Contact: Phil Hearn
STARKVILLE, Miss.--Mississippi State biological sciences doctoral student Jerilyn J. Belle of Aberdeen is the 2006 recipient of the Outstanding Graduate Student Award given by the university's Sigma Xi chapter.
The daughter of Aberdeen Mayor Cecil and Angie Belle, she was selected for her contributions in research and instruction.
Sigma Xi is an international society for professional scientists and engineers involved in university research.
"She is a meticulous researcher and dedicated young scientist who also enjoys mentoring high school students," said biological sciences department head Nara Gavini. "She also is very active in our recruitment program."
Belle studies DNA repair mechanisms, using Escherichia coli as a model organism. She has published several peer-reviewed articles in academic journals and has received awards for superior presentations at scientific meetings.
According to her major professor, Karen S. Coats, Belle also is a dedicated teaching assistant in the department. She provides instruction both for a non-majors biology course and a laboratory for microbiology majors.
She was nominated for the Sigma Xi chapter membership by veteran biological sciences faculty members Franklin Champlin and Lewis Brown.
Belle, who holds a 2001 bachelor's degree from Delta State University, currently is pursuing the terminal degree with an emphasis in microbiology. She expects to graduate in December.
NEWS EDITORS/DIRECTORS: For more information, contact Dr. Gavini at (662) 325-7573 or gavini@biology.msstate.edu.