WNC Students Showcase Hands-On Scientific Research Across Carson City and Fallon Campuses

Western Nevada College News

Western Nevada College students took center stage on Friday, Dec. 12, as they presented original scientific research during a poster session in the Aspen Building, highlighting hands-on learning experiences conducted on the Carson City and Fallon campuses and beyond.

Students summarized their research on professional posters and presented their findings to faculty, staff, family members and friends, offering a glimpse into real-world scientific inquiry ranging from environmental microbiology to molecular biology.

Students Test the Water at Bridgeport Reservoir

On the Carson City campus, students conducted a study of microbes found in Bridgeport Reservoir in California, gaining valuable experience in field research, laboratory analysis and scientific communication.

Participating students included Nidal Abdelhady, Maddison Fuggles, Christina Sosa, Jose Salinas Aparicio, Aiden Jacklett and Tierra Mackay. The project was led by Dr. Elizabeth Tattersall, professor of biology and chemistry, with additional faculty support from Dr. Christian Copley Salem and Dr. Smriti Bhattarai.

"This year's research required students to conduct their work during the academic semester due to a temporary pause in grant funding," Tattersall said. "While that came with challenges, it also allowed students to integrate research directly into their coursework. They learned essential lab skills, how to maintain a lab notebook, how to prepare and present a poster, and - most importantly - what it's like to do real research when you don't know the answer in advance."

Fallon Campus Research: Molecular Biology in Action

On the Fallon campus, students worked on a molecular biology project titled "Characterization of Cyclooxygenase-1 and Cyclooxygenase-2 mRNA Splice Variants in Human Macrophages." All laboratory work was conducted on campus, with a field trip to the University of Nevada, Reno, where students delivered samples for sequencing.

Fallon research students included Eliza Darvo, Richard Gomez, Jilliana Morales and Christina Robinson. The project was led by Dr. Brian Prince, chemistry and biology instructor, with support from Dr. Gary Evett, professor emeritus.

"The benefits to students from this experience are incredible," Prince said. "Many of them plan to pursue science-related careers, and having this level of research experience so early truly sets them apart. Beyond strengthening their résumés, they learned fundamental molecular biology techniques and discovered how exciting and rewarding research can be."

WNC Fallon campus student Richard Gomez, who is graduating this semester with an Associate of Science degree and plans to pursue a bachelor's degree in General Chemistry at UNR, said the experience exceeded his expectations.

"It was fun," Gomez said. "Once I got into it, I realized how much I enjoyed doing science again. I learned that I'm a lot more organized than I thought I was - especially when it comes to making sure my methods are correct. I'd tell anyone who's even a little interested in science to give it a try. You never know what you'll discover about yourself."

Become Part of a 2026 Research Group

Applications for future student research opportunities will be available around March, with eligibility for students who have taken or are currently enrolled in CHEM 121 or BIOL 190. WNC expects to offer a three-week research program in early summer 2026.

For more information about research opportunities at Western Nevada College, contact Dr. Elizabeth Tattersall at [email protected] or Dr. Brian Prince at [email protected].