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HOMETOWN RELEASE: Plano Resident Participates in UT Tyler Summer Research Academy

Kristen Chockley of Plano, an undergraduate at The University of Texas at Tyler, is one of 12 students who are participants in the UT System Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation 2010 Summer Research Academy under the mentorship of UT Tyler Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics faculty.

Chockley's research field is mathematics. Her faculty mentor is Dr. Jennifer McLoud-Mann, UT Tyler associate professor of mathematics.

Each student will receive a fellowship stipend for their participation, and faculty mentors receive funding for supplies and materials to support their student’s research activities.

UT Tyler faculty members Dr. Don McClaugherty, chair and professor of chemistry; Dr. Don Killebrew, chair and professor of biology; and Dr. Jeffrey Mountain, associate professor of mechanical engineering, also contribute in their supporting roles on the program’s advisory committee.

Twice this summer, the SRA students will participate in videoconferences involving all LSAMP fellows and mentors across the UT System. The students also will give poster presentations of their research project results at the academy’s conclusion and the annual UT-LSAMP Student Research Conference to be held Sept. 16 – 18 in El Paso.

The UT-LSAMP program is supported by funding from the National Science Foundation and provides undergraduate research experiences in an effort to increase the number of underrepresented students pursuing graduate level studies in STEM programs.

One of the 15 campuses of the UT System, UT Tyler offers excellence in teaching, research, artistic performance and community service. More than 90 undergraduate and graduate degrees are available at UT Tyler, which has an enrollment of more than 6,000 high-ability students at its campuses in Tyler, Longview and Palestine.