ABERDEEN, S.D. – Northern State University students Madison Rutter and Shayla Steinley have recently been chosen as recipients of an NSU Undergraduate Competitive Research Grant.

Rutter and Steinley’s project is titled “The Effects of CRISPER Cas-9 System on Progeny of Hereditary Parkinson's Disease in C. elegans.”

Steinley is a junior biology major with minors in chemistry and psychology from Lakeville, Minn. She is a member of the NSU softball team and is involved in the honors program and SAAC.

"I am so thankful for the opportunity NSU gave us to conduct research, while still being undergraduate students,” said Steinley. “This will allow us to expand our knowledge beyond our classes and establish skills that will help us in our future careers. I am excited for this chance to find information that can make an impact in the medical field."

Rutter is a junior medical laboratory and biology major with a minor in chemistry from Lakeville, Minn. She is also a member of the NSU softball team and is involved in the honors program.

"I am very honored to receive this opportunity. We are both looking forward to developing essential skills for our future occupations, and getting a chance to work on a medically based project," mentioned Rutter.

Dr. Jon Mitchell, NSU associate professor of biology, is serving as Rutter and Steinley’s advisor in their 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 Campaignwith 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.