Brandon University graduate student Raya Turner has been awarded a Research Manitoba Master's Studentship, recognizing her excellence as a student researcher and supporting her investigation into how animals regulate energy at the cellular level. Her project, which focuses on a transcription factor known as ERRα (Estrogen-Related Receptor Alpha), explores its role in early development and energy balance in zebrafish embryos.
Turner, a Me tis student from Wawanesa, Manitoba, is pursuing her Master of Science in Environmental and Life Sciences at Brandon University. Her research focuses on how ERRα influences metabolic gene activity and energy use during early zebrafish development. By temporarily suppressing ERRα in developing embryos, she aims to uncover how this transcription factor contributes to growth, energy balance, and overall metabolic function work that may also shed light on processes involved in human metabolic diseases such as diabetes and cancer.
"Energy balance is fundamental to how animals survive and respond to their environment," Turner said. "By studying these mechanisms in zebrafish, we can better understand how similar processes work in humans, especially during early development or in times of stress."
Turner's supervisor, Dr. Chris LeMoine, Dean of Science, said her research adds important knowledge to the field.
"Using a comparative and integrative framework, Raya is investigating the complex mechanisms that enable organisms to manage their energy in challenging conditions," said Dr. LeMoine. "Her work will help us understand not only fundamental biology, but also how energy imbalance may contribute to disease. She's doing excellent work pursuing exciting and innovative research questions in metabolic physiology."
The Research Manitoba Master's Studentship Award supports graduate students engaged in high-quality research that aligns with Manitoba's health and science priorities. Turner's work is also part of a broader commitment at Brandon University to offer hands-on research opportunities that have real-world applications.
"Raya's success speaks to the caliber of research our graduate students are doing," said Dr. Bernadette Ardelli, Vice-President (Research and Graduate Studies) at BU. "This award is a well-earned recognition of her contributions to science and her potential to help shape the future of health research."
Brandon University is also proud to acknowledge Carter Williamson, another BU student who was awarded a Research Manitoba Master's Studentship this year.
