USD students invited to display research at Pierre Poster Session
Matt Blake, a political science and history major from Pierre, S.D., and Dominique Boudreau, a biology and chemistry major from Yankton, S.D., are among a select group of students from colleges and universities in South Dakota invited to display their research, in poster form, during the Pierre Poster Session, which is co-sponsored by the Research Affairs Council of the South Dakota Board of Regents and the South Dakota EPSCoR Office.
Blake’s poster, “Strategic Plan for the Development of the South Dakota Democratic Party,” outlines his project using strategic planning, research, comparative analysis and an honest look at the current position of the Democrats to forge a long-term plan for party restructuring. According to Blake, the way the South Dakota Democratic Party presently operates does not effectively compete against the South Dakota Republican Party. Blake’s research concludes that analyzing political parties and developing a strategic plan is critical to overall party development.
A photo of Matt is available for download at www.usd.edu/press/news/images/releases/Matt_Blake.jpg.
Boudreau’s poster, “UBXNA2A Regulates p53 Localization and Stability through interaction with Mortalin2” observes the behavior of cellular proteins that are involved in breast cancer and colon cancer. Learning which proteins regulate the cellular processes will allow researchers to improve therapy methods. Cells, Boudreau explains, are regulated by several protein-dependent signals and the objective of her research is to unveil the proteins involved in regulating the levels of p53 in normal and cancerous cells. She began her undergraduate education focusing on her interest in science and developed a passion for research, spending her summers working in laboratories.
A photograph of Dominique is available at www.usd.edu/press/news/images/releases/Dominique_Boudreau.jpg.
The Pierre Poster Session is an opportunity for undergraduate students statewide to showcase their research and for universities to highlight the state’s investment into research and graduate education. In addition, research collaborations between various state institutions, industry and federal agencies will be exhibited with undergraduate, graduate, postdoctoral and faculty researchers available to answer questions and meet with legislators, media and visitors to the capitol building.
For more information about research at The University of South Dakota, please contact the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs at (605) 677-5370 or visit www.usd.edu/orsp.