Support MSU Denver Undergraduate Scientists

MSU Denver Undergraduate RNA Research
Over the past two years, we’ve heard a lot about ‘RNA’ – SARS-CoV-2 is an RNA virus, and RNA vaccines are revolutionizing public health.  Did you know that MSU Denver is also leading multiple RNA (and DNA) student-led undergraduate research projects?  Currently, our researchers are involved in developing methods to quickly test for tuberculosis using DNA-based rapid tests, they are designing RNA-based drug delivery methods, and they are identifying how RNA viruses hijack cellular machinery upon infection.  These projects are opportunities for our students to participate in advanced research that prepares them for careers as scientists and health professionals, putting MSU Denver ‘on the map’ as a leader in undergraduate STEM education.

Our Goals
In addition to conducting research, our students present their findings to local and national scientific audiences every year.  During the 2022 spring and summer, Drs. Megan Filbin and Shailesh Ambre hope to take five students, majoring in Chemistry, Biology, and Biochemistry, to the 27^th Annual Meeting of the RNA Society in Boulder, Colorado, and the Experimental Biology meeting of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) meeting in Philadelphia, PA.

Your Support and Its Impact
The RNA Society hosts an annual meeting that toggles between the U.S. and an international location every year.  This year the meeting will be at the University of Colorado in Boulder, just a few miles away from MSU Denver!  Our students are engaged in a variety of interdisciplinary RNA-based research projects and plan to present their findings via poster sessions with RNA experts.  The meeting will host two Nobel laureates, provide lunch and dinner meals for extensive networking, and a variety of presentations solely focused on RNA.  We are so fortunate that this meeting is local this year, which helps to offset the cost of attendance (no flight/hotel).  So, we are seeking funds to cover the cost of registration for Zach Zimmerman, Liheng Zhou, Julie Lee, and Kyle Tyner:

• 4 students x $750 registration fee = $3,000

The ASBMB meeting is an exciting opportunity for students to compete in an undergraduate poster competition, network with other undergraduates from universities across the nation, and meet with graduate school recruiters to discuss the application process.  Students will participate in workshops and attend presentations that spark their interest.  We are seeking funds to supplement MSU Denver student travel awards, to help cover the cost for students Nate Nowling, Liheng Zhou, and Julie Lee:

• Hotel arrangements in Philadelphia, PA - $600 remaining balance
• Roundtrip flight arrangements - $400 remaining balance

Any additional funds beyond our goal will be used to support the registration cost for other students in the Filbin and Ambre Labs to attend the RNA Society meeting in 2022 and/or student registration fees at ASBMB’s annual meeting in 2023.

Communicating science effectively to both professionals and the public is an important part of scientific training for undergraduates.  Thank you so much for helping our students gain invaluable experience presenting their research!  These bright and driven students will continue to advance scientific research (perhaps even RNA research), and become invaluable contributors to our healthcare and biomedical industries.