular and Cellular Responses of Desulfovibrio vulgaris Biofilms under Culture Conditions Relevant to Field Conditions for Bioreduction of Heavy Metals"
• N. Paul Hudson Award for Research Excellence:
  • Issmat Kassem, University of Toledo, "Optimization of pcr-based methods for studying S. aureus: an emerging environmental pathogen"
• Ohio Branch ASM Award for Research Excellence:
  • B. Jason Hayes, Miami University, "Decrease in Janus Kinase Protein Expression in HeLa Cells Infected with Chlamydia psittaci 6BC"
• Allan A. Ichida Undergraduate Research Award:
  • Jill M. Fritz, Miami University, "Thymic Atrophy in Protein-Malnourished Mice is Due to Thymocyte Apoptosis"

The winners of OBASM Awards for presentations at the 2005 OBASM Meeting were:

• Donald C. Cox Award for Research Excellence:
  • Jay E. Brock, Miami University, "Leaderless mRNA/ribosome interactions during translation initiation"
• J. Robie Vestal Award for Research Excellence:
  • Heather M. Costello, Ohio Wesleyan University, "Isolation and Characterization of Keratinase-producing Fungi from the Plumage of Wild Songbirds and Soil"
• N. Paul Hudson Award for Research Excellence:
  • Dawn M. O'Dee, Miami University, "Corticosterone Inhibition of Macrophage Activity"
• Ohio Branch ASM Award for Research Excellence:
  • Erin L. Crowgey, Miami University, "Regulation of Corticosterone-Induced Apoptosis by Heat Shock Proteins"
• Ohio Branch ASM Award for Research Excellence:
  • Felipe Bendezu, Case Western Researve University, "Cell shape and the actin-like cytoskeleton of Escherichia coli"
• Undergraduate Research Award:
  • Mike Perkins, Denison University, "Identification of a potential two-component system in Burkholderia cenocepacia"

The winners of OBASM Awards for presentations at the 2002 OBASM Meeting were:

• Donald C. Cox Award for Research Excellence:
  • Andrew Osterburg, University of Cincinnati, "Leptin Dependent Transcription in Human Monocytes"
• J. Robie Vestal Award for Research Excellence:
  • J. Michael Day, Miami University, "Translation initiation complex formation by Streptomyces lividans ribosomes: new application of in vitro techniques"
• N. Paul Hudson Award for Research Excellence:
  • Amy E. Wanken, The Ohio State University, "Effect of the Entner-Doudoroff Pathway on Helicobacter pylori Colonization of Mice"
• Ohio Branch ASM Award for Research Excellence:
  • Karen Mumy, Miami University, "Analysis of Microbial Degradative Gene Frequencies in Contaminated Sediments"
• Undergraduate Research Award:
  • Roshni K. Nuggehalli, Ohio Wesleyan University, "Isolation and Characterization of Feather-Degrading and Cellulose-Hydrolysing Streptomyces"

The winners of OBASM Awards for presentations at the 2001 OBASM Meeting were:

• Donald C. Cox Award for Research Excellence:
  • Tara Smith, Medical College of Ohio, "Tn917 Mutagenesis of an mga Knock-Out Mutant of Streptococcus pyogenes Isolate 64/14 Results in Over-Expression of M and M-Related Proteins"
• J. Robie Vestal Award for Research Excellence:
  • Karen Mumy, Miami University, "Quantitative Competitive PCR to Investigate the Efficiency of DNA Extraction Methods Utilizing an External DNA Control"
• N. Paul Hudson Award for Research Excellence:
  • Karen Corbin-Lickfett, Miami University, "Functional Analysis of the Adenovirus Type 5 E4-34kDa Protein"
• Undergraduate Research Award:
  • Colleen LeFevre, Ohio Wesleyan University, "Bacterial Inoculum Enhances Keratin Degradation and Biofilm Formation in Poultry Compost"

High School Student Awards

The winners of Ohio Microbiology Awards at 2007 State Science Day were:

• First Place Winner:
  • Kelly Nicole Tackett, Grade 8, Proctorville, "Development of a bioluminescent assay for the detection of arsenic"
  • Rachel A. Yoho, Grade 11, Galena, "A study of agricultural bacterial populations and the presence of Branta canadensis"
• Second Place Winners:
  • Derek K. Smith, Grade 12, Springfield, "Ascorbic acid and naphthoquinone inoculated keratinocyte and fibroblast cultures resistant to HSV-1"
  • Emma S. Clawson, Grade 11, Loveland, The effects of Bacillus mycoides on Fusarium oxysporum
  • Elizabeth L. Cameron, Grade 10, Centerville, "Bacteriophages and UV light"
  • Aaron R. Perrill, Grade 9, Ashville, "Which household disinfectants will work best to kill different strains of bacteria?"

The winners of Ohio Microbiology Awards at 2006 State Science Day were:

• First Place Winner:
  • Marie Caligiuri-deJesus, Grade 10, Upper Arlington HS, Upper Arlington, Franklin County
  • Christopher M. Ward, Grade 12, Benjamin Logan HS, Bellefontaine, Logan County
• Second Place Winners:
  • Wang W. Pan, Grade 11, Sylvania Southview HS, Sylvania, Lucas County
  • Adrianne C. Rose, Grade 9, Glen Oak HS, Canton, Stark County
  • Theresa R. Howard, Grade 11, Geneva HS, Geneva, Ashtabula County
  • Rachel Yoho,Grade 10, Big Walnut HS, Galena, Delaware County

The winners of Ohio Microbiology Awards at 2003 State Science Day were:

• First Place Winners:
  • Megan P. Stocker, 12th Grade, Newcomerstown, "Biofilm mass determination"
  • Brian W. Vande Pol, 8th Grade, Shaker Heights, "Life and death decisions by E. coli"
• Second Place Winners:
  • Madhavi P. Gavini, 7th Grade, Bowling Green,"The antimicrobial properties of the extracts from basil and mint and their effects on germination"
  • Amanda M. Richardson, 10th Grade, Bolivar, "A comparison of the bacterial content in conventionally and organically raised beef"
  • Megan M. Piel, 8th Grade, Toledo, "Bacterial content in milk"
  • Michael A. Sears, 8th Grade, Ashland, "How safe is locally available chicken?"
  • Samantha E. Miegl, 9th Grade, Dayton, "The five second rule"