Columbia State Community College dual enrollment student Madalyn Falletti recently won first place in the Microbiology and Molecular Biology category at the 133^rd Tennessee Academy of Science meeting at Rhodes College in Memphis.

Falletti, a biology research student from Fayetteville, received first place for her oral presentation titled, “Analysis of the Tail Assembly Chaperone Genes in A-cluster Actinobacteriophages.”

“Our research team put a lot of time, effort, and energy into conducting research, perfecting the presentation, and communicating and working together,” Falletti said. “Our research is truly important, and I hoped to convey its gravity. I was excited to present our findings in a scientific context, and I really enjoyed the atmosphere, the lectures, and the networking at the TAS meeting. I am very thankful for all of the opportunities for growth and learning Columbia State and the Honors Biology program have provided me, and I look forward to diving further into scientific research in the future.”

Falletti was selected to present on behalf of a group of honors biology research students that includes Elynor Fix, Levi J. Fritsch, Jackson T. Riedling and Dionicio Lopez. Falletti is a dual enrolled honors biology research student, who has participated in two undergraduate biology research courses at Columbia State. She has earned the reputation of a seasoned researcher and, along with her teammates, demonstrated exceptional dedication and a passion for the bacteriophage genomics scientific project.

“The Howard Hughes Medical Institute supported Sea-Phages program is a large-scale collaborative effort of over 150 institutions in the U.S., all contributing to the study of bacteriophage diversity and viral origins,” said Elvira Eivazova, Columbia State associate professor of biology and undergraduate biology research coordinator. “It’s of great benefit for students to be a part of such scholarly activities that teach students science fundamentals as they discover novel bacteriophages.”

The Tennessee Academy of Science, founded in 1912, is an affiliate of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, seeks to promote scientific research in the state of Tennessee. As a nonprofit organization, they organize symposia, manage programs in varying fields and communicate with the national scientific culture. They also work to diversify the science field by associating with the public and members of other academic arenas.

For more information on the Tennessee Academy of Science, visit www.tennacadofsci.org.

The Columbia State biology department has two courses with discovery and project-based research components, Honors General Biology and Biology Research, which are conducted in collaboration with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. The courses are designed to provide an authentic research experience for students with little to no prior lab skills. For more information, visit www.ColumbiaState.edu/UndergradResearch

For more information about the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, visit https://https://www.hhmi.org/science-education/programs/science-education-alliance-education/programs/science-education-alliance.