Genesis Hernandez is CCU’s first Amgen Scholars Program participant

Genesis Hernandez, a rising senior psychology major with concentrations in behavioral neuroscience and forensics and a minor in biology, recently became Coastal Carolina University’s first student accepted into the Amgen Scholars Program, an undergraduate research experience hosted at 14 premier educational institutions within the United States.

Hernandez was one of 10 undergraduates selected out of 250 applicants for a 10-week summer laboratory experience in the Roy and Diana Vagelos Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis, Mo. Amgen Scholars receive generous stipends, on-campus housing, and paid travel and transportation passes during their experience.

A first-generation college student from Beaufort, S.C., Hernandez is part of CCU’s HTC Honors program and a member of Psi Chi, the international honor society in psychology. After transferring from Technical College of the Lowcountry in Beaufort to CCU during her sophomore year, she gained valuable research experience under the mentorship of Andrew Terranova, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Psychology, and Melissa Baker, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology.

“It has been a pleasure working with Genesis in the lab and seeing her develop as a researcher,” said Baker. “I am so proud of her accomplishments and excited for her as she sets out on this wonderful adventure.”

Hernandez’s interest in genetics and its relationship with neuropsychiatric disorders attracted her to apply for Amgen Scholars.

“The program aims to support those who are interested in conducting biomedical research, especially those who come from underrepresented groups or do not have access to conduct research in their field of interest at their home institution,” she said. “I plan on pursuing a Ph.D. in clinical psychology and conducting research in the biomedical sciences, so I felt that the Amgen Scholars program would be a great stepping stone in my journey of becoming a scientist.”

Hernandez is participating in two research projects as part of her program. The first focuses on testing the reliability of C-reactive protein in healthy, older adults.

“The lab is looking at how reliable things in the blood are (such as protein and cell concentration) in predicting risk for certain disorders,” she said.

The second project investigates the relationships among polygenic risk scores (genetic risk), schizophrenia symptoms, and prenatal cannabis exposure.

In addition to conducting bioscience research with a faculty mentor and attending scientific seminars and workshops, Hernandez participates in social outings to engage with the St. Louis community. She also attended the Amgen Scholars North America Symposium July 12-14 at UCLA.

“I would like to thank my professors, mentors, and friends for assisting and supporting me in the application process,” Hernandez said.  

At CCU, Hernandez is conducting research with Baker in the Psychology, Law, Emotions, and Attitudes lab, examining the relationship between morality and views toward various legal issues. With Terranova, she is measuring whether empathy might be responsible for contagious yawning and the inhibition of antisocial behaviors.

For more information on the Amgen Scholars application process and other nationally competitive awards, contact the Office of National Scholarships at ons@coastal.edu.

Written by Kristyn Winch, HTC Honors College.