Crownpoint, NM – On Thursday, November 7, 2024, the Navajo Technical University School of Science and Biology program hosted its annual Biology Symposium at the Crownpoint Campus inside the Hospitality Center.
The symposium, which took place from 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., was open to the public for in-person and online attendance. During the event, a panel of four current and former students from the Biology program shared their experiences with the program and the research conducted at NTU. Dr. Palmer Netongo emphasized the significance of the Biology Symposium during the official opening ceremony, led by the Chair of the School of Science, Prof. Irene Ane Anyangwe, and NTU Provost, Dr. Bowman.
Several Navajo Technical University (NTU) students participated in summer internships and secured graduate placements. Notable among them are Layla James, Francesca Noble (from the NARI Program), Makeiyla Begay, and Bianca Todacheenie.
Kyra Capitan, a student in the NTU Biology Program, served as the keynote speaker at the symposium. Her presentation, titled “Taking Advantage of Internship Opportunities,” focused on her academic journey and the research she conducted at NTU, which helped her gain admission to Harvard University. She thanked the NTU Biology faculty for supporting and encouraging her educational pursuits. Kyra also shared her aspiration to return and educate future generations of the Navajo Nation.
With the guidance of Dr. Irene Ane Anyangwe, Kyra had the opportunity to secure two summer internships at Harvard University. This experience allowed her to engage with leading scientific researchers, which proved transformative. She was exposed to cutting-edge research and had the chance to interact with some of the brightest minds in the scientific community.
Several NTU Biology students also researched issues affecting Navajo communities. Their projects included Debra Tolino’s “Comparative Analysis of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Coliform Contamination from Wells, Springs, and Municipal Water,” Avery Begay’s “Endophytic Fungi: Possible Source of Pinyon Tree Decline,” David Willie’s “Novel Soil Antibiotics against Mycobacterium smegmatis: A Model for Mycobacterium tuberculosis,” Della Wilson’s research on “Air Microbes with Possible Antimicrobial Properties against Gram-Positive and Gram-Negative Bacteria,” and contributions from Danielle Ayza and Syerra Swartz.
Enroll for the Biology program here at NTU. Registration for the 2025 spring semester is now open.
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For more information, contact:
Irene Ane Anyangwe (Ph.D)
Professor of Biology/Microbiology
Coordinator of the Biology Program and chair of the School of Science
Senior Fulbright Fellow
P: 505-387-7469 (Ext 1102)
E: ianeanyang@navajotech.edu
NTU Admission Office
E: admissions@navajotech.edu
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