Five Fisher Students Earn TriBeta Research Grants

Five St. John Fisher University students have earned $1,700 in Beta Beta Beta (TriBeta) Research Grants to support their independent academic research.

Fisher’s chapter of TriBeta, a national biology honor society, has been active since 2013. For more than a decade, Fisher students have regularly received research grants, which are funded by the TriBeta Research Scholarship Foundation.

Senior Abigail Garvey, who is mentored by Dr. Daryl Hurd, was awarded $100 through TriBeta for her research, “The Cellular Role of par-1 in the Development of C. elegans Male Tails.”

“Being able to participate in undergraduate research is a valuable experience, and doing it at Fisher with an advisor that cares about your success and helps you work through problems has been incredibly beneficial to my overall education,” said Garvey, who is majoring in biology with a minor in chemistry. Upon graduation, she hopes to attend graduate school and pursue a doctoral degree in biomedical genetics, specifically to study cancer biology and the cellular pathways behind the development of cancer.

Alex Fischette, a senior biology major and chemistry minor, was awarded $450 for his research under the mentorship of Dr. Jonelle Mattiacio. His grant will support research on the effects of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteriophage on cytokine expression in macrophage cells in vitro.

“Working in the lab gave me the chance to go beyond the usual classroom setting, and dive into hands-on experiments. This experience helped me discover my true passion for science and allowed me to take charge of my own learning. This hands-on work has not only deepened my understanding of these fields but also fueled my passion for scientific inquiry,” he explained. Fischette hopes to earn a doctoral degree in immunology, virology, and microbiology, aiming for a career focused on research or academia after graduate school.

Katarina Weldy, a senior biology major and chemistry minor, is also mentored by Hurd. Her $100 grant will support research on the structure of male tail cilia and CEM cilia in the absence of tbb-4 in the model C. elegans.

“Through doing research here at Fisher I have been able to gain hands-on experience and develop skills that I would have not gotten from classes,” she said. In the future, Weldy plans on conducting biological research with a focus in cellular biology.

Joshua Morris is a senior biology major who is conducting research under the mentorship of Dr. Zach Murphy. He was awarded $600 for his research, “Investigation of Potential Contributors to PGE2 and Calpain mediated Eryptosis in CRISPR-Cas9 Manipulated K562 Cell Lines.”

For him, research has enhanced his education in myriad ways.

“Doing research at Fisher has increased my critical thinking and analytical skills, and allowed me to have an opportunity to further explore concepts with a deeper understanding. It has also allowed me to develop skills that will directly translate to future educational and career aspirations,” Morris said. He intends to go to graduate school for a doctoral degree in cell and/or molecular biology, as he would like to pursue a career in research and higher education.

Junior biology major Natalie Gantress received a $450 grant for her research, “Modifying the Genome of the Bacteriophage T4 Using CRISPR-Cas9 Technology in Escherichia coli; A Model of Phage Therapy.” She is mentored by Dr. Zachary Murphy and Dr. Jonelle Mattiacio.

“Conducting research at Fisher has taught me many lab techniques I use in classes. Because of these experiences, my confidence in conducting experiments and trying new protocols has increased.” said Gantress.

Gantress' future career goal is to go into research as she plans to go graduate school for an advanced degree.

“Working on independent research at Fisher is also essential to laying the groundwork to continue with research going forward. I learned the basics and got practice to make myself more consistent in lab work,” she said.