AFRL Student Researcher Wins Regional TriBeta Award Published May 16, 2007 By John Schutte Human Effectiveness Directorate WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB, Ohio -- Michael Karns, a Consortium Research Fellows Program student-researcher at the Air Force Research Laboratory's Human Effectiveness Directorate won first place for best cell/molecular oral presentation at the TriBeta Midwest Regional Conference held April 14 at the University of Dayton Science Center. The winning entry entitled "DNA damage response to Ag nanoparticles in mammalian cells" presented results of a technical paper co-authored by Mr. Karns with AFRL researchers Dr. Mike Goodson, Dr. Saber Hussain, Dr. John Schlager and University of Dayton assistant professor Dr. Yiling Hong. "The Consortium Research Fellows Program is an academic and hands-on avenue for young students to further their education while contributing to Air Force research objectives in basic science," said Dr. Hussain, a nanotoxicology scientist with AFRL/HE's Biosciences and Protection Division, Applied Biotechnology Branch.(HEPB). Dr. Hussain and Dr. Hong serve as mentors for Mr. Karns, a biology student at the University of Dayton who will enter the University of Cincinnati Medical School in September. "The good thing about this program is it is motivating the students. We give them a lot of opportunities, they learn the fundamentals of research and they also see alternative career paths," said Dr Hussain. The Consortium Research Fellows Program is a partnership between government and academia that develops advanced-degree professionals, encourages information exchange and contributes to ongoing technical research. Beta Beta Beta, or TriBeta, is an honorary society for the biological sciences. The University of Dayton's Theta Kappa chapter hosted the annual conference.