CBM² Researcher Awarded at 2025 National Diversity in STEM Conference

LAWRENCE – Boluwatife Dosunmu, a graduate research assistant with the Soper Group, won the Outstanding Research Presentation Award (Analytical Division) at the 2025 National Diversity in STEM (NDiSTEM) conference. The conference, hosted by the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics & Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) and sponsored by the American Chemical Society, was held in Columbus, Ohio from October 30–November 1.

In her current project, Boluwatife uses tools developed in the Center of BioModular Multi-Scale Systems for Precision Medicine (CBM²) to more effectively isolate certain extracelluar vesicles (EVs). These EVs have the potential to act as biomarkers for ovarian cancer, which could improve early detection methods and result in better treatment outcomes.

SACNAS was founded in 1973 by Dr. Alonzo Atencio and 16 other scientists from various fields with a sponsored fund from the National Institutes of Health. Since the first official meeting—held in Lawrence at Haskell Indian Nations University—SACNAS has convened annually at board meetings and NDiSTEM conferences. According to their website, SACNAS currently has over 8,000 members with the goal to "advocate for important issues related to the intersections between science, culture, and community."