Austin, Texas – Sana Hashmi, an undergraduate junior from the University of Georgia, received a presentation award at the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students, which was held in Austin, Tex. recently. Hashmi was recognized for an oral presentation in the molecular biological sciences.
ABRCMS is an annual conference organized by the American Society for Microbiology and supported by a grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences. Now in its seventh year, ABRCMS is the largest, professional conference for biomedical and behavioral undergraduate, post baccalaureate and graduate students. Approximately 2,500 individuals attended this year’s conference including 1,525 students, 513 faculty and program directors and 426 exhibitors. The conference is designed to encourage under-represented minority students to pursue advanced training in the biomedical and behavioral sciences and provide faculty mentors and advisors with resources for facilitating students’ success.
For many students, the ABRCMS is a transforming experience. One undergraduate student participant commented, “While I have always been a self motivator, it is more motivating to know that there are others who have the same passion and drive (as me). I was thrilled to sit among other scientists and activists both (undergraduate) students and graduate ones…”
During the four-day conference more than 1,100 students participated in poster and oral presentations in ten scientific disciplines in the biomedical and behavioral sciences. All undergraduate student presentations were judged and those receiving the highest scores in each scientific discipline were given awards during the closing banquet. A total of 84 undergraduates representing 56 universities and colleges around the country received monetary awards of $250 for their outstanding presentation.
The 2008 ABRCMS has been scheduled for Nov. 5-8 in Orlando, Florida. For more information visit the conference website at www.abrcms.org.