{"id":659,"date":"2019-07-17T18:18:37","date_gmt":"2019-07-17T18:18:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wcsu.wpengine.com\/news-archives\/monette-wins-research-award\/"},"modified":"2019-07-17T18:18:37","modified_gmt":"2019-07-17T18:18:37","slug":"monette-wins-research-award","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/news-archives\/monette-wins-research-award\/","title":{"rendered":"WCSU 2017 – Monette wins research award"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"\"DANBURY, CONN. <\/strong>\u2014 Newtown resident Dr. Michelle Monette<\/a>, assistant professor of animal physiology at Western Connecticut State University\u2019s<\/a> Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences,<\/a> is the recipient of the Board of Regents 2017 Research Award<\/a> for Western Connecticut State University. The award recognizes faculty members who are doing exceptional research and creative work at their Connecticut State Colleges and U<\/a>niversities home institutions. <\/p>\n

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\u201cMy research is focused on understanding how animals regulate physiological function in order to respond to changes in their environment,\u201d Monette said. \u201cMy current program uses a multi-level approach \u2014 from molecule to organism to population \u2014 to understand the mechanisms of internal salt balance in vertebrates from fish to humans.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Monette teaches human and animal physiology courses at WCSU.\u00a0Last summer, she took six students to conduct research at the Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory<\/a> in Salisbury Cove, Maine, and she will do this again this summer as part of her Group Senior Research course. Monette\u2019s current research projects include the physiological, cellular and molecular mechanisms of osmoregulation in migratory Atlantic salmon;the evolutionary adaptation to environmental salinity in the Threespine stickleback; and the structure, function and regulation of cation chloride cotransporters. <\/p>\n

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\u201cI am interested in ion (or salt) transport proteins, how these proteins function in an organism, and how evolution may have shaped the characteristics of these proteins over time,\u201d Monette explained. \u201cThe importance of my research is two-fold: First, my investigations address fundamental questions relevant to highly conserved mechanisms of salt balance in vertebrates, \u00a0and the understanding of these processes in comparative systems may aid in the treatment of human diseases. Second, determining how natural and human-driven changes in our environment affect physiological function of aquatic vertebrates is critical to the proper management and

\n conservation of endangered or economically important species.\u201d <\/p>\n

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Monette\u2019s publications in peer-reviewed professional journals include the Journal of Biological Chemistry<\/a>, Aquaculture<\/a>, the American Journal of Physiology-Renal Physiology<\/a>, Aquatic Toxicology<\/a>, the Journal of Experimental Biology<\/a> and the American Fisheries Society Symposium<\/a>, among others. <\/p>\n

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In his nomination of Monette to the BOR, Professor of Biological and Environmental Sciences Dr. Patrice Boily<\/a> noted, \u201cDr. Monette\u2019s research activities are of great benefit to the scientific community and have a significant impact on our students\u2019 educational experience and professional development. She is an exceptionally talented scholar who consistently publishes works that contribute substantially to her field of study and that are highly valued by peers outside of the university. Dr. Monette has authored and co-authored six papers in highly respected journals and delivered four presentations at professional meetings of national and international stature. During this same time period, she obtained six grants to directly support her research and another to reduce the cost for students to enroll in a research course that included a field experience at a prestigious laboratory in Maine. She mentors many undergraduates in her projects, providing them with meaningful research experience.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\u201cAs a member of the\u00a0BOR\u00a0Awards Committee,\u201d Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Ann J. Atkinson<\/a> said, \u201cit\u2019s rewarding to learn about our faculty\u2019s innovative teaching methods and impressive research projects. Since 2007, eight WCSU professors have been recognized by our campus and gone on to win the system award as well. It\u2019s clear that we are achieving our mission to \u2018change lives by providing all students with a high-quality education that fosters their growth as individuals, scholars, professionals and leaders in a global society.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

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The awardees were introduced and recognized at the BOR Faculty Advisory Committee’s Annual Conference at Central Connecticut State University<\/a> on April 7. The awards presentation was led by Regent Merle Harris<\/a>, chair of the Academic & Student Affairs Committee, accompanied by other regents and CSCU President Mark Ojakian<\/a>. <\/p>\n

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Western Connecticut State University offers outstanding faculty in a range of quality academic programs. Our diverse university community provides students an enriching and supportive environment that takes advantage of the unique cultural offerings of Western Connecticut and New York. Our vision: To be an affordable public university with the characteristics of New England\u2019s best small private universities.<\/em><\/p>\n

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