Calvin biochemistry major receives national honor for scientific research

Susanna Lynch, a 21-year old senior biochemistry major, has won the top prize in the Biophysics and Quantitative biology category of the 2009 Frank and Sara McKnight Awards in Molecular Sciences.

Lynch is one of nine students nationwide and the first Calvin student to win a McKnight award, which recognizes college seniors with a commitment to scientific research and a record of academic achievement. The award comes with a $2,000 cash prize.

"It is truly impressive that Susanna was the only finalist selected from a liberal arts college," said Lynch's research mentor, Calvin chemistry professor Kumar Sinniah. "Often these types of awards go to undergraduate students from large research universities and students working in well-known research labs."

Lynch won the McKnight after presenting her research at a poster session - part of a scientific retreat for McKnight finalists held November 6-8, 2009, at the University of Texas Southwestern in Dallas. Her research is titled: "Single molecule force-pulling on guanine quadruplex DNA." Lynch has already published her research in one European journal.

For a complete list of McKnight Award winners, visit http://www.utsouthwestern.edu/home/news/

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Matt Kucinski
Media Relations Manager
Calvin College
msk23@calvin.edu
616.526.8935 (office)
616.307.7429 (cell)
Received on Fri Feb 5 15:07:15 2010