Three Tennessee State University students are back home after spending a month abroad in the China Project.

Shaniqua Jones, a Tennessee State Universty Dean Scholar, who has been recognized for her demonstrated interest in engineering research, told Emmanuel Freeman of TSU News the experience helped her understand engineering and medical problems.

Jones and two other students, Christine Mba and Whitney Nicole Russell, are part of the Tennessee Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation program at Tennessee State University.

The TSU students spent part of their June 4-29 visit engaged in research on the “Development of Next Generation Biomaterials for Dental Bone Reconstruction/Regeneration.”

According to TSU, Jones, Mba, and Rusell joined students from the University of Memphis (UofM) in a collaboration between faculty and students at Donghua University in Shanghai.

Before leaving for China, Mba, a biology major with interest in cancer research, said her lab experiences have helped her understand different laboratory settings.

In addition to research in Shanghai, the group toured historic places like the Great Wall of China and the Forbidden City.

Dr. Lonnie Sharpe, dean of the College of Life and Physical Sciences, said the China trip was part of the university’s effort to engage students in international experience, not only in research but also to expose them to the world around them.

Dr. Dee Green, director of the Tennessee Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation program at TSU, said research experiences, such as the China project, is motivation for participants to pursue graduate studies.