Every year CSU hosts the Multicultural Undergraduate Research Art Leadership Symposium (MURALS), where students, and particularly students of color, present and create posters for their research and creative work. This wonderful program happened last Friday, March 25, and was a great success. We in the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences offer our congratulations, particularly to our own students, who shared a variety of innovative projects.

• Nabila Ahmad, Sage Phuepwint, and Sebastian Bonk presented on their research on creating DNA crystals, which can serve as scaffolding for proteins in future research.
• Afra Bushara’s research focused on the impact of global warming on microbes in soil with important implications as we continue to learn about and anticipate the effects of a warming climate.
• Ashley Freeman examined bacteria in a lab. This was important for her and colleagues to consider appropriate biosafety and exposure measures for their lab.
• Jessica Sherwood conducted an experiment on campus to better understand the connection between persistence and an optimistic mindset.
• Karen Khaykin looked at the relationship between heartworm and other bacteria, which could have implications for creating new and better drugs for treating heartworm and other maladies, including in humans.
• Phoenix Espinoza investigated enzymes that reduce adenosine triphosphate, which contributes to building lactic acidosis that can contribute to a variety of health problems.
• Santiago Pineda studied bacteria in aphids that may have a role in the insects’ devastating effect on wheat and barley crops.
• Genesis Marrero used 3D printing of bone scaffolding to promote bone tissue regeneration for those at risk of amputation.
• Quinsker Frimpong focused research on canine cognitive dysfunction and the mechanisms that make older dogs susceptible. This has implications for humans and those at risk of Alzheimer’s.
• Luke Davis conducted experiments with a team to analyze wastewater for the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Congrats to all MURALS students; you inspire us with your innovation and creativity! Thank you to all of the college’s graduate students, faculty, and staff who volunteered time to make this such a great program!