Published on May 3, 2021

Ben Jones is a senior Biological Sciences major, with minors in Chemistry and Black Studies, from Hebron, Kentucky. As a member of the MARC/IMSD program for four years, Ben has been in the lab of Dr. Erika Boerman, in the department of Medical Pharmacology and Physiology, since the fall of 2018 researching the effects of Inflammatory Bowel Disease on blood flow in the intestines of mice. Ben’s project looks at two metalloproteases and their role in the overall pathway of impaired vasodilation. He has presented his work on numerous occasions, including winning an Outstanding Poster Presentation award at the 2019 Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students in Anaheim, California. He has been published as an author with Dr. Boerman twice. Ben has also been a peer mentor for the IMSD program for the last two years, helping science majors find opportunities in research. Last semester, Ben was a teaching assistant for the Honors Experience FIG class, taught by Dr. JD Bowers. Ben has also been involved in Minority Association of Pre-Health Students, as the Treasurer and Vice President, Pre-Med Society, and has been a volunteer at the University Hospital. He and his twin brother, Andrew, were honored to be recipients of the Mizzou ‘39 award together. Ben is extremely proud to be the youngest in an entire family of Mizzou Tigers. This July, Ben will begin his medical school journey at the University of Kansas.