Parlee Center for Science and the Common Good

Headshot of Annie Kopera
Headshot of Annie Kopera

Annie Kopera

Studying the effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals on breast cancer cell growth.

Major

Biology

Minor

Applies Ethics

Activities

Varsity Field Hockey Team, Biology and Music Tutor, Circulation Desk Assistant at Myrin Library

Research

This summer I was lucky enough to work with my faculty mentor, Dr. Rebecca Roberts, on a project focusing on the effects of breast cancer cell proliferation upon exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals.  Together with my future mentee, Jessica Saunders, we built the procedure for this project and were able to work through the troubleshooting process in order to get some successful experiments in during the summer months.  We focus on endocrine disrupting chemicals known as bisphenols, specifically BPA, BPS, and BPF.  Our results at the end of this summer proved that these chemicals are having effect on breast cancer cell growth!

My Research Conferences
  • Ursinus College CoSA (2015, 2016)
  • Tri-Beta Regional Conference (2016)

Life After Ursinus

After Ursinus, I hope to continue my career as a scientist in some form of graduate school.  This summer with my FUTURE mentee, we examined if breast cancer cells were prone to greater growth when exposed to endocrine disrupting chemicals like BPA, BPS, and BPF.  My mentee and I both learned how to create our own experiment and how to communicate our science to the general public.