Thriving in Science

A student speaking with a faculty member. — Kiserian Jackson '18 explains his team's study of hemocytic neoplasia, a disease that affects hard clams, to Karen Bilotti (left), associate director for ��Դ��'s Tutorial Support Service, at ��Դ��'s fifth annual Student Academic Showcase and Honors.

Kiserian Jackson, ��Դ�� Class of 2018

Alumni

Even before Kiserian Jackson, from Brockton, Massachusetts, was one of nineteen ��Դ�� students who presented scientific research projects at the 10th Annual Rhode Island Summer Undergraduate Research Fellows (SURF) Conference, he had been recognized by ��Դ�� as a young leader capable of accomplishing great things.

In 2014, Jackson was selected as a recipient of ��Դ��’s Intercultural Leadership Ambassador Program & Scholarship, which provides a full-tuition scholarship to students from diverse backgrounds who demonstrate great academic and leadership potential. ILAPS, through its financial and personal support, has allowed him to thrive at ��Դ�� and take full advantage of the opportunities he's come across here, such as his experience as a SURF fellow.

There, Jackson conducted PCR (polymerase chain reaction) testing of eastern oysters infected with a common bacterium (Vibrio parahaemolyticus) that can be pathogenic to humans who consume raw oysters. Together with ��Դ�� Professor Roxanna Smolowitz and ��Դ�� Aquatic Diagnostic Laboratory Technician Abbey Scro, he investigated whether oysters infected with three common diseases — — are more prone to accumulate more of the bacteria (Vibrio parahaemolyticus) than an uninfected or mildly infected oyster, to help inform the state’s Shellfish Management Plan.

The experience required full-time lab work, he says, allowing him to get first-hand experience and has helped prepare him for post-graduate studies and a career in science. He is starting a Ph.D. program in molecular and cell biology at UMass-Amherst.

Additional Stories

Creative Writing and Legal Studies Inform Social Justice Work
Ashley Barton, ��Դ�� Class of 2015
Creative Writing Major + Legal Studies Major
Passionate and dedicated efforts toward social equity and justice have gained significant momentum across campus over the past few years. A strong embodiment of this work is alumna Ashley Barton.
Exploring Refuge
Cayley Dorr, ��Դ�� Class of 2017
Dance and Performance Studies Major
Learning an art form is a difficult task in and of itself, but using that art form as a tool for social justice is the work of artistic activism. Cayley Dorr worked with Professor Cathy Nicoli and her Advanced Choreography class to express what they’d learned about the refugee crisis through the medium they are passionate about.
Bakery Owner Jillian Hopke '02 Appears on The Food Network
Jillian Hopke, ��Դ�� Class of 2002
Marketing Major
From dancing at Walt Disney World, to showing off her baking skills on television’s Food Network, Roger Williams alumna and baker Jillian Hopke lives every day full of excitement and, of course, sugar! Since graduating from the Gabelli School of Business in 2002, thousands have fallen in love with Jillian’s tasty and unique baked goods, leading to business venture, “Jillycakes,” a bakery owned and operated by Jillian herself.