Megan Prasse displays her research

Undergraduate biophysics major Megan Prasse presented her research at the 49th Annual Meeting of the Biophysical Society last month as the sole researcher on her paper, an uncommon accomplishment for undergraduates, who typically only assist in laboratory work. Prasse has been working with Dr. Craig Gatto, Associate Professor of Physiology and Biophysics, for the past two years, and her project will be culminating in a senior thesis, which she will defend later this semester.

“Megan has been a brilliant addition to the laboratory,” Gatto proclaimed. “She stuck with her scientific pursuits for two years (including staying during the summer) and over the last 12-15 months has been making significant scientific contributions to the laboratory. Indeed, it is Megan's hard work and dedication that has allowed her to successfully complete a story from beginning to end.”

With the Illinois Telecommunications Act due to sunset in June 2005, the workshop was held at a very critical time. Lawmakers are considering profound changes in technology and in the marketplace that have occurred since the last legislative revision. Equitable cost sharing arrangements must be put into place for social programs and responsibilities, and the proper role of government intervention in the emerging telecommunications marketplace must be considered.

The Institute for Regulatory Policy Studies, created in 1997, serves the electricity, natural gas, and telecommunications industries and the regulatory community. The Institute’s agenda includes education, communication, and research on policy issues of interest to consumers, regulators, and utilities in Illinois and throughout the nation.