Jaslyn Langford was among a select group of students chosen from all eight of Mississippi’s public universities to share their research and creative activities on topics ranging from healthcare to cultural heritage to agribusiness with legislators and state leaders at “Posters in the Rotunda” at the State Capitol.
The students showed how their research solves some of Mississippi’s most pressing problems and benefits the citizens of the state.
The event provided opportunities for legislators to visit with students from their districts, allowed students to network with each other as they learn about work on other campuses, and showcased the cutting-edge research conducted by undergraduates that benefits the residents of Mississippi.
Sen. Russell Jolly and Jaslyn Langford
“Students who generate their own research projects at the undergraduate level gain first-hand experience in identifying topics that merit investigation, designing and executing detailed research plans, applying for grant funding, and communicating their findings both in writing and via conference-style presentations,” said Dr. Rodney D. Bennett, President of the University of Southern Mississippi. “These experiences strengthen their work ethic and time management skills. Participating students are also better prepared for rigorous graduate school courses and have a higher level of confidence in their ability to succeed in master’s, specialist’s, and doctoral programs.”
Jaslyn, a Calhoun City High School graduate now a student at Mississippi State University, presented her research entitled “RAGE Signaling is Intersected by Rap1A Crosstalk in Fibroblasts.” Jaslyn is a Biological Sciences and Microbiologymajor with a concentration in Pre-Medicine. She was one of two MSU undergraduate students chosen for this honor.
Jaslyn has spent over a year as a student working in the lab of James A. Stewart, Jr. Their focus is to understand the effects of type 2 diabetes on the heart.