Fisher Hosts Rochester Academy of Science 52nd Annual Fall Scientific Paper Session

St. John Fisher University recently hosted the Rochester Academy of Science (RAS) 52nd Annual Fall Scientific Paper Session.The session provides a forum for Academy members, the collegiate community, and others engaged in scientific research to present the results of their investigations in an atmosphere that promotes discussion and interaction.

Among the presenters at the Paper Session were senior biology majors Kevin Tran and Sidney China, who shared research spanning plant pathology, antibiotic resistance, and metabolic disease.

Tran, who is on a pre-med track, presented his research on the ability of locally isolated bacteria to suppress fungal growth (botrytis cinerea, or gray mold) on lettuce leaves, a topic he is interested in because it is a plant pathology disease-model that made a bridge connection to his interest in medicine with other broader biological sciences. 

“Learning about fungal disease through my coursework in microbial ecology and plant pathology really piqued my interest across several key areas of biology that I value, especially ones that don’t necessarily relate to medicine,” he said. “I hope attendees take away that trying to find locally available and sustainable biological resources to combat major global issues like post-harvest crop loss is a very viable alternative that should be evaluated further.”

For Tran, the experience did not alter his longtime goals of pursuing medicine, it reinforced his confidence and readiness to continue pursuing it. His presentation earned one of the “Best Talk” awards for the presentations, something that he did not expect to happen. 

“I am so grateful for the opportunity given to me where I not only did research but also presented it at a conference like RAS. At the beginning of the year, I was not even sure that I was going to be doing research because of fears I could not do it. Just saying ‘yes’ to this one thing and getting over my fears opened so many doors and experiences I would have never expected before,” he added. “Giving a presentation that the judges recognized me for made me even more thankful that I took the leap into research.”

Sidney China

China presented two projects. The first project was conducted in Dr. Khayriyyah Mohd Hanafiah’s laboratory and focused on evaluating how a plant-derived molecular surfactant, sodium new houttuyfonate (SNH), combined with oxacillin can restore antibiotic sensitivity in methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). For the second, driven by her interest in studying molecular targets on a broader physiological scale, she joined Dr. Ed Freeman’s laboratory to research Type 2 Diabetes using a drosophila melanogaster model. Specifically, she examined whether dietary flavonoids like apigenin and luteolin can prevent developmental delays, larval body size reduction, and fat accumulation induced by high-sugar diets.

“I hope attendees walk away with a better understanding of the therapeutic potential
of plant-derived compounds, whether they are used to overcome antibiotic resistance or mitigate metabolic dysfunction,” she shared. “Ultimately, I want to highlight how exploring these bioactive molecules can advance the development of novel therapeutic strategies to improve patient outcomes.”

Over the last three years, China has conducted hands-on research that has built her technical foundation, independence, and critical thinking necessary for graduate school. During that time she has also written a successful TriBeta research grant, received theTriBeta Upsilon Rho Research Award, and served as first author on a manuscript submitted to a peer-reviewed undergraduate journal under the mentorship of Dr. Fernando Ontiveros. These experiences have solidified her passion for biomedical research. 

“These experiences have directly shaped my goal to pursue a Ph.D. in pharmacology and physiology, with a focus on cardiovascular and metabolic disease,” added China. “Having St. John Fisher host the 52nd Rochester Academy of Science Fall Scientific Paper Session makes the experience even more meaningful. I want to express my deepest gratitude to these mentors and the entire biology department faculty. I would not be the researcher I am today without their unwavering support.” 

For students considering presenting their research publicly, China stresses the importance of knowing their audience and translating the information to meet the varying levels of background Knowledge, but more importantly to enjoy the experience. 

“While you might feel apprehensive initially, once you get through the first few points, your natural passion for your research takes over and leads the rest of the conversation,” she said. “The most important aspect of any conference is to have fun sharing what you have worked hard on.”