Download Amari Lewis MARC U*STAR Scholar receives Best Poster

WSSU STUDENT WON BEST POSTER PRESENTATION IN COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY AT 15TH
ANNUAL ABRCMS SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE
MARC U*STAR Scholar, Amari Lewis won the best research award in the area of Computational
Biology at the 15th Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS)
held in Seattle, Washington in November. Amari is a senior, Computer Science Major and
competed with over 1500 undergraduate students across the nation including Puerto Rico.
Amari’s presentation was titled “Visualization and Interaction of Multiple Layers of High
Dimensional Biological Data”.
The project explores the novel interaction between multiple plant gene networks through gene
interaction graphs. Her goal was to study the gene relationships between plants such as rice,
maize and Arabidopsis thaliana to identify the correct in-species gene mixture for crop
improvement via natural breeding as an alternative to genetically modified organisms. Amari
was able to use her computational science experience to develop an application tool to explore
the relationship between genes across multiple species. She worked with Drs. Byrd and Duffy at
Clemson University to develop the application tool. Amari was honored and presented this
award during the closing banquet of the prestigious conference. “It was a joyous occasion to see
one of our MARC U*STAR Scholars walking across the stage in front of over 3500 attendees to
receive this award.” Said Dr. Azeez Aileru, the Director of MARC U*STAR and NIGMS RISE
programs at WSSU.
The MARC U*STAR and NIGMS RISE programs primarily provide training support for academic
success and career exploration of WSSU students in STEM disciplines. Aileru said he has
confidence in her and all of the MARC U*STAR scholars that presented at the 15th annual
ABRCMS event and that they are all destined for graduate and professional schools, just like
scholars before them. Please join us in congratulating Amari on this great achievement.