For Immediate Release
[Bethany, Oklahoma] - At the beginning of December, when most students were wrapping up their classes and preparing for finals, three SNU students were off to the nation’s capital to present their research “Environmental Predictors of Mosquito-Borne Diseases: Mentoring Future Scientists through Collaborative Research with NASA JPL.”
Victoria Peter, Devin Rovito, and Natalie Shreffler attended the Symposium for the MOSAICS December 6-8 at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., followed by the Annual Professional Scientific Meeting of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. December 9-13.
SNU Associate Professor of Biology Caio França, Ph.D., led the research alongside NASA scientist Erika Podest, Ph.D. According to Dr. França, their project focused on “identify[ing] environmental variables and land cover characteristics that best predict mosquito abundance, with the goal of uncovering species-specific conditions that could inform disease transmission risk.”
This exciting research was part of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) Summer Internship Program in La Cañada Flintridge, California. SNU students Victoria Peter, Devin Rovito, and Natalie Shreffler were hosted here for eight weeks and worked full-time in the research laboratory.
Undergraduate students Peter and Rovito presented this research at the Symposium for the MOSAICS, a NASA-funded program that develops new partnerships between NASA centers and non-R1 universities. Here, they were exposed to many other researchers and networking opportunities.
When asked about her experience, Peter said, “It was a really good experience where we discussed the importance of mentorship and self-advocacy. It was cool being around people with very different projects yet they had experience and skills that we could draw from and apply to our work.”
Additionally, Shreffler presented at the annual professional scientific meeting of the American Geophysical Union (AGU). This year, the conference had over 31,000 participants, making it the largest scientific conference in the world! She shared the stage with seasoned researchers from universities such as Berkeley, Rhode Island, and other NASA centers.
When asked about the symposium and conference attended by the students, França stated, “This was a remarkable experience for our students to connect with NASA scientists and partners. They shared their experiences with other students from across the country, received advice and insights from experienced scientists and NASA researchers, and networked.”
SNU is proud to be a university that invests in its students’ futures and values both faith and science in our pursuit of higher education. Please join us in congratulating Victoria Peter, Devin Rovito, Natalie Shreffler, and Caio França, Ph.D., for their esteemed accomplishments!
About Southern Nazarene University
Southern Nazarene University is a private Christian university located in Bethany, Oklahoma. Committed to a values-driven education, SNU offers students an environment where they can develop academically, spiritually, and socially. With a history of academic excellence, SNU continues to prepare students to become impactful leaders through its rigorous programs and close-knit community. For more information, please contact admissions@snu.edu.