May 17, 2006

SIUC students receive research grants

by K.C. Jaehnig

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Twenty Southern Illinois University Carbondale students each have won a $1,500 research grant and an undergraduate assistantship through the University's annual Undergraduate Research/Creative Activity Awards competition.

Grants pay for materials and services related to yearlong research projects set up and run by the students with support from faculty mentors. Assistantships pay students for the work they do on such projects, where topics this year range from biological control of snails to a comparison of the way three zoos treat their small New World monkeys.

The provost's office and the Office of Research and Development Administration underwrite the awards program, now in its eighth year. It exemplifies SIUC's commitment to promoting excellence in undergraduate academics as part of Southern at 150: Building Excellence Through Commitment, an ambitious plan to reshape the University by its 150th anniversary in 2019.

Here are brief sketches of this year's winners (listed by hometowns).

Anna: Laura E. Tolar (3375 U.S. Highway 51 S.), a junior in the College of Liberal Arts' psychology department and the daughter of the late Billy W. Darnell and Laura Norton (1594 Weyland Drive, North Richland Hills, Texas). Under the supervision of Associate Professor Lisabeth F. DiLalla, she will examine parent-child interactions and child externalizing behaviors.

Belleville: TeSha S. Dozier, a sophomore in the College of Liberal Arts' psychology department and the daughter of Denese M. Drummond (7 Cameron Drive). Under the supervision of Assistant Professor Ellen Teng, she will examine the relationship between body preference and psychological wellbeing among African-American women.

Bonnie: Janie G. Blanks, a senior in the College of Engineering's civil engineering department and the daughter of Deborah A. Adams (3474 N. Spring Garden Lane). Under the supervision of Associate Professor John W. Nicklow, she will examine the operation of multi-reservoir systems using a genetic algorithm.

Chatham: Ryan J. McMillen, a junior in the College of Science's plant biology department and the son of William J. and Diana S. McMillen (125 Augie Court). Under the supervision of Assistant Professor Karen Renzaglia, he will examine the diversity of stomata in non-seed plants to see if there is a correlation between structure and genome size.

Chicago: Esteban del Valle, a senior in the College of Liberal Arts' art and design school with a specialization in painting and the son of Miguel and Lupe del Valle (2218 N. Lamon). Under the supervision of Assistant Professor Najjar Abdul-Musawwir, he will use mixed media and large-scale portraiture to depict coming of age in Chicago.

April L. Vigardt, a junior in the College of Agricultural Science's plant, soil and agricultural systems department and the daughter of Thomas A. Luzadder and Sandra L. Russell (2265 W. Giddings). Under the supervision of Assistant Professor Jorge D. Hernandez, she will examine how compost made by worms affects the growth and establishment of broccoli transplants.

Edwardsville: David J. Dalzotto, a senior in the College of Agricultural Sciences' forestry department and the son of Kerry L. and Connie E. Dalzotto (331 N. Buchanan St.). Under the supervision of Sara G. Baer, assistant professor in the College of Science's plant biology department, he will attempt to determine the environmental factors influencing the success of current and future efforts to restore giant canebrakes in Southern Illinois.

Harrisburg: Brenda K. Wright Sanders, a senior in university studies and the daughter of Wayne and Stella L. Wright (416 W. Homer). Under the supervision of SIU Vice President for Academic Affairs John S. Haller Jr., she will try to determine if the medical model of teaching could be used to better prepare school principals.

Hinckley: Brittny L. Corrigan, a sophomore in the College of Science's zoology department and the daughter of Edward J. and Karen K. Corrigan (611 Coster Court). Under the supervision of Douglas C. Smith, professor of psychology in the College of Liberal Arts, she will examine the effectiveness of stimulating the vagus nerve as a means of improving the memory of head-injured rats.

Morrison: Jodi M. Vandermyde, a sophomore in the College of Science's zoology department and the daughter of David J. Vandermyde (12056 Henry Road). Under the supervision of Gregory W. Whitledge, assistant professor with the University's Illinois Fisheries and Aquaculture Center, she will try to determine if a substance in the sensory organs of fish tells as much about its nutritional levels and environment as it does when it's in muscle.

Mt. Vernon: Jeremy L. Pierce (14545 N. Memory Lane), a junior in the College of Liberal Arts' psychology department and the son of Clifton H. Pierce and Brenda L. Malone. Under the supervision of Assistant Professor Michael R. Hoane, he will examine the effects of a particular substance when given to head-injured rats.

Palatine: Robyn M. Reeves, a junior in the College of Mass Communication and Media Arts' cinema and photography department and the daughter of Richard H. and Elise C. Reeves (32 S. Hickory St.). Under the supervision of Cory M. Byers, a lecturer in radio-television, she will examine how to use media to shape community-based learning.

Pittsburg: Kelly J. Smith, a junior in the College of Applied Sciences and Arts' information management systems and applied technology school and the daughter of Jim M. and Donna V. Halleran (110 N. Dallas St.). Under the supervision of Professor Diane C. Davis and Assistant Professor Belle S. Woodward, she will examine the relationship between ethical decision-making and personal characteristics, such as age and gender, in students in her major.

Plainfield: Nadia Lopez, a senior in the College of Science's zoology department and the daughter of Julian and Rosa M. Lopez (215115 Georgetown Drive). Under the supervision of Susan M. Ford, chair of the College of Liberal Arts anthropology department, she will examine enrichment programs aimed at marmosets and tamarins (small Central and South American monkeys) in three different zoos.

Quincy: Kurt D. Seifer, a major in the College of Science's interdisciplinary biological sciences program and the son of Gerald L. and Carol M. Seifert (1505 Madison St.). Under the supervision of Frank M. Wilhelm, an assistant professor in the zoology department, he will use both field and computer analysis to examine daily autumn migration and predation rates of midges living in a wildlife pond.

Red Bud: Sean Z. Goodin, a freshman in the College of Science's physiology department and the son of Bill V. and Loretta G. Goodin (1306 Fieldcrest Drive). Under the supervision of Assistant Professor April D. Strader, he will compare the metabolic effects of a melanocortin antagonist in female and male rats.

Rochester: Erin K. Shanle, a junior in the College of Science's plant biology and chemistry departments and the daughter of Loren C. and Karen Shanle (6438 Gaule Road). Under the supervision of Aldwin M. Anterola, an assistant professor in plant biology, she will examine the production of an anti-cancer precursor compound in a particular type of moss.

Rockford: Amanda D. Lynch, a sophomore in the College of Liberal Arts' art and design school and the daughter of Patricia L. Lynch (1419 Larson St.) and the late Gerard J. Lynch. Under the supervision of Assistant Professor Jiyong Lee, she will examine the evolution of glass art and glass artists.

INDIANA

Terre Haute: Brett A. Timmons, a senior in the College of Science's zoology department and the son of Douglas Timmons (99 Heritage Drive) and Glenna J. Timmons (408 S. 34th St.). Under the supervision of Assistant Professor Anita M. Kelly, he will examine the possibilities of using native sunfish to control snail populations.

TEXAS

North Richland Hills: Please see Anna.

AFRICA

Niamey, Niger: Djamilatou Han Saidou, a junior in the College of Science's microbiology department and the son of Saidou Hangadoumbo and Salamatou Katambe. He will examine the intrinsic bioremediation of perchlorate.