Four Tri-Beta members have gone where no other members have gone before: the Tri-Beta Southcentral Regional Convention. The biology honor society not only attended the convention for the first time, but some of their presentations also won awards.

The members of ULM’s Nu Gamma chapter of Tri-Beta presented their research and were voted to return to the convention next year as a cohost.

Junior biology major and Tri-Beta historian Amanda Scott won the second place Johnson Award in her division. The Johnson Award honors undergraduate achievement in biological research.

“I basically looked at viruses that infect bacteria. Then I annotated the genome and classified the viruses,” Scott said. “I was really excited about my award since it was my first time going to this convention. It felt good to receive such an honor and to be able to bring it back home to ULM.”

Senior biology major and Tri-Beta treasurer Amit Rajkarnikar presented his research titled “Characterizing Pit-Mound Microtopography in Bottomland Hardwood Forests.”

“It is about understanding how tree fall events in those forests form pits and mounds, and how those features play an important role in the topography of the forests,” Rajkarnikar said. “The pits can be habitat for various organisms and microbes. Understanding them will help us understand how to bring about [variability] in the forests.”

Rajkarnikar said he has presented his research before, but he was nervous since it was ULM’s first time at the Tri-Beta conference.

“I wanted to make a good impression for myself, my chapter and my university,” said Rajkarnikar. “I was really happy for [Scott] winning second place in her session because that really meant a win for the Nu Gamma chapter.”

Senior biology major Satish Dahal also presented his research on the potential of protein to regulate a  signaling system that promotes lifecycle progression in nematodes.