Meredith College Represented at North Carolina Academy of Science Conference

Meredith College public health student Nabiha Khan, ’20, and alumna Emily Woolard, ’17, presented research at the North Carolina Academy of Science (NCAS) Conference, March 23-24, at Wake Technical Institute in Raleigh.

Khan was awarded second place in the poster competition. She presented her research, which focuses on the knowledge of how dietary fat quickly and dramatically alters the physical and chemical properties of blood is potentially important health information for consumers.

Khan said Professor of Biological Sciences John Mecham encouraged her to have her presentation judged. “Presenting research is still new to me, and I am slowly learning how to be more confident and a better presenter. To win second place was really exciting and encouraging as I continue researching what I love.”

The sophomore was also selected by the Harvard College Undergraduate Research Association (HCURA) to present her project at the 2018 National Collegiate Research Conference, which was held January 18-20 at Harvard University.

Woolard, student services contractor for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), gave an oral presentation titled “Optimization of DNA barcode method to assess altered chemical toxicity due to CYP-mediated metabolism.”

“Essentially, I am developing a non-animal model for testing how chemicals and environmental compounds will react in our bodies after going through typical human metabolism,” Woolard said.

Woolard’s project was just awarded the Best Abstract Award for an upcoming nationally-attended conference sponsored by the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. Earlier in March, she presented a poster presentation at a national conference in San Antonio.