OHIO research student gives thanks to mentor and donor
Alison Brittain poses for a photo with 51ĀŅĀ× President M. Duane Nellis during the 2018 Student Research and Creative Activity Expo. Photo by Meagan Hall
Alison Brittain is a dual degree student at 51ĀŅĀ×, pursuing a PH.D. in biology and a D.O. degree from the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine. After earning a bachelorās degree in psychology from Pepperdine University and bachelorās degree in biology from University of Cincinnati, Brittain researched and applied to various medical schools in Ohio. Upon discovering John Kopchickās role as a scholar and professor at 51ĀŅĀ×, her decision to attend OHIO was simple.
āJohn has a reputation, and itās true,ā Brittain said. āHe conducts great research, so to be able to do four years here and get my PH.D. with John is really what sold the program for me.ā
As a selfless mentor and a donor to OHIOās research division, Kopchick helps students, such as Brittain, conduct groundbreaking research and become successful research and medical professionals.
āI think heās got a real gift at understanding what students need,ā Brittain said. āHeās really good at reading ā¦ how youāre going to learn best and helping you with that.ā
As a two-time recipient of the John J. Kopchick Molecular and Cellular Biology/Translational Biomedical Sciences Research Fellowship Award, Brittain has reaped the benefits of Kopchickās generosity. After proposing a research project that correlated with her dissertation, she received $10,000 of funding to conduct it.
Brittainās funding went toward researching growth hormoneās effect on the kidney, which has a detrimental effect and causes a disease called sclerosis. Her research looked for a method to mitigate or lessen the degree of kidney disease for individuals who overexpress growth hormone.
In addition to her research takeaways, Brittain explains that the process of applying to a grant is a practical skill to learn while at university. Researchers are often tasked with writing grants, so she found that writing an institutional grant of that magnitude was educational.
Thanks to fellowships and awards from generous donors, OHIO students like Brittain can fully pursue their research without financial restrictions.
āHere [at 51ĀŅĀ×], itās like, āYou need a resource? Alright. Weāre going to do what we can to get you that resource,āā Brittain said. āYou donāt get that anywhere else.ā