Ms. Amanda Mullins graduated from ETSU in May 2005 with a Bachelors of Science degree in Biology and minor in Microbiology.  During her course of study in biology, she began working with Dr. David S. Chi from the Department of Internal Medicine (Quillen College of Medicine).  Amanda and Dr. Chi were awarded a Student-Faculty Collaborative Research grant in December 2004 to support their joint project designed to investigate the effects of certain chemicals on cells that are involved in cardiovascular disease.  Their research project was very successful and provided Amanda with invaluable experiences that paved the way for her future career.  Dr. Chi sent us the following:

“Ms. Amanda Mullins is a very bright and goal-oriented student. She carried out the experiments well and learned all phases of research endeavor. Her abstract and presentation at the ETSU Student Research Forum was excellent and earned a 2nd place award in Division I Undergraduate Category. She has been awarded a full scholarship from and is currently a doctoral student in the Graduate School at Vanderbilt University. Her research experience and accomplishments played a role in her obtaining the scholarship. The financial support of this research project has been shown to be invaluable to our students. We thank you for the generous support of the University Honors Programs.”

And Amanda states, "During my undergraduate career, I realized that I wanted to pursue a career in scientific research. In order to achieve my dream of obtaining a Ph.D., I realized that I desperately needed research experience. I sought advice from a trusted professor who recommended Dr. David Chi as a possible mentor. I contacted Dr. Chi, and we discussed potential research projects. Over the course of a year, I worked in the lab, attended lab meetings and seminars, presented at the Student Research Forum, etc. My experience in Dr. Chi's lab was so rewarding. As a result of such invaluable research experience, I was accepted to Vanderbilt University where I am pursuing my doctoral degree in Cancer Biology. I strongly encourage other interested students to get involved in undergraduate research. Not only is research intellectually rewarding, but it prepares students for graduate school and, ultimately, a career. When looking for a mentor, it is important to find someone who shares your research interests. Students should choose a mentor whose personality fits with their own. It is also important to interact with the other researchers in the lab/department. Both the undergrad campus and Quillen College of Medicine provide an abundance of research opportunities. I hope that more students will take advantage of these opportunities and become another link in ETSU's growing chain of success.

We’re very proud of Amanda’s accomplishments and wish her the very best in all her future endeavors.  We’d also like to emphasize that Dr. Chi is an excellent example of ETSU faculty who mentor undergraduate students in collaborative research projects and assist them in attaining their career step.  

The Student-Faculty Collaborative Grants Program, now sponsored through The Honors College, is available to all ETSU undergraduate students who wish to pursue collaborative research with an ETSU faculty member. 

We’d like to see a grant proposal from YOU in the future!

Amanda's Publications:

1. Mullins AG, Cantor K., Hall K, Krishnaswamy G, Chi DS. Enhancing effects of epinephrine on pro-atherogenic chemokine production in IL-1a-activated mast cells. Presented at the 2005 Appalachian Student Research Forum, Johnson City, TN, March 31, 2005. (Division I Undergraduates, 2nd Place Award) .
2. Chi DS, Mullins AG, Cantor K, Milhorn D, Krishnaswamy G. Effects of catecholamines on pro-atherogenic chemokine production from mast cells. Abstract #560.33. Presented at the Experimental Biology 2005, San Diego, CA, April 2 - 6, 2005.

To view Amanda's final report, visit http://www.etsu.edu/honors/research/students/mullins.doc.