Six undergraduate scholars from UT Knoxville joined students from seven other Tennessee universities to showcase their research for members of the Tennessee Legislature recently.

The six participated in a day-long poster session in the state Legislative Plaza and were introduced to lawmakers by state Senator Tim Burchett, who represents Knoxville in the Legislature. Greg Reed, UT associate vice chancellor for research, hosted the students for the event.

Allison Thigpen presented research outlining the potential impact of various federal plans for healthcare reform on Tennessee and its agencies. Her poster brought her an interview with a reporter from WPLN, the National Public Radio affiliate that serves Middle Tennessee. Thigpen’s mentor is Michael Fitzgerald, professor in political science.

Using mapping techniques and equipment developed at UT, Adam Duncan and Alex McLemore presented research showing that coal mining in Virginia is polluting the Clinch River in Tennessee. Paul Ayers, professor in biosystems engineering and soil science, mentored their research.

Andrew Hahn described research into synthesizing differing formulations of DCB-3503, a powerful antitumor compound developed by his mentor, David Baker, professor in chemistry.

Kevin Kuo presented work on how myosin proteins in Arabidopsis thaliana communicate growth information related to the development of root hairs on plants. Andrew Nebenfuehr, associate professor in biochemistry, cellular and molecular biology, is Kuo’s mentor.

Todd Skelton’s poster topic was the pending U.S. Supreme Court case Free Enterprise Fund v. PCAOB, which will decide whether the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board violates the Constitution by removing the Securities and Exchange Commission from presidential oversight. Skelton’s mentor is Theodore Brown, Jr., a lecturer in political science.

About 45 students participated, representing UT Knoxville, UT Chattanooga, Austin Peay, East Tennessee State, Middle Tennessee State, Tennessee State, Tennessee Tech, and the University of Memphis.