The Research Partners program provides stipends for students to participate in research projects during the summer. Susquehanna faculty members apply for the funds, and serve as mentors to the students who work with them during the summer.

Objectives of the Research Partners Program

1. To enhance student learning at Susquehanna by providing students the opportunity to actively participate in a research project on a full-time basis.
2. To enhance faculty scholarship at Susquehanna by providing funds for student researchers.
3. To further the development of a "community of learners" at Susquehanna, where students and faculty can engage in research over the summer months.

Sixteen students will participate in Research Partners projects during the summer of 2008.

• Kristin Biondi and Jack Bittner, under the direction of Dr. Alissa Packer, Biology, will study the role of extrafloral nectaries in Prunus serotina and Prunus avium.

• Margaret Gardner, working with Dr. David Richard, Biology, will research Vitellogenesis in Drosophila. 

• Colin Hutchison, under the guidance of Dr. Lou Ann Tom, Chemistry will study compounds from transportation fuels.

• Ben Kopec will work with Dr. Ahmed Lachhab, Earth and Environmental Sciences, on the recovery rate of passive treatment acid mine drainage at Corbin Site after treatment interruption.

• Andrew Llewellyn, working with Dr. Carlos Iudica, Biology, will research the natural history of the Eastern Hellbender in Pennsylvania.

• Matthew Mitchell, under the guidance of Dr. Tammy Tobin-Janzen, Biology, will continue research on the Pennsylvania mine fire.  

• Nabin Mulepati, under the direction of Dr. Toshiro Kubota, Mathematical Sciences, will study performance of pulmonary nodule segmentation algorithms.

• Elyse Petrunak, working with Dr. Geneive Henry, Chemistry, will study antibacterial and antioxidant potential of the chemical constituents of Hypericum ellipticum.

• Amanda Rosett will work with Dr. Wade Johnson, Chemistry, on Biochemical and physiological study of novel anthraquinones inserted into Photosystem I.
• Hannah Spinner, working with Dr. Jan Reichard-Brown, Biology, will study the Thalidomide effects on sea urchin embryo development.
• Alex Sweger, under the direction of Dr. Matthew Persons, Biology, will research chemically-mediated reciprocal mate choice based on body condition in the wolf spider Pardosa milvina.
• Brian Tanis, under the direction of Dr. Carlos Iudica, will study the Paleoecological reconstruction of a cave in central Pennsylvania.
• Greg Trout, working with Dr. Swarna Basu, Chemistry, will study tissue scaffold construction using multiphoton excitation by a pulsed laser.
• Josh Wrubel, working with Dr. Christopher Janzen, Chemistry, will research water quality in Shamokin Creek.
• Jacqui Yalango, will work with Dr. Katherine Straub, Earth and Environmental Studies, on the environmental audit of Susquehanna University.