Camarillo, Calif., May 17, 2011 – CSU Channel Islands (CI) graduating senior Ashley Bonneau recently received an award from the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) at their annual meeting held in Washington DC.
A biology major at CI, Bonneau won the Thematic Best Poster Award from a field of more than 1,000 poster presentations. In excess of 10,000 attendees, both scientists and students, from around the globe, attended the meeting and shared Bonneau’s triumph at winning the top prize in her category, entitled “RNA Theme.” Her particular poster was titled, “Double knockdown of the Rheb gene in mammalian cells using RNA interference.” This award included a cash prize.
Bonneau, named a Goldwater Scholar last year for her academic excellence, has been working for the past thirty months with Nitika Parmar, Assistant Professor of Biology, investigating the effects of gene silencing on the growth of human cells.
Bonneau has shown a prodigious work ethic and an insatiable curiosity which have fueled her research. Parmar, noted for making herself available to her students whenever they need her, has worked closely with Bonneaeu. Parmar’s passion exists in the research and in infusing young developing scientists with her enthusiasm for discovery. Bonneau has also been able to mentor and inspire younger students as they enter this field.
Bonneau has been accepted at Yale University to pursue a Ph.D. in molecular biology. Parmar admits that she is thrilled at the prospects in Bonneau’s future but will miss having her as a student.
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About California State University Channel Islands
CSU Channel Islands (CI) is the only four-year, public university in Ventura County and is known for its interdisciplinary, multicultural and international perspectives, and its emphasis on experiential and service learning. CI’s strong academic programs focus on business, sciences, liberal studies, teaching credentials, and innovative master’s degrees. Students benefit from individual attention, up-to-date technology, and classroom instruction augmented by outstanding faculty research.
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About California State University Channel Islands
CSU Channel Islands(CI) is the only four-year, public university in Ventura County and is known for its interdisciplinary, multicultural and international perspectives, and its emphasis on experiential and service learning. CI’s strong academic programs focus on business, sciences, liberal studies, teaching credentials, and innovative master’s degrees. Students benefit from individual attention, up-to-date technology, and classroom instruction augmented by outstanding faculty research. CI has been designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and is committed to serving students of all backgrounds from the region and beyond. Connect with and learn more by visiting CI's Social Media.