Albany State University
Release: 07/1/08
Albany, Georgia

Students complete fifth annual HBCU-UP Summer Research Internship at ASU

After six weeks of intense investigation and learning, students in the Albany State University HBCU-UP Summer Research Internship presented their results during a program held Friday, June 27, in the President’s Dining Hall.

“I was very pleased with the students’ performances and how prepared they were with their presentations,” said Cheryl Jones, director of the HBCU-UP Science and Mathematics Resource Learning Center. “I look for them all to explore other opportunities to present and articulate their research.”

This year marked the fifth HBCU-UP Summer Research Internship, a six-week program for Albany State undergraduates in which participants learn research skills by completing a research project under the direction of a faculty mentor. The program is designed to increase the number of students enrolling in and completing science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programs, which will prepare them to pursue graduate studies in these disciplines. The goals of the project are developing students’ research skills and providing them with research experiences.
“Undergraduate research plays a vital role in enhancing students’ ability to make the transition from classroom learning to the application of what they have learned to viable solutions to real world societal problems,” said Connie Leggett, director of the Title III Program, which funds HBCU-UP Summer Research Internship. “It motivates students to explore graduate research programs, and serves as a catalyst for greater intellectual exchange between students and faculty.”

Anais Hall-Garrison, a senior biology major, began compiling research as early as January.

“I am better-rounded now as a result of participating in an internship like this,” she said. “Many aspects of science were inclusive in my project, so it was definitely a learning experience.”

Hall-Garrison’s project focused on the use of saponified spent oil as a carbon source for the production of polyhydroxyalkanoates. Throughout the course of her project, she fed oil to bacteria to see if they would produce a biodegradable plastic. Her end result was a method of cheaply producing a non-toxic biodegradable plastic that could enable the plastics industry to cross over from standardized petroleum-based plastics.

Shawn King, a graduating senior at ASU, said his greatest challenge was balancing summer school and his research project.

“The research itself was not much of a problem because I love doing research,” the biology major said. “I ran into a few bumps along the way, but the knowledge I gained from the project made it worthwhile.”

King’s research expounded on singular perturbation problems encountered in mechanical systems and hydrodynamics. He attributed his mentor, Dr. Zephyrinus Okonkwo, for keeping him motivated and focused during the six-week process.

Twenty-four students participated in the program and gave synopses of their summer research. Five of the participating students came from outside ASU, including Darton College, Atlanta Metropolitan College and Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.

“An internship like this is essential for students trying to solidify a place in the job market,” said Dr. Morris Blaylock, one of the program’s mentors. “There is a deficiency in top-notch scientific talent, so students need rigorous research and development training. The students in the program get all those things plus so much more, like the ability to critically think, a chance to work in a lab setting with their partners and an opportunity to effectively communicate to others what they have learned.”

Garrison said she is eager to attend national conferences to gain more experience and network with different companies and individuals.

“This symposium has really prepared me for future conferences and graduate school,” she said. “I feel confident enough in my research and presentation skills to go and speak anywhere.”
Blaylock said the students’ future success is largely contingent on their continuance in conducting research and remaining active in their discipline. He also said how important it is for the faculty to continue to mentor the students and provide them with the training they need.