Weatherford, OK – Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) graduate Adreana Aquino received first place for undergraduate research at the Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society National Convention. Aquino, a recent SWOSU graduate from Edmond, received the Frank G. Brooks Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Research for her oral presentation.
The award recognized Aquino’s presentation, “Investigation of Streptococcus sanguinis Reactive Intermediate Deaminase (RidA): From Crystal Structure to Bacterial Physiology,” which was based on research completed under the mentorship of Dr. Vijay Somalinga, associate professor in the SWOSU Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences.
Aquino advanced to the national convention after receiving the Frank G. Brooks Award at the TriBeta Southcentral Regional Convention earlier this year in Cedar Hill, Texas. That regional award also provided paid expenses for her to attend the national convention at Florida State University in Tallahassee, Fla. The national convention brought together universities from across the country and featured a keynote speaker from Florida State University.
The national award adds to a strong record of undergraduate research achievements for Aquino. During her time at SWOSU, she worked in Somalinga’s lab and received several research honors, including the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation’s Fleming Scholarship and the OK-LSAMP international summer research scholarship. Aquino graduated from SWOSU in May 2026 and now works as a food microbiology scientist I at Pace Analytical Services in Oklahoma City.
SWOSU’s Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences gives students opportunities to work alongside faculty on research in areas connected to science, health and professional study. Aquino’s national recognition is one example of the work students can complete through those undergraduate research experiences.
For more information about the department, visit https://www.swosu.edu/biological-sciences/index.php.
About Southwestern Oklahoma State University
Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) was founded in 1901 and offers over 100 undergraduate and graduate programs across three locations in Weatherford, Sayre, and Yukon. The university serves over 5,000 students and prides itself on affordability, small class sizes, and over 200 faculty and staff committed to helping students achieve their academic and personal goals.
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