Note to
faculty research advisors: This program is not meant to fund faculty or graduate student
research projects. Please visit the website for the Office of
Grants & Sponsored Projects for help finding bigger
funding opportunities for projects.
Proposal
deadlines and meeting dates
All proposals due by
4:00 pm All meetings at 11:00
am in Boehm room 100
Kurt Friehauf,
Dept. of Physical Sciences (geology) (chair and webmeister)
Thomas Betts,
Dept. of Physical Sciences (chemistry) Angelika Antoni,
Biology Dept. (microbiology) Michele
Baranczyk, Dept. of Psychology (psychology) Kim
Shively, Dept. of Anthropology and Sociology
(anthropology) Jeff
Werner, College of Graduate Studies - (university grants
officer)
Past
awards
Samantha Santiago (Marine
Science working with Dr. Wendy Ryan) - Behavioral
activity in Delphinapterus
leucas before and after the introduction of an adult
male in a zoological
This project seeks to understand group dynamics before and after
an adult male beluga whale is introduced. Specifically, an
assortment of behaviors (e.g. swimming speed, vocalizations, etc.)
as well as dive duration will be examined. Gender differences, age
differences, behavioral patterns as a function of day versus
night, and weather patterns on the days data was collected will
also be investigated and applied to the research questions. All
animals studied are housed in a zoological setting with year-round
exposure to the elements and the changing seasons.
(photo: Sam with Juno the juvenile beluga whale)
I will graduate in May 2012 with
a Bachelor’s degree in marine science, with a concentration
in biology. My career goals include getting involved in the
rehabilitation of stranded marine mammals after my
undergraduate career. This will undoubtedly provide me with
valuable, rewarding experience, which will assist me in
successfully pursuing further education in this subject at
the graduate level. This project helps to expand my
knowledge of cetaceans at a hands-on level and prepare me
for my future beyond Kutztown.
Jeffrey Kadegis (Geology working
with Dr. Jacob
Sewall) - Orbital eccentricity, clinker
formation, and the climate-landscape evolution link in the
North American Rockies and High Plains
Surface processes (e.g. stream incision, erosion, etc.) are
affected by changes in moisture balance in drainage basins.
However, proxies for paleohydrology, especially in singular
locations, are rare in the geologic record. Additionally, a strong
correlation between orbital eccentricity and high rates of
landscape evolution in the Powder River basin of Montana and
Wyoming is difficult to explain with only empirical data. High
orbital eccentricity, particularly if enhanced by precession,
could lead to a highly seasonal climate with strong
mind-continental warming and increased precipitation that would
drive an increase in local incision rates, the exhumation of coal,
and thus the creation of clinker (‘baked’ rock formed by
subterranean fire). We test this hypothesis with the National
Center for Atmospheric Research, Community Atmosphere Model v.3
with maxima and minima changes in eccentricity, obliquity, and
precession while maintaining all other boundary conditions static
at modern values over a simulated period of 30 years with the
final 10 years averaged for analyses. Comparisons across
simulations suggest that, under eccentricity maxima, seasonality
substantially increases during summer (June, July, and August
average) precipitation totals in much of Wyoming, western
Nebraska, and Northeastern Colorado (>14 cm precipitation than
eccentricity minima). However, under eccentricity minima, summer
precipitation is ~33% lower than maximum eccentricity and
precession’s impact appears negligible (~4cm change in
precipitation). By linking high values of planetary eccentricity
and precession to enhanced mid-continental precipitation, these
results provide a possible mechanism to explain the observed
association between increased erosion, clinker formation, and
orbital eccentricity sediments in the Powder River basin and,
thus, a direct link between orbital parameters and landscape
evolution in this region. We predict similar relationships between
surface processes and insolation across much of the central Rocky
Mountains and High Plains.
(photo of Jeff working on geophysical project with Dr. Laura Sherrod)
I hope to assist in ensuring and
designing methods to provide people and populations with
access to clean, safe, reliable groundwater sources and
solutions/preventative measures for groundwater
contamination. My current research projects more accurately
align with this goal as it elucidates the links between
climatological changes, geomorphological processes, and
methods of measuring and obtaining desired data. This grant
will allow me to not only further my skills as a presenter
of my work in a professional setting, but it will also allow
me to expand my knowledge and skill set regarding my future
in addition to meeting and making contacts other
professionals in similar fields.
Elizabeth Heness (Geology working with Dr.Edward
Simpson –
September 2011) – Taphonomy
of barnacle and fish shoreline accumulations of the Salton Sea,
California, USA From
1905-1907, the Salton sink, located
in southern California, was partially flooded with Colorado
River water escaping from catastrophic breaches in a levee and
irrigation canal. Since the initial flooding event, the closed
lake system level has been maintained largely by agricultural
runoff and river inflow. The result through time is an increase in
salinity and eutrophic conditions prompting an evolving ecosystem
from human impact. Mass die offs of all introduced marine fish
species occurred except the hybrid tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus x O. uroepis).
During WWII, floatplanes or transfer of marine buoys introduced to
the Salton Sea the highly adaptable barnacle (Balanus amphirite). Tilapia,
barnacles, and sand-sized clastics presently dominate the Salton
Sea shoreline sediments.
During high wind events, overturning of the stratified water
column stirs up phosphates and sulfides that generate algal
blooms. A reduction in dissolved oxygen causes anoxic
conditions and high mortality events in the tilapia and barnacle
populations, barnacles break off their substrates post mortem.
This study reports on the application of a semi-quantitative fish
articulation scale and describes the fish kill and barnacle
preservation across the Salton’s shoreline.
The scale in question describes the rate in which skeletal remains
are scattered and relates the preservation of skeletal elements to
energy of deposition. The semi-quantitative scale varies
from 1 to 5 with each integer reflecting an increase from whole to
total fish disarticulation. Barnacles were described as clustered
(two or more attached to one another), whole, or crushed. An
overall trend from articulation to disarticulation occurs from the
shoreline to the backshore. The storm high-water line reflects the
maximum articulation of fish and the occurrence of clustered
barnacles. In the swash zone barnacles are reduced from clusters
to whole to crushed. On high lake-level beach ridges,
barnacles and fish parts form low-angle, lake-ward dipping
foresets. Rare landward dipping forests are present and record
storm wash over. Storm washover fans are well developed along some
portion of the shoreline and dominated by sand sized clastics,
crushed barnacles, and abundant skeletal tilapia parts.
(photo: Elizabeth
Heness analyzing sediment in the field with Dr. Edward
Simpson)
I am an undergraduate at Kutztown
University studying Environmental Science/Geology. I
hope to gain a better understanding of changing climates, how
humans have impacted our environment and how sediment is
preserved in the rock record using the Salton Sea as an analog
for paleoenvironments. Kelly McGeehan, Meghan
Gladu, and Kayla Montgomery (Psychology working with Dr. Greg
Shelley – September 2011) – Nonverbal
Communication of Social Orientation Participants
with different Social Value Orientations (Cooperative,
Individualistic, or Competitive) were videotaped while they
described why they chose the way they did in a series of social
decisions problems. These same participants (targets) were
also videotaped while they attempted to lie about their views on
controversial social issues. Naïve observers were asked
to rate the trustworthiness of these targets after viewing
randomly selected video-only portions of the pre-recorded
interviews. Cooperators and Competitors were rated as
significantly more trustworthy than Individualists.
Future research (funded in part by the Kutztown University
Undergraduate Research Committee) will attempt to identify any
differences in the nonverbal (facial) behaviors exhibited by these
targets that could account for the differences in these
trustworthiness ratings.
Kelly
McGeehan:
I am a junior psychology major (in the clinical counseling
track) and hope to pursue a Master’s Degree in Marriage and
Family counseling. I am interested in
understanding more about how personality can be expressed via
nonverbal behavior. I would also like to learn more
about how others interpret these cues. After completing
the FACS seminar offered by Dr. Rosenberg and taking the FACS
certification test, I believe that I will have more skill in
identifying nonverbal behaviors in others (a potentially
invaluable skill for a clinician). I also believe that
this skill will make me a more attractive candidate for both
research-based and clinical graduate programs.
Meghan
Gladu:
I am a junior psychology major (in the clinical counseling
track). I recently began doing research in Dr. Shelley’s
lab. I have always been interested in how personality
can be expressed through facial expressions and am excited
about the prospect of learning the Facial Action Coding System
from a world-renowned expert. I also look forward to
incorporating these new skills in to research projects here at
Kutztown University.
Kayla
Montgomery:
I am a senior majoring in both psychology and criminal
justice. I am interested in pursuing a career in law
enforcement. I am currently most interested in a career
as a drug enforcement agency (DEA) agent. In addition to
using FACS as part of a research program with Dr. Shelley here
at KU, I hope to be able to incorporate the skills I will
acquire at the seminar in Pittsburgh in to my career as a drug
enforcement agent. Chelsea Bressler
(Biology working with Dr. Todd
Underwood – September 2011) – An Examination of Microbial Growth on Bird Feeders to
Determine Proper Cleaning Methods Bird
feeders are a site where diseases can be transmitted in
birds. A debris pile on and below the feeder contains seed
hulls and bird droppings which can be harbor unsafe fungi and
bacteria that affects birds. Twenty bird feeders will be
placed at various locations in Southeastern Pennsylvania where
bacteria accumulation will be allowed to occur. Every ten
days the feeders and the debris pile below the feeder will be
sampled to determine how quickly bacteria and fungi builds on the
bird feeders. After two and a half months the feeders will
be collected and cleaned using soap and water, and a ten percent
bleach solution then sampled to determine the optimal cleaning
method.
(photo: )
I am a biology pre-professional
major, and I hope to get a Master’s Degree in
microbiology. I have taken ornithology, medical
microbiology, and applied environmental microbiology which
will all help in the study. The grant will help me gain
experience in using microbiology techniques, in collecting
data, in analyzing data, and in writing formal reports. Devin Ferino (Biology working with Dr. Angelika Antoni – September 2011) – Dietary influence of live cultures on
composition of enteric microbiota This
research is being performed to validate the hypothesis that over a
time period of one month, with daily ingestion of yogurt
containing different strains of live cultures, the cultures will
become established in the gut microbiota and will be detected for
at least one month following cessation of yogurt ingestion.
This will be done by collecting stool samples over a time period
of several months and using PCR with strain specific primers to
detect presence of bacteria. After 1 month, the strain
ingested will be switched and the new strain will be eaten for one
month. During the second month, the presence for the first
strain as well as the second strain will be tested. We want
to see how long the original strain will stay established in the
gut with introduction of a new strain.
(photo: Devin
Ferino)
This research is important to me
because I suffer from stomach problems and have found that
eating yogurt everyday helps me a lot. I wanted to
perform this research to acquire a better understanding of
enteric microbiota and how live cultures influence it.
After undergraduate, I want to continue on to graduate school
to obtain a Ph.D in virology and infectious diseases. My
goal is to work at the Center for Disease Control and
Prevention. This grant will help me achieve my goals by
providing me with necessary research experience for graduate
school and because it is an area that truly interests me due
to my family history of stomach issues.
Michael Bani (Biology working with Dr. Angelika Antoni and Dr. Dan Aruscavage –
September 2011) – Production
of IFN-Gamma in Macrophages after Ingestion of Cryptosporidium Bacteria Cryptosporidium parvum is the
causative agent of a gastrointestinal disease that involves
inflamed epithelial cells in the intestinal lining, serious immune
reactions which cause further damage to the intestinal tissues,
and results in severe symptoms such as nausea, fatigue, muscle
aches and pains, and dehydration through diarrhea and vomiting.
The disease is usually noticed and taken care of by the immune
system in healthy individuals but in immunocompromised
victims, this disease can be severe and, in certain situations,
fatal (McDonald et al. 1992). The scope of this research is to
study the location of production of Interferon-γ (IFN-γ),
particularly if macrophages present this cytokine during Cryptosporidium infection.
IFN-γ plays a major role in the immune reaction that is caused by
Cryptosporidium parvum (Lacroix-Lamandé
et al. 2002). An over production of the IFN-γ causes a
pro-inflammatory reaction that leads to an increase in diarrhea
symptoms, fever, swelling of the epithelial lining in the gut, and
abdominal pain. These are all symptoms of Cryptosporidium infection
and are the reason the infection gets so bad. In immunocomprimised
victims, the disease spreads rapidly and causes all of these same
symptoms with higher severity. The infection and symptoms strike
quickly since no immune system is present to fight the
organism. The origin of the mass production of IFN-γ in the
gut is still misunderstood and unknown (McDonald et al 1992). If
the location of the origin of the IFN-γ could be established and
the concentration controlled, then the immunocomprimised victims
may be able to still fight off the infection with a small
injection of the cytokine and people that are immune-healthy could
be saved by limiting the production to a bearable amount. This
research is pertinent in both aspects..
(photo: )
All my life I have had a
fascination with the biological sciences. Most of my high
school and college direction has been focused in the sciences
and particularly medical sciences. My long-term academic goal
is to graduate with a Masters Degree in Microbiology and
Immunology and receive my Ph. D. in Neurology. I hope to work
in the medical research field studying diseases such as ALS,
MS, and Huntington’s.Jewels Wilk (Geology working with Dr. Erin Kraal – April 2011, September
2011) – Beach Processes in
a Unique Environment, Salton Sea, California The Salton
Sea, California is a unique environment, specifically the
shoreline. Its shorelines are composed largely of coarsely
grained fish bones and barnacles. This is not a common
feature for shorelines which are usually composed of sand washed
in by rivers and streams. I will characterize this unique
beach by comparing different sections and collecting morphological
data. The beach morphology includes beach sediment grain and
biological debris size, coastline orientation, particle movement,
beach slope, and sand cross-section analysis. Each of these
observations will in turn be used to represent the bottom
topography and local intensities of turbulence, and wave body
dissipation. This information combined will be used to map
and analyze this type of shoreline and compare it to both
traditional sediment beaches and paleo deposits of similar “bone”
beaches identified in the Newark
Basin, New Jersey by Dr. Edward
Simpson.
(photo: Jewels
using a total station surveying instrument to measure beach
features.)
I am a senior at Kutztown University graduating in May of
2011 with a Bachelor's degree in geology. With the support and
funding from the Undergraduate Research Committee I am fortunate
to have been able to work with Dr. Erin Kraal and Dr. Edward
Simpson on this project and to have participated in the progress
of science by doing research. l will be presenting our finds at
the annual Geological Society of America national convention in
October, 2011. Upon graduation I will continue my growth of
knowledge and challenge my capabilities by working in the
industry of geological employment. Jennifer Held (Clinical Psychology working with Dr. Laura
Koenig – March 2011) – Evangelism
and Religious Affiliation: Catholics and other Christians versus
the non-Religious The
main goal of this research was to gain a better understanding of
the differences between various religions and non religious
individuals concerning the way they evangelize and their openness
to another’s beliefs. My research found that there are differences
and that people who belong to a certain religious affiliation
often feel more obligated to share their views and beliefs as well
as perform good works. An interpretation of this result is that
being part of a group may cause one to feel pressure to spread the
word about the group and gain membership. Also, although
individuals reported lower scores for doing good works, this does
not mean that they are not involved in charity, but that they may
not see it as a way to share their beliefs. For future studies it
would be beneficial to have larger sample sizes with subjects of
various religious affiliations to examine evangelism across
different types of Christian religions (e.g., conservative vs
non-conservative).
(photo: Jennifer
Held)
I am a senior in my last semester
at Kutztown University and will be graduating with a degree in
Psychology and a minor in Sociology. Throughout my two years
at Kutztown, I have been involved in research with Dr. Koenig
and this semester I have an internship at the Clubhouse of
Lehigh County, Allentown PA. I’m very fortunate for the
opportunities that I have had and I feel that presenting my
research at the APS Convention, will be a great experience. I
plan to attend Graduate school in the future and continue my
education in counseling and therapy so that I can help people
better their lives, which is my true passion. I would like to
thank the URC for supporting me in my research and helping me
to gain more experience in the field of Psychology.
Sean Snoddy (Psychology working with Dr. Robert Ryan – March 2011) – The Role of Semantic Support and Equation
Format in Algebra Problem Solving The
study consisted of two experiments, which found that word problems
that provide semantic support are easier to solve than the
corresponding equation. In the first experiment subjects were
either presented with the word problem alone, or with a
start-unknown equation, such as (X -64) / 3 = 20.50 alone, or with
a result-unknown equation, such as 64 + 3(20.50) = X alone. The
first experiment showed the best performance for subjects
who were given the word problem. There was inferior performance on
the start-unknown equation and also inferior performance on the
result-unknown equation. Some subjects that were presented
with the word problem solved the word problem without using any
equation, but some generated an equation. When they
generated an equation after reading the word problem, they almost
always solved it correctly regardless of what equation they
generated.
We also found that many of the errors made by those subjects who
were trying to solve an equation alone were due to working through
the equation from left to right as one would read it even if doing
so was incongruent with the order of operations. The second
experiment found that subjects were much better at solving a
results-unknown equation when it was congruent. The study
findings suggest that it may be better to teach word problems
before equations, and that there may be a benefit of teaching some
equations before others.
(photo: Sean
Snoddy with advisor Dr. Robert Ryan at the APS meeting in 2011)
I am currently a second semester sophomore in the general
track of the Kutztown University psychology major. I have
been a research assistant to Dr. Ryan since second semester of
freshman year. I wish to continue on to graduate school,
and try to obtain a doctorate in psychology. This grant
will help me cover travel costs to the APS 2011 conference to
present research. This gives me a new experience on the
presentation of psychological research in the academic
community. In addition to the experience of the
presentation, I will also have time to look at other research to
help decide what field in psychology I want to go to graduate
school for. Katlin Rhyner and Mara Wilde (Clinical Psychology working with Dr. Laura
Koenig – March 2011) – Effectiveness
of Study Techniques on Recall Scores This
study sought to find the best method for studying literature when
measured in terms of recall. The methods looked at were
underlining, highlighting, note-taking, and passive reading. 74
Kutztown students were randomly assigned to one of the four
conditions. They were then given reading material as well as the
materials needed for whichever group they were in. Shortly
thereafter they were tested on their recall of the material they
had been given. The results showed that note-taking was
significantly better than passively reading; underlining and
highlighting were numerically better than passively reading but
this finding was not significant.
(Katlin Rhyner
and Mara Wilde at the APS meeting in 2011)
Katlin Rhyner
I am a third year psychology major with a 3.65 GPA and I have
participated in multiple research projects, two with Dr. Koenig
and Mara Wilde and one with Dr. Robinson. One study was
presented at the IUP PASSHE Potluck conference. I intend on
going to graduate school for psychology and earning my Ph.D.
This grant will help because presentation of studies is an
essential part of being accepted to graduate school. Mara Wilde
I am a senior psychology major with a 3.4 GPA. I have also
participated in multiple research projects, both independently
and as Dr. Ryan’s research assistant. I intend on going to Law
School in the fall of 2011. This grant will enable me to
present my research at the APS conference and also allow me to
build my resume which will in turn help me to be accepted into
school so that I may further my education.
Shane Harvey (Biology working with Dr. Dan
Aruscavage – February 2011) – The Effect of Enteric Distribution of Escherichia coli and Enterobacter aerogenes on
Surface and Sediment Total Coliform counts and Biochemical Oxygen
Demand in Synthetic Ponds This
study aims to provide a discerning difference in the levels of
total fecal coliforms found in surface level water samples and
sediment level water samples. Fecal coliforms are useful
indicators of water quality and are commonly used by water testing
agencies to determine if a water supply is safe for human use. The
differences in total fecal coliform levels in sediment and surface
water samples is important because human interaction that disturbs
sediment, can release the fecal coliforms that were trapped in the
sediment into the rest of the water. This property is pertinent to
places such as beaches and lakes where many people could be
affected by poor water quality.
(photo: Shane
Harvey in the lab)
I am senior at Kutztown University working towards a B.S.
in Biology (Molecular/Cell/Micro) with a minor in Biochemistry.
After graduation my goal is to attend graduate school and obtain
my PhD in the biological sciences. This grant will help me
further my research by providing essential materials while at
the same time providing me with the experience of doing
individual research that is sure to help me in the future.
Philip Abdouche (Biology working with Dr. Marilyn C.
Baguinon – February 2011) – An
Investigation on the Expression Profiles of Uridine Diphosphate
N-Acetylglucosamine Pyrophosphorylases in the Red Flour Beetle, Tribolium castaneum The
main goal of the project is to determine the function(s) of the
two uridine diphosphate (UDP) N-acetylglucosamine
pyrophosphorylase (UAP) enzymes in the red flour beetle, Tribolium
castaneum. Current literature shows that UAP plays specific
roles in the fruitfly Drosophila, however, the specific roles of
the two UAP enzymes in Tribolium are still not clearly understood.
To gain insight into the roles of the UAP enzymes in Tribolium, we
propose to determine the expression levels of the two UAP genes in
the different developmental stages of the insect.
(photo: Philip
presenting his research at CPUB)
My main career goal is to become a dentist, but as of
this time I am interested in getting my degree in order for me
to work in a lab. As part of my academic career, working in a
lab is a big interest to me. Therefore, in doing this research
with Dr. Baguinon, and getting this grant will help me in
getting independent research experience working in a laboratory
environment.
Lindsay Confer (Biology working with Dr. Cristen L.
Rosch – February 2011) – The
Anatomical Teratogenic Effects of Salmonella on the Development of Gallus gallus domesticus This
project will determine the teratogenic effects of the bacteria Salmonella on developing
chicken embryos. Six day chicken eggs will be injected with
Salmonella, then cracked
prematurely to determine any anatomical defects cause by the
bacteria. Measurements will be taken including crown-to-rump
length, eye-to-eye width, head circumference, and overall body
mass. Dissections of the brain and spleen will also be done
to determine any developmental defects. Polymerase chain
reaction may also be done to determine the level of antimicrobial
peptide gene expression in the liver. Previous work has
shown that the expression of this protein may increase in response
to a Salmonella infection.
(photo: Lindsay
Confer in the lab)
After graduation I am planning on attending graduate
school followed by medical school where I hope to pursue a
career in cardiology. This grant will allow me to perform
undergraduate research which will not only expand my knowledge
in several biology related fields such as anatomy, biochemistry,
developmental biology, and microbiology, but it will also
increase my chances of being accepted into graduate and medical
school. This grant will allow me to conduct research
during which I will enhance my laboratory skills, problem
solving and critical thinking skills, all of which will be used
in my continuation of higher education, necessary to reach my
career goals.
Dustin Greenleaf (Biology working with Dr. Matthew Stone – February 2011) – Changes in Maternal Bone Density during
Embryonic Development of the Eggshell in Hemidactylus turcicus The
maternal calcium requirement of egg-laying reptiles, such as
geckos, increases dramatically during pregnancy. Large
quantities of this rigid and metabolically important mineral are
vital to the development of a strong eggshell. Geckos have adapted
the endolymphatic sac as a calcium reservoir to be used during
this time of embryo development. It is unknown, however, if
this mechanism alone spares the female gecko from bone loss during
egg production, or if they, much like some other closely related
reptiles, exhibit a decrease in bone density during gestation.
(photo: Dustin
Greenleaf in the lab)
I have kept and bred reptiles and amphibians for over ten
years as a hobby, and look forward to beginning research with
these animals. In addition, I have great interest in
histological techniques such as tissue processing, embedding,
sectioning, and staining, which I conducted in my Histology
course last semester. This grant would allow me to combine both
of these interests into one project and would enable me to
develop my skills as a research biologist. As a junior, I hope
to continue my education and research after Kutztown in a
graduate program focusing on histology, more specifically
tissue-regeneration using biotechnology.
Dale Kappus (Psychology working with Dr. Robert Ryan – February 2011) – Using Category Induction to Teach
Inferential Statistics Category
induction is beneficial for learning to distinguish types of
examples. But does this apply to an instructional method in an
actual statistics class? We found that participants who tried to
recognize features of examples in statistics performed better on
tests of their ability to distinguish different types of examples.
(photo: none
provided)
When transferring into Kutztown University from
Northampton Community College I had the intent of graduating
with a psychology degree and continuing into a graduate program
for clinical psychology. However, while at Kutztown the
interesting field of experimental psychology has captured me. I
now intend to attend a doctoral program in cognitive science
with a heavy program focus on research. Attendance to
conferences such as, the Association of Psychological Science
(APS) in Washington D.C., allows for me to further strengthen my
experience and knowledge of experimental psychology.
Ciara Cyr (Psychology working with Dr. Jason
Lanter – February 2011) – Trust
Issues: How a Rivalry Influences Perceptions of Other Sports Fans The
level of trust between sports fans has been shown to differ for
fellow fans and rival fans, with a higher level of trust for
fellow fans and a lower level of trust for rival fans (Wann et
al., in press). This research was conducted to examine the
trust level for both fellow fans and rival fans, but also
including non-rival fans during the regular and post-season.
With non-rival teams having a less intense relationship than rival
teams, participants were expected to display a higher level of
trustworthiness for non-rival fans than they would have for rival
fans. These differences were expected to be more pronounced
during the post-season as opposed to the regular season. The
study found the lowest trust level relating to rival fans, and the
highest trust level with the non-rival fans. The trust level
of non-rival fans was even higher than that of fellow fans.
(photo: Ciara
Cyr)
I am completing my Bachelors Degree in Psychology in the
Spring 2011 semester and have been a research assistant for four
semesters. After earning my Bachelors Degree I plan on
attending graduate school to study Experimental
Psychology. My eventual career goal is to work at a
university with a research program. This grant will help
achieve my goals by providing the opportunity to present
research at a conference, and giving me experience in the field.
Bevin Lustman (Psychology working with Dr. Robert Ryan – January 2011) – Usixtics It is
important to know what factors affect an eyewitness's ability to
perform well when asked to make an identification in a lineup. But
performing well means not only being able to identify the correct
person if that person is in the lineup, but also to avoid
incorrectly identifying someone if the correct person is not in
the lineup. One factor that has been shown to affect people's
ability to recognize a face is whether they are processing the
face as a whole or as a collection of individual features. They do
better when they process it as a whole. But trying to verbally
describe the face before making the identification has been shown
to shift people to processing features. This previous research has
shown that when people shift to featural processing, they do worse
at identifying the correct person, if that person is in the
lineup. The previous research, however, did not examine the effect
of this featural processing on people's ability to avoid a false
identification, that is, incorrectly identifying someone when the
correct person is not in the lineup. The study that Bevin helped
to conduct filled in that gap in our knowledge. It showed that
when a lineup procedure is used in which the eyewitness looks at
one face at a time in a sequence, shifting the eyewitness's
processing to the featural mode both impairs their ability to make
a correct identification and also increases false identifications.
Although this did not occur when the lineup procedure was to have
the eyewitness look at all the faces simultaneously, this is still
an important finding because the sequential lineup procedure is
believed to be the preferred procedure.
(photo: Kirsten
Williams, Samantha Scott, Bevin Lustman, and Dr. Robert Ryan at
APS meeting in 2008)
Biography.
Meredith Starr (Biology working with Dr. Aruscavage
– January 2011) – The
Morphological Teratogenic Effects of Non-pathogenic Escherichia coli on Gallus gallus domesticus
Development The
objective of this research is to determine whether non-pathogenic
E.
coli causes morphological defects on chick embryo
development when injected into the chick eggs’ albumen. Six
day old chick eggs will be injected with different concentrations
of E. coli and cracked prematurely to observe anatomical defects
caused by the bacteria. The hypothesis states that
non-pathogenic Escherichia coli will have an
overall damaging effect on the development of Gallus
gallus domesticus, including low body mass, shorter crown
to rump length, smaller head circumference, poorly developed
kidneys, and premature death. Higher concentrations of E. coli
are expected to be more damaging than lower concentrations of E. coli,
potentially being lethal to the embryos. Chick embryos have
traditionally served as a model system for studying vertebrate
development. Thus, an understanding of how non-pathogenic E. coli
may affect chick embryogenesis can potentially provide information
on the harmful effects of the bacteria on human embryos.
(photo: Meredith
Starr working in the lab)
I am a senior biology (pre-professional) major and am
graduating in May, 2011. My goal is to attend medical
school and become a physician or medical researcher. This
grant will help me achieve my goals by allowing me to practice
multiple lab techniques, critical thinking skills, and problem
solving skills. I am interested in developmental biology
because it merges information and skills I have learned in other
biology courses, such as genetics, molecular biology,
microbiology, and biochemistry. As an aspiring medical
student, techniques and skills learned during this experiment
will be useful in preparing me for my continued and higher
education.
Kenneth S. Rohlfing (Computer Science working with Dr. Daniel Spiegel and Dr. Oskars Rieksts – January 2011) – Using Video Glasses for Assistive Robotics The
project will consist of interfacing a pair of video glasses to a
laptop, and using them as a display for a system that will consist
of multiple video feeds. There will be three video
feeds: eye tracking feed, normal frontal feed, infrared
frontal feed. The eye tracking feed will be used in
interacting with the computer when there is lack of a mouse to use
as a pointer. The normal and infrared feeds will be
used to display what is in front of the user as they use the video
glasses. The infrared feed will be used when there is not
enough light for the user to see with ease. This project can
be considered an assistive robotic.
(photo: Kenneth
at Science Open House)
Kenneth S. Rohlfing is a junior at Kutztown University
majoring in computer science. Following graduation, he
intends to further his education with an ultimate goal of
attaining a Ph.D. in computer science, with his research based
in virtual reality, human-computer interaction, robotics, or a
combination of these areas. The proposed project will serve as
initial work in the areas in which he intends to perform
research as he works towards his goal.
Joshua Sabatine (Biochemistry
working with Dr. Matt
Junker – October
2010) – Determine if IAP
Self-Association makes it a stronger Caspase inhibitor The
process of apoptosis is highly conserved on a biochemical level by
regulator proteins known as caspases .A
caspase is a protease (protein), which breaks down proteins.The protease does this by hydrolyzing
the peptide bonds that hold amino acids together.Another component of this process are inhibitors of
apoptosis (IAPs), which bind to the caspases inhibiting their
action.IAPs bind to caspase to
inhibit them from causing apoptosis.When
a competing molecule binds the IAPs it causes a conformational
change of the IAP, which causes the IAP to release from the
caspase, allowing apoptosis to initiate.We
are testing to see whether a dimerized IAP is a better inhibitor
than a monomeric IAP.Essentially
this means that two IAPs in one molecule should be able to inhibit
both active sites on the caspase as opposed to two independent
IAPs.
(photo: Josh
working in the lab)
I am a senior graduating in spring of
2011, my goal is to attend medical school and become a
physician/researcher. I hope to not only contribute to the
world as a physician but to also collaborate on research
projects with other professionals. This grant is helping
me achieve these goals by allowing to me to take full advantage
of the facilities at Kutztown by obtaining the appropriate
experimental materials and carry out procedures essential in
breaking new ground in this particular research project. I
am very thankful to the donors who made this possible without
whom I could not fully carry out this research project and
expand my undergraduate research experience.
Erin Miller (Biology working with Dr. Dan
Aruscavage – October 2010) – Cross-Contamination of Shigella sp. with Spinach Leaves on Cutting
Boards Our objectives
in this research are to study the inhabitants of store-bought
chicken to better understand if a pathogen inhibitor can be found
and if cutting board contamination of spinach is as costly as
direct contamination with the chicken source. Our hypothesis
is that Shigella can transfer from chicken to spinach equally from
direct contamination and from cutting board exposure due to large
amounts of bacteria that will remain behind on the cutting board
after exposure. Due to recent outbreaks and dangers
associated with food-borne pathogens, there is a need to get
information to the public that may improve our food supply.
(photo: Erin working in the
lab)
With background coursework in
microbiology and medical microbiology and aspirations of becoming
a physician assistant, I’m learning more about cross-contamination
of pathogens from human sources as well as practicing aseptic
technique when working with microbes. As a physician
assistant, learning more about infections will be helpful in
treating patients. This grant money will fund our research
on Shigella and aid us in completing our objectives for the
research project. Thank you very much for your consideration
in choosing this project to fund from the Kutztown University
Foundation and Dr. Carlos Vargas.
Ashley Hahn (Biology working with Dr. Dan
Aruscavage – October 2010) – Persistence of Contamination by Pathogens from Different
Food Sources on Kitchen Cutting Boards The
purpose of my research is to determine how long two different
pathogens (E.coliand
B.cereus)
will remain on a cutting board after initial contamination by a
sample of chicken breast. From the cutting board surface, residue
will be collected and colony counts will be performed. Also, the
area will be tested for the presence of different toxins. The
toxins that may or may not be left behind on the cutting board are
the most common culprit in regards to food borne illnesses that
most people get at home or in a professional setting. The
objective of my research is to see just how long these bacteria
and toxins remain present on the cutting board after initial
contact and how persistent they remain throughout different
periods of time. (photo: Ashley
working in the lab)
I am currently a senior at Kutztown
University working towards a B.S. in Biology (Pre-professional).
After graduation I plan to work in a laboratory setting doing
research that will hopefully contribute to making the food
industry safer. Eventually, I plan to attend graduate school to
further my education in Microbiology or something medically
related. This grant has provided me with the opportunity to
obtain lab testing equipment that is essential to answering the
questions that my research proposes as well as improving my lab
skills so that one day I will be able to obtain a career in the
sciences. I would like to thank the Undergraduate Research
Committee for awarding me this grant and allowing me to broaden my
horizons in the Biology track.
Max Needle (Geology working with Dr. Sarah Tindall – September 2010) – A deeper look into orogenic curvature:
Analog models in cross section Based on field
observations, geologists have proposed several displacement
patterns through which curved mountain belts form. Though research
has been conducted on the analysis of field measurements, reports
of analogue modeling of these processes are sparse.
Comparing the cross-sectional differences between primary and
progressive orogens could lead to a better understanding of the
mountain-building processes as well as better recognition of a
specific displacement pattern in the field. Using thin,
rigid plastic sheets and sand in a “squeeze-box” for the
construction of analogue models, I attempted to simulate the
processes of two of the proposed displacement patterns that form
curved mountain belts. A control of a straight ramp was also
used for comparison. After the sand orogens were formed, the
models were dissected to reveal cross-sectional patterns.
The assessment of the cross-sections demonstrated that the fault
patterns in the primary arcs were similar to the control ramp,
whereas the progressive arc contained varying heights of
deformation as well as varying quantities of faults relative to
the site of nucleation around the arc.
(click
here to read my published abstract)
(photo: Max
explaining his research at the national Geological Society of
America meeting in Denver, Colorado)
I have confidently found my niche in geology,
specifically modeling geologic processes and structural
geology. The modeling aspect of geology exercises spatial
reasoning abilities, art skills, and scientific thinking. The
personal qualities of which I am proud functioned harmoniously to
complete a task and make a contribution to the scientific
community. With the guidance of the geology professors at
Kutztown University, I developed an understanding of the process
through which scientific research is conducted, funded, and
published. The URC grant enabled me to orally present my
research to the scientific community by sponsoring my attendance
at a national Geological Society of America conference in Denver,
CO.
Shane Folk (Geology working with Dr. Sarah Tindall – September 2010) – Modeled Effects of Deep-Seated Fault Offset
and Strike on Supracrustal Geometries in Basement-Cored Uplifts The Precambrian
basement of the Colorado Plateau contains a network of ancient
faults, reactivated during a mountain building event. This
mountain building event distorted the sedimentary rock above these
faults to create unique patterns in the sedimentary rock.In this
study, squeeze box models were conducted to investigate how these
deep seated faults affect the geometries of the overlying
mountains.
The basement faults were modeled
using plastic blocks. The rock equivalent was found in fine
grained sand and was separated into individually colored layers.
These materials were deformed in a plexiglass squeeze box, with a
computer controlled piston. The resulting mountain could then be
dissected to reveal its inner geometry. These model results
resemble patterns associated with many mountains on the Colorado
Plateau and may be useful in understanding basement fault
orientation, amount of displacement, and progressive fault and
fold growth associated with the mountains.
(click
here to read my published abstract)
(photo: Shane
explaining his research at the national Geological Society of
America meeting in Denver, Colorado)
I am a senior Geology student with a minor in
Geography here at Kutztown University. Throughout my time here at
Kutztown, I have developed an interest in Structural, Economic and
Field Geology. It is with aid from the Undergraduate Research
Committee and my professors, that I was able to challenge my
potential. I completed a research project and was
given the opportunity to travel to Denver, Colorado to present at
a Geological Society of America national convention. It is
uncertain what the future holds, or what careers I may fall into
but I hope to employ all the previously mentioned
disciplines of Geology in a mineral exploration career.
Terry Weller and Lawrence E.
Fredericks III (Biochemistry
working with Dr. Matt
Junker and Dr.
Carsten Sanders – September 2010) – Cloning and functional expression of human cytochrome c hemelyase (CCHL) Our research entails the
amplification and cloning of human CCHL and cytochrome c.Human CCHL and cytochrome c was amplified in competent E. coli
cells.Once the E. coli
was cloned, the colonies will be lysed and the amplified CCHL and
cytochrome c can
then be used in biochemical tests.We
will study the binding affinity of CCHL and IAP (Inhibitor of
Apoptosis Protein) in regards to organized programmed cell death.This research could further information
about cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.
(photo: Terry and
Lawrence in the lab)
My name is Lawrence Fredericks and I am in my
second of overall four college years at Kutztown University. I
major in Biology/Pre-professional and Biochemistry and I also
minor in Chemistry. I will be graduating in spring 2012.
Subsequent to my graduation at Kutztown University, I would like
to attend a medical school or graduate school for a PhD in
Biochemistry or Biophysics. I believe that doing research on the
mechanism of apoptosis will advance my knowledge and skills
relevant for my desired future career path.
My name is Terry Weller and I am a junior at Kutztown University
attaining a major in Biology/Pre-professional and a minor in
Psychology. After graduation in the spring of 2012, I plan on
attending medical school or graduate school to receive a medical
degree or a PhD in Microbiology. This research will provide much
needed experience since I plan on doing research in the future as
well. The medical relevance of this particular project has peaked
my interest and I strongly believe it will help me in my future
endeavors.
Brian Chwiecko (Biochemistry
working with Dr. Matt
Junker and Dr.
Carsten Sanders – September 2010) – Probing the pro-apoptotic protein-protein interaction
between cytochrome c heme
lyase (CCHL) and inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) This research is
designed to determine if there is a physical binding interaction
between two proteins. The tow proteins in question are IAP and
CCHL. IAP is the inhibitor of apoptosis protein. It prevents the
cell from undergoing apoptosis (programmed cell death). CCHL is
cytochrome c heme lyase. It is an enzyme that attaches a heme
cofactor to cytochrome c and may potentially bind to IAP, allowing
apoptosis to commence. The significance of this finding may
influence further cancer research and help to complete our
understanding of the apoptotic pathway which is involved in many
major genetic disorders as well as cancer.
(photo: Brian
Chwiecko)
I am a senior Biology major planning on
attending medical school once I graduate KU this spring. This
research grant has helped me further my findings and potentially
will allow me to write a manuscript for publication. The research
experience I have gained undoubtedly will affect my future in
medicine. I would like to thank the donors and the URC for
allowing me this wonderful opportunity.
Laura Moser (Marine Science working with Dr. Cristen
Rosch – September 2010) – Effects
of Toxins from Common Sources of Pollution on Quorum Sensing and
Bioluminescent Capabilities of Vibrio
harveyi My research
will observe the effects that three toxins have on Vibrio harveyi’s (a marine bacterium)
ability to conduct quorum sensing and bioluminescence. The
three toxins – silver nitrate, acetone, and toluene – are
representative of three common sources of marine pollution:
industrial runoff, agricultural runoff, and oil spills,
respectively. Quorum sensing is a process that occurs when
there are numerous bacterial cells in a given area at a time.
It is a unique method that enables certain genes – such as
the luciferase gene needed for bioluminescence – to be expressed
while others are shut down. Quorum sensing will be
determined by measuring absorbance using a microplate reader in
order to determine whether or not the bacterial population is
still growing. Bioluminescence will also be measured using a
microplate reader. The expression of the luciferase gene
will be determined by first performing reverse transcriptase
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) using the bacterium’s mRNA and
then by observing the PCR product using agarose gel
electrophoresis. All of these components will be measured
before and after adding increasing concentrations of each of the
toxins to the bacterial cultures to observe their effects on Vibrio harveyi.
(photo: Laura Moser in the
lab)
I am a senior at Kutztown University majoring in
Marine Science with a concentration in Biology. Following
graduation I hope to obtain a Master’s degree in Microbiology,
enabling me to further my education in the field that I would like
to pursue professionally. A future career involving the use
of molecular and microbial techniques is desired. Thanks to
the Kutztown Undergraduate Research Committee I will be able to
gain more experience in the lab techniques often used in both
molecular biology and microbiology, which will be of critical
importance in the near future, following my studies at Kutztown
University. Helen Malenda (Geology working with Dr. Edward
Simpson – April
2010) – Investigation of
Modern Biological Soil Crusts: Implications for the Rock Record Helen is
working in studying Biological Soil Crusts, which are complex
communities composed of bacteria, algae, fungus, and lichens.
Biological Soil Crusts are important, because they are most likely
the first organisms to colonize the land environment. Helen works
with Dr. Simpson to investigate how Biological Soil Crusts may be
preserved in rocks in order to aid in their recognition and
environmental implications. This work combines both geology and
biology, and will hopefully gain some insight into ancient
environments of the harsh Precambrian land. (click
here to read my published abstract)
(photo: Helen
presenting her research at the national Geological Society of
America meeting in Denver, Colorado)
Helen F
Malenda is a senior geology student at Kutztown University. She
has studied and lived in Germany, Puerto Rico and California
pursuing interests in science and languages. She hopes to go to
graduate school for environmental geology and will hopefully
work both in America and else where to aid in finding clean
water and resources for communities. She thanks the
undergraduate research committee for allowing her to work on
research that investigates early terrestrial flora and
environments. She has been able to travel to Utah twice to do
field studies as well as present research in Denver and
Pittsburgh.
Anne Lugg (Biology working with Dr. William
Brown – April 2010) – Aging
House Wren nestlings based on feather tract development, wing
chord, and head length My research involved
the characterization of baby house wrens using feather tract
development and body measurements. Additionally we wanted to
see if we could develop a method of scoring unknown-aged wrens in
the field using one or both of these techniques. We
collected a sample of 42 birds from 10 different nest boxes and
recorded wing chord and head length. We also took pictures
from the top and side of each bird. Using the measurements
and pictures for each day, I put together a characterization of
each nestling for each day’s age as they developed in the nest. To
test the useability of the aging method, I applied it to a sample
of unknown-aged birds and was able to accurately estimate age to
within 1 day using the body measurements alone.
(photo: Anne
presenting her research in New York)
I am a returning student to Kutztown University,
already in the midst of my first career change. I have
graduated from the Biology program with high hopes of working in
the field. I hope to obtain employment in the field of
biology or ecology, perhaps within a government agency. I
would like to thank the KU Undergraduate Research Committee for
their fiscal contribution to my research with Dr. Brown.
Their generosity will help me to present our findings at a
professional meeting of ornithologists this May.
Ashley Rathman (Biology working with Dr. William
Brown – April 2010) – The
effect of Wood Thrush hosts on the survival of Brown-headed
Cowbird eggs and nestlings Brood-parasitic
Brown-headed Cowbirds (Molothrus
ater) have a
detrimental effect on a wide range of hosts, and cowbird fledging
rates differ substantially among those hosts. The purpose of
this study was to explore the effect of Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina) hosts on cowbird survival
through each nest stage (egg laying to incubation, incubation to
hatching, hatching to fledging) as well as the overall survival
rate from egg laying through fledging. Cowbird fledging
success among other forest species hosts also was compared to our
results. There was no difference
in survival of cowbird and Wood Thrush eggs from laying to
incubation. Wood Thrushes survived better than cowbirds in
the incubation and nestling stages. Among a variety of
forest-dwelling hosts, the success of cowbirds from egg laying
through fledging ranged from 0% (House Finches, Carpodacus mexicanus) to 68.5% (Red-eyed Vireo,
Vireo olivaceus); 23% of cowbirds in our
study survived from laying through fledging. We suggest this
wide range of cowbird success among hosts may be due to host diet,
host defensive behaviors, types of nest used by the hosts, or
differential mass among host species.
(photo: Ashley presenting
her research in New York)
Avian reproductive biology is a topic that is
very interesting to me. By completing this project, I expanded my
knowledge in the subject and gained experience in presenting
research. Ultimately, I plan on attending graduate school to
further my study in reproductive biology. This grant allowed me to
travel to a major ornithological meeting to present my research,
which was highly beneficial to me and my future education goals. I
would like to thank the donors and the URC for providing me with
the grant money necessary for me to attend this meeting. It was
definitely a priceless experience!
Laura Niczyporowicz (Biology working with Dr. Todd Underwood – April 2010) – The effectiveness of constant effort
mist-netting in estimating abundance and reproductive success of a
Wood Thrush population I
worked with Dr. Underwood on my research project. The goal of our
study was to test the effectiveness of Constant Effort
Mist-Netting (CEM) at gauging the population demographics of a
Wood Thrush population. CEM is a widely used technique, but its
effectiveness is found to vary among bird species. We first
measured the actual density of Wood Thrushes in the population and
then compared those values to the estimates obtained from CEM
using linear regression. We found that CEM was only effective at
gauging two variables of reproductive success, the amount of
juveniles in the population and the ratio of juveniles to adults.
(photo:
Laura presenting her research in New York)
I would like to extend my many thanks to the
members of the KU Undergraduate Research Committee for awarding me
the student grant which allowed me to attend the Annual Wilson
Ornithological Society meeting in Geneva, New York. It was a
really great experience, and it will no doubt help me to
eventually find a career concerned with
research in Animal Behavior. I
appreciate all you have done in helping me to obtain this
experience. Christine Luecke and Cory Land (Computer Science working with Dr. Joo Tan – March 2010) – Association of Information Technology
Professionals National Collegiate Conference Web Application
Project Competition Phase I of the
competition was to develop the project proposal and system
analysis requirements and present a final document containing a
summary of these processes for judging. For this initial phase,
the team completed both the Project Planning Phase and the
Analysis Phase of the SDLC. During the Project Planning Phase the
team gathered information about the specifics of what the client
was looking for in the system. A Database was then designed based
upon these findings. A Work Breakdown Structure was developed
along with the Software Project Plan for the project. Upon
completion of the Project Planning Phase, the team moved on to the
Analysis Phase. An Information Gathering Report and a Software
Requirements Specification Document were developed. Following
this, the project was assessed for feasibility. The Phase I
Document contains the documents that were developed through these
two steps as well as the team’s findings and recommendations for
the client.
Phase II of the competition was to include information about the
System Design. After completing the first two phases of the SDLC
the team moved into the Design Phase. At this time, the team began
to plan the high level aspects using various OO models to capture
details of the system in preparation for the Implementation Phase.
The team developed a System Design Specification, the Site
Architecture, the User Interface Design as well as the design of
the Database during this phase. After the Design Phase was
complete, the team then moved on to the Implementation Phase. An
implementation timeline was developed to aid in ensuring quality
and adherence to the schedule. At this time, an overall
Development Plan was produced and intensive implementation was
started. The Test Specification was also written in preparation
for system testing. The Phase II Document contains a compilation
of the documents that were developed through these steps. Phase III of the
competition includes all information pertaining to Construction
and Implementation of the system. The Implementation Phase was
completed and a client acceptance test was scheduled and conducted
after system testing was completed. After PADS was fully accepted
by the client, it progressed into the Support and Maintenance
Phase. The Phase III Document includes details pertaining to the
final phases, which also involves writing a user manual and user
documentation for the system.
(photo: Christine, Cory, and
Dr. Tan at the national meeting)
Christine Luecke is currently a final semester
senior, graduation planned for May 2010, who is pursuing a
Bachelor’s of Science with a focus in Software Development. She is
also a previous graduate from Kutztown University, class of 2007,
with a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts, focus in Fibers. Upon graduation,
she plans to pursue a career in software engineering. This grant
would allow her to gain experience both with working on a team as
well as with presenting formally at a large conference; it will
also allow her to associate with potential professional contacts
as well as acting as a resume enhancer. Cory Land is currently a senior at
Kutztown University, earning his Bachelor’s degree in Computer
Science: Information Technology in the spring of 2010. In the
near future, he hopes to land a job in the computer industry
working for a prestigious company gaining a career in software
development. The AITP Conference web competition will help add
experience to his resume, and add an edge when applying for a
job. The funding for this grant will allow the project team to
travel to St. Louis for the presentation, in an effort to win
the competition. . Crystal Hoefling (Psychology working with Dr. Matthew
Heinly – March 2010) – Effect
of Stimulus Complexity on Recognition Memory Tests in Simulated
Malingering and Normal Controls The purpose of
my research was to determine the effect of stimulus complexity on
force-choice recognition tests. We looked at an existing
test (TOMM) which is an extremely easy test given to individuals
in neuropsychological clinics. The purpose of the test is to catch
individuals who are faking a memory problem (malingerer). The
individuals that do have problems with memory do very well on the
test and the malingerers purposely do poorly. We devised a test
that was to be as similar as possible to the TOMM but used
abstract line drawings instead of line drawings of common objects.
The study demonstrated that there was a significant difference
between recognizing simple line drawings and abstract drawings for
persons simulating memory impairment and normal controls. Past
research has found similar results for simple verses complex
stimuli. (photo: Crystal
Hoefling with Dr. Heinly and research collaborator Katherine
Sternbergh presenting their work at the American Psychological
Society meeting in Boston, MA)
I am a senior psychology
major at Kutztown University. This grant will allow me to travel
to Boston for the Association of Psychological Science
conference to present the results of my research. I am currently
working on completing a manuscript for publication with my
advisor and looking forward to continuing research in the
future. After graduation, my plan is to attend a clinical
psychology doctorate program to attain my PhD and become a
licensed psychologist. Ryan Geisler (Biology working with Dr. Carsten
Sanders – February 2010) – Uncovering
the Holocytochrome c Biogenesis System of Euglena gracilis The goal of my research is to
uncover the mechanism by which holocytochrome c biogenesis occurs
in the model organism Euglena gracilis.C type cytochromes are important proteins involved in the
oxidation-reduction reactions of cellular respiration and
photosynthesis.They are usually
characterized by covalent attachment of the cytochrome to a heme
group through two thioether bonds.However,
E.
gracilis displays a unique holocytochrome c in which the
heme is attached to the cytochrome through only one thioether
bond.My research will use multiple
molecular and microbiology techniques, including polymerase chain
reaction(PCR) and the creation of a cDNA library, to attempt to
uncover the biogenesis mechanism.This
research is relevant because E. gracilis shares this unique type
of cytochrome with dangerous human pathogens such as Trypanosoma
spp. and the uncovering of this biogenesis mechanism
could provide a potential drug target for these pathogens.
(photo: Ryan in
the lab)
I am currently a junior at Kutztown University majoring
in Biology/Pre-professional and minoring in Psychology.Upon graduation from Kutztown, I plan on
attending medical school to obtain a medical degree.I would like to sincerely thank the Kutztown University
Undergraduate Research Committee and all of those involved in
providing me with this opportunity.This
opportunity will allow me to conduct research I am interested in
and it will allow me to go to conferences to present my research
to others.I am truly grateful for
the support that allows me to partake in the advancement of my
career and most important of all allows me to do what I am most
interested it. John Ponis (Biochemistry
working with Dr. Matt
Junker – February
2010) – Measurement of
HAP1’s DNA-Binding Affinity I will measure binding
characteristics of HAP1 (a yeast protein that binds to DNA) in
order to assist in developing a method for controlling protein
association in the laboratory.
(photo: John in
the lab)
I am a junior Chemistry major at Kutztown
University. I plan on graduating in May 2010, earning a bachelor’s
degree in Chemistry. I plan on entering graduate school and
getting my Master’s Degree and eventually my Doctorate in
Chemistry. This research will provide me with valuable experience
working independently in a lab setting, and my eventual
presentation will hopefully grant insight into my future career
path. Lauren Storm (Geology working with Dr. Edward
Simpson – February
2010) – A Mississippian
Vertebrate Burrow? Complex terrestrial
communities, represented by significant subsurficial bioturbation,
are reported to have evolved in the early Mesozoic Era. This is
thought to reflect the fact that the substrate ecospace was the
last to be exploited, including depth of burrowing. However,
recent studies of the Mississippian-age middle member of the Mauch
Chunk Formation have revealed an intensely bioturbated
fine-grained sandstone preserved in an ancient channel fill. This
new information opens up for discussion the intensity and depth of
bioturbation in early (late Paleozoic) terrestrial ecosystems.
(click
here to read my published abstract)
(photo: Lauren
and Dr. Simpson presenting her research at the Geological Society
of America meeting)
This research also
resulted in publication of a full, peer-reviewed journal article
in the journal Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology
titled Large vertebrate burrow from the Upper Mississippian
Mauch Chunk Formation, eastern Pennsylvania, USA (Storm et al. 2010).
Biographical blurb. Mattathias Needle (Geology working with Dr. Sarah Tindall – February 2010) – Physical modeling of primary and progressive
orogenic curvature Because of the
sparse-nature of the research revolving around the analogue
modeling of mountain salient displacement paths, I decided to test
the proposed paths in the lab. My findings within the
analogue models may support the proposed displacement paths that
form mountain salients. Secondly, by modeling the
displacement paths with sand, I have the ability to cut the models
and observe the deformation in cross-section. This
information can benefit the scientific community in helping to
identify cross-sectional features that indicate a particular
displacement path in the field when studying mountains.
(click
here to read my published abstract)
(photo: Max and Dr. Tindall presenting his research at
the Geological Society of America meeting)
After almost seven years as an undergraduate
college student, I have confidently found my niche in geology,
specifically modeling geologic processes and structural
geology. The modeling aspect of my research really exercised
my spatial reasoning abilities, art skills, and scientific
thinking. The personal qualities of which I am proud functioned
harmoniously to complete a task and make a contribution to the
scientific community. With the guidance of my professors at
Kutztown University, I developed an understanding of the process
through which scientific research is conducted and
published. The URC grant will enable me to share my findings
with the scientific community at the GSA meeting as well as
receive a broader perspective of other research in my field. Sarah Delsanto (Biology working with Dr. Marilyn
Baguinon – January 2010) – Cloning
and sequencing of the gene for UDP-N-acetylglucosamine
pyrophosphorylase from the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum The purpose of
this project is to investigate the role of the enzyme
UDP-N-acetylglucosamine pyrophosphorylase (UAP) in the red flour
beetle, Tribolium castaneum. It has been shown that UAP
plays specific roles in other insects, such as Drosophila,
however, the exact function of UAP in Tribolium is still not
known. To begin to understand the function of UAP in Tribolium, we
propose to isolate the gene from the genomic DNA of the insect,
then clone, and sequence it. Once sequenced, the gene will be
further studied to identify its role or roles in the survival of
the insect.
(photo: Sarah Delsanto
working in the lab)
I am in the final semester of my
senior year as a Biology major. After graduation in the Spring of
2010, I plan on seeking a research career at the Penn State Milton
S. Hershey Medical center or other institutions. This independent
student research experience will be invaluable towards my
aspirations to become a clinical researcher. I look forward to
applying the techniques I have learned in the classroom and in the
lab towards my future career. I am extremely grateful for the
opportunity to be able to expand my knowledge and hands-on
techniques, and I would like to extend my gratitude towards Dr.
Carlos-Vargas Aburto and the Kutztown University Foundation
through the Kutztown University Undergraduate Research Committee
for making this research possible. This experience is a defining
step towards my path to my career goals.Benjamin Harris (Chemistry working with Dr. Lauren
Levine – October 2009) – Exploring Porphyrins as a Means to Image Gold
Nanoparticles used in Anti-cancer studies. This research project
addresses the challenges involved in imaging gold nanoparticles
(Au-NP’s) used in biological systems. Due to its unique
physicals properties, there have been many uses for Au-NP’s.
A recent addition has been its involvement as an anti-cancer
agent. Current research has shown that heating the particles
with a laser produces enough heat to destroy any cells that have
adsorbed the particles or exist in close proximity. One
problem with this treatment is the inability to image the
particles. This severely limits our knowledge in how they
interact with cells and if they are expelled from biological
systems after the treatment is finished. This project
pursues the development of a ‘tag’ which will allow us to image
and track where the particles reside during treatment (in the
cells or alongside them). Porphyrin, a molecule that can be
used in fluorescence detection as well as magnetic resonance
imaging (MRI) will be employed for this purpose. In order to
ensure the solubility of the tagged particles in biological fluids
and the prevention of any interference the particle may have on
the porphyrin’s imaging ability, the linking molecule polyethylene
glycol (PEG) will be used to attach the porphyrin to the Au-NP.
(photo:
none provided)
I am currently graduating this December with a
B.S. in Chemistry and double minors in Mathematics and
Music. Medical school has been a strong desire of mine at
present but I am still exploring opportunities in graduate level
Chemistry programs. For me, experiencing the challenges,
creativity, and excitement of doing something never done before
all found in research will greatly assist me in making this
difficult decision. While I have learned much from my
chemistry courses, most activities are performed in a very
controlled environment. I have greatly desired the ability to
experience chemistry on a level where the answer does not already
exist, but must be theorized and tested using my intuition.
This research project will not only help me develop these skills,
but also assist me in a decision about further graduate education
in chemistry.Marissa Burt (Elementary
Education/Reading working with Dr. Carol Watson – October
2009) – Children’s
Perceptions of Diverse Populations With an ever increasing
culturally and ethnically diverse public school population, the
need for cultural understanding is at an all time high. When
children see negative stereotypes wherever it may be (home,
school, media, etc.) children often see people in a biased light.
Living in such a diverse society, prejudices against others all
too often become normal tendencies. The purpose of this study is
to investigate the nature of children’s attitudes towards people
from other cultural backgrounds and how their perceptions change
as children get older.
(photo:
none provided)
I am currently a senior Honors Elementary
Education major with a concentration in Reading. I am also in the
process of obtaining my ESL certification. I have presented at the
state level of the National Association of Multicultural
Education. My career goals are to obtain a teaching position
within a school district that has a diverse school setting or a
school district that values continuing research based
instructional strategies and perspectives. This grant will help
achieve these goals by allowing me to present ongoing research to
a broader and more rigorous audience in order to get feedback to
contribute to future research and practices.Jeffrey Minton (Computer Science working with Dr. Oskars Rieksts – October 2009) – Sensor Fusion: Combining Input from Cameras
and Sonar Rangefinders into a Spatial Knowledge Representation of
a Robots Environment I plan to develop a system for
robots that allows it to analyze the environment it is in.This system will use a camera connected
to a computer and sonar rangefinders to determine the constraints
of the environment it is in.I hope
to take the data and allow the robot to dynamically create a map
of where it has been.This map should
allow the robot to continually refine its understanding of the
environment to help it determine what actions it should take. (photo:
programming the robot)
I am currently a senior in the Computer Science
Department and I have been working with robots since my junior
year of High School.I plan in the
future to try and work on robots that will help people with
disabilities or assist us in dangerous tasks such as fighting
fires.I hope that I can take what I
learn from this to contribute to robotics work at companies in the
future. I would like to thank the donors to the school for the
ability for me to go forth with this research. Sunshyne Ross (Geology working with Dr. Jennifer
Mangan – October 2009) – Effects
of Climate Change on Regional Crop Production in Eastern
Pennsylvania My research
focused on the impacts of climate change on crop production within
Berks county. It is important to understand how fluctuations in
temperature and altered precipitation will affect crop yields and
general soil stability. Many of the studies that have been
conducted are on a wide scale impact of global change on
ecosystems. While these studies are useful, it is very important
to focus on smaller scale agriculturally significant areas. Fluxes
in micro- to mesoscale climate may not necessarily be detected
when looking at data for entire states or larger regions.Further, studies of areas that
specifically address local farmers’ needs are more likely to
provide pertinent data for crop management and climate change
mitigation at the level where it is most needed. That is why
studies of areas that will specifically address the local farmers’
needs are considered necessary.My
research addressed one major concern,It generates detailed studies
of crop dynamics in relation to climatic variables within local
regions, which are necessary to understand how local climate
change will affect crop production. (click
here to read my published abstract)
(photo: Sunshyne
presenting her research at the American Geophysical Union meeting
in San Francisco, California)
I am a senior at Kutztown
University graduating in spring 2011. I am majoring in Geology.
After graduation I plan on attending graduate school to study
aqueous Geochemistry. I will eventually pursue a PhD. This grant
has helped me gain experience by being able to travel to the
American Geophysical Union Fall 2009 meeting in SanFransisco, Ca.
Here I met leading scientists from around the world. I would like
to thank the Kutztown Undergraduate Research Committee for giving
me this opportunity. Casey Smith (Geology working with Dr. Edward
Simpson –
September 2009) – Taphonomic
controls on the preservation of vertebrate tracks in ephemeral
braided river deposits of the middle and upper members of the
Mississippian Mauch Formation, eastern Pennsylvania Taphonomic controls on
fossil preservation are important to fully understanding
fossilized evidence of prehistoric life. Taphonomy (meaning
“burial law”) presents evidence for processes and the potential
of, in this case fossilized trackways found in the Mississippian
Mauch Chunk Formation (315 mya old rock strata). This
study provided evidence supporting the hypothesis that trackways
are persevered in one type of rock unit (mud draped ripples
facies) more favorably than another (sandstone).
Although this may seem intuitive (e.g., if you take your dog for a
walk and, like all dogs, it runs through the mud, its footprints
[trackways] will be best seen in the mud compared to if it ran
down pebbly driveway), this study provided strict evidence
This study developed a search strategy for finding trackways in
ancient rocks, targeting those restricted to the mud-draped ripple
facies.
(click
here to read my published abstract)
(photo: Casey
Smith presenting research at GSA)
I am a geology major here at Kutztown
University, with an objective of graduating in Fall 2010.
This grant aided in funding a research project that taught me how
to conduct a research project from beginning to end (collecting
data, applying for grants, presenting research, etc.). Upon
graduation, my plan has been to attended graduate school with a
concentration in geosciences, with the initiative of becoming a
college professor, where I will be able to give back to the
community and touch the minds of young college students as keeping
with the tradition of Kutztown University Professors. Lauren Storm (Geology working with Dr. Kurt Friehauf – September 2009) – Mineralization within the Dong Gou Porphyry
Molybdenum Deposit, Eastern Qinling Mountains, Henan China The purpose of my
research was to determine the types of molybdenum veins in a major
mine in rural China, and their timing relative one another.
By determining which minerals occur in the veins, we can calculate
the chemical composition of the geothermal waters that formed the
ore. The relative timing of different vein types tells us
how the system changed during the ore-forming period.
(click
here to read my published abstract)
(photo: Lauren
with coworkers presenting work at the Geological Society of
America meeting in Portland, Oregon)
. Kelli Moran (Geology working with Dr. Edward
Simpson –
September 2009) – The
recognition and implications of the wood‐boring trace fossil
Asthenopodichnium xylobiotum in Upper Cretaceous strata of Grand
Staircase Escalante National Monument, Utah The purpose of this
research is to establish a set of criteria to aid in determining
the difference between two very similar trace fossils; one
produced by a wood boring clam and one produced by insects (most
likely mayfly larvae). It is important to note the difference
because the trace produced by the clams, Teredolites, is
only found in salt water environments while the trace
produced by the insects, Asthenopodichnium, is only found in fresh
water environments. Being able to determine the difference is
important when you are trying to determine the paleoenvironment of
a specific area; finding these trace fossils will allow you to
quickly determine if you have found a freshwater stream or a
marine deposit.
(click
here to read my published abstract)
(photo: Kelli
presenting her research at the national Geological Society of
America meeting in Portland, Oregon)
I am a senior geology major at Kutztown
University; this project allowed me to travel to Grand Staircase
Escalante National Monument in Utah to collect samples and to
Portland, Oregon to present my research at a national Geological
Society of America meeting. After graduating from Kutztown I plan
on going to East Carolina University to earn my masters in
geology. Nikita Driscoll (Psychology working with Dr. Derek Mace
- March 2009) – Sex
differences in wayfinding The
purpose of my research was to determine x. (photo: xx)
Biographical blurb.Kelley Healey (Biology working with Dr. Cristen
Rosch - March 2009) –
Role of Microtubules in the Mode of Rhizobium
Infection in Legume Root Cells This past year,
I have investigated the function of microtubules in the uptake of
the soil bacterium Rhizobium into soybean root cells.
Certain microbes can utilize a host cell’s cytoskeletal properties
for bacterial invasion and intercellular spread. The
cellular cytoskeleton is made up of protein filaments including
microtubules and microfilaments. Rhizobium is a type of soil
bacterium which can infect the roots of legumes and fix nitrogen
from the air. Soybean plants were exposed to two
concentrations (0.02 mg/ml; 0.05 mg/ml) of the cytoskeletal
binding drug taxol. Control plants and plants treated with
the lower dose of taxol developed nodules, while plants treated
with the higher dose failed to develop any nodules. Indirect
immunofluorescence microscopy was then used to further study the
mechanism of Rhizobium infection into the root cells isolated from
plants that developed nodules. Lack of nodule growth in the
plants given the higher taxol dose suggests that microtubules may
play a role in Rhizobium infection of soybean root tissue.
The similarity between the microtubule networks in the root cells
of the low dose taxol-treated plants and in the root cells of the
untreated control cells, as seen with the microscopy, supports our
hypothesis suggesting Rhizobium utilizes microtubules for tissue
invasion. If the cytoskeleton was completely disrupted in
these taxol-treated plants, this hypothesis would have proved
wrong due to the nodule growth found on these plants. This
also supports our hypothesis that taxol binds to and stabilizes
microtubules thus preventing their disassembly in the cell
cytoplasm and subsequent Rhizobium infection.
(photo: Kelley presenting
her research at CPUB)
I am currently
a senior biology/pre-professional major at Kutztown University and
will graduate in May 2009.This
undergraduate research project allowed me to conduct an
independent research project which broadened my laboratory
experiences and better prepared me for graduate school.It was an integral part of my acceptance
into several graduate programs.I
will be attending Drexel University’s College of Medicine this
August to pursue a graduate degree in microbiology and immunology.Grants I received through the Kutztown
University’s Undergraduate Committee made this research
opportunity possible and will allow me to present my research at
the 109th general meeting of the American Society for
Microbiology this May in Philadelphia. Courtney Young (Biology working with Dr. Cristen
Rosch - February 2009) – The
Effects of Nicotine on DNA Structure and Overall Morphology of
Human Cheek Cells This research
studies the effects of nicotine on DNA structure, nucleus size,
and overall size of human cheek cells in order to gain better
knowledge of how the effects of nicotine contribute to cancers and
other disease. Measurements will be taken by an ocular micrometer
under a fluorescent microscope. The nucleic acids within the cells
will be stained using acridine orange in order to display bright
nucleic acids against a dark background. The DNA of cells exposed
to nicotine are expected to be loosely packed. The nucleus and
overall size of cells exposed to nicotine are expected to be
larger than cells that were untreated.
(photo: Courtney Young)
I started attending Kutztown
University as a biology major in the fall of 2006 after graduating
at a local high school. I will be graduating in December of this
year, and I plan to attend dental school to receive my doctorate
and eventually own and operate my own family practice. I want to
carry out this research because it relates well to my career goal,
since it involves the human mouth, and I am hoping that it shows I
am interested in topics related to the field of dentistry. Taryn Dick (Biology working with Dr.
Angelika Antoni - February 2009) – Cloning genes differentially expressed by two different
but related cell lines Macrophages are
unique cells that have the responsibility of removing neighboring
cells that have died either naturally by apoptosis or unnaturally
through necrosis. There are separate receptors on these
macrophages that are unique for both apoptotic and necrotic cells.
These receptors signal a very different response for the removal
of these cells. It has been hypothesized that a defect in the
receptor for apoptotic cells is responsible for onset of
autoimmune diseases. With this research we will be working toward
isolating and identifying this receptor by comparing two cells
that have very similar genetic makeup except in the way they
respond to apoptotic cells.
(photo: Taryn working
in the lab)
I would like to thank the
Undergraduate Research Committee for supporting and funding this
research project I will be working on with Dr. Antoni. I am
a junior in the Biology/Molec/Micro/Cell BS track. After
graduation, I plan to attend Graduate school and earn my PhD in
molecular biology. This research project is giving me extensive
experience with research and different laboratory skills and
techniques. I will also get the opportunity to present my research
at the CPUB meeting. I am extremely excited and thankful for this
amazing opportunity. Stasia Hydock (Biology working with Dr.
Angelika Antoni - February 2009) – Identification
of the requirements needed for proteins to elicit the production
of aPL and SLE Autoantibodies The autoimmune
disease anti-phospholipid syndrome is characterized in one way by
the presence of the anti-phospholipid antibody (aPL).
Anti-phospholipid syndrome can by a primary disease or one
secondary to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). It is known that
the phospholipid binding protein, β2-glycoprotein I, when
coimmunized with a toll-like receptor is capable of eliciting the
production of aPL and other SLE autoantibodies. The focus of
this research is to determine whether the phospholipid binding
domain of β2-glycoprotein I is necessary and sufficient to elicit
the production of aPL and othe SLE autoantibodies. My
project is focused on designing and producing the constructs to
determine if the binding domain is sufficient by inserting the
binding domain into a non-phosphlipid binding protein, ovalbumin.
(photo: Stasia Hydock
working in the lab)
I am a senior at Kutztown
University majoring in biology in the pre-professional
track. After graduation I plan on obtaining a job in the
pharmaceutical or in the biotechnological industry and within a
few years return to school to obtain my masters degree. This
opportunity will allow me the chance to practice my laboratory
skills needed for my future job hopes as well as giving me insight
into the process of designing and performing an independent
research project needed for graduate school. I would like to
thank the Undergraduate Research Committee for their support on
this research project. Casey Smith (Geology working with Dr. Edward
Simpson - February
2009) – The first reported
arthropod trackways from the Pennsylvanian Llewellyn Formation:
Bear Valley Strip Mine, Shamokin This
research entailed a fossilized trackway that was collected from
the lower Pennsylvanian (~325 million years) Llewellyn Formation
at the Bear Valley Strip Mine near Shamokin, PA.This newly discovered fossil has well preserved insect
trails, and is the first reported arthropod trackway from this
rock unit.This invertebrate trace
fossil displays multiple morphologies that sharply define
locomotion traces, and includes the necessary appendage patterns
to designate it as the ichnogenus Diplichnites gouldi Type A.This specimen indicates a diverse insect
fauna existence; however many fossils remain uncollected in the
Lewellyn Formation, and may hold the key to many numerous
complexities in the paleoecology of this Geological time.
(click
here to read my published abstract)
(photo: Casey
presenting research at the Geological Society of America meeting)
Biographical blurb. Theresa Morrison (Geology working with Dr. Doreena
Patrick- November 2008) – Rare
earth element signatures of phytosaur fossil fragments The purpose of my
research was to determine the environment in which phytosaurs
lived by analyzing the chemical composition of their
fossils. Phytosaurs living in lake water, for example, would
theoretically have a different trace element comnposition than
phytosaurs living in seawater.
Biographical blurb.Emily Bellush and
Matthea Yepsen (Biology - November 2008) – Study of oak insect gall wasps The
purpose of my research was to determine x. (photo: xx)
Biographical blurb.Sarah Anthony (Biology - November 2008) – The effect of chelate sources The
purpose of my research was to determine x. (photo: xx)
Biographical blurb.Kelley Healey (Biology October 2008) – Roles of actin and tubuilin The
purpose of my research was to determine x. (photo: Dr.
Cristen Rosch and Kelley Healey presenting their research)
Biographical blurb. Samantha Zilinski (Biology October 2008) – Mutation of myristoylation site The
purpose of my research was to determine x. (photo: xx)
Biographical blurb.Kaitlyn Walko (Psychology October 2008) – The effects of tactile vs. non-tactile
artistic The
purpose of my research was to determine x. (photo: xx)
Biographical blurb.Ray Grater (Biology October 2008) – Analysis of potential vertebrate predator The
purpose of my research was to determine x. (photo: xx)
Biographical blurb.Amber Saville-Andree (Biology working with Dr. Nancy
Butler - April 2008) – Seasonal
changes in plankton composition off the coast of Virginia The
purpose of my research was to determine x. (photo: xx)
Biographical blurb. Sarah
Windfelder (Psychology working with Dr. Robert
Ryan - April 2008) – The
Frighteningness of non-disgusting stimuli angers males more than
females In this study we
wanted to determine why people are hostile towards those they see
as different from themselves? Is their hostility influenced more
by fear or disgust? Subjects were asked to rate 44 different
insects on how frightening or disgusting they were. We were able
to select 8 insects that were independently high or low in fear
and disgust. We found that disgust increases hostility more
that fear, females were more hostile than males and for the low
disgusting insects males were more influenced by fear. (photo: none provided)
I am a junior clinical
counseling psychology major. After graduation I plan to
attend graduate school and pursue a career in counseling.
My goal is to receive a PhD in clinical psychology. This
grant will help me achieve my future goals by funding research
that I can present at the Eastern Psychological Association
Conference and eventually aid in my acceptance to a graduate
program. I would like the donors to this grant for their
generosity. Bevin Lustman (Psychology working with Dr. Robert
Ryan - April 2008) – Local
processing increases false identifications The
purpose of my research was to determine x. (photo: Kirsten
Williams, Samantha Scott, Bevin Lustman, and Dr. Robert Ryan at
APS meeting)
Biographical blurb.
Sarah Brojack (Psychology working with Dr. Tiffany
Andrews - April 2008) – Gender stereotyping in telivision's depiction of the
first female president of the United States of America Gender stereotyping in television’s depiction of the
first female president of the United States of America intended to provide evidence
that there are gender stereotypes throughout the media regarding
females. The show Commander-In-Chief was chosen to be studied due
to the fact that it was the first show to depict a female as
president of the United States. Participants were given 12 issues
and resolutions that occurred on the show and asked whether a male
of female were more likely to carry out the resolution. Results
showed that there were gender biases used in choosing whether a
male or female would carry out each resolution.
(photo: Sarah
Brojack)
My name is Sarah Brojack and I am
from Scranton, PA. I am currently a senior clinical psychology
major/literature minor at Kutztown University. I plan on attending
Drexel University for graduate school, where I would like to
receive my PhD. I would like to thank the Undergraduate Research
Committee for funding my research and allowing me to attend the
APA conference in Boston. This experience will allow me to become
more knowledgeable about the psychology field, especially when it
comes to research.
Jennifer Nagle (Biology working with Dr. Cristen
Rosch - April 2008) – A
potential link between fetal exposure to the pesticide DEET and
birth effects Teratogens are
chemical or environmental agents that cause birth abnormalities in
a developing embryo. Pesticides are an example of teratogens
and have the capability of altering the health and development of
an exposed embryo. My research project will assess the
effects of the pesticide, Deet, on developing chick embryos.
Deet is a widespread pesticide used in many tick and insect
repellants. The assessment will be done at the physiological
level using birth weight, length, and skeletal abnormalities as
well as at the molecular level by detecting the presence of
acetylcholinesterase activity in brain tissue and at neuromuscular
junctions. Due to the number of pesticides that have been
banned by the Environmental Protection Agency, there is a need to
reassess commonly used pesticides and determine their affect on
fetal development.
(photo: Jennifer Nagle
working in the lab)
I am a junior at Kutztown
University majoring in biology in the pre-professional
track. After graduation in May 2009, I plan on going to
graduate school to become a Physician Assistant and hope to
specialize in pediatrics. I had the opportunity to work as a
summer intern in research and development at Crayola, and I really
enjoyed the research aspect of science. This experience will
allow me to conduct my own research and present my findings at a
professional meeting. I would like to thank the Kutztown
University Undergraduate Research Committee for supporting my
research project and giving me the opportunity to enhance my
laboratory and critical thinking skills that I will be able to
utilize in the future.
Allison Koser(Physics working
with Dr. Paul Quinn - March 2008) – The Transistion of Two Dimensional Hard
Spheres from Liquid to Solid Regimes Under Gravity Using the
Global Equation of State They are still
many mysteries on how granular particles (such as sand) move.
Because our Earth is composed of such particles, finding answers
is necessary to understanding earthquakes and other natural
phenomena. Our goal is to create a density profile for a bed of
vibrating particles. In other words, create a graph of density
versus height for a bed of vibrating particles (particles are less
dense at top because they are not pressed down by particles above
them). Using some empirically created equations by Stephan Luding,
I created a computer program to solve the profile. Now, using
computer simulated data, I fit the graph to each of them. In the
near future, I plan to analyze the graphs to find out more about
how many layers are frozen or move very little.
(photo: Alison presenting
research at the American Physical Society meeting in Los Angeles,
CA)
When I first came to Kutztown, my
professor generously offered to do research with me. It didn’t
take me long to find out how much I love doing research and I now
plan to go to graduate school and do research either at a private
institution or university. The donors for this grant have made it
possible for me to go to a Physics Conference and meet other
physicists who are actually doing what I would like to do. Thank
you for an unbelievable experience and further experience in my
career goals.
David Thomas (Biology working with Dr. Nancy Butler - March 2008) - Hyperbaric effects on oxygen consumption by
planktonic organisms The
purpose of my research was to determine x. (photo: David
Thomas and Amber Saville on boat in Nova Scotia)
Biographical blurb.
Gabby Raful (Political Science working with Dr. John Riley
- March 2008) – Populism
in Mexico The
purpose of my research was to determine x. (photo: xx)
Biographical blurb.Lauren Storm (Geology working with Dr. Sarah Tindall - Feburary 2008) – Syntectonic sedimentation in the East Kaibab
monocline: evidence for the timing of the onset of Laramide
deformation in south-central Utah The purpose of my
research was to determine whether sediment post or pre-dated two
faults in South-Central Utah eighty to fifty million years
ago. We took precise strike and dip directions and GPS
locations for three transects; north of the faults, between the
faults, and south of the faults. We constructed a cross
section for each transect and mathematically determined the
thickness of each rock layer for that transect. Our data
confirmed that sediment is thicker north of the faults than it is
south of the faults, which signifies that faulting occurred while
sediment was being deposited.
(click
here or here
to read my abstract)
(photo: Lauren
Storm at fault contact on the Kaibab Monocline, Utah)
I am a sophomore Geology major at Kutztown
University. I will be continuing my education at Kutztown
University to receive a Bachelor’s degree, along with a minor in
Geography in May 2010. I will be going to graduate school to
attain my Master’s and hopefully my Doctorate degree in
volcanology. The funding awarded to me by the Undergraduate
Research Committee helped me to present research at the Geological
Society of America conference in Las Vegas, Nevada in March, 2008. Angela Kessler (Biology working with Dr. Marilyn
Baguinon - Feburary 2008) – Molecular
studies on the phospholipase D enzyme from Arabidopsis thaliana My research focuses on
studying the structure-function relationship of phospholipase D
(PLD), an enzyme responsible for the breakdown of phospholipids in
the cell membrane. This enzyme is involved in many cell processes
such as signal transduction and intracellular transport. Calcium
ions are known to activate and regulate the enzyme the mechanism,
however, is not clearly understood. The objective of my research
is to determine which amino acids are involved in the binding of
calcium ions to the enzyme. This will be done by mutating
the PLD gene from mouse-ear cress, Arabidopsis thaliana, and then
determining the effect of the mutation on calcium binding.
I am currently a junior at Kutztown
University pursuing a B.S. in Biology (Cell/Molecular
Biology/Microbiology track). After graduation I plan to attend
graduate school, eventually contributing to the advancement of
science and the study of life at the molecular level. Enzymes
are an essential part of cell functioning, and ultimately, of
life. It is for this reason that it is important to study the
structure and function of enzymes. This project gives me an
opportunity to hone my laboratory skills and familiarize myself
with fundamental techniques. I want to thank the Undergraduate
Research Committee for awarding me the grant. It is because of
their generosity that I have received this great opportunity.
Ian Clark (Biochemistry working with Dr. Matthew
Junker - Feburary
2008) – Pseudopolarographic
determination of Cd+2, Pb+2, and Cu+2
complexes found in sewage treatment plant (STP) effluent The goal in my research was
to identify metals and the molecules (ligands) they are bound too
in sewage discharge along the Schuylkill River without acidifying
the sample like previous studies. By examining sewage effluents in
a natural state we can accurate quantify the strength of the
ligands, along with metal concentration. Knowing ligands and their
binding strengths are important because different ligands can
actually increase toxicity of metals in the natural environment.
With a more complete understanding the true environmental effects
can be determined rather than simply knowing metal concentrations.
(click
here to read my published abstract)
I am a senior biochemistry major at Kutztown
University. This grant allowed me to travel to New Orleans for the
American Chemical Society national meeting to present the results
of our research. Being selected as one of a handful of students
(graduate and undergraduate) across the country to give an oral
presentation was a daunting task. I am extremely thankful to the
Kutztown Undergraduate Research Committee and their contribution
to my research that will allow me to deliver a high quality
seminar. After graduation my plans include a PhD in chemistry
focusing on analytical and materials research.
Carl Faust (Physics working with Dr. Paul Quinn
- Feburary 2008) – The
Examination of the Angle of Repose in a Vertically Vibrated
Container of Granular Materials The purpose of my
research is to be able to describe how a system of granular
particles, such as sand, moves when it undergoes vertical
vibration. This motion is described by looking at the
system's angle of repose, surface shape, and its precession around
the container. Specifically, the angle of repose was looked
at by varying several parameters including: the amplitude and
frequency of vibration, the container size and shape, and the
amount and size of the granular material. For future work,
quantitative relationships must be made for the surface shape and
precession, and the motion must be described theoretically.
(click
here or here
to read my abstract)
I will be graduating in
May 2009 with a degree in physics along with a minor in
mathematics, and chemistry. After my time at Kutztown
University, I plan on continuing my education in graduate school
to earn my PhD and become a professor. Thanks to generous
donations, I was able to attend the American Physical Society
conference in New Orleans to present my research.
Lee Graham (Biology working with Dr. Angelika
Antoni-
Feburary 2008) – Identification
of genetic changes in a derived cell line that responds abnormally
to apoptotic cells Apoptosis, or
programmed cell death, is the normal process by which
dysfunctional cells are systematically broken down by the
body. Necrotic cell death, on the other hand, occurs when
cells die from some sort of trauma, such as an infection.
This necrotic type of cell death acts a warning signal that
something is wrong, triggering a strong immune response.
Previous work by Dr. Antoni and her collaborators has suggested
that a problem with cells being able to properly differentiate
between apoptotic and necrotic cells may underlie
autoimmunity. With this research project, I hope to identify
protein receptors or signaling molecules involved in the
recognition of apoptotic cells. I will be comparing mRNA
from CHO cells, which undergo distinct changes when exposed to
apoptotic cells, and a mutant CHO line called LR73, which has lost
this response. By identifying mRNA sequences unique to
either line, proteins will be identified that may be involved in
this response.
I am a Biology major on the Micro/Molecular/Cell
track with plans of obtaining a job in medical, pharmaceutical, or
biotechnological research upon graduation. In particular, my
interests lie in immune responses and autoimmunity, so this
research is directly relevant to the field in which I would like
to work. This project will provide me with valuable skills
and knwledge that will help me obtain a job in these fields.
I would like to thank the Kutztown Foundation and the
Undergraduate Research Committee for offering and funding these
grants, which truly offer a great opportunity and experience for
Kutztown students.
Sara Lucas (Biology working with Dr. Anne Zayaitz and Dr. Todd Underwood - Feburary 2008) – A comparison of pathogenic microbes found in
plastic vs. wooden birdfeeders My research was
designed with a dual goal. First, to determine whether
birdfeeders do in fact harbor pathogenic microorganisms, and
second, to see whether wooden or plastic feeders provide a better
environment for microbial growth. After a thirty day period,
during which observations about weather and bird species visiting
the feeders, testing will be performed to detect the presence of
four known avian pathogens: Salmonella, Aspergillus, Mycoplasma
spp., and Trichomonas
gallinae.
Methods will include traditional plate culture, the MycoFluor kit
(Molecular Probes, Inc., Eugene, Oregon) with fluorescence
microscopy, and the InPouch method for detecting Trichomonads
(BioMed Diagnostics, Santa Clara, California).
I am a senior Biology student at Kutztown
University. Upon graduation I pursue a position in the
microbiology field. I intend to continue my education,
attending graduate school within the next few years. This
research is very important to my future goals, because it allows
me the opportunity to execute an experiment that I have designed,
as well as to work on an interdisciplinary project in microbiology
and ecology. I would like to thank the Undergraduate
Research Committee, as well as the donors of the Kutztown
University Foundation for supporting my research. Jennifer Nagle (Biology working with Dr. Cristen
Rosch - Feburary 2008) – A
potential link between fetal exposure to the pesticide DEET and
birth effects Teratogens
are chemical or environmental agents that cause birth
abnormalities in a developing embryo.Pesticides
are an example of teratogens and have the capability of altering
the health and development of an exposed embryo.My research project will assess the effects of the
pesticide, Deet, on developing chick embryos.Deet is a widespread pesticide used in many tick and insect
repellants.The assessment will be
done at the physiological level using birth weight, length, and
skeletal abnormalities as well as at the molecular level by
detecting the presence of acetylcholinesterase activity in brain
tissue and at neuromuscular junctions.Due
to the number of pesticides that have been banned by the
Environmental Protection Agency, there is a need to reassess
commonly used pesticides and determine their affect on fetal
development.
I am a junior at KutztownUniversity majoring in
biology in the pre-professional track.After
graduation in May 2009, I plan on going to graduate school to
become a Physician Assistant and hope to specialize in pediatrics.I had the opportunity to work as a
summer intern in research and development at Crayola, and I really
enjoyed the research aspect of science.This
experience will allow me to conduct my own research and present my
findings at a professional meeting.I
would like to thank the Kutztown University Undergraduate Research
Committee for supporting my research project and giving me the
opportunity to enhance my laboratory and critical thinking skills
that I will be able to utilize in the future. Ethan Daniels (Biochemistry working with Dr. Matt
Junker - December
2007) – Cloning DIAP1 and
HAP1 - the effects of protien-protien dimerization on apoptosis
regulating mechanism The goal of my research
is to investigate the role of protein-protein dimerization in the
regulation of apoptosis. Apoptosis is programmed cell death,
or the natural process by which the body eliminates damaged
cells. A fusion-protein will be created by joining a
foreign protein fragment to a known apoptosis protein. I
will gain insight into the mechanisms responsible for signaling
apoptosis in damaged cells by studying the properties of the new
protein. The new protein will be synthesized using PCR,
restriction digests, ligations, and protein expression in E.
coli. This experiment will help the scientific community
better understand the mechanisms responsible for regulating
apoptosis.
I am a pre-professional biology
student with a minor in biochemistry. Upon graduation I will
be attempting to enter graduate studies at Lehigh
University. I plan to obtain a PhD in a biological related
field (Biotechnology, Biophysics, etc.). This research grant
will allow me to finish my project and will hopefully aid in my
acceptance into graduate studies. Thanks again to the URC
for funding which will allow my research to continue.
James Bowalick (Biochemistry working with Dr. Matt
Junker - December
2007) – The biochemical
role of protein self-association in the regulation of apoptosis
I had the opportunity
to carry out a biochemical research project in the laboratory of
Dr. Matthew Junker in the Department of Physical Sciences at
Kutztown University. The project was entitled “An
Investigation into the DNA Binding, and Dimerization Abilities of
the Transcription Factor HAP1, for its use in Experimentally
Controlling Apoptosis”. My project involved developing a new
biochemical technique to control protein self-association
(dimerization), using the transcription factor HAP1, which
self-associates on DNA. The ability of proteins to
self-associate is believed to be important in the inhibition of
apoptosis. Specifically, I tested the DNA binding, and
self-association abilities of HAP1. Using gel filtration
chromatography on an Agilent 1100 HPLC system, I demonstrated that
HAP1-DNA binding, and HAP1-HAP1 self-association was not affected
by the attachment of another protein to specific sequences on
HAP1. This demonstrated that HAP1 could be used to control
self-association of other proteins, but in a different manner than
what had been initially proposed and tested in this project.
My name is James Bowalick. I am originally
from Lancaster Pa. I attended Kutztown University from 2002
to 2007 and received my B. S. degree in Biology with a minor in
Biochemistry. This grant directly helped me receive my
degree by providing funds for my undergraduate research project,
which was required for the degree. My goal is to acquire a
B. S. in nursing, and ultimately get my master’s degree nursing
anesthesia. I must thank the Kutztown Undergraduate Research
Committee, the Kutztown University Foundation, and its donors for
their generous contribution to my project, without the funds to
purchase necessary materials the project would have not been
completed. Justin Trupp (Psychology working with Dr. James
Jackson - December
2007) – The preview benefit
in visual search The purpose of this
study is to examine the preview effect in visual search with older
adults. A computer program designed to display consistent
letter-like shapes with a systematic anomaly (the target stimulus)
in each observation will be used to measure the accuracy and
timeliness of the participant’s responses. In some of the trials,
the letter-like shapes will be presented a fraction of a second
early to create a preview period. Participants will have to
accurately identify the target stimulus in every trial as timely
as possible in a minimum of 300 brief, as in seconds,
observations. We predict that the results will display that older
adults will take longer to accurately identify the target stimulus
as compared to previous research done using younger and
middle-aged participants.
I am a 2004 graduate of Daniel Boone High
School and will be receiving my Bachelors degree in
Industrial/Organizational psychology studies with honors in the
fall of 2008 from Kutztown University. I plan on going to graduate
school to receive my PhD in Industrial/Organizational psychology
specializing in personnel selection or executive coaching. This
grant is helping me achieve my future goals by funding a portion
of the research that I will be conducting to display my interests
in research and to help assure my acceptance into a graduate
program. I greatly appreciate the undergraduate research
committee’s generosity in easing a portion of the financial burden
involved with the research that I will be conducting. Thank you. John Burnett (Psychology working with Dr. James
Jackson - December
2007) – The effects of loci on depression in older
adults John Burnett and his
team are currently conducting research looking at depression in
older adults across different environments. They are using
three measures, The Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale, The
Geriatric Depression Scale, and The Mini-Mental State Exam. John
and his team are going to nursing homes, assisted living homes,
and community dwellings, to interview older adults. John plans on
presenting his findings at the Eastern Psychological Association
conference in Boston.
(click
here to read my published abstract) John Burnett is one of the lead
researchers on The Effects of Loci on Depression in Older Adults
research team. He is guided by James Jackson, PhD., Kutztown
University. He is an excellent student, with a Grade Point Average
of 3.81. John has been on the Dean's list for all the
semesters he has attended, and is an Honors Student here at
Kutztown, as well as a member of the Honor Society Phi Kappa Phi.
His resume also includes the award of Eagle Scout, as well as
numerous other awards for his leadership and scholastic
achievements. He is currently an Executive Board Member, as well
as Treasurer, of the Psychology club at Kutztown University. John
works full time, as a manager at Sears. His goal is to attend
graduate school, to attain a PhD. in Psychology, specifically
gerontology. John would like to thank all the donors of the
URC for their support of his research. Christine
Spotts (Biology working with Dr. Anne Zayaitz - April 2007) – Effects of Rhizobium on plant growth and
nodule formation This project was
designed to examine the symbiotic relationship between the
bacteria Rhizobium and soybean plants. It is known that Rhizobium
aides plant growth by actively fixing nitrogen for use by the
plant. Varying amounts of Rhizobium cultures were added to soybean
plants as they germinated over a four week period. The plants were
analyzed for overall size, root nodule formation and the presence
of bacteria in the roots. It was found that there was a
significant decrease in plant size and acquisition of bacteria by
the roots in those plants the greatest amount of Rhizobium applied
to the plant. Our project suggests that the timing of the
application of Rhizobium may prove more crucial than the amount
applied during germination.
I am a senior Organismal Biology major at KU. I
hope to use the education and experiences I have gained here at KU
to pursue a Master's Degree in Marine Invertebrate Zoology and
eventually participate in field biology work. The travel funds
awarded to us by the Undergraduate Research Committee allowed us
to present our research project at the Annual Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania University Biologists Meeting where we won the top
prize at the conference. Presenting this research afforded us an
opportunity to compare our educational experiences with the
experiences of students from all over the state, helped prepare us
for future research presentations at scientific meetings, and
expanded on our experience here at Kutztown. We are very grateful
for this opportunity and wish to thank the Undergraduate Research
Committee and its donors for their support and the opportunity to
present our research. David
Riese (Geology working with Dr. Edward
Simpson - April
2007) – Sedimentology and
taphonomy of Red Canyon Ranch Dinosaur quarry, Jurassic Morrison
Formation, Big Horn Basin, Wyoming The purpose of my
research is to determine the paleoenvironment in north Central
Wyoming 145 million years ago in the Jurassic Period. I
attempted to answer this question by collecting sedimentologic and
taphonomic data at a sauropod dinosaur quarry located at Red
Canyon Ranch within the Morrison Formation. Sedimentary and
taphonomic data such as rock identification, grain size,
sedimentary structures, quarry assemblage data, bone orientations,
and bone modifications were collected in the field. Analysis
of the dinosaur quarry data showed that the bones were deposited
in a meandering fluvial deposit. Furthermore the bones were
said to belong to a channel-lag taphonomic mode which suggests
bones were located in the lower part of an erosional channel
feature which are in direct association with coarse clastic
material.
I am a senior geology student
graduating in May of 2007. In the fall of 2007, I will
attend the University of Kansas to obtain a Master’s Degree in
paleontology. I hope to later receive a Doctorate’s Degree
to teach and conduct research in paleontology at a
University. I would like to thank the Kutztown University
Foundation and the Undergraduate Student Research Committee for
affording me this great opportunity to present my
research. Their generosity will allow me to gain
experience in presenting professional research which I will take
with me to graduate school.
Jon Bernard (Geology working with Dr. Edward
Simpson and Dr. Sarah Tindall - April 2007) – Possible debris flows
in the Upper Cretaceous Capping Sandstone, Wahweap Formation,
Grand Staircase - Escalante National Monument, Utah Jon studied the
characteristics of 100 million year old sandstone deposits in
southern Utah to determine the environment in which the sediment
deposited. He and his advisors concluded some of the
sediments were deposited quickly and subsequently deformed as
water trapped between grains escaped rapidly. They also
determined that a second body of sandstone formed as a mudflow.
(photo: Jon
Bernard climbing to access key rock exposure.)
I am a senior Geology major at KutztownUniversity graduating in May 2007. My immediate
plans after graduation are to revisit southern Utah and continue research on the debris flow
deposits. At the conclusion of the summer months I plan to
join the work force, hopefully being offered a position in Alaskan
mineral exploration with a gold mining operation out of Spokane,
Washington. I would like to thank the Kutztown
University Research Committee for their contribution to my
research project, allowing me to present my findings to my peers
at a professional meeting in St. George, Utah in
May 2007. Mary Kate
Schneider (Political
Science working
with Dr. Glenn Richardson) – Allentown vs.
Kolkata: Inverse Futures? The paper that I
presented seeks to explore the relationship between levels of
prosperity in American cities built on manufacturing and industry,
and foreign cities that have capitalized on technology and
information as the driving force behind their local economies. The
basic premise behind this argument is that as globalization’s
influence is magnified, the significance of individual localities
and their influence over their own fates will be minimized - this
gives rise to the greater question of whether the demise of the
American city is an inevitable consequence of globalization. My
paper focuses on the rise and decline of Allentown, Pennsylvania,
and Kolkata, India during the post-WWII era, and ultimately finds
inverse patterns of prosperity between the two cities.
I am a political science and psychology double
major, with a minor in history. My research interests fall
primarily within the realms of international relations and
comparative politics, with an emphasis on developing nations and
emerging democracies. The generous funding award provided by the
Undergraduate Research Committee made it possible for me to
present research conducted as part of my POL380 senior seminar
project at a national conference—the Midwest Political Science
Association’s Annual Meeting, held in Chicago, IL. I look forward
to continuing my Kutztown University education at the graduate
level, and will be completing a Master’s degree in Political
Science at Lehigh University while applying to PhD programs. I
would like to thank the Undergraduate Research Committee as well
as the University Foundation for their support of student-driven
research, and am grateful for their contribution to my academic
development. Nathaniel
Swartz(Computer Science - working with Dr. Oskars Rieksts - Februrary 2007) Using the
Arduino open-source physical computer platform to illustrate the
prototyping and creation of autonomous robots for low cost
robotics projects Everyday new robotics
related products and technology are produced, and introduced the
consumer market. While this technology is becoming a part of
everyday life, learning about this technology can be a cumbersome
process. This project which has been nicknamed Robotut, short for
robotics tutorial, was created to help those with a interest in
the field learn more. Through the use of inexpensive materials,
and the Arduino computing platform this project will illustrate
how to create simple robots. Documentation will be created that is
easy to understand and can be used to bring someone in to the
world of robots.
The leader of this projects group is Nathaniel
Swartz, a senior computer science major in the software
development track. Nathaniel has been working with computers and
electronics since the age of seven and loves to work with
technology. Which this project he hopes to share with others his
love of technology and help spread knowledge about both computing
and robotics. The money earned in this grant will be used to buy
the parts for the robots which he and his team will build to
demonstrate how simple parts can be used to build actual robots.
His team consists of Seth Kelchner, Mark Aldrich, Frank Urbanski,
and Nate Kindrew all senior computer science students. We would
all like to thank the donors and the committee member for their
support in this endeavor. We hope that with this project others
will gain a love of the field of robotics, and knowledge on how to
create robots of their own.
Vincent
Hesener(Computer Science - working with Dr. Oskars Rieksts - Februrary 2007) Human detection I am exploring the
possibility for robots to identify humans and distinguish them
from other objects. Robots can currently use face
recognition to identify human-like facial qualities, but this
technique has many vulnerabilities. I intend to use odor
sensors and heat sensors combined, in order to positively identify
a human. This is essential for robots, which have an
ultimate purpose: to serve human beings.
I am a Computer Science major at Kutztown
University. I transferred to Kutztown from Northampton
Community College and do not regret a minute of it. I will
graduate from Kutztown in December 2007 and hope to obtain a
Master’s degree. One of my instructors told me I will be
able to take this research project on with me to Graduate School,
and he is absolutely correct. Not only will this help me in
my educational career, but I hope to one day hold patens for new
ideas in the future. This is bringing me one step closer to
actually manifesting a tangible idea of my own. I appreciate
the fact that the Kutztown University Foundation is allowing me to
create knowledge and hope that I can give Kutztown University
something to be proud of. This grant is allowing me to
purchase equipment needed to perform my research, which otherwise
could not be financially obtained by myself. Thank you again
to the Foundation.
Danielle
Stabinsky (Environmental Chemistry - working with Dr. Venera
Jouraeva - October 2006) Remediation of Heavy Metal Contaminated Soil
Using Apatite II Apatite
II is a waste by-product of the commercial fishing industry and
was treated with a Phosphate Induced Metal Stabilization (PIMS)
technique. Apatite II was tested for remediation capabilities of
heavy metal contaminated soil collected from The Wildlife
Information Center in Slatington,
PA. The Center is
adjacent to the Palmerton Zinc Pile Superfund site which is the
site of an abandoned zinc smelter. Eight pots of soil were taken
and prepared as untreated (U) soil and treated (T) with 8% (w/w)
Apatite II. After 6 months the soil was sequestered and tested for
bioavailability, potential bioavailability, and residual.
Bioavailables are what can be immediately leached from the soil;
potential bioavailables are what can be leached from the soil
given a change in the environment; residuals are what is
permanently bound to the soil matrix and pose no threat to
environment or human health. The treated soil has been proven to
support vegetative growth (trees and grass) in the previously
defoliated and sterile soils from this region.
I am a senior at KutztownUniversity with majors in Environmental Geology and
Environmental Biology. I also have a minor in Chemistry, hence the
environmental chemistry research project. After graduation in
Spring 2008 I hope to work for several years with an environmental
consulting firm before attending graduate school. This research
has drastically increased my desire to do environmental research
long term. I am eternally grateful to the Kutztown University
Research Committee for giving me the opportunity to present this
research at an international conference in November 2006 thus
enhancing my business skills and confidence. Timothy Jenesky (Geology - working with Dr. Sarah Tindall - October 2006) Physical Analog
Modeling of Basement Fault Segmentation on the East Kaibab
Monocline, UT The
purpose of my research is to investigate possible basement fault
segmentation under a large fold in the Earth’s crust that is
located in southern Utah.Enigmatic
bends occur on the fold and are the focus of my research.Physical analog modeling is being
conducted in the laboratory to test whether the fault under the
large fold is split into segments and causing the bends on the
fold.A compressible, stiff plastic
sheet has been cut into segments of differing orientations and
fine-grained sand placed above the sheet.A
motor-controlled moveable block is being used to compress the
plastic sheet and the overlying sand.Using
these materials, I hope to produce a model of geologic structures
seen in the study area.
I am a
senior geology major attending Kutztown University.After graduation, I plan on attending graduate school and
obtaining a Master’s Degree in structural geology.My ultimate goal is to work for a consulting firm or a
petroleum company in order to put my geologic knowledge to the
test every workday.I would like to
thank the Kutztown University Foundation for their overwhelming
support for my current geologic research.Their
generosity has allowed me to gain laboratory experience that I can
take with me to graduate school. Jennifer
Syzonenko (Biology- working with Dr. Cristen
Rosch - October 2006) The Effect of Cytoplasmic Microtubules on Organelle
Placement and Cell Division Chlamydomonas is a
unicellular, eukaryotic green algae with two flagella and is
typically used as a model system because it is easy to work with
and performs the same cellular processes as high eukaryotic
organisms. Microtubules function as a guide to intracellular
transport, an anchor to intracellular organelles and forms the
mitotic spindles during cell division. The objectives of
this research are to determine the affect of unstable microtubules
in short flagella mutants of Chlamydomonas on eyespot placement,
cell division, and the organization after treatment with anti
cancer drug, Taxol. This research will provide further information
about the causes of uncontrolled cell division relevant in tumor
growth and the active pursuit in finding a cure for cancer.
I am a senior at Kutztown
University graduating with a degree in Cell/Micro/Molecular
biology with a minor in Biochemistry Spring 2007. After
graduation, I look forward to beginning a career in Medical
research. The area I am most interested in is the
Pathophysiology of diseases. My research project is a great way
to end my undergraduate career, and prepare me for my future in
medical research beyond this university. It will require me to
use the skills I have acquired over the years as a student and
also learn new skills. I would like to thank the
Kutztown University Foundation through the Kutztown
Undergraduate Research Committee for giving me this great
opportunity.
Lindy Carpenter (Biochemistry - working with Dr. Matthew
Junker - February
2006) Identifying
the binding region for the Cry1A toxin on the BT-Ri receptor
protein Bacillus
thuringiensis (Bt) is a common soil bacterium found on plant and insect
surfaces. The bacterium is known as an insect pathogen
because it produces a crystal toxin. When ingested by
certain insects, the toxin binds to a receptor in the lining of
the digestive track. The focus of the current research is to
localize the toxin-binding site on the receptor molecule.
I am a biochemistry major with an expected
graduation date of Fall 2006. Once I receive my Bachelors
degree, I plan on attending graduate or professional school.
I am very grateful to have received my grant and the opportunity
to pursue my interest in biochemistry. The data that I
collect will hopefully be appropriate for publication in a
scientific journal and will contribute to a vaster understanding
of toxin-binding systems.
Ken
Petersen, Leyna Force, and Travis Danenhower(Chemistry - working with Dr. Thomas Betts - February 2006) HPLC analysis of alpha-
and beta-acids in hops We will use this grant
in order to further our research in creating an
undergraduate-level, analytical laboratory experiment involving
the analysis of alpha- and beta-acids in hops. Hops are one
of the most important flavoring components in the brewing
industry. The addition of hops to the brewing process adds a
unique character and bitter taste to the beer. This research
includes the separation and quantification of the alpha- and
beta-acids in hops standards of known amounts and hop samples of
unknown amounts. The method of separation being used is HPLC
(high performance liquid chromatography). We plan to present
the results and publish them in an educational journal.
We would like to take
this opportunity to thank the KU Foundation for supporting the
research project on which we have been working over the past
semester. The three of us are senior B.S. Chemistry majors in
our final semester at KU. Each of us will be seeking gainful
employment in some aspect of the chemical industry. This project
involved the analysis of hop samples using a technique (high
pressure liquid chromatography) that is widely used in many
industrial laboratories, especially the pharmaceutical
industry. The experience we gained developing methods with
this technique was far beyond the scope that could be introduced
in a regular course, and will (hopefully) provide us with a
crucial advantage during our upcoming search for employment. We
are currently working on a set of laboratory instructions so
future generations of KU chemistry students can benefit from our
experience, and we will be submitting an article based on this
research to a chemistry education journal. Thank you again for
supporting this important component of our education.
Jennifer Longwell (Biology - working with Dr. Anne Zayaitz - February 2006) Identification of
bacteria species in Crystal Cave, Kutztown, PA The purpose of my
research project is to identify bacteria species growing in
Crystal Cave using microbiological techniques. After
identification, DNA from the bacteria will be tested to deduce if
the species may play a role in the construction or destruction of
cave mineral deposits. It is known that some bacteria growing in
caves influence mineral formation, but the processes by which this
occurs are not fully understood. Research concentrating on the
affects of bacteria in cave systems is just now starting to become
more prevalent, and is an exciting area of science for new
biological and geological discoveries.
I am a 5th year transfer student
from East Greenville, PA. I will be graduating this May with a
B.S. in biology, and a minor in biochemistry. After graduation, I
look forward to working at a laboratory or research job. In the
future, I want to pursue a career in epidemiology and
biostatistics. My research project is a great way to end my
undergraduate studies because it encompasses skills that I have
learned from both major and minor classes. Thank you to the
Kutztown University Foundation for funding my research project, as
well as the research projects of many of my fellow students, your
generosity is much appreciated.
Shannon Erdman-Gansner (Biology - working with Dr. Carol
Mapes - February 2006) Apatite and its effects on plant growth and reproduction Apatite is a
phosphorus-based mineral that has been used in soil
remediation. Apatite II has been developed within the past
few years and is thought to outperform all other apatite forms in
sequestering heavy metals from the soil. These contaminants
bond to the Apatite II to form a non-reactive form of the various
heavy metals, therefore making them unavailable for transport or
uptake into the biological systems. My research is looking
at effects Apatite II may have on plants’ growth and
reproduction. This is a concern because plants need trace
minerals, some of which are the very minerals Apatite
sequesters. I will be measuring plant growth, germination,
and looking for signs of mineral deficiencies such as paling of
the leaves and stunted growth.
I am a senior in the Environmental
Science/biology track at Kutztown University. After my
graduation this spring, I plan to either work in a government
position such as the Department of Environmental Protection or a
private environmental consulting firm. My goal is to work
with restoring habitat that has either been degraded by
contaminants or changed by man. This research will give me
the opportunity work with and study first hand the effects
degraded soil can have on plants and options for
remediation. I would like to thank the Kutztown University
Foundation through the Kutztown Undergraduate Research Committee
for supporting my research and giving me this great opportunity.
Daniel Lindao (Biology - working with Dr. Marilyn
Baguinon - February 2006) Isolation of the genes for
acyloxyacyl hydrolase from horse blood using polymerase chain
reaction and by constructing a genomic DNA library AOAH is a leukocyte enzyme that detoxifies bacterial
endotoxins. This endotoxin is the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)
component of the outer cell walls of gram-negative bacteria. When
the host senses the presence of LPS, an alarm of an infection is
given off by the body and an immune response takes place in order
to eliminate the invading microbes. When the body is greatly
exposed to LPS, however, uncoordinated responses may damage the
host. These unwanted reactions that take place can be multiple
organ failure, trouble with coagulation, septic shock and even death. In order to better understand
these serious illnesses, and to gain insight in the
structure/function relationship of the enzyme, the gene for AOAH
that modulates LPS needs to be isolated. For my methodology, the
source of genomic DNA will be horse blood. I will employ the
polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and will also create a genomic DNA
library.
I am currently a junior here at KutztownUniversity majoring in
Biology/Pre-professional. My plan after graduation is either to
try to get admitted to medical or graduate school. This research
experience is useful for me because it will sharpen my laboratory
techniques and will provide me further knowledge on new techniques
that cannot be obtained in any course. I am really grateful
for the opportunity that I have been granted. Once again, I would
like to thank the Kutztown University Foundation through the
Kutztown Undergraduate Research Committee for granting me the
research award. Laura Klem and Ryan Kehl (Psychology - working with Dr. Avidan Milevsky - February 2006) SEA Research
Project - Patterns of Parental Involvement in Adolescent Sibling
Conflict: Gender differences and variations in sibling warmth Basically the paper
focused how parents dealt with sibling conflict and how that
involvement contributed to the sibling relationship as a whole.
Myself and three members of the SEA research group as well as Dr.
Milevsky attended the SRA conference in San Francisco where we
presented a poster with our findings.
I would like to thank the Undergraduate Research
Committee for funding me to present at the "Society for Research
on Adolescence" conference in San Francisco. This was an important step in my educational
and career goals that was made possible by the Undergraduate
Research Committee. I am currently a senior graduating in May of
2006. I am currently applying to graduate programs in the field of
Elementary School Counseling. The research I have done as an
undergraduate will be an important part of my curriculum vita.
"Thank You" - Ryan Kehl. Laura Klem is a junior at Kutztown
University. She is majoring in Clinical Psychology and minoring
in Spanish. After graduation she hopes to attend graduate school
to continue studying in the area of clinical counseling. This is
her fourth semester as a member of SEA project lead by Dr.
Milevsky Zachary Artz (Geology -
working with Dr. Kurt
Friehauf
- October 2005) Comparison of banded
ores in the Main/East, West, and South Orebodies of the giant
Bayan Obo REE District, Inner Mongolia, China
Bayan Obo, Inner
Mongolia, China, is the world’s largest source of rare earth
elements. Rare earth elements are commonly used in the
production of permanent magnets, televisions, auto catalysts,
superconductors, and fine abrasives. The origin of this
large deposit is poorly understood and there are multiple
hypotheses attempting to explain how it formed. We collected
samples of a specific type of ore (banded ore) from recorded
locations within the ore bodies. These samples were studied
under a microscope and 5 broad varieties of banded ore were
identified. Different regions host specific varieties of the
banded ore and allow us to determine how ore forming fluids differ
spatially throughout the study area.
Hello!My name is Zachary Artz and I am from Lehighton, Pennsylvania.After earning a B.S. degree in Geology from KutztownUniversity, I plan on
attending graduate school to further my education.The grant I received from the Undergraduate Research
Committee enabled me to attend a national Geology meeting where I
was able to meet numerous world-famous experts.I received valuable feedback on the research I presented
and met with several potential graduate school advisors. Christine
Dragan (Biology -
working with Dr. Marilyn C. Baguinon - October 2005) Expression,
purification and enzymatic assay of mutant and native
phospholipase D
I will use the grant to
conduct an independent student research on an enzyme called
phospholipase D (PLD). This enzyme is important in signal
transduction in most organisms. The lab strategy involves
studying the PLD gene that has been isolated from the plant
Arabidopsis. I will be using many techniques such as gel
electrophoresis, PCR, bacterial transformations, gene expression,
spectroscopy and an enzyme assay, to begin to understand the
structure/function relationship of the enzyme.
I am very excited and thankful to
receive this research grant for the Fall semester of 2005. I
am currently a senior here at Kutztown University majoring in
Biology. After I graduate in December, I plan to receive my
masters’ degree in education. This research project is
beneficial for me because I can refine my laboratory skills and
become familiar with some new techniques. There are also
many defects in humans that are caused by improper functioning of
enzymes. Enzymes are important for normal development and
functioning of humans, therefore it is important to understand
their structure and function. I have started my project and
things are going well. I plan to present my results at the
end of the semester to the students and faculty of the Biology
Department, here at Kutztown University. Cassondra Skinner (Biology -
working with Dr. Nancy
Butler - October 2005) Effects of nutrient
additions and light limitation on phytoplankton community
structure
This research project is
being conducted in a small farm community pond. It is
important to study phytoplankton communities because they serve as
the first trophic level of the food chain in aquatic ecosystems
and certain genus abundances can lead to toxicity effecting
consumers. Nutrient additions and depth variations will be
used to manipulate the phytoplankton community and then
phytoplankton will be classified and used as a pollution and
fertilizer run-off indicator. I would like to present my
results at the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania University Biologists
(CPUB) meeting this spring and at the American Society of
Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO) meeting summer, 2006.
I am a senior from Weatherly, PA, studying
biology, concentrating in organismal ecology. This research
compliments my research during the summer on the Sea Education
Association (SEA Semester) where I studied the size and
distribution of plankton in the ocean between Puerto Vallarta,
Mexico and Papeete, Tahiti because the procedure is similar, but
one study was saltwater and the other is freshwater. I would
like to pursue a career in field research, and the grant awarded
me by the Undergraduate Student Research Committee will help me to
gain more experience in the field. Thank you for this
opportunity. Paige Cicollo (Biology -
working with Dr. Chris
Sacchi - February 2005) A comparative study of
forest structure as influenced by soils on the South Mountain
and Blue Mountain of Southeastern Pennsylvania
The purpose of my
project is to evaluate the diversity and structure of the tree
communities on two different mountains and relate differences or
patterns in vegetation to soil composition, nutrients, pH, and
texture. I will also evaluate the concentrations of certain
metals in the soils, such as iron, manganese, magnesium, and
calcium. I will analyze any effects that the geology or
historic development on each mountain may have had on the present
tree communities. The two mountains that I am studying are
the Blue mountain (Hawk mountain)and the SouthMountain (near Reading).
I plan to attend to graduate school in order to
study environmental biology and advance into a professional
position working for forest preservation. I was fortunate
enough to receive funding from the Undergraduate Research
Committee for my project, without which I would not have been able
to conduct my research. I am extremely thankful to this
committee for their assistance in allowing me to accomplish my
goals and pursue my interests. Jessica
Kiscadden (Physics/astronomy
- working with Dr. Andrew
Young - February 2005) An analysis of
non-thermal solar emissions as a function of sunspot
characteristics
Increased sunspot
activity on the solar surface can generally be linked to increased
auroral activity on Earth. In certain periods of extreme
solar activity, the effects on Earth include interference to
communication systems, loss of space satellites, and disruptions
to electric power grids. While sunspots have been observed
with a telescope since the 1600?s, radio observations have only
been available during the past few decades. RadioJOVE is a simple
radio telescope kit that is used to detect radio waves from the
Sun. It consists of a dipole antenna and a radio
receiver. Radio information will be examined in conjunction
with images from SOHO. Located 1.6 million kilometers from
the Earth?s surface, SOHO?s orbit is such that its location is
always between the Earth and the Sun. Appearances of
sunspots can be timed precisely to the existence or non-existence
of radio emission. Should a radio signature exist, the data
will be evaluated to determine the strength of the correlation.
My
name is Jessica Kiscadden and I am a physics major. After
graduation, I plan to attend graduate school and pursue my
doctorate in Physics. My goal is to work for NASA. I
want to thank the donors that made this grant possible. It
has given me the opportunity to have research experience in
Physics and Astronomy that will help me to be accepted into
graduate school.
(Photo
from left to right: Holly Kokstein, Daniel Snyder,
Dr.
Paul Quinn, Justin Smoyer, and David Kashinski)
Justin L. Smoyer (Physics -
working with Dr. Paul Quinn - February 2005) Increasing the Size of
a Piece of Popcorn
Each year Americans consume
approximately 17 billion quarts of popcorn. Since the 1940’s,
microwaves have been the heating source of choice for most.
In a previous scientific paper, it was shown by Dr. Daniel C. Hong
that using the simple laws of thermodynamics in physics, it may be
possible to increase the size of the popcorn while reducing the
amount of wasted kernels by lowering the surrounding
pressure. This theory was tested and confirmed
experimentally by Dr. Quinn using a stove popping apparatus.
However, the results were not comparable to those achieved by
industry, because of the method used. Industry uses the
microwave and air popping mechanisms to produce their popcorn
product. We chose to explore the microwave method of popping
in this research product.
My name
is Justin L Smoyer. I grew up in the town of New Tripoli and
have been at Kutztown University for 5 years perusing a degree
in Physics and a minor in Mathematics. I hope to attend graduate
school next year and earn a PhD in physics, with the hope of one
day becoming a professor. Thanks to your generous donations, I
have received a wonderful education and feel well prepared for
the journey ahead. I have been able to actively pursue research
in physics and most recently have been able to represent
Kutztown University at the March meeting of the American
Physical Society in Los Angels California. Without your
contributions my education would be incomplete. I owe a debt of
gratitude to yourselves, Kutztown University and the Kutztown
community. Thank You. Daniel J. Snyder (Physics -
working with Dr. Paul Quinn - February 2005) The Liquid-solid
Transition of Two Dimensional Hard Spheres Under Gravity Using a
Global Equation of State
In previous research Dr.
Hong presented an equation to describe the density of an excited
granular system. However, this equation was only valid for
lower densities. From our research, a global equation of
state has been derived which will describe the density of any
granular system. This problem is commonly known as the “Brazil Nut
Problem” (named after the phenomenon of the larger Brazil nuts
rising to the top of the can while the smaller peanuts fall to the
bottom.)
My name is Dan Snyder and I grew up in Pottstown. I am graduating in December 2005 with a degree
in physics and a minor in mathematics. I plan on attending
graduate school pursuing my PhD in theoretical physics. After
attaining my degree I hope to work in the private sector for a
while, and eventually become a professor of graduate studies one
day. I would like to explicitly thank KutztownUniversity and the donors for helping me to get one step
closer to my goal. Thank you.
Holly Kokstein (Physics -
working with Dr. Paul Quinn - February 2005) The Fermi Statistics of
a Weakly Excited Column of Granular Particles in a Vibrating Bed
Research in study of granular materials is geared toward modeling
the flows of granular systems such as sand. These studies
have many potential applications in our knowledge of avalanches,
the effects of earthquakes on soils, or the effects of vibrations
on granular like objects such as cement or pharmaceutical products
due to shipping or manufacturing. This experimental project
focused on trying to relate the configuration of the granular
system to the strength of the vibration using a one dimensional
model followed by extensive use of thermodynamics and statistical
mechanics. We modeled the experimental results mathematically
(with the Fermi function). With that we also obtained the center
of mass and the fluctuations of the center of mass as a function
of the configurational temperature. We then related the
density of the system to the vibrational energy by modeling the
fluctuations of the center of mass as a function of the
configurational temperature.
I
would like to thank the Undergraduate Research Committee for the
funding of my research. My name is Holly Kokstein and I was
given the opportunity to attend the American Physical Society’s
conference in Los Angeles. With the help of Kutztown University,
I was able to present my research in California and continue to
expand my education. I am now in graduate school at Lehigh
University, earning my Masters degree in Civil Engineering. David O. Kashinski (Physics -
working with Dr. Paul Quinn - February 2005) The Electrostatic
Gravimeter: an alternative way of measuring gravitational
acceleration
When you throw up a ball,
it falls back to the ground. This is due to the Earth’s
gravitational field. We can measure the gravitational field
by measuring an object’s gravitational acceleration g at various
locations on the Earth’s surface. The value of gravity is
not a constant value. It varies depending on geological
factors such as latitude and longitude, ground composition, and
your elevation above and below sea level.
In geology, one can use varied measurements in the value of g to
determine various characteristics of the Earth’s crust, depending
on your location. The equipment used to measure these
changes in g is designed using the principles of basic
introductory level physics. The instrument used to measure
the gravitational acceleration is called a gravimeter. Many
methods of measuring have been developed throughout the years,
with a direct correlation between accuracy and cost. Highly
accurate devices are also very large, and difficult to set
up. The most common gravimeter uses the mass-spring method
which works similar to an extremely high-tech bathroom
scale. It is costs about $30,000 or more, but is extremely
accurate. Using electricity and magnetism, a completely
different field of physics, I have designed a new theoretical
method for measuring the strength of the Earth’s gravitational
field.
My name is David Kashinski. I was born and
raised in ScrantonPA. I’ve now graduated from KutztownUniversity summa cum laude with my B.Sc. in Physics and a
Minor in Mathematics. Currently I am attending LehighUniversity working towards a PhD in theoretical and
computational physics. Ultimately, I hope to work as a
research scientist and university professor. In March of
2005 I was granted the great opportunity to attend the national
physics conference in Los AngelesCalifornia to present research I conducted at
Kutztown. This opportunity would not have been possible if
not for the “Kutztown University Undergraduate Research
Committee.” Thank you for supporting, my research, and my
education. Without the constant support I may not be where I
am today! Candice Bullard (Chemistry -
working with Dr. David Edwards - December 2004) Iron oxide / aluminum
interactions in natural soils Soils are composed primarily of minerals, organic
macromolecules, water, trace metals, and air that dynamically
interact to determine the overall properties of the soil
system. A particularly ubiquitous component in soil systems
is goethite, an iron oxide. In natural systems, goethite
contains trace metals; the mos common substituting cation is
aluminum because its size is similar to iron. Aluminum (Al)
substitution in goethite results in alteration of crystal size,
texture, domain morphology, surface area, adn structural
strain. These propoerties affect the reactivity and
dissolution/absorption properties of geothite. This research
evaluates how aluminum substitutes in goethite using X-ray
absorption spectroscopy to determine orientation, oxidation state,
and local coordination environment of Al-goethite.
Moshe Machlev (Psychology-
working with Dr. Avidan
Milevsky - December 2004) Religiosity, parental
support and self esteem, interaction of significant social
agents
The influence of parents and religion on self-esteem has primarily
been explored in the literature using children, and older
adolescences. Religious beliefs have been found to be
associated with positive self-esteem among children and older
adolenscences. However, limited research has been dedicated
to esxamine whether similar processes are common in early
adolescent populations. The current study examines
religiosity as a social agent influencing self-esteem and how
religion interacts with other social agents such as parent
relationships.
Lakshmi Nair (Psychology
- working with Dr. Rober
Ryan - April 2004) Surface similarity
impairs judgment of usefulness of structural similarity
I have accompanied Dr. Ryan in this study since the past two
years. The study contained algebra word problems that forced an
individual to recognize the usefulness of a choice task. The
subjects were to determine and identify the deep principles, goals
and the procedure of a given word problem. The results showed that
the participants found a superficially similar problem to be more
useful in solving a target problem, even though all the
characteristics of their choices were different from the target
problem.
I
am extremely pleased to be granted for my proposal, Surface Similarity Impairs
Judgments of Usefulness of Deep Structural Similarity. I had the
honor to present it at the 16th Annual APS convention in
Chicago. It was a wonderful experience to be working on the
project and finally seeing the results being published! The
financial help I gained from you has been a great relief for
me. I would like to thank the Kutztown University
Foundation for all your help and support.
Amy
Ruppe, MelissaLeh, Ann Marie Kolb, Sarah Anne
Netter, and Melissa
Schlechter (Psychology
- working with Dr. Avidan Milevsky
- February 2004, December 2004) SEA Project - SEA
project – Siblings for Emerging Adulthood Not everyone thinks
their sibling is annoying. Although people usually think of
siblings as being a pain, many students reported that they were
very close to their brothers and sisters and some even considered
their siblings as their best friend. Its good to have a
close relationship with your sibling. Students who were
close to their brothers and sisters felt better in their life in
general and were even doing better in school. Parents can be good
coaches in helping with sibling relationships. Students felt
overall closer to their siblings when during little fights between
siblings their parents helped to explain the side of both siblings
Sandra Hartzell (Chemistry -
working with Dr. Daniel
Blanchard - February 2004) Investigation and
synthesis of low molecular mass gealators
My research entitled “Investigation and Synthesis of Low Molecular
Mass Gelators” involves the making of novel gelators and testing
the gelation ability. A gelation occurs when a homogeneous mixture
consisting of a gelator and an appropriate solvent is heated and
allowed to cool to room temperature. Low Molecular Mass
gelators are compounds that when added to solvents in low
concentration cause the solution to gel or thicken. This gel
action or thickening is important in the food industry and in
applications were liquid uptake is involved. An example that
everyone is familiar with is diapers. The results were
characterized by NMR, IR and melting point analysis common methods
of characterization in a modern organic research laboratory. Six
compounds were synthesized, of the six two were found to gel when
dissolved in hot solvent and allowed to cool to room temperature
and two were found to crystallize out of solution. The goal
of this research project is to determine what makes a good gelator
and what concentration each gelator would gel a particular
solvent.
Emily Klick (Psychology
- working with Dr. David B. Ross - February 2004) Errors, Factors, and
Suggestions of Braille Signage in Schools and Public Facilities
Braille signage errors in schools and public facilities constitute
a serious problem that needs to be resolved. Persons reading
Braille deserve correct signage as do print readers. This
study evaluated Braille errors in schools, malls, and other public
facilities. Joseph Tomas (Biology -
working with Dr. Anne
E.
Zayaitz - October 2003) Transmission of Escheriachia coli from contaminated organic fertilizer
to lettuce plant tissue
My name
is Joe Thomas.I am conducting my
research project entitled "The Transmission of Escherichia coli
From Organic Fertilizer to Lettuce Plant Tissue" because I want to
find out if E. coli in contaminated fertilizer can be transmitted
into living plant tissue. I also want
to figure out if different concentrations of E. coli in the soil
and fertilizer will contribute to the transmission into plant
tissue.This is important because if
crops are grown in E. coli contaminated soil and fertilizer, then
the crop plant tissue could possibly be infected. Emily A. Cook (Geology -
working with Dr. Kurt
Friehauf - October 2003) Mineralogical
occurrence of gold in the Ertsberg porphyry copper deposit, West
Papua, Indonesia (Emily working on the
electron microprobe at the University of Arizona)
Using
an Electron Microprobe we were able to analyze drill core samples
of copper-gold ore collected by Friehauf and Gibbins in July 2002
from the Ertsberg Diorite, West Papua, Indonesia.We were able to determine the mineralogical occurrence and
stage of mineralization of gold in the porphyry ores.From this we were then able to determine
if the gold differs between early and late stages of
mineralization and then begin to answer the question of how the
gold may have deposited from the solutions.This
is important to the economic geology community because much of the
world’s gold production is a byproduct of copper mining.Future work will enable us to increase
our sample size, better document mineral assemblages, and
constrain temperatures and salinities for each vein type. Elizabeth Ferguson (Geology -
working with Dr. Kurt
Friehauf and Dr. Sarah Tindall -
October 2003) Fingerprinting
groundwater flow through different rock types in karst aquifers
– A case study in the Ordovician carbonates in the Ontelaunee
area, Berks County, Pennsylvania
My research entails
sampling a number of wells in order to determine the chemical
composition of the rock through which the water is passing.
By comparing the chemical analyses of the groundwater, we want to
identify which rock beds have dissolution channels. By
knowing where dissolution channels are now can lead us to be able
to predict where the channels will form in the future. This
can be helpful to many different people; both in industry and the
general public.
(Elizabeth installing
water table monitoring devices [pressure transducers])
Instructions
and Application Forms
Samantha Santiago (Marine
Science working with Dr. Wendy Ryan) - Behavioral
activity in Delphinapterus
leucas before and after the introduction of an adult
male in a zoological 
Sean Snoddy 
Katlin Rhyner and Mara Wilde 
Shane Harvey 
Philip Abdouche 
Lindsay Confer 
Dustin Greenleaf 
Ciara Cyr 
Bevin Lustman 
Meredith Starr 
Jeffrey Minton 
Angela Kessler 
Ian Clark 
Carl Faust 
Lee Graham 
Sara Lucas 
Ethan Daniels 
Justin Trupp 
John Burnett 
Christine
Spotts 
David
Riese 
Mary Kate
Schneider
Nathaniel
Swartz
Vincent
Hesener
Danielle
Stabinsky 
Jennifer
Syzonenko 
Lindy Carpenter 
Ken
Petersen, Leyna Force, and Travis Danenhower
Jennifer Longwell 
Shannon Erdman-Gansner
Christine
Dragan 
Jessica
Kiscadden
