Won the Phi Kappa Phi Chapter Research Award and runner-up for the Biology Department Best Poster.
Pictured (L to R): (1) Dr. Takashi Sato (PI) and Ashley Matunis (undergraduate researcher); (2) Madeline Keller (undergraduate researcher)
On April 13, 2023, undergraduate researchers from many disciplines presented their research at the College of Charleston's second annual Research EXPO. It was a highly competitive event, with awards at stake. Two of our own undergraduates presented at this EXPO, with Ashley Matunis entering to compete for awards.
Ashley Matunis presented her poster entitled, "Optogenetic Priming of Motor Circuits Facilitates Functional Recovery Following Stroke". This poster highlighted the stroke recovery research that has been ongoing in our lab. She entered to compete for both the Biology Department Best Poster Award and the Phi Kappa Phi Chapter Research Award. Phi Kappa Phi is the nation's oldest, largest, and most selective all-discipline honor society. They accept only the top 10 percent of seniors and graduate students and 7.5 percent of juniors. She successfully won their Phi Kappa Phi Chapter Research Award for this event. She also received runner-up for the Biology Department Best Poster Award.
Madeline Keller presented her poster entitled, "Functional imaging of brainstem sensory nuclei following spinal cord injury", which highlighted our current research into plastic changes in the brainstem post-spinal cord injury. She was one of the only sophomores presenting and did an excellent job.