Biology students present research at Tri Beta convention

BLOOMSBURG—Commonwealth University-Bloomsburg's Abby Hare-Harris, chapter advisor for the Tri Beta Biological Honor Society, took several students to the 2022 National Convention in Oklahoma City, in June to present their research for the 100th anniversary of the convention.

The students included Katelyn Kelchner, a 2020 bachelor’s degree graduate who is now in the biology master’s degree program; Haley Fiske a BS+MS student who finished his bachelor’s degree in spring 2022; and Nathan Slotnick a biology student who graduated this spring.

At the convention, Slotnick, Kate Beishline's research student, was awarded third place in the John C. Johnson Award in Biomedical Sciences for his poster presentation, “BORIS expression in HCT116 Cells.” Slotnick was awarded a Tri Beta Research Grant this past year to support this research and free registration to present the work. In addition to the Tri Beta Grant, he has received URSCA and PEG grants, and a student research grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania University Biologists (CPUB). 

Slotnick has also presented this work at COST Research Day where he received an honorable mention for his poster, the Regional Susquehanna Undergraduate Research Symposium, and the State CPUB Annual Meeting. A goalkeeper on the men’s soccer team, and a scholar student-athlete, Slotnick was named the outstanding graduating senior in biology. He intends to pursue a graduate degree in biotechnology.