Thanks to donors like you, the Dr. L.S. McClung Scholarship continues to generate income to support promising students.
McClung Scholarship
This award was established in 1987 by Cornelius F. Sterling (BA Bacteriology, 1942) to honor Dr. McClung.
About Leland S. McClung, Ph.D.
Professor Leland S. McClung, Ph.D., came to Indiana University in 1940, where he excelled as a professor, administrator, and researcher. McClung, who was internationally known for his research on anaerobic bacteria, created and then led for 25 years the Department of Bacteriology, which has now evolved into our microbiology program. In addition to building a model curriculum, McClung recruited prominent scientists for the department; the first faculty member he hired, Salvadore Luria, later became a Nobel Laureate.
According to Gary Sojka, former chair of Biology, “Professor McClung’s administrative talents were widely recognzied, appreciated, and sought after outside Indiana University.” Among his many esteemed positions, McClung was Vice President of the Society of Industrial Microbiology in 1958, President of the National Association for Biology Teachers in 1965, and the Archivist for the American Society for Microbiology. He also conducted numerous highly acclaimed summer institutes supported by the National Science Foundation that trained high school biology teachers in microbiology. Because of his experience running these institutes, the NSF later asked him to serve as a consultant to Taiwan and India. In 1980, he was awarded an honorary membership to the American Society of Microbiologists, one of the society’s highest distinctions.
2023 Dr. L.S. McClung Scholar: Andres Garcia Mato
Andres works in Professor Kay Choi's lab where he studies the structure and interaction between poliovirus 3C protease and stem-loop D RNA. The research involves purifying protein and RNA, gel-based assays, and crystallization. He hopes to have the opportunity to study RNA viruses to a deeper degree, especially the influenza virus in future research projects. Andres is also interested in pathogenic fungi in humans and is eager to take part in the research of constructing more effective methods for dealing with fungal infections that do not cause severe reactions to the host. He developed this interest from the recent spike in research in pathogenic fungi from the growing rate of infections and how the current methods of treatment pose equal harm to the host and the targeted fungal infection. Andres will use the McClung Scholarship to support his research over the summer as well as research projects during future semesters.
2023 Dr. L.S. McClung Scholar: Lauren “Wren” Garcia
Wren is a sophomore undergraduate student pursuing a B.S. in Microbiology and B.A. in Philosophy, with hopes of ultimately attending graduate school to pursue a Ph.D. in Microbiology. She works in Professor Richard Hardy's virology lab as a research associate, examining the role of the catalytic pseudouridine synthase DKC1 and its possible effects on alphavirus replication. In addition, Wren is interning in the Drug Discovery and Development department at Eli Lilly this summer in Indianapolis. Wren is a teaching assistant in the ASURE Genome Engineering Lab lead by Lecturer Michael Manzella and is a member of the professional chemistry fraternity Alpha Chi Sigma (Epsilon Chapter). In her spare time, she loves to crochet, be around friends, and play with her cat Harry.
2023 Dr. L.S. McClung Scholar: Kyle Kristoff
Kyle will be a senior this fall and is particularly interested in bacterial endospores, mainly their entry and exit from hibernation. Outside of science and school, Kyle enjoys Dungeons and Dragons, the outdoors, and the arts! This award will allow them to worry less about finances their senior year and focus on applying to PhD programs and enjoying their senior year.
2023 Dr. L.S. McClung Scholar: Delilah Perry
Delilah works for Associate Professor Eduardo Ximenes in the IU School of Public Health. She works on a project through the FDA where she uses microbiological techniques to detect Salmonella in ground meat. After graduation, Delilah plans to get a job in microbiology and environmental health.
2023 Dr. L.S. McClung Scholar: Fernando Santos
Fernando Santos is a member of Professor Jenn Lau’s lab where has been helping organize and classify the biomass samples harvested from the greenhouses. He has also served as a UTA for Lecturer Megan Murphy’s BIOL-X 325 ASURE immune response and behavior class for a year and a half. Fernando volunteers at Middleway House in the youth department and at Generosity Feeds. He plans to pursue a PhD in the microbiology field.
2023 Dr. L.S. McClung Scholar: Lindsey Way
Lindsay is a junior majoring in Microbiology and Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures. She is a member of Assistant Professor Xindan Wang’s lab where she studies chromosome organization in B. subtilis and E. coli. Lindsay plans to pursue a PhD in Molecular Biology and a career in academia.
About the Dr. L.S. McClung Scholarship
The McClung Scholarship was established in 1987 by Cornelius "Con" F. Sterling. Sterling earned his B.A. in 1942. He was the first Indiana University undergraduate to receive a degree in bacteriology, the precursor to our current microbiology program. The award honors Professor L.S. McClung, who was chair of the Bacteriology Department when Sterling was a student.
The scholarship is available to in-state microbiology majors who excel academically and plan to work in the field of or pursue a graduate degree in microbiology.
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