2016 Undergraduate Research Fellows – Office of Undergraduate Research

Meet the 2016 – 2017 Undergraduate Research Fellows

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College of Agriculture
College of Education
Samuel Ginn College of Engineering
School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences
College of Human Sciences
College of Liberal Arts
Harrison School of Pharmacy
College of Sciences and Mathematics

College of Agriculture

Wayne Carroll Agronomy and Soils Science

Sponsor(s): College of Agriculture

Project Title: Effects of winter cover crops on mycorrhizal colonization of cotton roots

Mentor: Dr. Yucheng Feng

Trevor Cofer Agronomy and Soils Science

Sponsor(s): College of Agriculture

Project Title: Effect of potassium sources and rates on tomato growth and development, potassium uptake, yield, and fruit quality

Mentor: Dr. Julie Howe

Madison Gohlke Animal Sciences

Sponsor(s): College of Agriculture

Project Title: Impact of mitochondrial nuclear exchange on adiposity and metabolic markers in lean and obese pigs

Mentor: Dr. Terry Brandebourg

Courtney Kloske Cellular and Molecular Biology

Sponsor(s): College of Agriculture and College of Sciences and Mathematics

Project Title: Functional studies of genes transcriptionally regulated by calcium in Xylella Fastidosa

Mentor: Dr. Leonardo De La Fuente

Anna Robinson Animal Sciences

Sponsor(s): College of Agriculture and College of Veterinary Medicine

Project Title: An evaluation of mistletoe extract in conjunction with mebendazole in an in vitro canine glioblastoma model

Mentor: Dr. Jennifer Koehler

Evelyn Smith Agronomy and Soils & Horticulture

Sponsor(s): College of Agriculture

Project Title: Effects of plant density and substrate type on cucumber production in a modified aquaponic system

Mentor: Dr. Daniel Wells

Gabrielle Willhelm Animal Sciences

Sponsor(s): College of Agriculture

Project Title: Improving embryo transfer in Bos Taurus through Granulosa Cell Connexin/Pannexin analysis

Mentor: Dr. Paul Dyce

Griffin Wright Animal Sciences

Sponsor(s): College of Agriculture

Project Title: Unveiling the dynamics of genome activation in early developing embryos

Mentor: Dr. Fernando Biase

College of Education

Kathryn Clardy Fitness Conditioning and Performance

Sponsor(s): College of Education

Project Title: Comparison of the kinematics and kinetics of overhand baseball pitching to football passing

Mentor: Dr. Gretchen Oliver

Sarah Gordon Exercise Science

Sponsor(s): College of Education

Project Title: The effect of whole body vibration on stress fracture

Mentor: Dr. JoEllen Sefton

Natalie Stephens Chemistry Education

Sponsor(s): College of Education

Project Title: Teaching spatial visualization in chemistry

Mentor: Dr. Christine Schnittka

Samuel Ginn College of Engineering

Meredith Ayers Civil Engineering

Sponsor(s): College of Engineering

Project Title: Mineralogy determination via three-dimensional image analysis

Mentor: Dr. Lauren Beckingham

Elizabeth Bankston Biosystems Ecological Engineering

Sponsor(s): College of Engineering

Project Title: Following the mass flow of nitrogen throughout an aquaponics system

Mentor: Dr. David Blersch

Holland Bankston Polymer & Fiber Engineering

Sponsor(s): College of Engineering

Project Title: Ultrafast microwave nano-manufacturing of fullerene-like metal chalcogenides

Mentor: Dr. Xinyu Zhang

William Brannon Mechanical Engineering

Sponsor(s): College of Engineering

Project Title: Rapid prototyping of electronics cooling nozzle arrays

Mentor: Dr. Roy Wright

Elizabeth Byers Chemical Engineering

Sponsor(s): College of Engineering

Project Title: Nanoparticle targeted testosterone degradation for the treatment of androgen-dependent prostate cancer

Mentor: Dr. Allan David

John Cook Computer Science

Sponsor(s): College of Engineering

Project Title: Naturalistic pen-based data visualization

Mentor: Dr. Hari Narayanan and Dr. Jeff Overbey

Sahm Deravi Chemical Engineering

Sponsor(s): College of Engineering

Project Title: Investigation of photocatalytic behavior of two-dimensional titanium oxycarbide nanosheets

Mentor: Dr. James Radich

Gabrielle Gilmer Chemical Engineering

Sponsor(s): College of Engineering and College of Education

Project Title: Effects of pain history on throwing mechanics

Mentor: Dr. Gretchen Oliver

Nidhi Goel Chemical Engineering

Sponsor(s): College of Engineering

Project Title: Drug testing and metastisis studies on three-dimensional breast cancer models

Mentor: Dr. Elizabeth Lipke

Craig Granger Biosystems Engineering

Sponsor(s): College of Engineering

Project Title: How stream restoration affects in-stream ecological metabolic activity

Mentor: Dr. David Blersch

Sara Head Chemical Engineering

Sponsor(s): College of Engineering

Project Title: Engineering functional cardiac tissues through encapsulation of pluripotent stem cells in methacrylated gelatin hydrogels

Mentor: Dr. Elizabeth Lipke

Hethan Hofer Materials Engineering

Sponsor(s): College of Engineering

Project Title: Controlling ion distribution in electroactive polymers for enhanced actuation response

Mentor: Dr. Zhongyang Cheng

Benjamin King Biosystems Engineering

Sponsor(s): College of Engineering

Project Title: Comparing the floodplain hydrology of a recently restored stream bank to a natural, undisturbed, floodplain

Mentor: Dr. Thorsten Knappenberger

Kaylee McCormack Chemical Engineering

Sponsor(s): College of Engineering and College of Sciences and Mathematics

Project Title: Novel 1-thia-3,4-diazolidine-2,5-dione (TDAD) based polymers

Mentor: Dr. Michael Squillacote

Kyle Paul Chemical Engineering

Sponsor(s): College of Engineering

Project Title: Examining effects of PEG length and silica nanoparticle size on cell viability

Mentor: Dr. Allan David

James Smith Electrical Engineering

Sponsor(s): College of Engineering

Project Title: Multi-arm antenna optimization by genetic algorithms

Mentor: Dr. Michael Baginski

Daniel Stubbs Aerospace Engineering

Sponsor(s): College of Engineering

Project Title: Airfoil analysis using smoothed particle hydrodynamics

Mentor: Dr. Dudley Nichols

Zoe Tucker Mechanical Engineering

Sponsor(s): College of Engineering

Project Title: Exploration of transparent colloidal nanoparticle additives for lubricants

Mentor: Dr. Robert Jackson

School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences

Tyler Baxter Forestry

Sponsor(s): School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences

Project Title: Evaluating the effectiveness of prescribed fire to restore longleaf pine ecosystems in the Southeastern coastal plain

Mentor: Dr. Zhaofei Fan

Jordan Broadhead Wildlife Sciences

Sponsor(s): School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences

Project Title: Effects of snakes on rodent vectors of disease in eastern Madagascar

Mentor: Dr. Sarah Zohdy

Marie Kallenburg Wildlife Sciences

Sponsor(s): School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences

Project Title: Fat transport levels during lactation in rats

Mentor: Dr. Wendy Hood

Shannon Lambert Wildlife Ecology & Management

Sponsor(s): School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences

Project Title: Estimating detection probability and the use of scents in wild pig trapping

Mentor: Dr. Mark Smith

Seth Rankins Wildlife Ecology & Management

Sponsor(s): School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences

Project Title: Factors influencing white-tailed deer susceptibility to ehrlichiosis

Mentor: Dr. Stephen Ditchkoff

College of Human Sciencess

Nicole Forchielli Nutrition Dietetics

Sponsor(s): College of Human Sciences

Project Title: Assessing meal quality and satisfaction of meals on wheels (MOW) program in Lee County, Alabama

Mentor: Dr. Yee Ming Lee

Elise Mann Biomedical Sciences and Nutrition Science

Sponsor(s): College of Human Sciences

Project Title: The role of DPP-IV in muscle soreness

Mentor: Dr. Heidi Kluess

College of Liberal Arts

Paige Goldschmidt History

Sponsor(s): College of Liberal Arts

Project Title: Defining the role of women in the Latter-day Saint Church during their residency in Kirtland, Ohio, from 1830-1838

Mentor: Dr. Adam Jortner

Amanda Guthrie Sociology

Sponsor(s): College of Liberal Arts

Project Title: How the modern day hobo copes with a stigmatized identity

Mentor: Dr. Natalia Ruiz-Junco and Dr. Greg Weaver

William Kelner Psychology and Sociology

Sponsor(s): College of Liberal Arts

Project Title: Perceptions of mental illness among college students

Mentor: Dr. Apryl Alexander

Zach McKinnell Psychology

Sponsor(s): College of Liberal Arts

Project Title: Common neural networks between addictions and psychological disorders

Mentor: Dr. Jennifer Robinson

Cassidy Roby Health Administration

Sponsor(s): College of Liberal Arts

Project Title: Examining risky business practices in the health care industry

Mentor: Dr. Rene McEldowney

Kelsie Shipley English Literature and History

Sponsor(s): College of Liberal Arts

Project Title: Material aspects of reading in late 19th century Britain

Mentor: Dr. Emily Friedman

Allison Travis Health Psychology

Sponsor(s): College of Liberal Arts

Project Title: The effect of drawing on information consolidation and stress reduction

Mentor: Dr. Barbara Bondy

Erin Walker Psychology

Sponsor(s): College of Liberal Arts

Project Title: Perceptions of violence victimization in transgender versus cisgender persons: The role of prejudicial belief, personal background, and mindfulness

Mentor: Dr. Apryl Alexander

Carson Williford English and Philosophy

Sponsor(s): College of Liberal Arts

Project Title: The value of sustainable agricultural practices for Alabama’s small-scale farmers

Mentor: Dr. Helen Eidson

Harrison School of Pharmacy

Ryan Heslin Biomedical Sciences

Sponsor(s): Harrison School of Pharmacy

Project Title: Effects of a peripherally restricted viral challenge on the hippocampus

Mentor: Dr. Miranda Reed

DaSol Jung Biochemistry

Sponsor(s): Harrison School of Pharmacy

Project Title: Identification of phase I & II metabolites in Maca extracts

Mentor: Dr. Angela Calderón

Stuart McFarland Chemical Engineering

Sponsor(s): Harrison School of Pharmacy

Project Title: Increasing non-seasonal vaccination activities in Alabama community pharmacies

Mentor: Dr. Salisa Westrick

Mallory Meagher Biomedical Sciences

Sponsor(s): Harrison School of Pharmacy

Project Title: Insulin induces increased beat amyloid formation in APPe mutant neuronal cells

Mentor: Dr. Rajesh Amin

Kasey Shepp Biomedical Sciences

Sponsor(s): Harrison School of Pharmacy

Project Title: The effect of rare variants of hydroxy-carboxylic acid receptors on hereditary breast cancer

Mentor: Dr. Nancy Merner

Alec Ryan Wesolowski Biomedical Sciences

Sponsor(s): Harrison School of Pharmacy

Project Title: Non-invasive method of tracking infections in-vivo with the multispectral optoacoustic tomography imaging system

Mentor: Dr. Peter Panizzi

College of Sciences and Mathematics

Morgan Barkley Geology

Sponsor(s): College of Sciences and Mathematics

Project Title: Geological investigations of a suspected fragment of faulted oceanic crust within the Caledonian Mountains on Engløya, Arctic Norway

Mentor: Dr. Mark Steltenpohl

Abigail Bartlett Geology

Sponsor(s): Biochemistry and Cellular & Molecular Biology

Project Title: Evaluating oxidative stress response in the alkanosulfate monoxygenase complex

Mentor: Dr. Holly Ellis

Robert Boothe Biochemistry

Sponsor(s): College of Sciences and Mathematics

Project Title: Nickel(II) complexes as ParaCEST sensors for reactive oxygen species

Mentor: Dr. Christian Goldsmith

Matthew Brown Biochemistry

Sponsor(s): Biochemistry and Cellular & Molecular Biology

Project Title:Elucidation of Heme d1 biosynthetic pathway

Mentor: Dr. Steven Mansoorabadi

Jiyeong Choi Microbiology

Sponsor(s): College of Sciences and Mathematics

Project Title: Nickel concentrations of the high-Ni insect Melanotrichus boydi, a specialist on the Ni hyperaccumulator plant Streptanthus polygaloides (Brassicaceae)

Mentor: Dr. Robert Boyd