Posted: April 4, 2018

On March 27, 2018, the Penn State Chapter of Gamma Sigma Delta held its 24th annual research expo on the Huck Life Sciences Bridge followed by the Celebration of Excellence on March 29th held in partnership with the College of Agricultural Sciences.

(L to R) are PPEM members Juan Francisco Iturralde Martinez, Chauncy Hinshaw, Laura Kaminsky and Phillip Martin who participated in the GSD Research Expo.

(L to R) are PPEM members Juan Francisco Iturralde Martinez, Chauncy Hinshaw, Laura Kaminsky and Phillip Martin who participated in the GSD Research Expo.

This year total of 71 research posters were presented at the Penn State Chapter of Gamma Sigma Delta Research Expo by 41 undergraduate and 30 graduate students and judged by 30 faculty, staff and post-doctoral scholars, including four from PPEM. Special thanks to Maria del Mar Jimenez-Gasco, Cristina Rosa, and Samuel Martins who represented the department well with this important task and to Beth Gugino, who organized the event while serving as the GSD Past President and Gretchen Kuldau, who currently serves as the GSD Departmental Representative. Poster presenters from PPEM included Aleah Holmes, undergraduate researcher working with Dr. Tim McNellis and Sarah Klee and graduate students Chauncy Hinshaw, Laura Kaminsky, Phillip Martin and Juan Francisco Iturralde Martinez.

On March 29, GSD held its Celebration of Excellence Ceremony in collaboration with the College of Agricultural Sciences. Over $4,700 in research awards were distributed to nineteen recipients, including Aleah Holmes, B.S. student in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, who placed 3rd in the Undergraduate Plant and Environmental-related Sciences category and Laura Kaminsky and Phillip Martin who placed 1st and 4th, respectively, in the Graduate Biological Science category. In addition, Ilse Huerta Arredondo (M.S. '14 PPATH) placed 1st in the Graduate Agriculture Education and International Agriculture category.

As part of the Celebration, new initiates including Edelio Bazan and John de Soto were also inducted as lifetime members into Gamma Sigma Delta for their scholarly and professional achievements.