Eastern Michigan University senior Jacquelyn Roberts awarded prestigious Graduate Research Fellowship to pursue doctoral studies in biochemistry

Jacquelyn Roberts and Steven Backues in the lab.

YPSILANTI – Jacquelyn Roberts, an Eastern Michigan University senior majoring in biochemistry, has been awarded a Graduate Research Fellowship Program award by the National Science Foundation.

The highly prestigious award will provide her three years of support (including an annual stipend) to pursue a graduate degree at an institution of her choice. Roberts has been accepted into the Program in Biomedical Sciences (PiBS) Ph.D. program at the University of Michigan, and plans to begin her studies there in fall 2020.

Roberts (at left in photo above) has been doing mentored research in the lab of Steven Backues (at right), a professor of biochemistry, in the University’s department of chemistry since fall 2017.

Her research has focused on understanding how proteins control the size and number of specialized structures inside cells called autophagosomes, which help keep the cells healthy and help them survive starvation conditions, Backues says.

Roberts is a contributing author to a publication from Backues’ lab, has presented her research at two Undergraduate Symposiums, and has completed a senior honors thesis. In addition, she was a Perrigo Fellow at the University of Michigan Life Sciences Institute during summer 2019, where she did research in the lab of Dr. Melanie Ohi, who encouraged her to apply for the award.

The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) is open to applicants in their senior year of undergraduate study or during their first year of graduate study. Applicants submit a personal statement and proposed research plan.

“My research experiences at Eastern helped me realize that I wanted to continue pursuing science in grad school,” Roberts said. “I am extremely grateful for the faculty members that helped me improve my writing over the years. I’m really lucky to have Dr. Backues as a mentor, because he is a great writer and is passionate about good science writing.”

Backues says that Roberts’ experience writing research proposals for EMU awards such as the Undergraduate Research Stimulus Program and Honors Research Fellowships helped to prepare her to compete for the fellowship.

"Jacquelyn has made research a top priority since she first started at EMU,” Backues said. “Her enthusiasm for science and dedication in the lab are apparent to everyone who knows her, and have really paid off.

“There were many people from EMU who helped Jacquelyn get to this point, including biology professor Hannah Seidel and EMU graduate Shahana Chumki, both previous winners who gave Jacquelyn valuable advice as she applied. But I think that the biggest factor in her success was her hard work on her proposal, and the opportunities she has taken advantage of to develop her research and writing skills."    

More information about the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program is available here.

Backues notes there are about 2,000 of the GRFP fellowships awarded nationally each year, but they mostly go to students at larger, research-based universities or who have already started their graduate studies. 

“These awards are quite competitive,” Backues says. “I know because I applied twice when I was starting grad school and couldn't get one - so I'm very proud of Jacquelyn, that she has surpassed her teacher!”

About Eastern Michigan University

Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest public university in Michigan. It currently serves nearly 18,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Engineering and Technology; Health and Human Services; and, its graduate school. EMU is regularly recognized by national publications for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University's website.

April 08, 2020

Written by:
Geoff Larcom

Media Contact:
Geoff Larcom
glarcom@emich.edu
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