Scoring Criteria

POSTER: There are 9 items on the Poster Scoring Sheet for assessment.

ORAL: There are 10 items on the Oral Presentation Scoring Sheet for assessment.

WHOLE NUMBER scores can range from 1 = POOR to 10 = EXCELLENT [see the scoring ranges at the top of the Scoring Sheet]. The presenter begins with an “Average Score of 5 – 6” and then should be scored above [i.e., 7-10] or below [i.e., 1-4] this Average for each assessed item, depending on the Judge’s evaluation of the poster and the student’s presentation of the poster/research.

Judges have the opportunity to adjust their scoring, as the Session unfolds, for presentations based on how well a presenter performs in reference to peers presenting in the same session.

The Abstract – Item #1:

Having received the Abstracts in the Judge’s Packet, Judges are asked to review and score ITEM #1 on the Scoring Sheet for each assigned poster ABSTRACT before attending the poster-judging session on the day of the Forum. Abstracts should be judged based on how well the presenter adheres to the guidelines and concise summation of the research.

The PROBLEM - Items #2 & #3:

How effectively did the student define the research problem [#2] and provide enough background information [#3] so that a general audience could comprehend the rationale and goal of the research.

The RESEARCH – Items #4 - #7:

These items assess the student’s experimental design [#4] for the research, the clarity and accuracy of describing the results [#5], and whether the student’s conclusions were appropriate for the results obtained [#6] and were appropriate to the initial goal of the research [#7]. Assessment should include attention to appropriate use of “controls,” “treatments,” [#4] and statistical analyses [#5], as well. It is assumed that all the details of experimental procedures need not be given in this very short oral presentation and that commonly used research methods need not be fully detailed during the presentation. Significant variations from established common procedures should be included for clarity in the presentation.

The PRESENTATION – Items #8 - #10:

These items assess the student’s ability to organize [#8] the overall presentation, and use effective audio-visual aids (oral presentation [#9]) and personal skills and style to clearly present the research problem to a general audience [#10 Oral; #9 Poster] interested in the particular topical session. Questions: Judges should include in their assessment of overall presentation some portion based on how well the student handles questions from judges. Judges are encouraged to ask questions.

Abstract: Summary of Information for the Abstract

State the purpose of the project, which is the introduction and question asked—the purpose of the project.
Give a brief description of the methods. Very brief without a lot of details.
Describe the results. Concise report, summarized data/ text, including statistical significance.
End with a statement of conclusion(s). Usually one or two ending sentences indicate if you answered your initial question (hypothesis), and if so, the implication/significance of the results.

Abstract: Sample

Vpu is an 82 amino acid integral membrane protein encoded for by HIV 1 and SIVcpz and plays important role in their pathogenesis. Vpu localizes the in Golgi/ER complex and down modulates CD4 molecules via proteosome degradation pathway, and enhance virion release from the infected cells. We have generated a VPU/EGFP reporter system in which Vpu was fused with EGFP to decipher importance of amino acid residues on intra cellular localization and down regulation of CD4 molecules. In present study 4 amino acids, positively charged glutamine at positions 66 and 70 and glycine at 68 and 72 in a helix II in the cytoplasmic domain were mutated to uncharged alanine by site directed mutagenesis to know their importance on intra cellular localization and CD4 down regulation. These plasmids were transfected in human 293 cells using a cationic polymer and visualized at 48 hours under fluorescence microscope. The mutants were also assayed for CD4 down regulation. We achieved high efficiency transfection and mutants were localized in golgi/ER compartments. However, mutations did not result in altered intra cellular localization of VPU. We then transfected Hela CD4+ cells with mutants and stained for surface CD4 at 48 hours. We found that mutations did not influence CD4 down regulation. Taken together these results suggest that Glutamine at positions 66, 70 and glycine at positions 68, 72 have no impact on intra cellular localization and ability of VPU to down regulate surface CD4 molecules. Presence of charged residues and myristoylation of glycine is not required for CD4 down regulation.

2008 Winners

First Place Overall Medal in Each School - 2008 SRF

AWARD	STUDENT	DEPARTMENT	FACULTY MENTOR
Medal School Of Allied Health	Elizabeth Kerling -G	Dietetics and Nutrition	Susan Carlson
Medal Graduate Student School Of Medicine	Alison Ting -G	Molecular & Integrative Physiology and Medical Oncology	Brian Petroff
Haden Medal Medical Student School Of Medicine	Ryan Smith -M	Pediatrics	Jo-Ann Harris
Roma Lee Taunton Medal School Of Nursing	Jane Robinson -G	School of Nursing	Phoebe Williams

First Place in Specific Research Topics During the 4 Presentation Sessions

AWARD	STUDENT	DEPARTMENT	FACULTY MENTOR
SESSION-I 8:10 AM – 9:45 AM
Molecular & Cell Biology I	Khaleel Sayeed -G	Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutics	Bryan Copple
Neuroscience I	Hope Karnes Nicely –M/G	Anatomy and Cell Biology	Dianne Durham
Oncology	Alison Ting -G	Molecular and Integrative Physiology	Brian Petroff
Musculoskeletal	Anisha Gupte -G	Molecular and Integrative Physiology	Paige Geiger
SESSION-II 10:00 AM – 11:45 AM
AWARD	STUDENT	DEPARTMENT	FACULTY MENTOR
Molecular & Cell Biology II	Yue Cui -G	Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutics	Curtis Klaassen
Neuroscience II	Rachel Williams -G	Molecular and Integrative Physiology	Shilpa Buch
Cardiovascular Biology	Gwenaelle Wernli -G	Molecular and Integrative Physiology	Peter Smith
Clinical Studies I	Kelsie Cropp -G	Preventive Medicine	Kathryn Ellerbeck
SESSION-III 1:30 PM – 2:45 PM
AWARD	STUDENT	DEPARTMENT	FACULTY MENTOR
Molecular & Cell Biology III	Timothy Welch -G	Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutics	Bryan Copple
Neuroscience III	Darcy Griffin -G	Molecular and Integrative Physiology	Paul Cheney
Outcomes Research	Ryan Smith -M	Pediatrics	Jo-Ann Harris
Clinical Studies II	Elizabeth Kerling -G	Dietetics and Nutrition	Susan Carlson
SESSION-IV 3:00 PM – 4:36 PM
AWARD	STUDENT	DEPARTMENT	FACULTY MENTOR
Molecular Cell Biology IV( Tie )	Martha Carletti -G	Molecular and Integrative Physiology	Lane Christensen
Molecular Cell Biology IV( Tie )	David Scoville –M/G	Pathology and Laboratory Medicine(Stowers Institute)	Linheng Li
Reproductive Biology	Lindsey Canham -M	Pathology and Laboratory Medicine	Michael Soares
Genetics	Autumn Ruiz -G	Anatomy and Cell Biology	Edward Stephens
POSTER SESSION 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
AWARD	STUDENT	DEPARTMENT	FACULTY MENTOR
Poster Session	Parker Tuley -M	Molecular and Integrative Physiology	John Wood

Award from Anatomy & Cell Biology Department

AWARD	STUDENT	DEPARTMENT	FACULTY MENTOR
Paul B. Freeburg Cell Biology Award	Hope Karnes Nicely –M/G	Anatomy and Cell Biology	Diane Durham

Awards from Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Department

AWARD	STUDENT	DEPARTMENT	FACULTY MENTOR
Joe R. KimmelAward	Hiroo Katayama -G	Biochemistry and Molecular Biology	Mark Fisher
Grisolia Research FellowshipAward	Bliss Hartnett –M/G	Biochemistry and Molecular Biology	Mark Fisher