Research Programs
The Office of Research Resources
All students are encouraged to take advantage of the extensive world of science and math opportunities that Spelman offers. These special programs provide research opportunities and unique experiences that take science and math out of the classroom and into the real world.
Amgen Center for Microbiology
Funded by the Amgen Corporation, this program provides both academic year and summer research opportunities for Biology majors.
ASPIRE
The Advancing Spelman’s Participation in Informatics Research and Education (ASPIRE) Program has the unique approach of developing informatics knowledge in science, technology, engineering and mathematics students and faculty in order to increase cross-discipline research and expertise.
Howard Hughes Program
A comprehensive program funded by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute that enhances the classroom experience and supports student research, both during the summer and the academic year.
Apply to 2008 Howard Hughes Biomedical
Summer Science Program
Apply to the HHMI 2008 Research Fellowship Program
Support for Continuous Research Excellence (SCORE)
A program that supports individual faculty research in the biomedical sciences; funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement (MBRS-RISE)
A program that supports student development and research in the biomedical services. It is funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Minority Access to Research Careers/Undergraduate Student Training in Academic Research (MARC/U*STAR) Honors Program
An undergraduate research training program designed to increase the number of well prepared minority students who can successfully compete for entry into graduate programs leading to the Ph.D. degree in a biomedical science and to help develop a strong science curriculum and research opportunities to prepare students for careers in biomedical research.
Merck Center of Science Excellence Program
In addition to providing major support for science facilities, the Center, funded by the Merck Foundation, supports student scholarships and summer research by faculty from other HCBUs and the Merck Visiting Lecture Series.
Model Institutions for Excellence Program (MIE)
Funded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), this program provides comprehensive infrastructure support in an effort to increase the number of students graduating in science, engineering, and mathematics.
Program in the Physical Sciences
Funded by the Office of Naval Research, this program offers enrichment and research opportunities in the physical sciences for students, beginning in their first year of college, both during the summers (including pre-freshman summer) and during the academic year. Its goal is to increase the number of students who pursue careers in the physical sciences.
Research Infrastructure in Minority Institutions (RIMI)
Funded through the National Institutes of Health, the RIMI program supports biomedical research of faculty across departmental lines and strengthens the College's infrastructure in support of all science research.
Undergraduate Student Awards for Research Program (USAR)
Students are chosen during their first year of college for mentoring and future research experiences in science, mathematics and computer science. NASA funds the program, and research during the summer may be local or off-site.
Women in Science and Engineering (WISE)
Funded by NASA to increase the number of Spelman students entering science, engineering, and mathematics careers, this program provides pre-freshman summer curricular enhancement and upper class research experiences during the academic year. In addition, students engage in summer internships at NASA or other sites.
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Students Learn Research Discoveries Through New Course
This academic year marks the first time a unique course is being offered to help Spelman science students understand how pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device companies translate basic research discoveries into new therapies and treatments for diseases.
Titled "Current Trends in the Biomedical Sciences," the course is a collaboration between the Atlanta Center for Behavioral Neuroscience and Georgia Bio. Both organizations are collaborating with Spelman, Georgia State University, Georgia Tech and Morehouse to build awareness of the bioscience industry among the student community in Georgia.
It is the first time colleges, universities and businesses in Atlanta have come together to provide undergraduate students insight into how technologies and inventions reach the marketplace and which skills companies need to commercially develop those inventions. Students taking the course meet at the Georgia Tech Research Institute Conference Center each week. Senior executives from pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device companies serve as instructors.
The participating companies include: Cell Dynamics; Solvay Pharmaceuticals; Wynden Pharmaceutical; Atherogenics; UCB Pharma Inc; AviGenics Inc; and Tikvah Therapeutics Inc.
For more information, visit:
http://www.cbn-atl.org/education/bioscience.shtml
Research Day 2008: April 18
"Global Outlooks, Local Insights: Discovery Through Scholarship"
“The objective of Research Day is to showcase the outstanding research achievements of our students, and to promote, support, and enhance the excitement of research and discovery across all scholarly disciplines,” explained Lily D. McNair, Ph.D., associate provost of research and professor of psychology.
Initiated in 1989 by longtime Spelman College mathematician Etta Z. Falconer, Ph.D., Research Day originally focused on student research in the sciences and mathematics. Today, in addition to student research presentations, Research Day activities include a plenary session and a panel featuring interdisciplinary researchers.
“The College has a strong record of educating and graduating African-American women who pursue graduate training and careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields,” said Dr. McNair.
Research Day 2008 Winners
ORAL WINNERS
Biology
1st Place – Elizabeth Johnson
BIO-O5
Variation in Reproductive Decisions by Social Wasp Colonies
Advisor(s): Michael Goodisman, Ph.D. (Georgia Institute of Technology)
Chemistry
1st Place – Andraya Johnson
CHE-04
Differential Effects on Growth and Cell Cycle by Dibenzoylmethane in African American and Caucasian Prostate Cancer Cells
Other Author(s): Alison Brown
Advisor(s): Kimberly Jackson, Ph.D.
Computer Science
1 st Place – Chanelle Green
CIS-05
GPU Implementation of Scientific Computation Applications
Other Author(s): Diego Rivera, (Northeastern University)
Advisor(s): James Hale, David Kaeli (Northeastern University)
Education
1st Place – Kristle Wilson
EDU-04
The Effectiveness of Two Educational Initiatives: "No Child Left Behind Act" and "Success For All Reading Program"
Advisor(s): Marshalita Peterson, Ph.D.
English/Political Science
1st Place – Destinee Moore
ENG-03
Go Green: College Students' Perceptions of Green Party Candidates
Advisor(s): Margaret Price, Ph.D.
ORAL WINNERS (cont’d)
Environmental Science/Psychology
1st Place – Danielle Doss
ENV-03
The Role of Microbes in Reducing Environmental and Public Health Impacts in Post-Hurricane Katrina
Other Author(s): Brittany Edwards
Advisor(s): Victor Ibeanusi, Ph.D., Yassin Jeilani, Ph.D.
Mathematics
1st Place – Carmen Smith
MAT-03
Markov Chains - Models and Applications
Advisor(s): Nagambal Shah, Ph.D.
Philosophy/Religion
1st Place – Nile Johnson
PHI-01
Defining Existentialism in Terms of Black Literature
Advisor(s): Cynthia Neal Spence, Ph.D.
Political Science
1st Place – Allison Wright
POL-02
Identity Politics: The Role of Race and Gender in the Voting Behavior of African-American Women
Advisor(s): Kai He, Ph.D., Marilyn Davis, Ph.D.
Sociology/Music
1st Place– Lauren Eldridge
MU-02
"If Time Itself Could Speak": Historical and Cultural Aspects of "If the Silver Bird Could Speak" by Eleanor Alberga
Advisor(s): Tarshia Stanley, Ph.D., Hyunjung Chung, Ph.D.
Photos from Research Day 2007
Photos from Research Day 2006
Research Day Database (password required)
