Six Azusa Pacific University students had the opportunity to travel to Pittsburgh for The American Society for Microbiology’s Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Scientists (ABRCMS). The students presented their research projects to more than 6,000 attendees ranging from students and higher education representatives to professionals in various fields. This opportunity allowed students to not only present their research on a new level, but to learn from other scientists and connect with schools about post graduation opportunities. Six APU students shared their experiences from the conference.
Jazmine Gurrola ’27, an applied mathematics major with a computer science concentration, has always been interested in the intersection between math and sports, so Gurrola began looking into a career in sports analytics. Over the summer, Gurrola conducted research based on the question “At what age do Major League Baseball players tend to reach their prime?” Her research will help teams to pick players from a specific age range to meet their needs. Gurrola received ABRCMS’ Travel Award for free travel, hotel accommodations, and covered conference expenses. This was her first time presenting at a conference, and she was grateful for the opportunity. “I got to present alongside industrious students which gave me motivation to continue working hard and seeking more results,” she said. “It was definitely a blessing from the Lord to be able to learn more and meet new people.”
Dat Tran ’25, an applied mathematics major with a computer science concentration and a data science minor, also received ABRCMS’ Travel award.
Giovanny Vargas ’24, a microbiology major with minors in chemistry and biblical studies, presented research in the field of chemical biology. “Our project involves developing small molecule inhibitors that are built on a spirocyclic motif which targets the p53-MDM2 interaction which can be used to treat certain cancers,” he said. His passion for the project comes from the hands-on experience his research gives him that will be of use in a professional setting and the knowledge that the work will be of service to many. Vargas received ABRCMS’ Travel Award and won the Best ePoster Award for the Biochemistry/Molecular Biology category out of more than 75 submissions from all over the world. Vargas was thankful for the experience this opportunity gave him to practice effective communication of his ideas to a wide range of audiences. As a fall ’24 graduate, Vargas was unsure about what he would do after graduation, but the conference gave him a chance to connect with schools all over the country looking for experienced students to join their graduate and post-bachelor programs. “This conference was an extraordinary blessing because I came out of it confident in my knowledge and ability as a researcher.”
Joseph Hsieh ’25, a kinesiology major with a minor in psychology, presented research on assessing post-surgical outcomes of Tommy John Surgery, analyzing MLB player’s earned run average (ERA) and innings pitched (IP). He received ABRCMS’ Travel Award, an APU Student Research Grant, and the Baylor Grant. The conference gave him the chance to explore graduate school opportunities.
Camille Campbell ’25, a biochemistry and honors humanities double major, presented research on Bupropion (also known as Wellbutrin), a common antidepressant medication. She studied how it interacts with the metabolizing enzyme Cytochrome P450 2B6 (CYP2B6). “My project looks at the affinity of the binding interaction between Bupropion and CYP2B6 and compares it to different structural analogs to determine which structural features of this drug allow it to interact with this enzyme,” she said. Campbell hopes to go into medicine, so the metabolization of drugs has always interested her. She received an APU Research Travel Grant. Campbell said that the opportunity to present her research was informational and formative. “I was able to grow my understanding of current scientific research that is being done by undergraduate students, graduate students, and professors,” she said. “I also enjoyed learning about relevant science research questions and new techniques that are being used to discover more about areas of interest.”
Mark Tavoukjian ’25, a biochemistry major with a minor in honors humanities, also researched how and where Wellbutrin binds to the active site of its metabolizing CYP2B6. Due to the variations in CYP2B6, there is a possibility that the drug could be more effective on some individuals. “By understanding how Wellbutrin binds to CYP2B6, pharmaceutical companies could design better versions of this drug specific to the patient’s CYP2B6 allele,” Tavoukjian said. He received a partial ABRCMS’s Travel Award that covered the conference registration fee as well as an APU Research Travel Grant Award that covered meal and flight expenses. This was Tavoukjian’s first time presenting at a research conference, and he is grateful for the opportunity he had to present his work to a broader audience and to network with PhD faculty, students, and representatives. “As a first generation student, attending ABRCMS was a foundational event for my future,” he said. “I plan on attending graduate school to pursue a PhD as the second in my family besides my oldest brother, but the first in my field. Attending ABRCMS provided me with so many new connections to help me on this path.”