TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Shelli Williams of Robertsdale, a second year doctoral student at The University of Alabama, was recently awarded The Worthington Award from the American Society of Cell Biology. This honor is given to the top six students selected from a pool of thousands and based on scientific merit from nearly 3,000 abstracts presented.

Williams received full travel expenses to attend the 42nd ASCB Annual meeting, held last month in San Francisco, to present her research. Her award was funded by the Worthington Biomedical Corp. and the ASCB.

Williams is currently working for Dr. Guy A. Caldwell, UA assistant professor of biological sciences, on their March of Dimes funded research on the molecular basis of lissencephaly and how it pertains to the processes of cell division, with implications for cancer. She is a former UA undergraduate student from Robertsdale, who graduated with a biology degree in 2000 with high honors (Phi Beta Kappa, magna cum laude). Also, Williams was a UA Graduate Council fellowship recipient in 2000-01 and received the Isabella Hummel Graham graduate scholarship from the University Women’s Club.