Lakeland science students present research at national conference
A pair of Lakeland University students recently presented research at the Society for Neuroscience meeting in Chicago.
Lakeland juniors Savannah Szalanski and Montana Zdroik presented their poster entitled: "Using IPSC Derived Astrocytes to Explore Neurotransmitter Homeostasis." The students worked in the Lakeland Undergraduate Research Experience (LURE) with Associate Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry Jered McGivern, Ph.D. over the summer and this fall.
The team used adult human derived tissues to examine astrocyte uptake of the neurotransmitters GABA and Glutamate. The hope is to be able to utilize these types of cells to better understand the physiology of the system and eventually use it as a model system to understand defects that may cause disease.
Szalanski, of Watertown, Wis., is a biology major with minors in chemistry, Spanish and biochemistry. Zdroik, of Stevens Point, Wis., is a chemistry and biochemistry major.
Lakeland’s LURE research program allows students to work closely with a Lakeland faculty member to design a project, conduct all publishable research, troubleshoot, analyze data and eventually present findings at a state or national scientific conference.
The Society for Neuroscience meeting is a national conference with an attendance of more than 20,000 people.
