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WWU grad student Jessi Gauvin researching new treatments for Alzheimer's Disease

1 week 1 day ago
WWU grad student Jessi Gauvin researching new treatments for Alzheimer's Disease thomps94 Wed, 03/20/2024 - 10:05am Initial funding for her work came from a Research and Creative Opportunities Grant from RSP

Jessi Gauvin is a graduate student of experimental psychology at Western who studies Alzheimer’s disease. Gauvin says she’s drawn to this kind of research because of the complexity of neurodegenerative diseases and the need to develop more effective treatment. Last spring, Gauvin received a Research and Creative Opportunities Grant from Western to help fund her research.

As an undergraduate, Gauvin was a criminal justice and political science major at Washington State University. While there, she took a biopsychology class that stuck with her and, over time, ignited her passion for psychology. She went on to graduate with her BA in criminal justice and political science, then decided to shift her focus. Now, after a couple of free online classes that helped narrow her interests, she’s a grad student at WWU conducting exciting research on therapeutic treatments for Alzheimer’s disease.   

Jessi Gauvin

Gauvin’s research advisor is WWU Professor of Psychology Jacqueline Rose, who runs the Rose lab and specializes in neuroplasticity and behavior. Research in the Rose lab, which is attached to the Behavioral Neuroscience Program within the Psychology Department, uses a type of microscopic worm, C. elegans, as a model organism for studying behavior and learning. The C. elegans model system allows researchers in the lab to investigate how neurons react and modify themselves depending on stimuli changes.

Though most Rose lab research typically focuses on C. elegans and learning, research on Alzheimer’s disease is unique to Gauvin.

“I’m very grateful to Dr. Rose for passing this research on to me,” Gauvin said.

Gauvin studies the effect of ferulic acid on Alzheimer’s disease. Ferulic acid is an antioxidant compound commonly found in fruits, vegetables, coffee, and teas. According to Gauvin, new research suggests that antioxidants like ferulic acid might be linked to a delay in the onset of Alzheimer’s disease in some patients. To study this link, Gauvin feeds ferulic acid to an Alzheimer’s model of C. elegans to observe whether the introduction of ferulic acid causes any changes in the behavior or receptor expression in the worms.  

Gauvin works in collaboration with undergraduate students like Caitlyn Croppi, who assists with setting up and monitoring the worms. Gauvin’s Research and Creative Opportunities Grant allowed her to purchase essential materials for the PCR testing portion of her research. Currently, Gauvin is finishing up the last stages of qRT-PCR testing and will analyze the results in the coming months.  

After she graduates from Western, Gauvin hopes to work in a lab with C. elegans and is particularly interested in conducting more research on gut microbiomes and probiotics.  

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thomps94

WWU grad student Jessi Gauvin researching new treatments for Alzheimer's Disease

1 week 1 day ago
WWU grad student Jessi Gauvin researching new treatments for Alzheimer's Disease thomps94 Wed, 03/20/2024 - 10:05am Initial funding for her work came from a Research and Creative Opportunities Grant from RSP

Jessi Gauvin is a graduate student of experimental psychology at Western who studies Alzheimer’s disease. Gauvin says she’s drawn to this kind of research because of the complexity of neurodegenerative diseases and the need to develop more effective treatment. Last spring, Gauvin received a Research and Creative Opportunities Grant from Western to help fund her research.

As an undergraduate, Gauvin was a criminal justice and political science major at Washington State University. While there, she took a biopsychology class that stuck with her and, over time, ignited her passion for psychology. She went on to graduate with her BA in criminal justice and political science, then decided to shift her focus. Now, after a couple of free online classes that helped narrow her interests, she’s a grad student at WWU conducting exciting research on therapeutic treatments for Alzheimer’s disease.   

Jessi Gauvin

Gauvin’s research advisor is WWU Professor of Psychology Jacqueline Rose, who runs the Rose lab and specializes in neuroplasticity and behavior. Research in the Rose lab, which is attached to the Behavioral Neuroscience Program within the Psychology Department, uses a type of microscopic worm, C. elegans, as a model organism for studying behavior and learning. The C. elegans model system allows researchers in the lab to investigate how neurons react and modify themselves depending on stimuli changes.

Though most Rose lab research typically focuses on C. elegans and learning, research on Alzheimer’s disease is unique to Gauvin.

“I’m very grateful to Dr. Rose for passing this research on to me,” Gauvin said.

Gauvin studies the effect of ferulic acid on Alzheimer’s disease. Ferulic acid is an antioxidant compound commonly found in fruits, vegetables, coffee, and teas. According to Gauvin, new research suggests that antioxidants like ferulic acid might be linked to a delay in the onset of Alzheimer’s disease in some patients. To study this link, Gauvin feeds ferulic acid to an Alzheimer’s model of C. elegans to observe whether the introduction of ferulic acid causes any changes in the behavior or receptor expression in the worms.  

Gauvin works in collaboration with undergraduate students like Caitlyn Croppi, who assists with setting up and monitoring the worms. Gauvin’s Research and Creative Opportunities Grant allowed her to purchase essential materials for the PCR testing portion of her research. Currently, Gauvin is finishing up the last stages of qRT-PCR testing and will analyze the results in the coming months.  

After she graduates from Western, Gauvin hopes to work in a lab with C. elegans and is particularly interested in conducting more research on gut microbiomes and probiotics.  

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thomps94

‘We actually don’t know much’: the scientists trying to close the knowledge gap in trans healthcare

1 week 2 days ago
‘We actually don’t know much’: the scientists trying to close the knowledge gap in trans healthcare thomps94 Tue, 03/19/2024 - 10:26am

When Cameron Whitley was diagnosed with kidney failure seven years ago, the news came as a shock. But the situation was about to get worse. His doctor decided the diagnosis meant Whitley’s hormone therapy had to stop.

As a transgender man, now 42, who had taken testosterone for 10 years, the impact was brutal.

“Not only was I struggling with this new diagnosis that I’m in stage four kidney failure, now I’m being told that I can no longer have hormones,” said Whitley, an associate professor in the department of sociology at Western Washington University. “I cannot describe how horrible that moment was.”

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thomps94

‘We actually don’t know much’: the scientists trying to close the knowledge gap in trans healthcare

1 week 2 days ago
‘We actually don’t know much’: the scientists trying to close the knowledge gap in trans healthcare thomps94 Tue, 03/19/2024 - 10:26am

When Cameron Whitley was diagnosed with kidney failure seven years ago, the news came as a shock. But the situation was about to get worse. His doctor decided the diagnosis meant Whitley’s hormone therapy had to stop.

As a transgender man, now 42, who had taken testosterone for 10 years, the impact was brutal.

“Not only was I struggling with this new diagnosis that I’m in stage four kidney failure, now I’m being told that I can no longer have hormones,” said Whitley, an associate professor in the department of sociology at Western Washington University. “I cannot describe how horrible that moment was.”

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thomps94

When this longtime WWU staffer retired in 2022, she made sure to leave a legacy for future students

1 month ago
When this longtime WWU staffer retired in 2022, she made sure to leave a legacy for future students thomps94 Wed, 02/28/2024 - 11:11am Dee Dee Lombard retired in 2022 after 37 years at WWU Dee Dee Lombard retired last year after 37 years of service to Western. This image was taken on her first day of work at the university in 1986.

In 2022, DeeDee Lombard retired from Western after 37 years of service to the university. Now, she’s partnering with the Philosophy Department to help support current and future students with a new scholarship. We talked to Dee Dee about her time at the university, and why it meant so much to her to leave a legacy for future students.

How did you get your start at Western?

My aunt (Prof Barbera Unger) was teaching in the Finance/Marketing department at Western and had been encouraging me to check out employment at the university for several years. In 1985 I applied for a position in the Cashiers Office and was hired that spring. While on maternity leave in 1986 I applied for an administrative position in the Chemistry Department and started there in September, 1986.

When did you move to Philosophy?

I transferred to the Philosophy Department in 1993 to take on a higher-level administrative position (Secretary Supervisor) and ended my career as an Administrative Services Manager. This job change was perfect for me and my 2 young children as it started out as a 9 month/6-hour position which allowed me to have time off in the summer and be with them before and after school.

What’s one happy memory from your time in philosophy, or something you miss about the job?

I enjoyed working with the Philosophy Club officers on their annual Philosophy Student Conference, advising transfer students during summer session, mentoring students throughout the year, and helping in the scholarship process every spring. I was blessed to work with so many fantastic Professors and students/majors while working in the department—I was always treated with respect and felt like part of a family.

What have you been up to during retirement?

I have been spending time with family and friends, but especially love the extra time I have with my grandkids, Billie Annemarie (8) and Matthew (6). I’ve been able to help with school field trips, picking them up after school, having sleep overs, and vacations together.

I have also been enjoying traveling; Napa/Sonoma/Sierra Foothills, Las Vegas and a trip to Switzerland/France/Luxemburg/England where my husband and I were finally able to celebrate our 40th Anniversary, my 65th birthday, and retirement (which all happened during Covid). We are organizing an Alaska cruise this year and will be taking a train trip to Banff, Canada in the fall.

How did you first get the idea to start a scholarship in your family’s honor?

I volunteered for the scholarship department for several years screening student applications and while working in the Chemistry and Philosophy departments I helped in the scholarship process and knew how important scholarships are to students to be able to continue their education.

When my aunt, Barbara Unger, passed away in 2019 she blessed me with some money and I thought she would be pleased for some of that money to go to students at WWU where she and I both worked.

Are there any particular hopes that you have for the scholarship?

My hope is that it will give students a little peace of mind knowing that they are getting help with a small part of their education and to be able to list it on applications if they decide to continue their education after WWU or on a job application. Our family feels blessed to be able to help in a small way to help students in their educational career at WWU .

Plans for the DeNora Lombard Family Scholarship in Philosophy were finalized this quarter, and the first annual award will be given out in the spring. The scholarship is made possible by a generous gift from the Lombard family, along with support from the Philosophy Department and other donors. Those wishing to contribute in honor of DeeDee can do so by going to the Western Gives page and searching for the Lombard Scholarship.

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thomps94

Get paid to speak your language! Linguistics seeks speakers of languages not taught at WWU

1 month 3 weeks ago
Get paid to speak your language! Linguistics seeks speakers of languages not taught at WWU thomps94 Mon, 02/05/2024 - 10:07am

Did you grow up speaking a language other than English? Is that language not taught at WWU? Are you interested in learning more about your language?

Linguistics is the scientific study of language. Through detailed interviews with language speakers, linguists explore the sounds, grammar and meaning of the world’s languages. The Linguistics Department at WWU is seeking a language consultant for Spring 2024. If this work sounds interesting to you, reach out to us!

Language consultants should expect to participate in several interviews a week with researchers at WWU throughout Spring Quarter, 2024, about 10 weeks. They will be paid a rate of $30/hour.

This position will be in-person at the WWU main campus in Bellingham.

If you’re interested in learning more, contact the research team at virginia.dawson@wwu.edu.

Contact: Virginia Dawson, virginia.dawson@wwu.edu

Hours/Week: 6-10 hours/week

Pay Rate: $30/hour

Job Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2 p.m. to 3:50 p.m., plus additional time as needed.

Job Duration: 04/02/2024-06/14/2024

AA/EO.  For disability accommodation, please contact Sara Helms, 360-650-3914, helmss@wwu.edu

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thomps94

Get paid to speak your language! Linguistics seeks speakers of languages not taught at WWU

1 month 3 weeks ago
Get paid to speak your language! Linguistics seeks speakers of languages not taught at WWU thomps94 Mon, 02/05/2024 - 10:07am

Did you grow up speaking a language other than English? Is that language not taught at WWU? Are you interested in learning more about your language?

Linguistics is the scientific study of language. Through detailed interviews with language speakers, linguists explore the sounds, grammar and meaning of the world’s languages. The Linguistics Department at WWU is seeking a language consultant for Spring 2024. If this work sounds interesting to you, reach out to us!

Language consultants should expect to participate in several interviews a week with researchers at WWU throughout Spring Quarter, 2024, about 10 weeks. They will be paid a rate of $30/hour.

This position will be in-person at the WWU main campus in Bellingham.

If you’re interested in learning more, contact the research team at virginia.dawson@wwu.edu.

Contact: Virginia Dawson, virginia.dawson@wwu.edu

Hours/Week: 6-10 hours/week

Pay Rate: $30/hour

Job Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2 p.m. to 3:50 p.m., plus additional time as needed.

Job Duration: 04/02/2024-06/14/2024

AA/EO.  For disability accommodation, please contact Sara Helms, 360-650-3914, helmss@wwu.edu

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