August 21, 2025 – Seventeen
Hendrix College students presented their research at the 2025 UAMS Summer
Research Symposium, held July 26 at the University of Arkansas for Medical
Sciences in Little Rock. The annual event highlights the work of undergraduates
from across Arkansas and beyond, offering students the opportunity to showcase their scientific projects to peers, faculty,
and researchers.
Students participated
through various programs, including the Hendrix
Odyssey Program, the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)
at UAMS, and the ACH Summer Science Program at Arkansas Children’s
Research Institute.
This
year, several Hendrix students were selected not only to present posters but
also to deliver oral presentations, a distinction that recognizes excellence in
research and communication. Rowan McCollum, a biochemistry major working under
Dr. Julie Gunderson, Associate Professor of Biology at Hendrix. McCollum
presented his SURF research in an oral session, sharing his work alongside
graduate-level and advanced undergraduate researchers.
“Research can be intense, but it’s a
fun time,” said McCollum. “Even if sometimes you are troubleshooting
experiments or trying to understand when your data isn’t
super clear. That can be frustrating at times, but at the same time, when you
are able to push through, you start to see the story come together — which is
really satisfying. It is always good getting great feedback and questions from
others, which makes you think about your work in a different light. That can be
useful when you come back to your research with all these new ideas.”
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In
addition to students taking part in external programs, five Hendrix students
conducted on-campus research under the mentorship of Dr. Julie Gunderson,
Associate Professor of Biology. Three of these students worked on a Hendrix Odyssey-funded
project focused on open-source hardware design, while McCollum was one of two that
contributed to an NSF-funded research project on DNA replication.
Other
students were mentored by Dr. Andrea Duina, Professor of Biology. Landon
Hardister and Amna Abuabdou represented his lab at
the symposium. Hardister presented a poster titled Investigation on Histone
Mutants Associated with Human Disease Using the Yeast Model System, a project
supported by the Hendrix Odyssey Program.
The following Hendrix students were featured
in this year’s symposium:
Wilson Chenault – Hendrix
Odyssey Program
Neil Dogra – Summer Volunteer at UAMS
Sophia Eble – ACH Summer Science Program
Autumn Gault – Hendrix
Odyssey Program
Landon Hardister – Hendrix
Odyssey Program
Michelle Johnston – Hendrix
Odyssey Program
Kanak Joshi – Hendrix Odyssey Program
Ashley Kordsmeier – Hendrix
Odyssey Program
Abbott Kyle – Hendrix
Odyssey Program
Nikolai Mannon – SURF,
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at UAMS
Rowan McCollum – SURF,
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at UAMS
Rachel Pearce – Hendrix
Odyssey Program
Victoria Poland –
Proteomics Research Intern, IDeA National Resource for Quantitative Proteomics
John Nichols – Arkansas
Children’s Research Institute
Rinrada Seeboonruang – SURF,
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at UAMS
Spencer Stutts – Hendrix
Odyssey Program
Kailey Thurman –
Hendrix Odyssey Program
The symposium included poster sessions and
oral presentations representing a wide range of
biomedical and interdisciplinary topics — from genetics and pharmacology to
open-source engineering and DNA replication. Hendrix students were recognized
for their ability to explain complex research clearly and confidently,
reflecting the College’s emphasis on integrative learning and faculty-mentored
inquiry.
The Symposium is hosted annually by UAMS’s
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and supported by a network of
programs such as INBRE, SURF, SRI, and institutional partnerships like the
Odyssey Program at Hendrix.
To learn more about undergraduate research
opportunities at Hendrix, visit www.hendrix.edu/odyssey.
About
Hendrix College
Founded in 1876, Hendrix College is featured in Colleges
That Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will Change the Way You Think About Colleges
and celebrated among the country’s leading liberal arts colleges for academic
quality, engaged learning opportunities and career preparation, vibrant campus
life, and value. The Hendrix College Warriors compete in 21 NCAA Division III
sports. Hendrix has been affiliated with the United Methodist Church since
1884. Learn more at www.hendrix.edu.
“… Through engagement that links the
classroom with the world, and a commitment to diversity, inclusion, justice,
and sustainable living, the Hendrix community inspires students to lead lives
of accomplishment, integrity, service, and joy.” –Hendrix
College Statement of Purpose