Monmouth University senior biology major Jazmin Juarez of Bergenfield, NJ, received a $1425 travel award from the Minorities Affairs Committee (MAC) to present her research at the 2012 American Society for Cell Biology Annual Meeting in San Francisco from December 15 to 19, 2012.
Juarez presented her poster titled “Influence of Antioxidants on Cellular Migration and Protection from Oxidative Stress”. She began her work on this project through her participation in the 2011 Summer Research Program for the School of Science, and has continued working on the project through independent study.
As the premier international meeting in the field of cell biology, the ASCB Annual Meeting is intended for scientists and students in academia, industry, government, and higher education. Over 100 scientific sessions and 3,000 poster presentations cover a variety of scientific areas within the discipline. With opportunities to learn about the latest research and network with peers, the ASCB Annual Meeting appeals to the diverse interests of the international cell biology community.
Juarez performed this research under the direction of Dr. Dottie Lobo, an associate professor of biology at Monmouth University. This project will help to elucidate the involvement of signaling proteins in the ability to regulate the growth of normal cells, to better understand the altered signaling that allows cancer cells to continuously proliferate. Their work is part of a project funded by a grant from the National Institutes of Health awarded to Dr. Lobo. Juarez plans to continue her research until her graduation in May, and she will then pursue medical school.