Colorado State University - Pueblo biology students earn honors at conference

Pueblo-  Two Colorado State University-Pueblo senior biology students took home first place honors at the recent Tri-Beta Western Region Conference hosted this year by CSU-Pueblo, April 4 and 5. The event attracted about 50 students from nine Colorado universities.

Two CSU-Pueblo students, Amy Uhernik and Carrie Tucker, both of Pueblo, took first place in the Molecular and Cellular Biology category of the poster presentations for their entry; “Membrane structure mediated regulation of monocarboxylate dependent acidification in rat brain endothelial cells.” Their poster described the medical research that they have been doing over the past year, which seeks to provide new therapies for stroke. Their faculty mentor was Assistant Professor of Biology Dr. Jeff Smith, who researches stroke and Alzheimer’s disease.

The conference was funded in part by Associated Students’ Government and began with a social hour and dinner in the Occhiato University Center Underground. Dan Caprioglio, professor of biology, welcomed the participants, who gave oral and poster presentations and also took field trips to the Nature Center Raptor Center, the Department of Wildlife Fish Hatchery and El Pueblo Museum before the final awards banquet was held at the Union Depot. Dr. Carolyn Luscombe, area virologist, was the featured dinner speaker.

Students from the following schools participated in the conference: Adams State College, Trinidad State Junior College, Colorado School of Mines, University of Colorado-Denver, CSU-Pueblo, University of Northern Colorado, Mesa State College, USAF Academy, and Western State College.



Colorado State University - Pueblo is a regional, comprehensive university emphasizing professional, career-oriented, and applied programs. Displaying excellence in teaching, celebrating diversity, and engaging in service and outreach, CSU-Pueblo is distinguished by access, opportunity, and the overall quality of services provided to its students.