|
Working for a Green Space
Ashley Kuntz understood how study beyond the classroom could benefit her college career, so when Dr. John Kiss introduced his Botany 191 class to available research opportunities, she eagerly accepted the offer.
Soon after, Ashley received a Summer Scholar award, which provides funds for undergraduate research with a faculty member. Assisting Dr. Kiss in his study of plant development in space, Ashley examined protein in plants and their response to different types of light. The long-range goal of their efforts is development of better crop plants on earth and plants' potential use as a food source in space.
From the beginning, Ashley remained confident that her work would pay off. Although her research is ongoing, Ashley said that her summer experience was invaluable. "I learned something new every day—new techniques that I'll be able to use now and in graduate school. My dream job is to be a researcher at NASA."
In November 2005, it seemed that Ashley's work would begin to pay off sooner rather than later. The botany major was awarded second place in the undergraduate student competition for her presentation at the annual meeting of the American Society for Gravitational and Space Biology. She also was elected vice president of the ASGSB Student Association at the meeting. |
