for Individuals from Disadvantaged
Backgrounds, said Michael Gottesman, NIH Deputy Director for
Intramural Research. The scholarship allows Moeller to work in an
NIH lab for 10 weeks this summer. She will also work for the NIH
for an additional year sometime after graduation or medical
school.
"The NIH is committed to the training and nurturing of the next
generation of biomedical researchers, and the Undergraduate
Scholarship Program (UGSP) was established to encourage students
from disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue educational and career
opportunities in biomedical research," Gottesman said.
"The UGSP is a very selective program that only takes
disadvantaged students of extraordinary potential," Gottesman
added.
Moeller said "disadvantaged" refers to financial need. A
chemistry major, she plans to pursue a biomedical career or
medical school after MSU.
Keith Cooksey, Moeller's advisor and a research professor in
microbiology, said the NIH award places Moeller in "an elite
group of students whose likelihood of success in medical school
entry or a graduate career in biomedicine is enhanced."
Moeller has been working in Cooksey's laboratory for the past two
years. Her day-to-day mentor is Barbara Wigglesworth-Cooksey. The
work she does in the lab involves diatoms and relates to the
biocompatibility of surfaces.
"A biocompatible surface is one that an organism or a person
accepts without rejection. Human implants have to be
biocompatible," Keith Cooksey explained. "However, her work at
MSU is funded by the Office of Naval Research who want a ship's
surface NOT to be biocompatible. They do not want a biofilm to
grow on a ship. The goals are opposite, but the biology is very
similar."
Cooksey said it's significant that Moeller encouraged her lab
mate, Scott Brady, to follow her lead in applying for science
scholarships. Since the NIH award, Moeller and Brady have both
received funding from MSU's Undergraduate Scholars Program for
research projects they proposed.
"Both Barbara and I are proud of the successes of both of these
students, but particularly that of Kristy whose efforts will be
recognized outside of MSU," Cooksey said.
Moeller said, "It's a great experience to be an undergraduate and
get to do work on a real research project. ... It is a good way
to apply what I learned in class and get valuable experience."
Besides her studies, research work and involvement in campus
organizations, Moeller helped the Undergraduate Chemistry Society
develop a chemistry show for area schools.
