Douglas Chan and Rana Youssef, were among 12 students who were chosen to receive Beckman Institute student awards. The awards, which are presented to undergraduate and graduate students, will be presented during a reception in May.
Douglas Chan, a junior in Jefferson Chan's group, received the Beckman Institute Undergraduate Fellowship. This award is supported by funding from the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation, and offers University of Illinois undergraduate students the opportunity to pursue interdisciplinary research at the institute during the summer.
Chan is pursuing research using photoacoustic imaging for early, non-invasive detection of prostate cancer. Chan plans to develop a photoacoustic probe that can report on hypoxia, which is the absence of adequate oxygen, in prostate tumors by targeting a protein often over-expressed in prostate cancers.
Rana Youssef, a junior majoring in molecular and cellular biology honors, with minors in chemistry and Arabic studies, received the Erik Haferkamp Memorial Award for Undergraduate Research in honor of his life and achievements. The Erik Haferkamp Memorial Fund, which provides awards to undergraduate students who are conducting research in neuroscience at the Beckman Institute, was established by his family, friends, and colleagues.
Youssef conducts research with Catherine Christian, an assistant professor of molecular and integrative physiology. She will study the links between epilepsy and dysfunction of the reproductive endocrine system, and how differences in the structures of the brain relate to them both.