A recent intern at the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory earned top honors at a national undergraduate competition for research that could help scientists use fungi to make chemicals used in plastic and fuels. Kristen Meyer, of West Richland, Wash., placed first in the life sciences division of the 2009 Science and Energy Research Challenge Poster Competition, which took place Nov. 8-9 in Oak Ridge, Tenn. The award included a $3,000 scholarship. Now a junior studying chemistry at Washington State University Tri-Cities, Meyer spent this summer working with PNNL molecular biologist Kenneth Bruno. She developed a new, time-saving method to test specific genes in a black mold commonly found in soil, Aspergillus niger . The work could provide a way to use mold to make plastics and other chemicals from broken-down plant matter, called biomass. "Kristen is very detail-oriented," Bruno said. "Sometimes she's even able to correct me. You can trust that her research will be precise." She was one of five recent PNNL interns who participated in the competition. Another, Mike Larche, placed third in the energy division. Larche, of Pasco, Wash., is studying physics at Eastern Washington University. Washington State University's full press release on Meyer's award can be found online .  

national lab day: dinner with a scientist

esof 2010 italian national science competition for schools

eminent physician-scientist named uic vice chancellor for research

final report of the national academies' human embryonic stem cell research advisory committee and 2010 amendments to the national academies' guidelines for human embryonic stem cell research

young women have greater in-hospital mortality rates than young men in new jersey following heart attacks

perception of competition : a measurement of competition from the perspective of the firm

research potential: trans-national co-operation among ncps

umdnj professor selected as new editor of national research publication

hydra genome sequenced by j. craig venter institute and multi-national research team

sandia national laboratories and sunpower corp. extend solar energy research partnership