Story and photos by Logan Jackson
- Ajay Tosh – junior biological sciences and neuroscience double major
- Research Mentor: David Beversdorf, professor of radiology, neurology and psychological sciences; a practicing neurologist with MU Health Care; affiliate faculty in the Honors College
While Ajay Tosh’s research journey at the University of Missouri began during his freshman year, he has been able to take his work to the next level this summer through the Cherng Summer Scholars program.
“It’s really nice to have funding to amplify work that I’m passionate about,” said Tosh, a junior biological sciences and neuroscience double major. “I’ve never been paid to conduct research – and this program is providing important support for me throughout the summer. It’s great that I can put all my focus into my research and not have to worry about the money aspect.”
The Cherng Summer Scholars program, supported by a gift from Peggy and Andrew Cherng, is a nine-week research or creative scholarship program for Mizzou students pursuing the Honors Certificate. The program allows students to participate in individually designed projects under the mentorship of a Mizzou faculty member. Students also take part in a weekly seminar course and present their research findings during Mizzou Office of Undergraduate Research’s Summer Forum.
For Tosh, presenting his research is a vital part of the process.
“I think science communication is extremely important,” Tosh said. “I think oftentimes within research it feels like it’s publish or perish. Scientific publications are extremely complex, especially for individuals who aren’t in those specific fields. With events like poster presentations, you must simplify the science and make it understandable for a wide variety of audiences. It’s great for young researchers, and it truly allows us to explain the why behind our projects.”
This summer, Tosh is researching docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an omega-3 fatty acid vital for brain health, eye function and reducing inflammation. His project aims to study how DHA supplementation modulates brain volume using mouse models with autism spectrum disorder to see if the acid has any positive effects on the condition.
Tosh conducted a previous study looking at the behavioral effects of DHA. He is now analyzing that data.
“One of my primary goals this summer is to go through the giant database of information I have to find any interesting connections,” Tosh said. “I’ll pair those findings with previous and current literature to see what future research could be conducted. It’s definitely a lot of work and a lot of data, but it’s good practice. I enjoy compiling everything and using the statistical programs and software to keep the data organized.”
Tosh is working with David Beversdorf this summer. Beversdorf, a professor of radiology, neurology and psychological sciences, is a practicing neurologist with MU Health Care and is also affiliate faculty in the Honors College. Tosh has conducted research with Beversdorf throughout his two years at Mizzou.
“I knew research was something I wanted to pursue when I first got to Mizzou,” Tosh said. “I also wanted to start off strong. I reached out to Dr. Beversdorf and have been incredibly fortunate to work with him for the past two years.”
Along with leading his own project, Tosh said he has enjoyed discussing research with his peers through the Cherng Summer Scholars program. The weekly class allows students to share wins, talk through challenges and develop ways to showcase their work in a variety of settings.
“Josiah (Anderson) is using the scholarship to write a novel, which is obviously completely different than my project,” Tosh said. “However, it’s interesting to see how our work is actually quite similar currently. He has his rough draft and is making edits, going through revisions and adding sections to improve the flow of the book. I’m going through my data, creating a rough outline of the findings and highlighting sections that need to be emphasized. It’s cool to see how the program brings together students from different fields who are equally passionate about their work.”
Tosh will continue his research this fall after receiving a Mizzou Forward Undergraduate Research Training Grant.