Eastern student Catrina Sullivan of Danbury presents at plant biology conference

 Two biology students from Eastern Connecticut State University presented at the 85th Annual Meeting of the Northeastern Section of the American Society of Plant Biologists (NE-ASPB), held virtually on Oct. 30.

Among the students was Catrina Sullivan, a senior Biology major from Danbury. Her project was titled "Characterization of Medicago truncatula Plant Mutants Defective in Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation." Sullivan's research identifies novel genes involved with symbiotic nitrogen fixation and nodule development within legumes.

NE-ASPB is an organization that gives faculty, students and other scholars the chance to share their research findings in the study of plant biology. This year presenters either shared their project orally or in poster format and had to focus on the subject matter "plant responses to environmental pollutants."

Sullivan's faculty mentor is Biology Professor Vijaykumar Veerappan. "Doing research with Dr. Veerappan was an amazing learning experience, and I am so grateful for the knowledge I have gained over the past few semesters," said Sullivan.