This weekend, the Murdock Trust and our co-host, Whitman College, were thrilled to host more than 450 students and faculty from 31 Pacific Northwest institutions to present and celebrate science research.
This 33rd annual Murdock College Science Research (MCSR) Conference was an opportunity for universities in the MCSR grant program to send students and faculty to share oral and poster presentations, engage with lectures, and network with peers and faculty. We also announced award winners from across the region and celebrated scientific research collaboration.
“The MCSR Conference honors the remarkable achievements of both students and faculty, highlighting the innovative spirit that drives discoveries the Pacific Northwest,” says Dr. Moses Lee, vice president of scientific research grantmaking & programs. “This was the spirit that Jack Murdock, our benefactor, believed in. And it’s the spirit we are excited to see flourish as these researchers live out scientific careers of great promise for the common good.”
Faculty Awards Announced #
Left: Dr. Andreas Madlung; Middle: Dr. Lynwood Swanson; Right: Dr. Samuel Fey
At the conference, we announced the recipients of the annual Lynwood W. Swanson Awards. These prizes honor two outstanding faculty members for their contributions in discovering new knowledge, mentoring undergraduate students, and teaching in the research laboratory.
These awards are named in honor of Dr. Lynwood Swanson, a Murdock Trust Trustee Emeritus and distinguished Northwest professor, researcher, entrepreneur, and world leader in electron optics.
The Lynwood W. Swanson Scientific Research Award recognizes a senior faculty member with an established, productive, and nationally recognized research program.
The 2024 Lynwood W. Swanson Scientific Research Award was given to Dr. Andreas Madlung, Distinguished Professor of Biology, University of Puget Sound, for his outstanding scholarship in and commitment to the field of plant biology and his exceptional ability to inspire scientific curiosity and passion in students. Learn more about Dr. Madlung’s research in this video.
The Lynwood W. Swanson Promise for Scientific Research Award recognizes a junior faculty member with less than ten years of faculty experience who demonstrates exceptional potential in establishing an exemplary, productive, and sustained research program.
The 2024 Lynwood W. Swanson Promise for Scientific Research Award was given to Dr. Samuel Fey, Associate Professor of Biology, Reed College, for cutting-edge basic and applied exploration of the responses of populations and communities to environmental change and for inclusive research mentorship and inquiry-based undergraduate teaching. Learn more about Dr. Fey’s research in this video.
These awards include a citation and a cash prize that is shared by the professor and their institution. Congratulations to Dr. Madlung and Dr. Fey!
Student Awards Announced #
Students were also awarded prizes for outstanding oral and poster presentations:
2024 John Van Zytveld Life Sciences Award  
Name: Kieran Kranzow
Institution: Northwest Nazarene University
Mentor: Dr. John Cossel
"Sound of a New Species: Using Bioacoustics to Assess a Unique Population of Poison Frog"
2024 John Van Zytveld Physical Sciences Award 
Name: Fiona Kovisto
Institution: Seattle University
Mentor: Dr Joanne Hughes
"Tidal Disruption of the Globular Cluster NGC 6544"
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2024 Murdock Poster Prize for Ecology-Evolution-Biodiversity (Section A, two prizes)
Name: Jeff Schell
Institution: Eastern Washington University
Mentor: Dr. Krisztian Magori
"A Novel Case Study for the Biotic Resistance Hypothesis in a Host-Parasite System at Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge"
Name: Isabella Burnside
Institution: Seattle Pacific University
Mentor: Dr. Eric Long
"Succession and Forest Daturation Decreases Population Density of Black-tailed Deer on Blakely Island, WA"
2024 Murdock Poster Prize for Developmental Biology-Physiology (Section B)
Name: Emily Allen and Ainsley Patrick
Institution: Gonzaga University
Mentor: Dr. Nancy Staub
Collaborators: Karli Bortner and Ethan MacVicar
"The Presence of Amylase in the Heads of Eurycea wilderae"
2024 Murdock Poster Prize for Molecular and Cell Biology (Section C, two prizes)
Name: Jessie Bailey
Institution: George Fox University
Mentor: Dr. John Schmitt
"Regulation of AMP-Kinase and Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase in Osteosarcoma Cells"
Name: Mel Lowe
Institution: Western Washington University
Mentor: Dr. Matthew Zinkgraf
"Development of Ribosome Sequencing in Populus to Investigate Plant-Microbe Interactions"
2024 Murdock Poster Prize for Neuroscience-Psychology-Exercise Science (Section D)
Name: Sam Holmes and Teo Medoza
Institution: Willamette University
Mentor: Dr. Lucas Cordova
"Reimagining Education with AI"
2024 Murdock Poster Prize for Biochemistry (Section E, two prizes)
Name: Nicholas Sysum
Institution: George Fox University
Mentor: Dr. Micah Donor
"Investigating RNA Binding Affinities and Stability of Viral Silencing Suppressor Protein p19 with Native Mass Spectrometry"
Name: Aneel Al Fatayri and Denzel Chinyemba
Institution: Whitman College
Mentor: Dr. Marion Gotz
"Investigating the significance of epoxyketone stereochemistry in the mechanism of inhibition of the 20S proteasome"
2024 Murdock Poster Prize for Organic Chemistry (Section F)
Name: Katherine Pearson
Institution: Whitman College
Mentor: Dr. Jonathan Collins
"Investigation of Facial Selectivity in the Diels-Alder Cycloadditions Used in the Derivatization of Diene Metabolites from Microbial Dihydroxylation of Arenes."
2024 Murdock Poster Prize for Analytical-Inorganic-Physical Chemistry-Computational Chemistry (Section G, two prizes)
Name: Molly Brocious
Institution: Pacific University
Mentor: Dr. Brendan Stamper
"Melatonin Consistently Dampens Gene Expression Related to Oxidative Stress Pointing to its Potential Utility in Treating a Wide Range of Health Conditions"
Names: Kaylee Gunderson and Pearl Hilton
Institution: University of Portland
Mentor: Dr. Paige Hall
"Fabrication of Composite Nanoparticle:Polymer Thermoelectric Films by In-Situ and Ex-Situ Methods"
2024 Murdock Poster Prize for Environmental Science-Geology (Section H)
Name: Olivia Ernst
Institution: Western Washington University
Mentor: Dr. Mai Sas
"Understanding Magma Origins and Pre-Eruption Processes at Middle Sister Volcano, Oregon"
2024 Murdock Poster Prize for Microbiology (Section I)
Name: Benjamin Chung
Institution: Trinity Western University
Mentor: Dr. Laura Onyango
"Antivirulent Activity of Cuminaldehyde (CMA) and 2-Hydroxy-4-Methoxybenzaldehyde (HMB) Against Staphylococcus Spp."
2024 Murdock Poster Prize for Physics and Engineering (Section J)
Name: Emma Falk
Institution: Lewis & Clark College
Mentor: Dr. Ben Olsen
"Custom Electromagnets: Design, Simulation, Construction, Testing"
Strengthening the Scientific Research Community #
The MCSR Conference is our hallmark gathering of scientific research at predominantly undergraduate institutions, but it is not the only way we seek to strengthen the fabric of our research community. In addition to MCSR, the Murdock Trust offers the following opportunities in support of scientific research: MCRP for Natural Sciences, Research Start-Up Grants for New Science Faculty, RAISE awards, and capacity-building grants for scientific technology and instrumentation.
“Scientific research has been a part of the Murdock Trust’s grantmaking since we were founded in 1975, and we intend to maintain this strong commitment to the sector,” says Dr. Lee. “Research and innovation mattered to Jack Murdock. They matter to us. And they matter to research institutions, universities, colleges, and the people of the Pacific Northwest, for the sake of a strong and bright future for us all.”
For more information on this year’s conference or the Murdock College Science Research Program, please contact Colby Reade at colbyr@murdocktrust.org.