Clemson University student does research at Canadian university

Published: November 21, 2011

Hannah Warren works in the lab. image by: Clemson University

By Meredith Hains

CLEMSON — Hannah Warren, a Clemson University senior majoring in biological sciences, completed 10 weeks of research this summer at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, Canada.

Warren was selected in the spring of 2011 to be one of two students to earn the SC Life International Undergraduate Research Award sponsored by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Warren to traveled to Burnaby, British Columbia, to work alongside evolutionary geneticist and behavioral ecologist Felix Breden, chairman of the biological sciences department at Simon Fraser.

“This was my first solo trip out of the country and it was a great experience," she said. "I learned new and different research techniques and learned how to be independent in an unknown city.” 

Margaret Ptacek, professor of biological sciences in the College of Agriculture, Forestry & Life Sciences, is Warren’s adviser. Ptacek’s main research interest lies at the intersection of behavioral ecology, population genetics and speciation, and she collaborates with Breden.  

Warren came to Ptacek in search of research opportunities and Ptacek nominated her for the award to gain hands-on knowledge that would advance the research at Clemson and benefit Warren’s academic program. 

“She is an outstanding student, both academically and in her motivation and work ethic,” Ptacek stated.

Warren’s summer research was studying the melanocortin 4 receptor gene in guppies and mollies. The gene controls the size of mature male fish by determining how long they grow before they initiate maturation. Male size is important to the mating success in these species. This study is important because understanding the genetic relationship between appetite and growth could be helpful in understanding the role genes play in human appetite and obesity.

“Hannah was a great addition to our lab for the summer," Breden said. "She was a dedicated and motivated researcher, which was very impressive for someone so early in her program of studies.

"Although we have a very supportive and collegial laboratory, you quickly learn that your project is your project and that you have to therefore take ownership of it," he said. "Hannah was very good at that and produced a significant amount of data on sequence variability in a gene that might control sexual maturation and size at maturation in a live-bearing species of fish. If all Clemson students are this good, please send more."

Warren is participating in a Creative Inquiry undergraduate research project and two graduate-level projects at Clemson University. She plans to graduate in May 2012. 

Eight students have participated in the SC Life International Undergraduate Research Awards Program since it began in 2007. Participating students have traveled to places including Tasmania, South Africa, Croatia, Australia and Portugal. All of these students have gone on to medical school or to graduate school to pursue careers as research scientists.

The SC Life International Undergraduate Research Award Program is supported with grants to Clemson University from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute through the Precollege and Undergraduate Science Education Program. Barbara Speziale, professor of biological sciences and associate dean of Undergraduate Studies, directs the grants. 

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SC Life
SC Life supports research for college students and life sciences education for middle school and high school students and their teachers. Programs for teachers include workshops and graduate-level science courses; community-based research projects; classroom resources, including virtual field trips; and loans of equipment footlockers. SC Life enrichment and research opportunities for students include the Biology Merit Exam, Summer Program for Research Interns, Undergraduate Research Program and laboratory field trips to the South Carolina DNA Learning Center at Clemson University. SC Life has received $6.4 million in awards from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Undergraduate Science Education Program since 1998.

Creative Inquiry
Creative Inquiry is a unique program that gives Clemson University undergraduate students the opportunity to work on research projects that span disciplines and multiple semesters. Students work in teams with faculty mentors, take ownership of their projects and take the risks necessary to solve problems and get answers. Creative Inquiry participants develop critical thinking skills, learn to solve problems and hone their communication and presentation skills. For more information, go to www.clemson.edu/ci.

Howard Hughes Medical Institute
HHMI is a non-profit medical research organization that ranks as one of the nation’s largest philanthropies. HHMI plays a powerful role in advancing biomedical research and science education in the U.S. In the past two decades, HHMI has made investments of more than $8.3 billion for the support, training and education of the nation’s most creative and promising scientists. HHMI commits almost $700 million a year for research and distributes more than $80 million in grant support for science education.