SU's Alessandrini Earns 2022 ASCLS Student Paper Award

SALISBURY, MD---Salisbury University junior Emily Alessandrini was named the 2022 Student Paper Award winner by the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (ASCLS). 

Alessandrini, a medical laboratory science major from Quantico, MD, and member of SU’s Glenda Chatham and Robert G. Clarke Honors College, submitted her honors thesis paper, “Survivability of Clinically Significant Organisms on Blood Glucose Test Strips,” to the national competition of the Education Scientific Assembles at ASCLS. 

The research, completed with faculty mentor Dr. Diane Davis, chair of SU’s Medical Laboratory Science Program, included testing the survivability of clinically significant bacteria and yeast on glucose test strips used to assess blood sugar in diabetics. When diabetics prick their skin to test blood glucose, if the strips are contaminated with microorganisms, they can be infected. Infections are problematic in anyone, but particularly in diabetics, making the results of this study impactful to many.

The award is not the first accolade Alessandrini has earned for this research. She received a national American Proficiency Institute (API) scholarship and a University Student Academic Research Award (USARA) grant, and her work was selected for presentation at the 2021 Northeast Regional Honors Council (NRHC) Annual Conference and the 2021 National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR). 

The award will be presented at the 2022 ASCLS annual meeting in Grand Rapids, MI. 

Learn more about how SU students and faculty are exploring opportunities for greatness and making tomorrow theirs at www.salisbury.edu.