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Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology senior applied biology majors Brittiney Hofmann and Jill Floyd have earned national recognition for their undergraduate research and interest in botany and crop science.
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Brittiney Hofmann |
Hofmann has been selected among the Young Botanists of the Year from the Botanist Society of America. The award is presented to students who are thought to possess the important characteristics that will lead to significant contributions to botany in the future. She will receive a Certificate of Special Achievement from the Botany Society and have her name published in the Plant Science Bulletin.
"The Young Botanist Award is an honor I feel credits my undergraduate work (at Rose-Hulman)," stated Hofmann, a Brazil, Ind., native. "A scientific education goes far beyond the theories and formulas emphasized in the classroom. Scientific thinking cannot strictly be learned, but rather developed through practice and endeavor."
As a student researcher, Hofmann analyzed the biological and chemical composition of a man-made wetland area near the Rose-Hulman campus last summer. She also took the initiative to take up a second senior year research project, studying the biochemical and genetic characterization of putative bacterial disease resistance genes in Arabidopsis thaliana, to gain experience and knowledge in plant pathology. Hofmann made presentations about both projects at national and campus scientific conferences.
"Brittiney has clearly exhibited skills of a successful scientist: the ability to assimilate data from a diversity of fields, formulating testable hypotheses and designing controlled experiments . . . So far, she is the best research student I have ever had," assessed Peter Coppinger, assistant professor of applied biology.
Ella Ingram, assistant professor of applied biology, concurred with Coppinger's assessment, stating, "Brittiney's behavior (seeking out educational research opportunities) indicated deep interest in research as a mechanism for pursing knowledge. She knows how to work hard and manage responsibilities. And, she knows what she wants from a research degree -- to participate in research and teaching professionally as an academic."
Hofmann has been accepted in the plant pathology doctorate program at Purdue
University, beginning her studies this fall.
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Jill Floyd |
Floyd was selected a 2008 Golden Opportunity Institute Scholar from the Crop Science Society of America (CSSA) and will be introduced at the organization's annual meeting on Oct. 4-8 in Houston. This annual honors is presented to the top 15 undergraduate scholars in the country, based on academic achievements and interest in crop science. The program provides financial support for travel, lodging, registration, and other costs related to attending the CSSA’s annual meeting.
A native of Bloomington, Ill., Floyd has conducted summer field research throughout her undergraduate collegiate career. Her senior research project covered the topic "Degree of Foraging in the Mayapple, Podophyllum Paltatum." She
made a presntation about her project at Rose-Hulman's recent Mom's Day.
Floyd also assisted other applied biology majors in collected samples for an examination of organisms and the chemical properties at the J.I. Case Wetland Wildlife Refuge, an 30-year-old constructed wetlands.
She presented her wetland research paper, titled "Chemical and Biological
Functioning of a Constructed Wetland," at the 2007 Interdisciplinary Research
Collaborative in Biology and Chemistry Symposium at Rose-Hulman.
"Jill's promise as an agricultural scientist is adequately demonstrated by
her academic credentials, research activities and outstanding personality.
This promise has been considerably nurtured by her inclusion as a Golden
Opportunity Scholar," Ingram stated.
Out of the classroom, Floyd was a four-year starting player on Rose-Hulman's women's varsity basketball team.
Floyd will spend this summer as an intern at Monsanto, with the potential for
full-time employment in the near future. |
