By Sarah R. Schwartz ’10

Honor student and Biology major Selina Eckert ’11 is acquiring knowledge that transcends the typical undergraduate classroom. Teaming up with Assistant Professor of Biology, Dr. Wes Rose III, she began conducting research during her junior year. The experience is helping to bring her future aspirations into focus.

“Dr. Rose and I have been analyzing the serine phosphorylation of the Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription (STAT1 protein) in response to interferon gamma in neurons,” says Eckert. “I’ve gained a lot of hands-on experience and truly understand the research process from concept to testing and results.”

While serving as President of the Martial Arts Association and a member of Arcadia Christian Fellowship, Eckert maintained an academic scholarship all four years and was named to the Dean’s Distinguished list for three semesters and the Dean’s Honor list for three semesters.

As she continues to collaborate with Rose through her senior year, she is appreciating the benefits of an integrative and personal learning experience.

“The Honors program has provided me with supplementary classes and projects to practice skills such as analysis of literature and multicultural perspectives in health and research. Additionally, my collaborative research ties together the classroom concepts learned with the applications of these concepts,” she says. “It is giving me experience and knowledge that is helping me focus my research and career goals and solidifying the knowledge that I have gained here.”

When Eckert graduates in May, she plans to attend graduate school to pursue a Ph.D. in neuroscience.