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Summer Research Sampling
In the summer of 2006, more than two dozen Susquehanna University students participated with faculty mentors in a wide range of research projects. The research was funded by the university’s longstanding Research Partners Program and newly-created Summer Opportunities Program, as well as by a number of prestigious grants, including: the NCUR/Lancy Initiative, a joint grant program between the National Conferences on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) and the Alice and Leslie E. Lancy Foundation; the National Science Foundation; NASA; an American Society for Microbiology Undergraduate Research Fellows Grant; a Degenstein Foundations/Heartland River Coalition grant; and a Sigma Xi Grant-in-Aid of Research. Summer 2006 research projects included:  Biochemistry
Biology
Chemistry English History Mathematics Music Physics Political Science Psychology
BiochemistrySmita Raithore ‘07/Christopher Gehman ‘07/Jack Holt, professor of biology/Christopher Janzen, associate professor and chair of Department of Chemistry/Tammy Tobin-Janzen, associate professor of biology. >>> Development of a baseline understanding of Shamokin Creek from the perspectives of periphyton and microbial communities, and ambient chemistry, especially that of metals, arsenic, and sulfur.
BiologyAhmed Alkhateeb ‘07/Tammy Tobin-Janzen, associate professor of biology. >>> Investigation of the molecular changes that occur to microbial communities in soils overlaying the Centralia mine fire. Amanda Janicki ‘08/Carlos Iudica, assistant profesor of biology. >>> Expansion of a long-term monitoring program of terrestrial vertebrate communities at the nearby Shikellamy State Park.Meredith Jones ‘07/Tammy Tobin-Janzen, associate professor of biology. >>> Identification of four different plant species that survive in both mesophilic (below 50°C) and thermophilic soils (above 50°C) at the site of the Centralia mine fire. Rhizosphere soil samples from both temperature ranges were collected from the roots of these species, and genomic DNA was successfully extracted from all of the samples. Danielle Purciello ‘07/David Richard, professor and chair of the Department of Biology. >>> Unraveling the molecular mechanism of vitellogenesis (production and uptake by eggs of yolk proteins), essential to understanding how animal egg production is regulated. Jamie Havrilak '08, Kristen Shimmel '08 and Chris Latanich '07/Matthew Persons, associate professor of biology. >>> Examination of the communication function of dragline silk in male and female wolf spiders. TOP ChemistryEric Drago ‘07/Wade Johnson, assistant professor of chemistry. >>> Incorporation of Anthraquinones into Photosystem I, clarifying a line of research based on the past research from the 2004 and 2005 Summer Research Partner.Sarah Guill ‘07/Christopher Janzen, associate professor and chair of Department of Chemistry. >>> Continuation of work to characterize the sulfur cycle in soils above the Centralia mine fire, requiring the measurement of soil concentrations of several key sulfur species along a transect crossing an active vent. Erik Hosler ‘07/Balwant Chohan, assistant professor of chemistry. >>> Creation of inorganic-organic hybrid “nanomaterials.” Adam Poncheri ‘07 /Swarna Basu, assistant professor of chemistry. >>> Construction, calibration and implementation of the instrument of excited state lifetime measurements. EnglishGeoffrey Stokes ‘07/Laurence Roth, associate professor of English. >>> Independent study of the process of editing and publishing a scholarly journal. TOP
HistoryDamian Buggy ‘07/Karol Weaver, assistant professor of history. >>> Study of how mine companies, state and local officials, and residents of Centralia reacted to and understood different disastrous events. Courtney Lippincott ‘08/Cymone Fourshey, assistant professor of history. >>> Examination of how communities in southwestern Tanzania employ hospitality as a means of dealing with influxes of immigrants and migrant workers, and comparison of perceptions of malaria in Tanzania and the United States. Caitlyn Mahoney ’07/Edward Slavishak, assistant professor of history. >>> Continuation of research into tourism in Centralia, Pa., the site of an active mine fire.TOP MathematicsJason Schwarzmann ‘09/Edisanter Lo, assistant professor of mathematics. >>> Development and analysis of an algorithm to accurately define the abscissa in terms of wavelength.TOPMusicNicole Rachau ‘07/Nina Tober, associate professor and chair of Department of Music.>>> Research into the relationship between student alliances, personal perceptions, class behavior and study habits.TOP
PhysicsKristin Boccafola ‘07/Richard Kozlowski, professor of physics.>>> Research into the geological make-up of Mercury using infrared spectroscopy to determine the planet’s mineral and rock composition.TOP Political SciencePatrick Henry ‘08/Michele DeMary, associate professor of political science. >>> This research uses the case study of Centralia to assess the question of what makes compensation “just.” Legal doctrine as found in Supreme Court opinions, as well as the primary theoretical bases for understanding “just compensation,” are analyzed and applied to the case of Centralia to determine if the community’s residents were, in fact, justly compensated.TOPPsychologyTimothy Barnes ‘07/Michael Smith, assistant professor of psychology. >>> Research on human sexuality as it relates to HIV-risk behavior.TOP |
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