Undergrads prove research isn't just for grad students

Tess McGarvey worked in the anatomy lab making different types of models of blood vessels. Kimberly Stewart spent a lot of time behind the barns at the Calgary Stampede observing calves. And Mitchell Ashkin learned how to grow cells in the lab as part of his summer research project studying how cartilage grows.

The three soon-to-be-second-year students at the University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (UCVM) were among 50 undergraduate students who took part in UCVM’s Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) over the last four months. The students, from a number of different faculties and universities, presented their research at the UCVM SURE Research Day Aug. 24. In the morning, 15 students gave oral presentations followed by poster presentations in the afternoon.

“It went really well,” says McGarvey of her poster presentation. “It was the first time I’ve presented research and it was a lot less intimidating than I had anticipated. Everybody had a lot of questions and was really interested in the work.” She worked with Dr. Robert McCorkell, DVM, associate dean (academic) and associate professor, to make both a physical and a virtual three-dimensional model of blood vessels in carnivores and ruminates.

“It’s something that’s very difficult to learn. I created these casts with the hope of in the future testing whether students learn best with physical models, virtual models or our traditional dissection.”

Kimberly Stewart presented her poster on animal welfare involving calves. Working with supervisor Dr. Ed Pajor, PhD, the Anderson-Chisholm Chair in Animal Care and Welfare, Stewart researched the animals at the Calgary Stampede. “I am interested in being a rodeo vet one day so being able to be behind the chutes and meeting the stock contractors and being able to walk around behind there, and learn the ropes was very cool,” she says.

Ashkin worked with supervisor Dr. Campbell Rolian, PhD, an associate professor of anatomy, to study the mechanisms of cartilage growth, work that may potentially help treat people with osteoarthritis in the future.

“I learned how to do cell culture techniques which is a really useful way of studying mammalian systems,” says Ashkin, who was awarded first place for his oral presentation. “I think I want to go into clinical research, looking at taking the actual medications and treatment and apply that in a clinical setting. Whereas what I did this summer was more basic science to try and find the precursors for that translational medicine.”

At lunch, the students heard an inspiring speech about research in neuroscience by Dr. Naweed Syed, PhD, professor, Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, and scientific director, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute.

Dr. Jacob Thundathil, PhD, says it’s important for undergraduate students to have an opportunity to present their research. And he was very impressed with the calibre of all the student research projects. “The students worked very hard. It was a combined effort with the faculty,” says Thundathil, who is UCVM's associate dean, graduate education and internationalization. “These are undergraduate students. If they are reaching this level of success then I am going to increase my standards for graduate students.”

The 2018 UCVM SURE winners are: (top photo, from left)

• Runner-up, best poster: Jeffrey Kates
• Best platform presentation: Mitchell Ashkin
• Runner-up, best platform presentation: Sana Jawad
• Best poster presentation: Jesse Pawlak
• Runner-up, best platform presentation: Jacob Varghese