Undergraduate students earn REACH awards

May 24, 2013

Undergraduate students earn REACH awards

by Andrea Hahn

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Twenty-one Southern Illinois University Carbondale undergraduate students will receive grants to further their research and creative activities for the 2013-2014 academic year.

The Research-Enriched Academic Challenge (REACH) Award is a competitive grant program open to all fields of study to encourage individual research and creative projects.  Students work closely with a faculty mentor to advance their own academic interests.  This award includes up to $1,500 in project funding, and a paid one-year research assistantship with a faculty member.

The students will present their research during the spring semester at the Undergraduate Research Forum, and some will also present at professional and academic conferences in their area of interest.

Winners of this year’s awards are listed by hometown:

ILLINOIS

Ava

• Bria N. Ozment, a senior zoology/pre-veterinary major, for “Testing the Effect of Diabetes on Cognitive Impairment in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer’s Disease.”  Her faculty mentor is Greg Rose, director of the Center for Integrated Research.  She is the daughter of Lisa and Adrian Feinerman.

Beecher

• Franklin A. Cavender, a senior physiology major, for “Hormonal Pathway of the Crowding Response in Arabidopsis Thaliana.”  His faculty mentor is Andrew Wood, professor of plant biology.  He is the son of Cathleen and David Cavender.

Bensenville

• Megan M. Schwarzinger, a junior zoology major, for “Pathological Effects of C. Feers on Lynx rufus.”  Her faculty mentor is Augustin Jiménez.  She is the daughter of Marcia and Julius Schwarzinger.

Carbondale

• Lacey S. Gibson, a junior physiology major, for “Ovarian Cancer and Diabetes.”  Her faculty mentor is Dale Buck Hales, professor of physiology.  She is the daughter of Lisa and David Gibson.

Carterville

• Rachel M. Tate, a junior anthropology major, for “Crafting Culture: Fan Labor in the Homestuck Fan Community.”  Her faculty mentor is John C. McCall, associate professor of anthropology.  She is the daughter of Shelly Avery and Ralph Tate.

Champaign

• Matthew E. Crump, a senior automotive technology major, for “Diesel Efficiency.”  His faculty mentor is Timothy Janello, assistant professor of automotive technology.  He is the son of Michele and Kevin Crump.

Cicero

• Duane J. Lickteig, a senior microbiology major, for “Characterization of Mucosal Immunity Stimulated by OVA-conjugated Nanoparticles.”  His faculty mentor is Vjollca Konjufca, assistant professor of microbiology.  He is the son of Annemarie and Fabian Lickteig.

Eureka

• Austen N. Knapp, a senior physiology major, for “Effects of Subcutaneous Daidzein on Recovery of Function in the Rat after Ischemic Stroke.”  Her faculty mentor is Joseph Cheatwood, assistant professor of anatomy.  She is the daughter of Patricia and Mark Knapp.

Godfrey

• Julianna M. Richie, a sophomore physics major, for “Large Scale Synthesis of Graphene Using Liquid Phase Exfoliation Technique.”  Her faculty mentor is Saikat Talapatra, associate professor of physics.  She is the daughter of Donna and Charles Richie.

Greenview

• Amanda M. Weidhuner, a junior plant and soil science major, for “Suitable Fertility Management in Organic Broccoli Using Cover Crops.”  Her faculty mentor is Alan Walters, professor of plant, soil, and agricultural systems.  She is the daughter of Dawn and Karl Weidhuner.

Gurnee

• Andrew C. Ciuris, a junior zoology major, for “Aquaponics as a Route to Sustainable Aquaculture and Water Conservation.”  His faculty mentor is Jesse Trushenski, assistant professor of zoology.  He is the son of Alida Crump and Anthony Ciuris.

Makanda

• • Graham R. Baker, a senior biology major, for “Effects of Altered Hydrology on Floodplain Forests in the Cache River Basin.”  His faculty mentor is Loretta Battaglia, associate professor of plant biology.  He is the son of Kimberly and Robert Baker.

Morris

• Madeleine A. Pfaff, a junior zoology major, for “Comparing Nest Site Characteristics of Southern Illinois.”  Her faculty mentor is Clayton Nielsen, associate professor with SIU’s Cooperative Wildlife Research Lab.  She is the daughter of Mary-Beth and William Pfaff.

Morton

• Kelli J. Barry, a junior zoology major, for “Transportation of Hybrid Striped Bass.”  Her faculty mentor is Jesse Trushenski, assistant professor of zoology.  She is the daughter of Sandra and James Barry.

Normal

• Cheyenne M. Adams, a senior zoology major, for “Captive Spawning: A Long-Term Solution to Coral Reef Restoration.”  Her faculty mentor is Brian Small, associate professor with the SIU Fisheries and Illinois Aquaculture Center.  She is the daughter of Jeannie and Thomal Adams.

Northbrook

• Steven A. Jesselson, a senior plant biology major, for “Studying the Persistent Allelopathic Effect of Japanese Chaff Flower and Japanese Stiltgrass.”  His faculty mentor is David Gibson, professor of plant biology.  He is the son of Susan and Mark Jesselson.

Roselle

• Malgorzata M. Widelka, a senior zoology major, for “Examination of Brominated Flame Retardant Contamination in Illinois Waters through Fish Monitoring.”  Her faculty mentor is Da Chen, assistant professor of zoology.  She is the daughter of Agnieszka and Adam Widelka.

Warrensburg

• Travis W. Buth, a senior automotive technology major, for “Diesel Efficiency.”  His faculty mentor is Timothy Janello, assistant professor of automotive technology.  He is the son of Karen and Ellis Buth.

Wauconda

• William R. Kipp, a senior geology major, for “Rare Earth Element Distribution in Fluorite From Around Hick’s Dome.”  His faculty mentor is Liliana Lefticariu, assistant professor of geology.  He is the son of Patricia and James Kipp.

Wolf Lake

• Jessica R. Whitaker, a senior zoology major, for “Effects of Altered Sensory Feedback via Optogenetics Short-Term Movement Pattern Generation.”  Her faculty mentor is Andrew Sharp, assistant professor of anatomy.  She is the daughter of LaRae Verble-Whitaker and Thomas Whitaker.

MISSOURI

Fenton

• Shayla L. Gunn, a junior plant biology major, for “Effect of Engineered Nanopaticles on Growth of Vegitatively Propagated Plants.”  Her faculty mentor is Stephen Ebbs, interim chairperson of the Department of Plant Biology.  She is the daughter of Janet Gunn and Bernard Lotshaw.