WCSU showcases student projects at Western Research Day on May 1

WCSU alumna and Boehringer-Ingelheim senior scientist Birgit Fogal to give keynote lecture  

Western Connecticut State University will celebrate the research work this year of WCSU students in the sciences and humanities and present a guest lecture by Boehringer-Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Senior Scientist Dr. Birgit Fogal during the 11th annual Western Research Day (WRD) on Friday, May 1.

The WRD 2015 program will feature a poster exhibition of student research projects conducted during the current academic year from 10:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. in the Atrium of the Science Building on the university’s Midtown campus, 181 White St. in Danbury. The program will begin at 10 a.m. in Science Building Room 125 with an opening session featuring the keynote lecture by Fogal, a WCSU alumna who joined the research staff of Ridgefield-based Boehringer-Ingelhem in December 2010. Welcoming remarks will be offered by WCSU President James W. Schmotter and WCSU Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Jane McBride Gates, who also will present Provost Awards honoring 10 research projects shown at WRD during the closing session at 12:45 p.m. Admission will be free to all WRD sessions and the public is invited to attend.

Recipient of a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences in 2007 from the University of Connecticut Health Center, Fogal will lecture on the theme, “Finding Your Niche Through Undergraduate Research.” She graduated summa cum laude from Western in 2001 with a bachelor’s degree in biology.

As a senior scientist at Boehringer-Ingelheim, Fogal has been a research laboratory leader and disciplinary leader for projects to explore novel therapeutic concepts for treatment of autoimmune diseases, atherosclerosis, chronic viral infections and solid forms of cancer. She previously served from 2007 to 2010 as a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Immunobiology at Yale University School of Medicine, investigating mechanisms by which a human antibody protects against vascular rejection.  She is a contributing author for nine research articles published in professional journals during the past decade.

The 32 student projects accepted for participation in WRD 2015 will encompass diverse academic disciplines including biology, chemistry, history, mathematics, social sciences, world languages and writing. Participation requires prior approval by the student’s faculty adviser and submission to the WRD planning committee for review. Western faculty and staff will judge exhibits during the poster session and select projects in several categories of academic disciplines as Provost Award recipients, with presenters of the prize-winning exhibits to receive gift certificates.

Dr. Susan Maskel, professor emeritus of biological and environmental sciences and chair of the WRD 2015 planning committee, observed the annual event provides an opportunity for Western students to gain valuable experience in designing and conducting their own research and in presenting their findings in clear and understandable terms. “It’s a great experience for them to learn what a professional conference presentation will be like, and it makes a great contribution for students’ job resumes and graduate admission prospects,” Maskel said. During the 11 years that she has been involved in WRD, she added, “I have been impressed by the diversity of research and creative work that our students at Western are pursuing.”

In addition to Maskel, members of the WRD 2015 planning committee include Debbi Johnson, adjunct professor of biological and environmental sciences; Dr. Michelle Monette, assistant professor of biological and environmental sciences; Dr. Anne Roberts, assistant professor of chemistry; and Brian Stevens, university archivist and special collections librarian. Maskel credited Schmotter and Gates for their commitment to sustaining WRD as an annual event and the Office of the Provost for its continuing sponsorship, as well as the WCSU Office of Publications and Design for its extensive support each year to WRD organizers and student presenters.  

For more information, contact Maskel at maskels@wcsu.edu  or the Office of University Relations at (203) 837-8486.

   

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Submitted by Bethel, CT

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