Emma Winegar, Mathematics, Carleton College with the Summer Mathematics Program for Women Undergraduates

Ryan Mulcahy, Mathematics, NSF-REU at the Rochester Institute of Technology

Brianna Blake, Mathematics, NSF-REU at the Rochester Institute of Technology in External Graph Theory and Dynamical Systems

Gottlieb Uahengo, Physics, NSF-REU at Harvard University in Bioengineering, Scientific Computing, Robotics and Materials Science and Engineering

Nathaniel Ly, Physics, The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) with the Cell Systems Science Group

Trevor Rodriguez,Sotelo, Physics, NSF-REU at Oakland University in Mechanical Engineering

Fred Vedasto, Physics, Texas Christian University

Elly Bier, Physics, Argonne National Labs

Arlo Haubrich, Physics, Argonne National Labs

Kayla Johnson, Biology, Baylor University

Dan Bransford, Biology, NSF-REU at the University of Georgia in Microbiology

Alex Sorum, Biology, Loyola University Chicago

Brittany Kimball, Biology, Mayo Clinic in Biomedical Ethics

Will Matchett, Biology, Mayo Clinic in Neurobiology

Zach Stevens, Biology, University of Minnesota in the Lillehei Heart Institute

Kirubel Gezehegn [pictured] Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University

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Sorum did research on the bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a bacteria that affects about 80 percent of cystic fibrosis patients by the age of 18. The bacteria is difficult to treat because it forms a biofilm in the lungs that protects it against antibiotics and white blood cells. He harvested secretions from a non-cystic fibrosis lung model and applied them to the bacteria to test whether the lung secretions would inhibit the formation of the biofilm.

For Sorum, simply attending the conference and presenting his research alongside students from U.S. and Canadian universities and colleges was rewarding. “The biggest thing for me was seeing that going to a small liberal arts college, you can be competitive with large research universities. Just being able to share my results was enough for me as a scientist, but it was definitely a surprise to win.”

The AAAS 2012 poster competition was open to students actively working toward an undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral degree. Posters were judged on content, and presenters were judged on their ability to present their findings to an audience. As a winner, Alex will receive a cash award, a framed certificate, and a one-year subscription to Science. Additionally, he will be recognized in an upcoming issue of Science as well as on the AAAS website. Alex’s trip to present at AAAS 2012 was funded by Augsburg’s Undergraduate Research and Graduate Opportunity (URGO) office.

in an URGO research project series YouTube video produced by Augsburg photojournalist Stephen Geffre.

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