Emily Deem, current Master of Science in Biology student, was awarded first place in the 2021 Three Minute Thesis Competition for her presentation on “Extraction Efficiency Testing of Degraded Bone Samples: Comparing Four Extraction Methods for Use in Downstream Massively Parallel Sequencing Applications.”

Deem’s presentation provides the audience with an overview of her research that compares DNA extraction methods from bone samples, with the goal of contributing “…to knowledge of forensic techniques for identifying skeletal remains and solving cold-cases.”

Deem was awarded first prize for her effective communication, well-defined research methods, and clear engagement with the audience. As the first prize winner, Deem received a $500 tuition award for the Spring 2022 semester and $500 cash. Deem will also move on to represent Western Carolina University at the Conference of Southern Graduate Schools 3MT Competition in February 2022.

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