Katelyn Jeong Earns Award for Excellence in Research

Katelyn Jeong spent most of her summer working alongside Dr. Rachel Wamser-Nanney of the University of Missouri–St. Louis (UMSL) as part of the university’s Students and Teachers as Research Scientists (STARS) program.

Of the 88 students selected to participate in the prestigious program, Katelyn was one of 29 students honored for their work with a Partnership of Research Institutions Award for Excellence in Research. Her research entitled “The Effects of Domestic Violence and Sustained Conflict on the Cognitive Abilities of Affected Individuals” received special recognition from a panel of scientists who evaluated the research papers of juniors from across the Midwest.

Katelyn’s research was judged according to the (1) difficulty and complexity of the research, (2) appropriateness of the research methodology, (3) findings, (4) quality of the writing, (5)overall quality of the research process. Awardees were selected after they presented their research papers to their peers, parents and research mentors at the conclusion of the program.

STARS pairs high school students with prominent area scientists to conduct undergraduate-level research in the fields of biology, chemistry, computer science, earth science, engineering, environmental science, medicine, and psychology. Selection for the STARS program is determined based on a student’s interest in science, GPA, test scores, student essay, and letter of recommendation.