Two OSU students earn Otto S. Cox Graduate Fellowships

Two OSU students earn Otto S. Cox Graduate Fellowships

Tuesday, October 8, 2024

Media Contact: Sydney Trainor | Communications and Media Relations Specialist | 405-744-9782 | [email protected]

The Otto S. Cox Graduate Fellowships for Genetics Research support outstanding Oklahoma State University graduate students with a proven research record in genetics from any disciplinary or interdisciplinary program.

Students earn the annual fellowship by showcasing proven records of genetic inquiry and the potential to impact the discipline in the future.

"Genetics research at OSU is growing in both breadth and depth, forming a key component of our priorities in One Health and production agriculture," said Dr. Kenneth Sewell, OSU's vice president for research.

This year, there was a highly competitive application pool with two OSU students - Irene Lee and Yago Serra dos Santos - earning a fellowship. The award will provide a $1,000 stipend and recognition for pursuing challenging work in a rapidly evolving and critical research area.

"The Cox Fellowship for Genetics Research accelerates that growth by supporting talented graduate students to propel their research careers," Sewell said. "Many alumni of this fellowship now have established laboratories at universities, government agencies, or in the pharmaceutical industry."

Irene Lee - doctoral candidate in nutritional sciences

Originally from Seoul, South Korea, Lee is in the third year of her Ph.D. program in nutritional sciences, where she is studying the bioactive compounds that could prevent aging.

Her primary research question investigates the role of the cannabinoid 1 receptor (CB1R), activated by marijuana's psychoactive compounds, in the aging process and its associated signaling pathways.

By showing the role of CB1R in aging, this study aims to identify potential therapeutic targets that could mitigate age-related metabolic dysfunctions to promote healthier aging. Lee saw previous recipients of the Cox fellowship who studied molecular biology, microbiology, or veterinary medicine but never found someone studying nutritional science. Still, she was determined to apply.

"I heard that only two or three students receive this fellowship annually, and being one of the two or three recipients, it's overwhelming. I never expected it," Lee said.

It's significant in medical and scientific communities and contributes to genetics by advancing understanding of the genetic factors influencing aging.

"I think this fellowship might be one step toward my future career in the academic field," Lee said. Yago Serra dos Santos - doctoral student in integrative biologySerra dos Santos came to the United States from Brazil to start his doctoral studies in integrative biology. At OSU, he is part of a research group investigating the molecular basis of the stress response in fish. "My work aims to investigate the potential stress-induced gene regulation of omDB promoters and how this phenomenon affects the microbiota in fish skin," Serra dos Santos said. Serra dos Santos' research contributes to this effort by expanding the knowledge on the role of AMPs in stress response in fish toward enhancing fish health, relevant for the scientific community and the aquaculture industry in the face of climate change using rainbow trout as a model. Serra dos Santos said that receiving the Cox Fellowship is an honor that encourages him to continue his work. "It's a very encouraging recognition of both the quality of our project, but as well as a student, a young scientist," Serra dos Santos said. "I think it's a very important recognition that the work I'm doing developed here at OSU has a space that is important and is recognized as so. It's very encouraging as a Ph.D. student."

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