Biology

The highly competitive award is designed to advance the academic pursuits of sophomores and juniors in colleges and universities who are pursuing research careers in natural sciences, mathematics and engineering.

Join us Thursday, April 15, to virtually celebrate the honorees, young alumni who have achieved major professional success, serve as difference-makers in their communities and loyally support Elon.

Adamik is part of Moderna's DNA manufacturing department, which develops DNA used in the biotechnology company's mRNA vaccines. That DNA helped speed the breakthrough mRNA-1273 COVID vaccine now in wide distribution across America.

IRIS was established in 2018 to give students from smaller institutions without the resources of major universities the opportunity to present their research and interact with students from other colleges and universities.

The members of the North Carolina Academy of Science voted to elect Michael Kingston, professor of biology and environmental studies, to serve as president-elect in 2021-22 and President in 2022-2023.

Biochemistry major Kevin Scott ’21, under the mentorship of Associate Professor of Biology Yuko Miyamoto, is studying the molecular relationship between a high-salt diet and HER2-positive gastric cancer as part of his Lumen Prize research.

Assistant Professor of Biology Jessica Merricks offers insight into why there is some hesitancy about the COVID-19 vaccine, and steps that the scientific and medical community can take to help overcome those challenges.

Carter Jenkins ’21, under the mentorship of Professor of Psychology Amy Overman, is studying the differences in brain activity patterns in healthy older adults, adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment and adults with Alzheimer’s Disease, as a part of her Lumen Prize research.

Merricks, an assistant professor of biology, offered insights into the mistrust some in the Black community have in the new vaccines.

Assistant Professor of Biology Jessica Merricks spoke about the COVID-19 vaccines at the Tuesday night meeting of Tectonic Plates: Alamance County's Science Café.