04/22/2009

Biology Sophomore Named 2009 Beckman Scholar

College of Arts & Sciences student and biology sophomore Martha (Marti) Robinson has been named a 2009 Beckman Scholar along with two other University of Kentucky students - Laura Crawford and Jessica Houtz. The scholarship provides each of them with $19,300 over 14 months to support their own scientific research projects under faculty mentorship.

The program is funded by the Beckman Foundation and provides a stipend and support for research projects the winning students propose in the fields of biology, chemistry, biochemistry or a biomedical science. The foundation selects 10-15 universities each year for a three-year grant, during which time the university awards Beckman Scholarships to six of its students over that three-year period. Universities can award up to three students in one year, as long as they award no more than six over the three-year period. UK is now in its third three-year award, and this year has awarded three students for the first time.

Robinson, from Knoxville, Tenn., is performing her project under the mentorship of Robin Cooper, professor and researcher in the biology department in the College of Arts and Sciences. Robinson is also a Singletary Scholar and was accepted into the accelerated B.S./M.D. program. In 2008, Robinson was awarded the Ribble Scholarship for her undergraduate research studies in neuroscience.

"It is an incredible honor to be presented with the Beckman award," Robinson said. "I am determined to do my best to represent the University of Kentucky and the Beckman Foundation through continued work on my research project, which I thoroughly believe has promising future outcomes."

Robinson's research investigates the chemosensory abilities of two species of crayfish. The Beckman funds will allow her to focus on the structure and function of the nerves within the crayfish sensory organ, the antennules. Chemical stimuli will be used to induce electrical impulses in the nerves that can be recorded. Hopefully, her findings will contribute to a body of information that can someday be applied to nerve regrowth in higher vertebrates, including humans.

UK became a participating institution in the Beckman Foundation originally in 2002, then won the three-year designation renewal in 2005, and again last spring. Crawford, Houtz and Robinson are the 15th, 16th and 17th students chosen to be Beckman Scholars at UK.

Jenny Wells - UK Public Relations

 

 

 

 

Left to right: Robert Tannenbaum, Jessica Houtz, Laura Crawford, Marti Robinson, President Lee T. Todd, Jr.