Eleven University of Nebraska–Lincoln undergraduate students presented research at the 2025 Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Scientists (ABRCMS) in San Antonio, TX on Nov. 19-22. ABRCMS is the American Society for Microbiology's (ASM) national conference, supporting multidisciplinary science and workforce development for scientists of all career stages, including undergraduate students.
Abner Sanchez Dominguez (biological sciences, microbiology) and Maathir Basi (psychology) received Presentation Awards.
Sanchez Dominguez' research is entitled, "Understanding the function of irg-8, dod-19, and B0024.4 genes in the p38 MAPK pathway during the Caenorhabditis elegans' response to Stenotrophomonas maltophilia."
"In the days leading up to ABRCMS, I faced many setbacks that reminded me how discouraging science can be," Sanchez Dominguez said. "But science is like that; it can test you more than anything, yet also give you the deepest sense of accomplishment when things finally work. That contrast is exactly what made this recognition so meaningful."
Basi's research is entitled, "Depression and other psychiatric outcomes in people who inject drugs with a probable brain injury." She is a McNair scholar mentored by Kathy Chiou from the Department of Psychology.
"I loved my ABRCMS experience," Basi said. "Being surrounded by young scientists, graduate students, and faculty who were all passionate about their work was incredibly inspiring. I learned so much from the conversations I had and the community I found there. Standing in a room full of people who care deeply about research and science made me feel supported and reminded me why I chose this path. It gave me a renewed sense of confidence, motivation, and gratitude, and made me believe even more that I can make a real impact in this field."
Watch videos of Sanchez and Basi receiving their awards.
Additional attendees were: Shereen Ahmed, microbiology; Ahmed Al-Hilfy Leon, microbiology; Trecie Bosa, psychology; Jennifer Gamez Martinez, microbiology and Spanish; Angela Le, engineering (College of Engineering); Marissa Mendez-Santiago, biochemistry and psychology; Mimi Mi, biochemistry; Trish Nguyen, chemical engineering (College of Engineering); and DeAnthony Rothwell, microbiology. The group was led by Marianna Burks, an assistant professor of practice in the School of Biological Sciences (SBS); Michael Herman, the director of SBS; and Chanasei Ziemann, STEM POWER program coordinator and Husker alumna.
"So incredibly proud of our research scholars," Burks wrote on Facebook. "It is because of TRIO, STEM POWER, our faculty research colleagues, and opportunity—so incredibly thankful our students experience ABRCMS."
Burks has taken students to ABRCMS for seven years, and each year the number of students attending the conference and presenting research at the national level has grown. 2,300 students from across the country presented this year, and for each of the last four years, a Husker has been awarded.
The STEM POWER program, co-directed by Burks, creates a pathway for historically underrepresented students to become STEM majors. Financial support from experiential learning funds, STEM POWER, and the TRIO program made the trip possible.
SBS is part of the College of Arts and Sciences.
