Madeline Wight, M.S. Biology
Student and Faculty Excellence (SAFE) Fund Recipient: Spring 2022
Project: “Caloric Restriction and Its Effect on the Microbial Ecology of the Gut”
Wight received a Student and Faculty Excellence (SAFE) grant to fund the steps leading to the collection of Nanopore amplicon sequencing libraries for 16S rRNA analysis. This information was used to gain a deeper understanding of caloric restrictions and their effect on the microbial ecology of the gut. Wight feels that the grant gave her a “sense of security and accomplishment” by being able to “think more freely and openly” about her project without having to worry about funding.
Wight is earning her Master of Science in Biology and expects to graduate from App State in Spring 2023. Currently, she works in the Department of Biology as a graduate teaching assistant and student researcher with an interest in dietetics, microbiology and DNA extraction and sequencing.
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About the SAFE Fund
Initially endowed by Hughlene and Bill Frank, the College of Arts and Sciences Student and Faculty Excellence (SAFE) Fund provides resources that can be used to support undergraduate, graduate and faculty experiences. The SAFE Fund provides funding for college priorities and opportunities that arise throughout the year. These unrestricted funds support student and faculty travel, publication support for faculty and student research opportunities. Learn more at https://cas.appstate.edu/students/student-and-faculty-excellence-safe-fund.
About the Department of Biology
The Department of Biology is a community of teacher-scholars, with faculty representing the full breadth of biological specializations — from molecular genetics to landscape/ecosystem ecology. The department seeks to produce graduates with sound scientific knowledge, the skills to create new knowledge, and the excitement and appreciation of scientific discovery. Learn more at https://biology.appstate.edu.
SAFE Student Spotlight: Madeline Wight
SAFE Student Spotlight: Madeline Wight