Fall 2025 Travel Award Recipients
Bell Travel Award
Gabby Perkins (Holmstrom Lab) presented a talk entitled “Influence of Polycationic Peptides on the Thermodynamics of Nucleic Acid Folding” at the 39th Gibbs Conference on Biothermodynamics in Carbondale, IL. Perkins said “Attending this conference allowed me to network with biophysical researchers who have broad biological interests and methodological approaches but are all tied together by a love of nature and thermodynamics. I am truly grateful to have been able to meet with other scientists and discuss how all our niche, fundamental research can work together on a much larger scale with the beautiful backdrop of the Southern Illinois woods. Thank you to the Molecular Biosciences Travel Award Committee for awarding me with this wonderful opportunity.”
Nilanjan Roy (Unckless Lab) presented a talk entitled “Fly Viral Atlas: Cellular Tropism of Drosophila RNA Viruses and Their Impact on the Host” at the Midwest Drosophila Conference, in Monticello, IL. Roy said “The award supported my travel to the meeting, where I had the chance to share my research and connect with other scientists in the Drosophila community. I also networked with conference organizers and former KU undergraduates who are now pursuing their PhDs at various institutions across the country. The experience was extremely rewarding and has positively contributed to my professional development.”