Russell Sage College Nutrition Science major Kirsten Ackerman '15 was one of just 10 undergraduates from across the U.S. selected to participate in the National Science Foundation's prestigious Research Experience for Undergraduates at Oklahoma State University during the summer of 2014.
Ackerman worked in a lab that studies how iron intake affects cell function: She developed a cell culture model to represent how food components affect inflammation of the nervous tissue; developed a rat model to represent the relationships between iron deficiencies, food intake, weight and activity; and prepared tissue for use in future studies.
The NSF program is intended to introduce undergraduates to research careers and includes professional development seminars on topics ranging from research ethics to the graduate school application process. Ackerman said that she entered the program hoping to gain lab experience that would complement her clinical education, and left with a passion for research and a plan to attend graduate school.
This fall, she is submitting abstracts based on her summer research to the Experimental Biology Conference and the National Conference for Undergraduate Research and working with a graduate student and Ryan Mitchell, Ph.D., associate professor of nutrition, on a review article on nutritional research mineral methodology.
The Dean's List student is also a tennis standout andwas the 2012 and 2013 Skyline Conference Women's Tennis Player of the Year and a three-time Skyline Conference First Team All-Star. "I grew up playing tennis competitively and was always interested in the role of a well-balanced diet and success on the court," said Ackerman of her interest in the nutrition field. "I continue to use my interest and knowledge of nutrition to keep my body fueled for matches."
Ackerman wraps her stellar tennis career as a three-time first team performer and is the most decorated player in the program's history. A team co-captain this fall, she helped the Gators to a 7-8 record, while finishing as a 2014 ITA Northeast Singles Semifinalist. Over the course of the season, she posted 14-2 record in singles play, including a 3-1 record in league play and a 10-1 mark at the No. 1 singles position. On her career, she went 79-16 in her three seasons at Sage and produced a record of 44-5 in singles play and a 35-11 mark in doubles action.
