A Freed-Hardeman University biology teacher and two of his students have had the results of their work published in a research journal. Dr. Will Brooks, assistant professor of biology, and two of his students, Tucker Anderson and Christopher Wright, published their research on a newly identified protein which regulates cell growth and may be involved in the production of tumors. The article appeared in the December 2010 issue of “American Journal of Undergraduate Research.”
Anderson, from Franklin, Tenn., received a Bachelor of Science in biology last spring and Wright, a senior from Brentwood, Tenn., is majoring in biochemistry and missions. Their research was done outside of their regular coursework. Positions on research teams are competitive and students receive a small stipend for their work.
Research opportunities at Freed-Hardeman give students the opportunity for hands-on experiences while they are undergraduates. "Research has exposed me to the world of cell biology years before I take the class. Now I will be much more familiar with many principles that I will have to learn for my degree," Wright said.
According to Brooks, “Basic science research is an important component to undergraduate science education. Research experiences help our students to be more competitive when seeking jobs or applying to graduate and professional programs.”