ABERDEEN, S.D. – Undergraduate research is strong at Northern State University, with two students presenting at a Pierre poster session earlier this year and two more student projects awarded grant funding this spring.

At the 2020 Legislative Poster Session at the Capitol building, Shayla Steinley and Madison Rutter presented their project, “The Effects of CRISPR Cas-9 System on Progeny of Hereditary Parkinson’s Disease in C. elegans.”

The research studied the effects of gene editing on C. elegans expressing the mutation responsible for heritable Parkinson’s disease, according to their project abstract. Long term, the method could be applied to people with hereditary Parkinson’s disease and prevent their genes from being passed down to future generations.

Both students are senior biology majors, NSU softball players and Honors Program students from Lakeville, Minn. The faculty advisor for their research project is Dr. Jon Mitchell.

Steinley will attend the University of Nebraska Medical Center for physician assistant school next year.

“I have loved my time at Northern State University and I have grown a lot as a person and student during my time here, but I am excited for the next step in my education,” she said.

Rutter plans to pursue a master’s degree in anthropology and study both biological anthropology and archeology.

“Northern State University has made a big impact on my character and my education, but I am looking forward to the next chapter of my life,” she said.

Research Grants Awarded

Also, two student projects have been awarded NSU Undergraduate Competitive Research Grants this academic year:

• “Impact of Personal Training on the Retention of Health-related New Year's Resolutions” by students Rachel Guthmiller, Tava Berg and Carson Haugrud, under faculty advisor Chelsee Shortt.
• “How Do Organizations Today Develop Middle Managers?” by student Ashley Meyer, under faculty advisor Dr. Kristi Bockorny.

To learn more about undergraduate research at Northern, visit NSU Undergraduate Research.

About Northern State University

Northern State University is a regional university that offers outstanding academics and exceptional extracurricular activities at an affordable price on a safe, welcoming campus. Northern State recently announced its Educational Impact Campaign, with a goal of raising $55 million for a new South Dakota School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, new athletic and recreation fields, and an on-campus regional sports complex. Once the campaign is complete, NSU will be the recipient of more than $100 million in privately funded building projects and scholarships within a decade. To learn more, visit NSU Admissions.