MCC Student Researchers Participate at National Symposium in Tennessee

MCC students at CCURI

MCC students at the CCURI research symposium in Tennessee. Front row, left to right: Alyssa Adamczak, Kang You, Amy Wilson. Back row: Gary Swain, Benancio Rodriguez, Gabe Cerchiori and Garrett Dixon.

Seven student researchers and two faculty advisors from MCC travelled to Tennessee on April 11 to participate in the Community College Undergraduate Research Initiative (CCURI) Student Research Symposium at Volunteer State Community College.

The MCC contingent joined more than 90 students, along with their faculty advisors, from 23 different community colleges around the U.S. The event was sponsored by the CCURI, a National Science Foundation-funded organization based at Finger Lakes Community College in Canandaigua, N.Y. MCC has been a charter partner school since CCURI’s inception in 2011. MCC Life Sciences Department Chair Darren Mattone serves on the CCURI executive board.

At the symposium, two MCC students presented their research findings:

  • Amy Wilson from Mattone’s Biology 297 class, spoke about “Using a mini DNA barcoding technique to test for adulteration in cooked meat products.”
  • Benancio Rodriguez, who is conducting an independent study under MCC instructor Greg Marczak, spoke about his research on “Success in Monitoring Anaerobic Digestion via Practical Design.”

The other MCC students who attended the symposium in Hendersonville, TN and who are all in Mattone’s biology class, are listed below along with their research topics:

  • Garrett Dixon – “DNA Barcoding Authentication of Ginkgo biloba Herbal Supplements”
  • Gabe Cerchiori – “Identification of the freshwater sponge Ephydatia fluviatilis through DNA barcoding and habitat analysis”
  • Gary Swain – “Soil bacteria extraction from the wetland plant Phragmites australis
  • Alyssa Adamczak – “How does the microbial community of the human axillary region change after washing with a standard antibacterial soap?”
  • Kanghyun You – “The effect of pH on the growth of cellulase producing bacteria”

On Tuesday, April 19, the students will be presenting their research to the MCC community from 1:30-3pm in the Science Center atrium.