Indiana University Athletics
Cembellin Earns Top Honor at IU Undergraduate Research Conference
1/16/2019 10:56:00 AM | Men's Tennis
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – A success on and off the tennis court, Indiana senior Antonio Cembellin earned first-place at the 24th Indiana University Undergraduate Research Conference last semester.
A research competition across all IU campuses, Cembellin rose from a group of 400 applicants to the final five and presented his research in front of a committee of professors.
He earned the top prize at the conference.
Cembellin, a native of Avila, Spain, began working in the biochemistry lab in his sophomore year.
His research is to develop a new class of antimicrobials that are effective against emerging antibiotic-resistant bacteria and under the guidance of Dr. Cheng Kao at Indiana, Cembellin has put a lot of time into his research.
"Antonio is a serious, disciplined, and highly motivated student," Dr. Kao said. "I would say that science classes bring additional challenges for him as an international student and he makes the extra effort to succeed. Antonio has a desk in my laboratory and he is often there late at night or on weekends doing homework and studying."
Cembellin, a student in the Department of Molecular & Cellular Biochemistry at Indiana, has plans to pursue a master's degree and Ph.D., and is thinking about a career in biopharmaceuticals.
For Cembellin he relates his research to his tennis teammates at IU.
"I think sports and research are similar in terms of teamwork," he said. "You work together to achieve your goals. The same skills you develop in communication in sports are also important in research."
On the court, last year Cembellin beat the No. 4 ranked player in the country and is off to a good start in his senior year leading the Hoosiers including picking up Big Ten's Athlete of the Week.
In the lab, Dr. Kao is impressed by the dedication of Cembellin.
"Antonio is one of the few undergraduates who read the primary literature and comes up with ideas that will help him advance the goals of his project," Dr. Kao said. "At the bench he works carefully and meticulously. When Antonio has results, he is thoughtful about them and will communicate about his interpretations, what may be useful to test next, and how to test it. Antonio is strong in research because he cares, he thinks, and he communicates."
Story written by Jeremy Rosenthal
A research competition across all IU campuses, Cembellin rose from a group of 400 applicants to the final five and presented his research in front of a committee of professors.
He earned the top prize at the conference.
Cembellin, a native of Avila, Spain, began working in the biochemistry lab in his sophomore year.
His research is to develop a new class of antimicrobials that are effective against emerging antibiotic-resistant bacteria and under the guidance of Dr. Cheng Kao at Indiana, Cembellin has put a lot of time into his research.
"Antonio is a serious, disciplined, and highly motivated student," Dr. Kao said. "I would say that science classes bring additional challenges for him as an international student and he makes the extra effort to succeed. Antonio has a desk in my laboratory and he is often there late at night or on weekends doing homework and studying."
Cembellin, a student in the Department of Molecular & Cellular Biochemistry at Indiana, has plans to pursue a master's degree and Ph.D., and is thinking about a career in biopharmaceuticals.
For Cembellin he relates his research to his tennis teammates at IU.
"I think sports and research are similar in terms of teamwork," he said. "You work together to achieve your goals. The same skills you develop in communication in sports are also important in research."
On the court, last year Cembellin beat the No. 4 ranked player in the country and is off to a good start in his senior year leading the Hoosiers including picking up Big Ten's Athlete of the Week.
In the lab, Dr. Kao is impressed by the dedication of Cembellin.
"Antonio is one of the few undergraduates who read the primary literature and comes up with ideas that will help him advance the goals of his project," Dr. Kao said. "At the bench he works carefully and meticulously. When Antonio has results, he is thoughtful about them and will communicate about his interpretations, what may be useful to test next, and how to test it. Antonio is strong in research because he cares, he thinks, and he communicates."
Story written by Jeremy Rosenthal
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
FB: Nico Radicic - Spring Practice No. 11
Tuesday, April 21
FB: Drew Evans - Spring Practice No. 11
Tuesday, April 21
FB: Bray Lynch - Spring Practice No. 11
Tuesday, April 21
FB: Spring Practice - Curt Cignetti Press Conference
Thursday, April 16