Three NHCC biology students are heading into exciting summer research opportunities, and we couldn’t be more pleased.
Danista Kannah and Kenny Sacks have both been selected into the MICRO-CCS program at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Parkland College for students who are interested in agricultural and environmental sciences—all expenses paid! The MICRO-CCS program stands for Microbial Interactions Create Research Opportunities for Community College Students.
This 10-week research program focuses on bacterial relationships between food, agriculture, and environmental science and includes hands-on research, mentorship, professional development, and potential opportunities for future academic research that could lead to possible STEM careers. Danista and Kenny were selected as two of only 10 students for this program!
Fun fact: Danista is a work study student in the library, and as she prepared her summer application materials, she worked alongside Ray Foss, a peer tutor in the Writing Center
(pictured below), who helped with her essay, which makes this announcement even more special!
The MICRO-CCS program includes a $7,000 stipend, housing, meals, mentorship, and hands-on experience, along with a research orientation and professional development opportunities.
Get an inside perspective on the summer research program from Kenny Sacks below,
Can you share more about the University of Illinois program you’ll be joining?
The program is called MICRO-CCS, and it's directed specifically towards community college students. I'll be working in Dr. Heath’s lab.
How did it feel to get selected for such a competitive summer research program?
I'm super excited, and I feel very honored to have been selected. I didn't know how competitive it was, but I still had a lot of doubts when I applied. I'm really grateful to have this opportunity, and I feel like I'm making real progress towards a goal that always felt too out of reach for me.
Did you find NHCC staff or your professors to be helpful during the application process?
Yes, Dr. Mans helped me a lot. She encouraged the Biology Club students to apply and routinely keeps a list of research programs that students can apply to in D2L. I asked her to write my letter of recommendation and to give me feedback on my personal statement. She encouraged me a lot, and I don't think I would have applied or gotten accepted without her.
What are you most looking forward to about this summer experience?
I'm looking forward to being in a research lab environment with like-minded people. I am very excited about the project that I'll be working on with my mentor, Hannah Murray, because I'll get to do both wet-lab work and field work, and I think what I learn there will really help me achieve my scientific goals.
Thinking about your future plans in science, what would you like to do?
I'm not entirely sure of the specifics yet. I'm currently interested in bioremediation and would like to combine my interest in environmental conservation with microbial and mycological research.
And last, but not least, the third NHCC student with summer research plans lined up…
Closer to home, Anastasiya Khotko will be participating in the University of Minnesota's
Life Sciences Summer Undergraduate Research Program (LSSURP), where she’ll gain hands-on experience and have the chance to explore various career pathways in science and healthcare.
How did it feel to get selected for such a competitive summer research program?
I felt very lucky to be accepted into such a program and thankful for this opportunity.
Did you find NHCC staff or your professors to be helpful during the application process?
Multiple professors let me know about research opportunities, and some, including Dr. Mans
and Paul Melchior, were willing to write me letters of recommendation and helped me with the application process. Dr. Mans even helped me revise my personal statement to increase my chances of getting in. I am very thankful for all their support and willingness to help.
What are you most looking forward to about this summer experience?
The thing I am most looking forward to is being exposed to different parts of the scientific community and becoming involved in the scientific process at this advanced level.
Thinking about your future plans in science, what would you like to do?
I have some options I've been considering, with dentistry school being a possibility. If I end up really enjoying the line of work that is research, though, I might consider more careers in that aspect. I am very happy to be included in all of this!
We’re so proud to see Danista, Kenny, and Anastasiya representing NHCC, and we look forward to hearing all about their research experiences when they return in the fall!