ATU Faculty, Students Attend AR-INBRE Conference

ATU Reps at AR-INBRE Conference October 2021
The opportunity to network with experts such as Dr. Larry Cornett from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (left) was one of the highlights for Arkansas Tech University representatives who attended the 2021 Arkansas Idea Network of Biomedical Research Excellence Conference.

Representatives from the Arkansas Tech University College of Natural and Health Sciences were among the 350 faculty members and students in attendance at the 2021 Arkansas Idea Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (AR-INBRE) Conference at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville on Oct. 29-30.

ATU faculty members Dr. Surya Jyoti Banerjee, Dr. Suparna Chatterjee, Dr. Georgeanna Ann Wright and Dr. Tsunemi Yamashita participated in the program and judged student posters.

ATU undergraduate students Raghad Almotairy, Erin Hatcher, Nicolas Jones and Vy Nguyen also attended the event. They are engaged in undergraduate research under Banerjee’s direction.

“The students had an opportunity to talk with the INBRE Director Dr. Larry Cornett and INBRE Program Coordinator Dr. Jerry Ware, both of whom are professors in the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences,” said Banerjee. “During the conversation the students learned about the UAMS admission process and career opportunities in medical and graduate schools in the state of Arkansas. The students participated in workshops on career development and learned how to prepare for graduate school. The students also attended several poster presentations from colleagues coming from different institutions in Arkansas, Mississippi and Oklahoma and learned about current advancement in biomedical research.”

From a faculty development standpoint, Banerjee was pleased to have the opportunity to join Chatterjee and Wright in attending a workshop that provided information on preparing research proposals for National Institutes of Health grant applications.

“These opportunities and practices can promote ATU’s mission of innovation in teaching and research while enhancing student involvement, retention and success,” said Banerjee.

Learn more about the ATU College of Natural and Health Sciences at www.atu.edu/nhs.