Bolivar, Mo. – Amidst a chaotic sports season, two Bearcat student-athletes put the emphasis on the student aspect midway through their season. On October 13^th 2024, seniors Julia Johnson and Trevor Talley got the incredible opportunity to present at the American Chemical Society (ACS) at the Midwest regional conference at Creighton University.
 
This moment was made special for Johnson and Talley beginning nearly two years ago, as their professor Dr. Jake Immel offered research opportunities and took them both under his wing. Their research was done over the course of three semesters and was focused on triple negative breast cancer. They investigated a specific compound called Crambescidin-800 and its possibility in having anti-cancer possibilities, specifically in triple negative breast cancer.
 
"I am very proud of the research Julia and Trevor were able to accomplish and share in a scientific setting at the ACS Midwest Regional Conference. They have both displayed the ability to communicate their research effectively and also demonstrated their passion for biomedical research. It was a pleasure to get to attend this conference with them" – Immel said
 
Not only did the pair get to present their three semesters of research, but they also earned multiple awards. Their poster won the Outstanding Poster Award in Biochemistry, and they were in the top 12 of 99 undergraduate students that presented posters at the conference.
 
"it was very rewarding to be recognized on a larger scale for the research and work we put in at this undergraduate university, that doesn't have all the same resources as graduate and larger undergraduate schools." Johnson said
 
"I thought it was cool that there were so many graduate level students and PHD students who are so immersed in the research world that were coming up to us, how they thought what we were doing was impressive especially for undergraduate levels. And after having conversations with several of them, they were shocked to see we didn't have half as much resources as they did." Talley said, "So it's good to know that even at the school we go to we have great faculty and staff, such as Dr. Immel and Dr. Woodstein 'that will pour into us' that will help us furthering our education and research endeavors."
 
Johnson was a four-year member of the women's soccer team before graduating two weeks ago with her bachelors in pre-med. Talley has been a part of the men's cross country and track and field team and will be graduating in May with his bachelors in pre-med. Their professor Dr. Immel was also a student-athlete as a member of the men's soccer team. He graduated back in 2018 with his Bachelors in Chemistry before continuing his education earning a Doctorate in Medicinal Chemistry.