Alana Augur
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Research
Currently I am working on an Honor's thesis project, which began with Andy Gloss's experiment on adaptive evolution in in the mustard herbivore, Scaptomyza flava. I have been helping him with this project since January of 2015. We hope to address whether genetic variation within various fly populations, subjected to differing environments for about a year, is adaptive and maintained for a functional purpose, or if it is neutral or slightly deleterious and has not yet been removed by drift or selection. The information this project will produce should allow for a robust test of these alternative hypotheses. The portion of this experiment that relates to my honor’s thesis builds off of these evolutionary experiments. Beginning in August of 2015, I have been running sets of phenotypic experiments aimed at testing for local adaptation to different host plant species. My experiments aim to provide phenotypic support for what Andy will discover after genetic sequencing in late 2015.
Background
I am a senior at the University of Arizona earning a B.S. in Biology, with a focus in Biomedical sciences, and a minor in Mathematics. Currently I am in the process of applying to medical schools and hope to matriculate in the Fall of 2016. The work I do in the Whiteman Lab has helped me fundamentally understand concepts in evolution, genetics and DNA analysis that I will apply to my future studies of medicine. It has also inspired me to continue with a research emphasis at whichever medical school I will attend.
Aside from academic interests, I am a member of Delta Gamma at the University of Arizona and take an active role within the chapter and with our associated charities. Last summer I interned for a month at a couple hospitals in Chiang Mai, Thailand covering surgery and general medicine. I was born in Chicago but have lived in Scottsdale, Arizona for most of my life.
Aside from academic interests, I am a member of Delta Gamma at the University of Arizona and take an active role within the chapter and with our associated charities. Last summer I interned for a month at a couple hospitals in Chiang Mai, Thailand covering surgery and general medicine. I was born in Chicago but have lived in Scottsdale, Arizona for most of my life.
Honors and Awards
- Dean's List with Distinction at University of Arizona. 2013, 2014, 2015
- Academic Year Highest Academic Distinction at University of Arizona. Freshman year, Junior year.
- The Arizona Board of Regent's High Honors Tuition Scholarship. 2012 - Present.
- Wildcat Excellence Award. 2012
- Admitted to University of Arizona Honors College in 2012.