62 UNL students receive stipends for summer research projects

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln has awarded stipends to 62 undergraduates to participate in research with a faculty mentor this summer.

UNL's Undergraduate Creative Activities and Research Experience (UCARE) Program supports undergraduates to work with faculty mentors in research or creative activities. Undergraduate students receive stipends of $2,400 to engage in intensive research or creative activity for 20 hours per week. The students' projects span across academic disciplines, including engineering, chemistry, modern languages and literatures, psychology, art and art history, architecture, special education, and fisheries and wildlife.

The students also will have opportunities to participate in mentoring workshops and activities with undergraduates from other institutions who are participating in UNL's Summer Research Program. In August, both groups of students will present posters on their research and creative activities at a campus research symposium. For more about undergraduate research at UNL, go to http://www.unl.edu/ucare.

The following is a list of students by hometown who received summer UCARE awards with their academic major and project title.

IN NEBRASKA

Auburn: Megan Gren, biological systems engineering, "Developing Innovative Oxidative Treatments for Groundwater Remediation."

Bellevue: Brenna Boyd, architectural engineering, "Development of Test Kits for Monitoring Indoor Environmental Conditions of Buildings."

Blair: Elizabeth Niebaum, plant biology, "Using Genetic Markers to Identify Leaf-Spot and Chinch Bug Resistant Buffalograss."

Blue Hill: Cheyann Lovett, agricultural education, "Economic Impact of Filth Flies on Nebraska Agriculture: An Educational Video."

Ceresco: Andrew Shultz, physics, "Measuring Refractive Index in Antarctic Ice."

Crete: Brenda Lopez-Adame, pre-Spanish, "Family Letters: An Analysis of the Personal Correspondence of a Mexican American Family in Western Colorado and Eastern Nebraska in the First Half of the 20th Century"; Garrett Wahl, biological sciences, "Assessing Available Farnesol Analogs for their Immunostimulatory Properties."

Geneva: Ethan Nutter, mechanized systems management, "Reactive Intelligence Development of a Mobile Agricultural Robot."

Grand Island: Jordan McElligott, mechanical engineering, "Improved Ankle-Foot Prosthesis Development"; Brianna McKay, nutritional science and dietetics, "Comparing the Effects of Low- vs. High-Load Weight Training on Muscle Activation and Swelling in the Biceps Brachii Muscle."

Gretna: Emma Blank, forensic science, "Ligand-Binding Characterization of Non-Human Liver Scavenger Receptors"; Jordan O'Neal, physics, "Multiple Combined Electron Beams as Driver for a Compact Free-Electron X-ray Laser."

Hastings: Will Gronewold, computer science, "Interactive Simulations as Learning Tools for Biological Concepts."

Lincoln: Janette Avelar, Spanish, "Family Letters: An Analysis of the Personal Correspondence of a Mexican American Family in Western Colorado and Eastern Nebraska in the First Half of the 20th Century"; Tess Barnes, journalism, "The Effect of Pro-Diversity Media on Minority Dehumanization"; Seth Bashford, electrical engineering, "MIDI Sequencing Techniques for Musical Performance Practice"; Christopher Beasley, psychology, "Interaction of DJ-1 with Ferratin in Dopaminergic Cells and the Midbrain and its Contribution to Parkinson's Disease"; Pierce Bower, biochemistry, "Bioinformatic Simulation and Biological Analysis of Antiviral RNA Silencing"; Austin Connor, physics, "Reorienting the Magnetic Dipole of a Cobalt Thin Film by Method of Oxidation"; Maanas Varma Datla, computer science, "Operationalizing Automatic Poem Identification in Archival Newspapers: Research Issues and Solution Engineering"; Claire Fergen, psychology, "Healthy Eating in Child Care: An Interactive Providers' Curriculum for Feeding Preschool-Aged Children"; Ethan Freese, grassland ecology and management, "Use of Prairie Grouse Leks by Grassland Songbirds"; Christine Hartmann, elementary education and early childhood, "Healthy Eating in Child Care: An Interactive Providers' Curriculum for Feeding Preschool-Aged Children"; Kourtney Klein, classics and religious studies, "The Beginnings of the UNL Classics Department: An Inquiry into Influence"; Zachary Kwapnoski, biochemistry, "Improving Upon the Preparation of Pluripotent Stem Cells Through Stimulus-Triggered Methods"; Nichole Leacock, forensic science, "Development of a DNA Database"; Mason Mabin, physics, "Visualizing Curved Space"; Troy Nelson, biological systems engineering, "Investigating Algae Growth for Sustainability in Nebraska"; Hong Yen Pham, biochemistry, "Preparation of a Live-Attenuated Vaccine Against Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus"; Austin Schulte, physics, "Computational Modeling of Undulator Radiation from Relativistic Electron Beams"; Bryan Timperley, music education, "Historical Contexts of Standard Bassoon Repertoire"; Tiffany Truong, chemistry, "Split-Luciferase Sensors for Protein Kinases"; Stella Uiterwaal, biological sciences, "Non-Encapsidation Roles of Potyviral Coat Protein"; Bethany VanLaningham, fisheries and wildlife, "Pine Ridge Valley and the Affects of Wildfires on Invasive Species"; Kristina Zvolanek, biological systems engineering, "Early Intervention to Mitigate Dyslexia in Infants at Risk."

Norfolk: Kristin Downey, elementary education and special education, "The Structures Module 2 Effectiveness Study: A Single-Subject Design"; Sara Reyes, psychology, "Family Letters: An Analysis of the Personal Correspondence of a Mexican American Family in Western Colorado and Eastern Nebraska in the First Half of the 20th Century."

Omaha: Emily Bender, biological systems engineering, "Development of Sustainable Fiberboard Packaging from Food Industry Waste"; Tanner Hawkins, biological sciences, "Effects of Variable Temperature and Dissolved Oxygen on Hyallela Azteca"; Dominic Nguyen, chemical engineering, "Optimizing the Catalytic Activity of As-Synthesized Cube-like Cerium Oxide Nanocrystals through Alteration of Morphology"; Andrew Palmesano, mechanical engineering, "Kinematic and Muscular Analysis of Elite Placekickers"; Stephanie Sterling, art history and criticism, "Refining a Ceramic Chronology: Identifying Ideological and Sociopolitical Shifts at Copan, Honduras"; Charles Weak, architectural studies, "Fabricating Daniel Liebskind's Machines."

Papillion: Brianna Kellar, biochemistry, "Ligand-Binding Characterization of Non-Human Liver Scavenger Receptors"; Kevin Real, biological systems engineering, "How Microgravity and Sleep Deprivation Affects Brain Physiology."

Plattsmouth: Samantha Greenfield, English, "Scholarly Editing of Willa Cather's Letters."

St. Paul: Spencer Kulwicki, computer science, "Operationalizing Automatic Poem Identification in Archival Newspapers: Research Issues and Solution Engineering."

Stuart: Dylan Laible, computer science, "VITA-MathDay."

Ulysses: Samantha Hayek, forensic science, "Prehistoric Patterns of Subsistence and Consumption in Chaco Canyon, New Mexico."

Wahoo: Melanie Blum, forensic science, "Development of a DNA Database"; Danielle Hittle, biochemistry, "Functional Characterization of Human Hyal3."

Wayne: Cassidy Wiese, chemical engineering, "Elucidating Sub1A-Mediated Submergence Tolerance using Transgenic Approaches."

ELSEWHERE

Estes Park, Colorado: Michelle McQuinn, biological sciences, "Factors Affecting the Immune System of the Ornate Box Turtle (Terrapene ornata)."

Jacksonville, Florida: Molly Undersander, music, "Probing Question Order Effect in Chemistry Concept Inventories."

Lake Worth, Florida: Andrew Egger, biochemistry, "Ligand-Binding Characterization of Non-Human Liver Scavenger Receptors."

Panora, Iowa: Elliot Wilke, English, "Trauma, Mental Illness, and Literary Production: Virginia Woolf as Case Study."

Rochester, Minnesota: Benjamin Peda, computer engineering, "VITA-MathDay."

White Bear Lake, Minnesota: Connor Pederson, biochemistry, "Using New DNA Technologies to Identify Fungi that Reduce Dry Bean Yields due to Root Rot."

Madison, South Dakota: Brian Niedert, biochemistry, "Effects of Fully Integrating Digital Data Capture and Management Systems in the Use of Recording Archeological Surveillance Data in an Intensive Field Survey."

Mitchell, South Dakota: Noelle Yeo, nutritional science and dietetics, "Comparing the Effects of Low- vs. High-Load Weight Training on Muscle Activation and Swelling in the Biceps Brachii Muscle."

Salem, South Dakota: Erin Eickman, chemical engineering, "Glioma/Astrocyte Co-culture for Brain In Vitro Studies."

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Rebecca Kiat, biological sciences, "Evaluating the Effect of Calcium Carbonate on Methanogenesis in Wetland Soil Samples."