May 14, 2019
SIU funds more than 30 undergraduate researchers with REACH, Tedrick grants
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 during the 2019-2020 academic year.
The awards include students receiving REACH grants, as well as those receiving Tedrick Undergraduate Research Fellowships.
Recipients get $2,000, assistantship to work on projects
The one-year REACH awards support the projects of qualified, full-time undergraduate students who compete for funding. REACH stands for Research-Enriched Academic Challenge. 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 awards go to each REACH award that is “best in discipline,” broadly defined as science, humanities, arts, engineering and other disciplines.
The award is made possible by a $50,000 gift in 2018 from SIU alumni Roger and Sally Tedrick, and expands opportunities for students to get involved with research and creative activities at SIU.
By hometown, this year’s REACH award winners, their major, faculty adviser, and project title are:
Alton
Logan Phillips, senior in plant biology, for “Navigating Neotropical niches: the biogeography and phylogenetics of Trema in the New World.” He is the son of Jeannette Phillips. His faculty advisers are Kurt Neubig, assistant professor of plant biology, and Nancy Garwood, adjunct professor of plant biology. Phillips’ proposal received a Tedrick Undergraduate Research Fellowship.
Arthur
Christian Rose, junior in civil and environmental engineering, for “Characterization of Titanium-based Perovskite Solar Cells.” He is the son of Michael L. Rose and Kelley L. Rose. His faculty adviser is Kanchan Mondal, professor of mechanical engineering and energy processes. Rose’s proposal received a Tedrick Undergraduate Research Fellowship.
Carbondale
Omar Khader, sophomore in physiology, for “Investigation of the HERG1A Induced Increase in Intracellular Calcium Concentration in Muscle Cells.” He is the son of Refat Khader and Marwa Omran. His faculty adviser is Amber Pond, assistant professor in the SIU School of Medicine.
Terry Ann Sneed, senior in computer engineering, for “Proof of Concept for a Magnetic Approach to Painless Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.” Her faculty adviser is Arash Komaee, assistant professor of computer and electrical engineering.
Carlinville
Benjamin Polo, freshman in animal science, food and nutrition, for “Enteric Fermentation: How Cecum Microbial Fluid Effects Enteric Methane Mitigation in a Ruminant Digestive Environment.” He is the son of Kevin A. Polo and Therese L. Polo. His faculty adviser is Amer AbuGhazaleh, professor of animal science, food and nutrition.
Carpentersville
Angelina Arcuri, a junior in geography, for “Assessing the Relationship Between Drought Impacts and Statistical Drought Indices.” She is the daughter of Anna Arcuri. Her faculty adviser is Trent Ford, assistant professor of geography and environmental resources. Arcuri’s proposal received a Tedrick Undergraduate Research Fellowship.
Chicago
Tra’Deidra D. M. Davis, sophomore in psychology, for “Jurors' Expressions of Emotion and Friendliness during Interracial Deliberations.” She is the daughter of Dennis White. Her faculty adviser is Liana Peter-Hagene, assistant professor of psychology.
Connor Gartner, sophomore in fermentation science, for “Kefir Variation Based on Milk Substrate Fermentation Temperature.” He is the son of Frank E.Gartner and Kelli D. Evans. His faculty adviser is Katherine Witrick, assistant professor of animal science, food and nutrition.
Clayton
Madelyn J. Heinecke, junior in crop, soil and environmental management, for “Building a Foundation to Move Towards Precision Phosphorus Management in Corn.” She is the daughter of John E. Heinecke and Amy L. Heinecke. Her faculty adviser is Amir Sadeghpour, assistant professor of plant, soil and agricultural systems.
Decatur
Mya Tatum, junior in microbiology, for “Identification of Cells Transporting Chlamydia spp. From the Female Reproductive Tract to the GI Tract.” She is the daughter of Robert S. Leiser and Kim A. Reynolds. Her faculty adviser is Vjollca Konjufca, associate professor of microbiology.
Deer Creek
Karalyn Rich, sophomore in exercise science, for “Children with autism spectrum disorders display atypical gaze behavior when presented with still images.” She is the daughter of Mark T. Rich and Shari A. Rich. Her faculty advisers are Venkata Naga and Pradeep Ambati, both assistant professors of kinesiology.
Du Quoin
Garrett J. Murry, junior in biological sciences, for “Analysis of the anti-apoptosis function of NACa/BTF3.” He is the son of Jason D. Murry and Danielle N. Murry. His faculty adviser is Rodney Weilbaecher, research assistant professor of biochemistry and molecular biology, SIU School of Medicine.
Galatia
Michaela Hoots, junior in anthropology, for “Silenced Lifeways: Using Augmented Reality (AR) Technology and 3D Imaging to Investigate the Archaeology of a Free African-American Community in the Illinois Borderlands.” She is the daughter of Michael W. Hoots. Her faculty adviser is Mark Wagner, associate professor of anthropology. Hoots’ proposal received a Tedrick Undergraduate Research Fellowship.
Hudson
Caroline M. Page, junior in psychology, for “Examining the interactions of negative peer experiences and parental support predicting depressive symptoms in rural youth.” She is the daughter of David W. Page and Kimberly A. Page. Her adviser is Sarah Kretz. Page’s proposal received a Tedrick Undergraduate Research Fellowship.
Kankakee
Miranda N. Limbach, junior in comprehensive chemistry, for “MRI Contrast ‘Double Agents’ for Metabolic Imaging of Cancer.” She is the daughter of Robert W. Limbach and Natalie A. Hazzard-Limbach. Her faculty adviser is Boyd Goodson, professor chemistry and biochemistry. Limbach’s proposal received a Tedrick Undergraduate Research Fellowship.
Lincoln
Cierra Crowell, junior in animal science – equine science, for “The Influence of Oil-Based Palatants on Eating Behavior in Gestation Broodmares.” She is the daughter of Jerry A. Crowell and Lotis M. Crowell. Her faculty adviser is Erin Perry, assistant professor of animal science, food and nutrition.
Little York
Tristin Miller, junior in biochemistry and physiology, for “Do increased salinities influence the fitness of the aquatic amphipod, Hyalella azteca?” He is the son of Eric R. Miller and Annie M. Miller. His faculty adviser is Michael Lydy, professor of zoology.
Manteno
Reise D. Malone, senior in physiology – pre-medical, for “The Role of the Maternal Microbiome on Juvenile Traumatic Brain Injury Recovery.” She is the daughter of Mike J. Malone and Stacy A. Malone. Her faculty adviser is Michael Hylin, assistant professor of psychology.
Marseilles
Amanda L. Leppert-Gomes, senior in anthropology, for “Social and Individual Health Effects of Eco-MegaDevelopment: Aeolian Power and Union Hidalgo.” She is the daughter of Judd L. Leppert and Laura A. Leppert. Her faculty adviser is Roberto Barrios, associate professor of anthropology. Leppert-Gomes’ proposal received a Tedrick Undergraduate Research Fellowship.
McHenry
Elizabeth Saery, sophomore in microbiology, for “Identification of Cells Transporting Chlamydia spp. From the Female Reproductive Tract to the GI Tract.” She is the daughter of Amir K. Saery and Jean A. Saery. Her faculty adviser is Vjollca Konjufca, associate professor of microbiology.
Mokena
Kevin Marmo, sophomore in biology, for “Role of LINCO2600 RNA in Human Endometrial Fibroblast Decidualization.” He is the son of Frank J. Marmo and Jill M. Marmo. His faculty adviser is Brent Bany, associate professor of physiology, SIU School of Medicine.
Olney
Matthew Herman, junior in crop, soil and environmental management, for “Building a Foundation to Move Towards Precision Phosphorus Management in Corn.” He is the son of Lawrence K. Herman and Teri L. Herman. His faculty adviser is Amir Sadeghpour, assistant professor of plant, soil and agricultural systems.
Park Forest
Kailey Brown, junior in psychology, for “The Effect of Perceptual Training on Multisensory Processing in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum D.” She is the daughter of Nathan Jackson and Shericce L. Brown. Her faculty adviser is Diana Sarko, assistant professor of anatomy at the SIU School of Medicine.
Rockford
Carly Kasicki, senior biomedical science, German and French, for “Identification of Cells Transporting Chlamydia spp. From the Female Reproductive Tract to the GI Tract.” She is the daughter of Neil and Margret M. Kasicki. Her faculty adviser is Vjollca Konjufca, associate professor of microbiology.
Steeleville
Megan Welty, junior in anthropology, for “Silenced Lifeways: Using Augmented Reality (AR) Technology and 3D Imaging to Investigate the Archaeology of a Free African-American Community in the Illinois Borderlands.” She is the daughter of Dwayne A. Welty of Steeleville and Melissa A. Clinton of Mascoutah. Her faculty adviser is Mark J. Wagner, associate professor of anthropology. Welty’s proposal received a Tedrick Undergraduate Research Fellowship.
Westmont
Luis Prado, junior in geography and environmental resources, for “Drone-based Monitoring of Harmful Algae Blooms in Southern Illinois.” He is the son of Francisco J. Prado and Lori Prado. His faculty adviser is Ruopu Li, assistant professor of geography and environmental resources. Prado’s proposal received a Tedrick Undergraduate Research Fellowship.
Indiana
West Lafayette
Lincoln Weber, sophomore in physics and mechanical engineering, for “Assembly and Characterization of 2D Heterostructures.” He is the son of Ronald M. Weber and Tamara S. Weber. His faculty adviser is Saikat Talapatra, professor of physics.
Kentucky
Louisville
Emma Vogelsberg, junior in communication design and industrial design, for “Culturvation.” She is the daughter of Mike Crombie and Karen Vogelsberg-Crombie. Her faculty adviser is Tao Huang, assistant professor in the SIU School of Art and Design.
Missouri
St. Louis
Tori Rhone, junior in biological sciences – pre-medical, for “Thalamocortical Projections for the Dentition in Naked Mole-Rats (Heterocephalus glaber).” She is the daughter of Terrence D. Rhone of Bastrop, Texas, and the late Mary M. Rhone, and the niece of Elizabeth Swierk of St. Louis. Her faculty advisers are Diana Sarko, assistant professor of anatomy, SIU School of Medicine, and Joseph Cheatwood, associate professor of anatomy, SIU School of Medicine.
Tennessee
Collierville
Bennett Phan, senior in biological sciences, for “Assessing rats' memory after brain injury using titrating-delayed matching-to-sample procedures.” He is the son of Ben V. Phan and Annie T. Phan. His faculty advisers are Eric Jacobs, associate professor of psychology, and Michael Hylin, assistant professor of psychology.
Mount Juliet
Cassidy Lounsbury, sophomore in microbiology – pre-medical, for “Development of an EcI5 group IIB intron mutagenesis system for use in Chlamydia.” She is the daughter of Timothy A. Lounsbury and Heather A. Lounsbury. Her faculty adviser is Derek Fisher, associate professor of microbiology. Lounsbury’s proposal received a Tedrick Undergraduate Research Fellowship.
Texas
Plano
Sara K. Booth, a senior in animal science – pre-veterinarian specialty, for “Does fish diet affect consumer decisions? A nutritional and sensory study of farm-raised trout.” She is the spouse of Daniel R. Booth. Her faculty advisers Sylvia Thoms, associate professor of animal science, food and nutrition, and Karolina Kwasek, assistant professor at the Fisheries & Illinois Aquaculture Center. Booth’s proposal received a Tedrick Undergraduate Research Fellowship.