KBRIN-supported WKU researcher shines

Jill Maples, PhD Co-Winner in NISBRE in “Science Idol” competition 

Dr. Jill Maples, an assistant professor in WKU’s Department of Kinesiology, Recreation, and Sport was selected as a co-winner in the first ever “Science Idol” competition held at the recent National IDeA Symposium of Biomedical Research Excellence in Washington DC. The National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) sponsored the symposium.

Science Idol contestants had only 3 minutes to give an engaging and informative research presentation in front of three judges and an audience consisting of other biomedical scientists. Jill’s presentation, entitled, “Burgers, Biking, and.. Epigenomics? - Influencing Metabolic Health” highlighted her research program, which is focused on changes that occur in skeletal muscle metabolism in response to exercise, including explorations into the molecular mechanisms responsible for altered metabolism in obese individuals and individuals with type 2 diabetes.

Jill’s research at WKU is supported by a KBRIN Investigator IDeA award, funded by an Institutional Development Award (IDeA) from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under grant number 5P20GM103436-13.