PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (September 2, 2021) – Two Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) undergraduate students recently participated in a research experience sponsored by the National Science Foundation. Biology major and Honors Program students Emily Irikannu and Ehiguese Obiomon spent three weeks at The University of Texas at Austin (UT) as fellows of the Nexus of Food-Energy-Water-Systems (FEWS) Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU).
Ehiguese Obiomon (center)
“I gained so much from the program,” Obiomon said. “I learned that research and science, in general, are not as intimidating or challenging.”
The undergraduates worked on various projects with UT Cockrell School of Engineering researchers at the intersection of human health and engineering. They addressed social justice issues related to food, energy and water. Student participants gained laboratory experience, collaborated with interdisciplinary researchers across campus and learned what to expect in graduate school.
“The FEWS REU project has been training a new generation of students in developing transformative and globally relevant solutions,” said PVAMU Endowed Professor of Water Security and Water-Energy-Food Nexus Ali Fares, Ph.D. “I am happy to serve as co-principal investigator on this project alongside Professor Charles Werth from the University of Texas at Austin, who is the principal investigator.”
Emily Irikannu (center)
Obiomon got a chance to collaborate with Werth’s research group on a project evaluating the potential to store carbon dioxide in deep saline aquifers. Scientists have said these devices could mitigate climate change in the long run.
Obiomon also worked with UT Professor Kerry Kinney and STEM professionals from UT’s School of Nursing and Dell Medical School as part of the Whole Communities–Whole Health Bridging Barriers Initiative. The team is studying the link between household contaminants and respiratory issues in children, such as asthma.
“Many of the faculty and Ph.D. students I worked with are just regular people who applied themselves,” Obiomon said. “If I do the same, I can also conduct research and understand complex scientific topics.”
Irikannu worked with UT Professor Mary Jo Kirisits and studied a bacterial pathogen, Legionella pneumophila, which causes a severe and deadly form of pneumonia called Legionnaires’ disease. Unfortunately, this pathogen can develop in natural water environments and large plumbing networks. The research project aims to advance point-of-use technology to control Legionella pneumophila. The most common type of point-of-use system today is a reverse osmosis drinking water system.
“While in the lab, I learned many skills,” Irikannu said. “Overall, working in the UT Austin lab increased my research interest, and I am very grateful to have had this opportunity.”
“We were fortunate to have Emily and Ehiguese at UT this summer,” Werth said. “It was a win-win situation for us – they brought great energy and enthusiasm to our labs, and our graduate students were able to practice mentoring and introducing new learning tools and experiences. We hope to host more students from Prairie View A&M in the future.”
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