2024 - Patrick Mohr

Mohr’s winning essay highlighted his ongoing endeavors in a research lab and how the University Libraries services and resources guided him through various steps of the research process.

Mohr’s paper, titled “Exploration of the Secondary Messenger, Selenoprotein P (SEPP1), in a Rodent Model of Exercise; Theorizing Interaction with the Dopamine D2 Receptor (D2R) as a Target for Brain Reward Dysregulation, Addictive Behavior, and Aging,” investigates the relationship between SEPP1 and exercise intensity. SEPP1 is a key antioxidant important for selenium transport, and neuronal and immune health. Using exercise as a personalized therapy for general health as well as treatments for neurodegenerative disorders and addiction is explored in this paper.

“One of the greatest hurdles the UB Libraries helped me overcome was navigating the overwhelming amount of information surrounding my research topic. However, going through this process and utilizing the resources provided, I gradually developed a systematic approach to filter and scrounge through a vast array of articles. This approach is something I continue to use for my research and has allowed me to explore other facets of my research more efficiently,” Mohr said.

2023 - Rebekah Young

Young’s winning essay, titled “An Interconnected Approach to Human Existence,” discusses the work of Polish poet Wislawa Szymborska and delves into the significance of her poems in modern society.

“I immediately took interest in the contest with a desire to share my unique story of mentorship and identity exploration with the support of UB’s library resources,” Young said.