Oct 29, 2014 11:25 AM EDT By J Baulkman, UniversityHerald Reporter

Seven student researchers were recognized at a scientific forum on nanotechnology and biotechnology at the University of Alabama.

Four undergraduate and three graduate students, representing various universities, were recognized for their work during the NanoBio Summit 2014. Judges selected student presenters as winners for their research poster presentations given during the forum.

"The summit brought 200 students, faculty, researchers and state and federal program officials to The University of Alabama campus," Dr. Carl A. Pinkert, vice president for research and economic development at the University of Alabama, said in a statement. "Dr. Patty Sobecky and her organizing committee, representing eight Alabama universities, did a tremendous job bringing together science, engineering and technology-based expertise that clearly benefitted the many students in attendance."

Sarah McFann, of University of Alabama's chemical and biological engineering department, won first place in the undergraduate division. The poster was titled "Automated, Tablet-Based Microscope for Imaging 3D Culture Models of Breast Epithelia Growth and Behavior."

Undergraduate presenters from Auburn University and Alabama State University tied with an undergraduate presenter representing the University of Alabama for second place.

Stephen H. Brown, of the College of Science and Mathematics at Auburn, and his co-authors Atul A. Chaudhari, Shree R. Singh and Shreekumar R. Pillai, of the Center for Nanobiotechnology Research at Alabama State, tied with Ben Binderow and Dr. Vinu Unnikrishnan, assistant professor, of UA's aerospace engineering and mechanics department.

Third place was awarded to Marcus D. Davis, undergraduate presenter, and co-authors Saurabh Dixit, Shree R. Singh and Vida Dennis, of the Center for NanoBiotechnology Research at Alabama State University.

In the graduate student division, judges awarded first place to Dereca Watkins who presented on behalf of co-authors Md. Nuruddin, Alfred Tcherbi-Narteh, Mahesh Hosur and Shaik Jeelani, of the department of materials science and engineering at Tuskegee University for "Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Phenolic Resin System Based on Lignin Extracted from Different Biomass Resources."

Second place was awarded to Matthew Eggert. Matthew's co-authors were Andrew Brannen, Robert Arnold and Peter Panizzi, of the department of drug discovery and development, Harrison School of Pharmacy, Auburn University.

Third place was awarded to Jonghwa Oh who presented a poster with co-authors Claudiu T. Lungu, of the department of environmental health sciences, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and Evan L. Floyd, of the department of occupational and environmental health, The University of Oklahoma.

Dr. Patty Sobecky, associate provost for academic affairs, highlighted the many opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students to network with researchers representing academia, industry and government.

"With more than 75 poster presentations this year, it was incredibly difficult to select the winners as the caliber of the research and student presentations was outstanding," Sobecky said.

The forum attracted researchers from across the state and region and featured a dozen scientists from in-state and neighboring institutions.

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