Burnett Presents McNair’s Sponsored Research

Sept. 11, 2006 - Michael Burnett, an undergraduate electrical engineering major, recently presented his McNair Scholars Program research at the 14th annual UW McNair Scholar Research Conference. His research project entitled, “Investigating the Effect of Acetaldehyde Dehydrogenase on Acetaldehyde Toxicity in Myocytes,” is seeking a treatment for alcohol induced cardiomyopathy. He plans to continue this research through the Fall 2006 semester under the mentorship of Dr. Jun Ren of the School of Pharmacy.

McNair is a graduate school preparation program for students interested in earning a Ph.D. degree. Program services include a paid research internship of $3,600, mentoring from UW faculty, GRE (Graduate Record Exam) preparation classes, academic support and tutoring, and assistance with the graduate school application process. A minimum 3.0 grade point average is required and students must have completed 60 hours of coursework to participate in the program. Burnett entered the program in Fall 2005.

Originally from Powell, Wyoming, Burnett attended Northwest College in Powell where he pursued a degree in engineering. While attending NWC he served as a math tutor and was a member of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society. He was an active participant in the IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) research project that involved investigating unknown bacteria from the tundra for antibiotic activity. In May 2005 he earned an Associates Degree in engineering from Northwest College.

Attracted to the outstanding research opportunities and the bioengineering option in electrical engineering, Burnett transferred to the University of Wyoming to pursue his B.S. in electrical engineering in Fall 2005. Being a Wyoming native, he also wanted to stay close to home. From his experiences in the classroom and the lab he feels UW provides great preparation for graduate school. His ultimate goal is to earn a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering. In addition, he would like to pursue graduate work in biochemical or neural engineering and specifically to conduct research involving targeted cancer drug delivery or neural prosthetics to provide a better quality of life for individuals in need.