Jackson State University junior chemistry major Anissa Butler has been awarded for her neuroscience research presentation at a recent conference.
The Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students, held Nov. 13-16 in Nashville, Tenn., is the largest professional conference of its kind. More than 3,400 people were in attendance, including approximately 2,150 students, 470 faculty and program directors, and 545 recruiters for graduate and summer research programs.
A total of 1,600 students participated in oral and poster presentations in 12 sub-disciplines of the biomedical and behavioral sciences. Presentations were evaluated by active-researcher scientists, and the students with the highest scores in each scientific discipline and for each educational level received monetary awards. Butler was among 22 students awarded $250 for her presentation in the division of neuroscience.
Butler plans to pursue a M.D.-Ph.D dual degree upon graduating from Jackson State. It would be a seven- to eight-year path to becoming a physician-scientist. “It’s basically a doctor who does research,” she says.
Having the research experience will be a big help when applying to graduate programs. “The experience alone will put me above 40 percent of other applicants of these types of programs,” Butler says.
The ABRCMS is designed to encourage underrepresented students to pursue advanced training in the biomedical and behavioral sciences, including STEM disciplines.