TAMIU Student Gets Award at ABRCMS Conference

Sarah Jenkins, a junior at Texas A&M International University, has been honored with an award for research she presented at the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS) in Anaheim, Calif. recently.

Jenkins was recognized for her research into efficient methods for blueberry infusion. She is president of the TAMIU Biology Club and has played with the Dustdevils Volleyball team for the past three years.  She is an Alexander High School graduate.

ABRCMS is an annual Conference organized by the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) and supported by a grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences.  Now in its sixth year, ABRCMS is the largest, professional conference for biomedical students.

Over 2,500 people attended the Conference including 1,633 students, 421 faculty and program directors and 418 exhibitors.  The Conference is designed to encourage underrepresented minority students to pursue advanced training in the biomedical and behavioral sciences and provide faculty mentors and advisors with resources for facilitating students’ success.

“This Conference addresses a critical need in this country to cultivate the scientific potential and talent in groups (women and under-represented minorities) that were historically and are currently under-utilized in careers within the biomedical sciences," says ASM president-elect Clifford Houston, the Conference chair.

During the four-day Conference over 1,100 students participated in poster and oral presentations in nine sub-disciplines in the biomedical and behavioral sciences.

All undergraduate student presentations were judged and those receiving the highest scores in each scientific discipline and in each educational level were given awards during the final banquet.  A total of 120 undergraduates received monetary awards of $250 for their outstanding research.

The 2007 ABRCMS Conference will be November 7-10 in Austin. For more information visit the conference website at abrcms.org

For information on TAMIU’s biology offerings and majors, contact Dr. Daniel Mott, College of Arts and Sciences associate dean, chair of the department of biology and chemistry and associate professor, at 956.326.2441, visit offices in the Lamar Bruni Vergara Science Center, room 312 or e-mail dmott@tamiu.edu

Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at prmis@tamiu.edu