Student Research

Kathryn Kingsley wants to be a doctor, and is considering specializing in anesthesiology. Through St. Scholastica's McNair Program, Kingsley had the opportunity to research Sevoflurane, a newer anesthetic drug used in pediatrics, to determine if it was safer than Halothane, the standard drug that has been used for years despite being associated with some negative side effects. Kingsley credits her McNair experience and the help of the McNair staff for getting her where she is today: a first-year medical student at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks.

"This research opportunity was very valuable to me. I learned a lot about an area of medicine what I am particularly interested in and I feel very fortunate to have been part of this program. It provided me opportunities that I would not have had access to otherwise. The research further prepared me for the study of medicine. In two years I will be completing a research project of my own as a requirement for graduation from the M.D. program. I feel that learning the whole research process as an undergrad has greatly prepared me for that experience."
-Kathryn Kingsley '06, Biology
Medical student, University of North Dakota, Department of Pharmacology and Physiology

"The research project is an opportunity for students to apply what they have been learning in their classes. This allows them to stretch their minds and tryout, first hand, the research process to discover whether this is indeed the career for them. I found Kat to be a dedicated worker, willing to explore her areas of interest alone to match her personal goal of learning all she can about medicine." - Jane Killough, P.T., D.P.T., G.C.S., Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy

Nathaniel Lambert has always been interested in inorganic chemistry, so when the opportunity arose to do research at St. Scholastica, he jumped at the chance. Through his project, entitled "Synthesis and Crystal Structure of Cu2{SiW12O40}, he successfully engineered a novel crystal structure. That led to even more success. He was accepted into the Ph.D. program at the University of North Dakota in the fall of his senior year - the earliest a student has ever been accepted to the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. Now there, he has been asked to start his graduate research early so that he can assist in a research project on influenza.

"This research experience was paramount in preparing me for the steps involved in applying for graduate school. Having the title of a former McNair Scholar gave me the edge of my competition. Having undergraduate research is a necessity if you want to be a competitive applicant. The entire process - lab work, writing and presentation - has made me well prepared for my graduate experience."
- Nathaniel Lambert '06, Biology
Graduate student, University of North Dakota
Department of Microbiology and Immunology

"Nate performed research that I would expect from a first- or second-year graduate student. We were able to succeed by creating some novel materials that will be used for future study. We have many undergraduate research opportunities at St. Scholastica in which students are able to work directly with a professor on a specific research project. I encourage any student interested in graduate school to pursue a research project. This is one of the best ways to see what it is really like. I tell students they will learn skills that they will use for their entire lives."
- Bret Johnson, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Chemistry

Noelle Ekwochi discovered a strong interest in neuroscience during an anatomy and physiology course at The College of St. Scholastica. She was accepted into a summer research project at the University of Minnesota, where she conducted experiments looking at the retina in the eyes of Tiger Salamanders. Specifically, she was looking for the presence of kainite receptors in one of two kinds of cells. She discovered evidence that supported the presence of these receptors in both cell types. Additional research will be conducted to further investigate this discovery. Throughout Noelle's research experience, she stayed in contact with her St. Scholastica mentor, Professor Jennifer Maki, who helped her edit her final paper.

"I have been fortunate enough to attend conferences in Pittsburgh and Miami. Throughout my research project I have acquired knowledge about applications, personal statements, networking and research. In addition, I have had the pleasure of working with outstanding staff members."

"I learned that patience, knowledge, failure and hard work are all necessary for successful research."
-Noelle Ekwochi '07 Biochemistry

"The opportunities for research at and through The College of St. Scholastica are exciting and varied. If you are planning to continue on to graduate school, this is a valuable opportunity. Your research experience will greatly enhance your application to graduate school by demonstrating that you are interested and involved in your field of choice." - Jennifer Maki, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Chemistry