July 18, 2018
SIU announces REACH grants and Tedrick Fellows for undergraduate research
CARBONDALE, Ill. – Southern Illinois University Carbondale has awarded undergraduate research grants to more than 30 students, all of whom will work on a project guided by a faculty mentor this coming fall semester.
Among the students receiving REACH grants are those receiving the first round of Tedrick Undergraduate Research Fellowships. The Tedrick awards go to each REACH award that is best in discipline as broadly defined as science, humanities, arts, engineering and other disciplines.
This new award, made possible by a gift from SIU alumni Roger and Sally Tedrick, will expand opportunities for students to get involved with research and creative activities at SIU. REACH stands for Research-Enriched Academic Experience.
Recipients get $2,000 and assistantship to work on projects
The one-year REACH awards support the projects of qualified, full-time undergraduate students who compete for funding. A panel of experts from a range of academic backgrounds evaluates applications. REACH students can receive up to $2,000 for their project and an assistantship that will pay for the student to work up to 10 hours per week on it.
The Tedrick Undergraduate Research Fellowship will increase the number of students participating in undergraduate research and creative activities at SIU. The expanded opportunity is funded by a donation from the Tedricks, announced in February, which provides $50,000 a year for five years.
By hometown, this year’s REACH award winners, their major, faculty mentor, and project title are:
Bartlett
Mariam Hashmi, a senior in psychology, for “Investigating the Effect of Adipose-derived STEM Cells on Mouse Model of Traumatic Brain Injury. Hashmi’s faculty mentor is Greg Rose, professor of anatomy at the SIU School of Medicine.
Batavia
Kyle Yorke, a junior in forestry, for “Effects of White-tailed deer on vegetation in southern Illinois.” Yorke’s faculty mentor is Clay Nielsen, professor with the Cooperative Wildlife Research Laboratory.
Bluford
Blaze Rightnowar, a senior in chemistry, for “Using infrared spectroscopy and molecular modeling to investigate the structure of Bax Protein in lipid bilayers.” Rightnowar’s faculty mentor is Sean Moran, assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry. Rightnowar’s student partner is Kaitlyn Hutson, a senior in microbiology.
Carbondale
Luke Anderson, a senior in physiology for “Investigation of ERG1 K+ Channel Abundance in Fast and Slow Type Skeletal Muscle Fibers.” Anderson’s faculty mentor is Amber Pond, assistant professor of anatomy with the SIU School of Medicine.
Piotr Baranski, a senior in biological sciences from Carbondale, for “Modulation of Bone Marrow Functions During Salmonella typhimurium Infection.” Baranski’s faculty mentor is Vjollca Konjufca, associate professor of microbiology. Baranski’s student partner is Afton Lawver, a senior in physiology from Carbondale.
Kaitlyn Hutson, a senior in microbiology, for “Using infared spectroscopy and molecular modeling to investigate the structure of Bax Protein in lipid bilayers.” Hutson’s faculty mentor is Sean Moran, assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry. Hutson’s student partner is Blaze Rightnowar, a senior in chemistry from Bluford.
Afton Lawver, a senior in physiology, for “Modulation of Bone Marrow Functions During Salmonella typhimurium Infection.” Lawver’s faculty mentor is Vjollca Konjufca, associate professor of microbiology. Lawver’s student partner is Piotr Baranski, a senior in biological sciences from Carbondale.
Lillian McIntyre, a senior in biological sciences, for “Eluciadating Plant-Pollinator Interactions in Southern Illinois using Taxonomic Collections, Pollen Analysis, and Spectrophotometry.” Their faculty mentor is Sedonia Sipes, associate professor of plant biology. Her student partner is Jacob Chisausky a junior in plant biology from Peotone.
Trevor Murphy, a senior in biological sciences, for “Characterizing marine microbial community compositions that effect successful aquaculture of the Hawaiian Bobtail Squid (Euprymna scolopes) using next-generation sequencing.” Murphy’s faculty mentor is Scott Hamilton-Brehm, assistant professor microbiology.
Abigayle Ochs, a senior in physiology, for “Revealing the role of short chain fatty acids as metabolic regulators of metabolism in ovarian cancer.” Ochs’ faculty mentor is Dale Buchanan Hales, professor of physiology at the SIU School of Medicine.
Carterville
Nathanial Shaw, a senior in exercise science, for “Veterans and their reintegration to civilian lifestyle: The roles of communities and recreational activities.” Shaw’s faculty mentor is Shintaro Kono, assistant professor of public health and recreation professions.
Chatham
Allison McMinn, a junior in electrical engineering, for “Digital Breast Tomosynthesis Image Reconstruction Algorithms to Improve Early Breast Cancer Detection.” McMinn’s faculty mentor is Ying Chen, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering.
De Soto
Keegan Shults, a junior in plant biology, “Host range of the himiparasitic plant Agalinis tenuifolia using DNA barcoding.” Shults’ faculty mentors are Kurt Neubig, assistant professor plant biology, and Daniel Nickrent, professor emeritus of plant biology.
Glenwood
Amanda Blocker, a senior in microbiology, for “Characterization of a novel subsurface bacterium within the candidate phylum OP9.” Blocker’s faculty mentor is Scott Hamilton-Brehm, assistant professor of microbiology.
Grafton
Katelyn Toigo, a senior in zoology, for “Effects of Strip Mine Reclamation Practices on Land Snail Communities.” Toigo’s faculty mentor is Frank Anderson, associated professor of zoology.
Marion
Dalton Francis, a senior in psychology, for “Attachment styles, gender expression, and affect in gay male relationships.” Francis’ faculty mentor is Douglas Knutson, assistant professor of psychology.
Mulkeytown
Breanna Whitley, a senior in plant biology, for “Using a multi-faceted approach to resolve the polyphyletic Trema micrantha (Cannabaceae).” Whitley’s faculty mentors are Kurt Neubig, assistant professor plant biology, and Nancy Garwood, adjunct professor of plant biology.
Peotone
Jacob Chisausky a junior in plant biology, for “Eluciadating Plant-Pollinator Interactions in Southern Illinois using Taxonomic Collections, Pollen Analysis, and Spectrophotometry.” Their faculty mentor is Sedonia Sipes, associate professor of plant biology. His student partner is Lillian McIntyre, a senior in biological sciences, from Carbondale.
Christopher Smaga, junior zoology, for “Prevalence of snake fungal disease (Ophidiomyces ophiodicola) in a Southern Illinois population of snakes.” Smaga’s faculty mentor is Agustin Jimenez, associate professor of zoology.
Shawneetown
Shay Wood, a senior in psychology, for “Examining the Relationship Between Prosocial Behavior, Aggression, Altruism, and Children's Preferences in Aggressive Media.” Wood’s faculty mentor is Lisabeth DiLalla, professor of behavioral social science with the SIU School of Medicine.
Springfield
Anastacia Hanauer, a senior in forestry, for “Conservation tillage for increasing aggregate stability, improved soil carbon, and greater agriculture production stability.” Hanauer’s faculty mentor is Amir Sadeghpour, assistant professor of plant, soil and agricultural systems.
Waterloo
Jake Wagner, a senior in mechanical engineering, for “Analysis of Additive Manufacturing Processes and Methods.” Wagner’s faculty mentor is Tsuchin Chu, professor of mechanical engineering and energy processes.
By hometown, this year’s Tedrick Undergraduate Research Fellows, their major, faculty mentor, and project title are:
Bloomington
Gannon Druessel, a junior in physiology for “T: Effect of bisphenol S (BPS) on male reproductive function.” Druessel’s faculty mentor is Kanako Hayashi, associate professor physiology at the SIU School of Medicine.
Carbondale
Cecilia Albert-Black, a junior in geology, for “Arsenic Filtration from Contaminated Water.” Albert-Black’s faculty mentor is Liliana Lefticariu, associate professor of geology.
Zoey Bryant, a senior in psychology and physiology, for “Neurodevelopment of Perineuronal Nets in the Hippocampus.” Bryant’s faculty adviser is Michael Hylin, assistant professor of psychology.
Kate Forer, a sophomore in studio art and art history, for “Units: An Exploration of Modular Construction.” Forer’s faculty mentor is Carey Netherton, a lecturer in the School of Art and Design
Cari Rutherford, a senior with a degree in civil engineering, for “Bacteria Inactivation in Wastewater Effluent by Eco-friendly Iron Nanoparticles under Light and Dark Conditions for Water Reuse in Agriculture.” Rutherford’s faculty mentor is Jia Liu, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering.
Goreville
Max Newhart, a junior in mechanical engineering, for “Development of a Novel Device for In Vivo Analysis of Biomechanical Characteristics of the Human Triceps Surae Musculotendinous Complex.” Newhart’s faculty mentor is Jun Qin, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering.
Gurnee
Connie Kaniewski, a senior geography and environmental Resources, for “Flash Drought in the United States: Drivers, Causes, and Predictability.” Kaniewski’s faculty mentor is Trent Ford, assistant professor of geography and environmental resources.
Rockford
Asia Ward, a senior in musical theatre, for “FIERCE: Rent.” Ward’s faculty mentor is Tom Kidd, chair of the theatre department. Ward’s student partner is Jake Ellsworth, a senior in musical theatre.
Scheller
Brooklin Frisch, a senior in crop, soil, and environmental management, for “Improving control efficacy of a new forest invader, Arum italicum, in Southern Illinois.” Frisch’s faculty mentor is Karla Gage, assistant professor of plant, soil and agricultural systems.
Orlando, Fla.
Kaylee Stillwell, a senior in psychology, for “Use of Combined DHF and Environmental Enrichment in the Treatment of Pediatric Frontal Brain Injury.” Stillwell’s faculty mentor is Michael Hylin, assistant professor of psychology.
Newburgh, Ind.
Jake Ellsworth a senior in musical theatre, for “FIERCE: Rent.” Ellsworth’s faculty mentor is Tom Kidd, chair of the theatre department. Ellsworth’s student partner is Asia Ward, a senior in musical theatre.