Six students from Dr. Erin Riggins’ MS-INBRE Biomedical Research I and II classes at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College’s Jefferson Davis Campus received MS-INBRE Research Fellowships this summer. Dylan Tran, Marjorie Lam, Thuy Hien (Rose) Le, Bridget Boehm, Evan Smith, and Thomas Pegoda each received a fellowship award worth $4,500 and were allowed to choose a research topic and location in Mississippi. 

Only 25 students in the state were chosen for the prestigious award. 

“We are so excited that the hard work students do in the research classes has paid off and that they were able to participate in the fellowship and scientific conference presentations,” said Dr. Riggins.  “Competing against students at the university level prepares them for the next phase of their education and gives them an opportunity to network with professional researchers.”

The six students presented their research findings at the MS-IDeA (Mississippi Institutional Development Award) Conference on August 2.  The students were judged on their presentations alongside many other student researchers in the state of Mississippi, most of which were students from four-year institutions.  Marjorie Lam placed first overall, while Evan Smith placed second.