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Four University of North Georgia (Â鶹ÊÓƵ) students and six faculty members presented their research at the March 25-28 Association of Southeastern Biologists (ASB) meeting in Mobile, Alabama. Their projects were:

• "Detection of the blaCTX-M antibiotic resistance gene in freshwater steams near cattle farms in Northeast Georgia," student Ingrid Andrade and faculty members Dr. Swapna Bhat, Dr. Jeanelle Morgan and Margi Flood.
• "Detecting the presence of antibiotic resistance genes in waterways in proximity to different hospitals in North Georgia," student Adrian Fragozo Luna and faculty members Bhat, Morgan and Flood.
• "Temperature as a double-edged sword: Developmental and metabolic consequences in Nasonia Vitripennis," students Diana Girard and Charlton Robinson and faculty members Dr. Amy Anderson, Dr. Emilia Solá Gracia and Dr. Amanda Reynolds.

Andrade, a junior from Gainesville, Georgia, pursuing a degree in kinesiology with a concentration in exercise science, started her research project through her connection with Morgan. The professor and associate department head is Andrade's mentor in the Gen 1 program, which serves First-Generation college students. Andrade presented at Â鶹ÊÓƵ's Annual Research Conference (ARC) about a week before the ASB event.

Andrade plans to attend medical school, so she learned about the importance of research in reaching that goal. Â鶹ÊÓƵ provided a supportive ecosystem, including a Center for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities travel grant to attend the ASB meeting.

"It was a great experience. I made new connections," Andrade said. "It's great to be surrounded by like-minded students."

Fragozo Luna, a junior from Clayton, Georgia, pursuing a degree in biology, also presented his work at ARC. He had previously shadowed other students researching antibiotic resistance in Lake Lanier and decided to work on a related project. Fragozo Luna appreciated the hands-on lab work involved in his project because it helped prepare him for a medical laboratory science career. The ASB meeting and ARC were other avenues for growth.

"Presenting at these big conferences made me more confident to speak in front of large crowds and my peers," Fragozo Luna said. "It was also great to get feedback about the project."

Morgan was grateful for the experience students were able to have at the conference.

"I'm so proud of our students for their hard work during their research projects and for presenting it at ASB. These experiences can be transformative for our students by allowing them to communicate their scientific findings to a broader audience and engage with researchers and peers in their field," Morgan said. "Research conferences allow students to build confidence, strengthen their communication skills and participate in networking that could lead to future educational and career opportunities."