154 undergrads receive summer research stipends

Craig Chandler | University Communication

Nebraska students Madison Burger and Allison Porter work with Greg Bashford as part of a UCARE project in 2016. Part of the work, shown here, included using a device that measures brain waves through eyelid pressure.

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln has awarded stipends to 154 undergraduates to participate in research with a faculty mentor this summer.

Nebraska’s Undergraduate Creative Activities and Research Experience (UCARE) Program supports undergraduates to work with faculty mentors in research or creative activities. Students receive stipends of $2,400 to engage in intensive research or creative activity for 20 hours per week. The students’ projects span academic disciplines including engineering, chemistry, modern languages and literatures, psychology, art and art history, architecture, special education, and fisheries and wildlife.

The students also will have opportunities to participate in mentoring workshops and activities with undergraduates from other institutions who are participating in Nebraska’s Summer Research Program. In August, both groups of students will present posters on their research and creative activities at a campus research symposium. For more about undergraduate research at Nebraska, visit https://ucare.unl.edu.

The following is a list of students by hometown who received summer UCARE awards, with their academic major(s) and project title.

Nebraska

Adams:

Susana Moyer, biological sciences, “Quantifying Biodiversity in Niobrara Forests.”

Auburn:

Brenna Schulte, speech-language pathology, “Parenting and Young Children’s Language.”

Aurora:

Anna Helzer, Spanish, “History and Impact of Centennial College at UNL.”

Beatrice:

Cara Jack, psychology, “Predictors of Adolescent Disclosure of Peer Victimization”; Kaela Meyer, psychology, “Definitions of Water Quality.”

Bellevue:

Chris Wiseman, mechanical engineering, “Smart Bandages for the Early Detection of Infection.”

Blair:

Olivia Maras, psychology, “Role of Parental Eating Pathology on Child Outcomes and Parenting Practices.”

Clay Center:

Tiffany Schweer, architectural studies, “A Comparative Case Study of Four Informal Learning Spaces on Campus.”

Columbus:

Dana Hoppe, computer science, “Effectiveness of Creative Coding as a Platform for Interdisciplinary Education.”
Jesse Osborn, physics, “Discrimination between Neutrino Signal and Noise in the ARA Experiment Using Multivariate Data Analysis.”
Gerardo Soto, management and economics, “The Impact of Limiting Smoking in Public Areas.”
Chelsey Wisehart, psychology, “Case Closure Among the Lancaster County’s Family Treatment Drug Court: The Role of Personal Relationships and Service Engagement.”

Cortland:

Ashlynn Engelhard, interior design, “A Comparative Case Study of Four Informal Learning Spaces on Campus.”

Denton:

Hanna Baum, pre-health and nursing, “Self-Management in Heart Failure: mHealth Interventions.”
Aaron Haake, mechanical engineering, “3D Printing Complex Microstructures of Liquid Metal in a Support Bath.”

Elkhorn:

Christina Berger, psychology, “Predictors of Adolescent Disclosure of Peer Victimization.”
Nichole Brady, classics and religious studies, and classical languages, “An Interactive, Multimedia eBook on Ancient Drama.”
Alexandria Richardson, biological systems engineering, “Optimization of a Chondroitin Sulfate Microparticle Size for Neuro-Inhibition and Drug Delivery to Treat Low Back Pain.”

Gothenburg:

Alexander Meyer, biochemistry, “UNL International Genetically Engineered Machines (iGEM) Team.”
Justin Shuman, pre-science (7-12), “Evaluation of How STEM Faculty Use the First Day of Class and Their Choices of Non-Content Instructor Talk.”

Gretna:

Sydney Kimnach, environmental restoration science, “Effects and Implications of Nutrient Pollution on Algae Growth in the Niobrara River.”

Hastings:

Ryan Pawloski, sports media and communication, and broadcasting, “Impact of Campus Research.”

Herman:

Fiona Shogren, biological sciences, “Predation Risk and Its Effect on Foraging Behavior in Slender Crab Spiders (Tibellus oblongus).”

Howells:

Carter Bracht, biochemistry, “An Analysis of the Behaviors Utilized by Physicians and Medical Students to Cope with Stress.”

Humboldt:

Patrick Pineda, architectural studies, “Manual of Speculative Suburban Futures.”

Kearney:

Riley Evers, anthropology, art history and criticism, and classics and religious studies, “Reconstructing the Temple of Inscriptions: Astronomical Relationships, Sociopolitical Shifts and the Landscape at Copan, Honduras.”
McKenna Ryan, elementary education, “Coaching Strategies: How Do They Differ?”

Kenesaw:

Rose Wehrman, English, “Typology of Gaps in the Education System.”

La Vista:

Amanda Lewis, biochemistry, “Biophysical Characterization of Stabilin-2.”

Lexington:

Joelly Anderson, speech-language pathology, “Exploring the Relations between Executive Function, Self-Efficacy and Reading Skills.”

Lincoln:

Earl Agpawa, insect science, “Exploring the Role of the Putative Antipredator Defenses in the Orb-Weaving Spider Micrathena gracilis.”
Mohammed Al Badaai, economics, “The Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf and Economic Growth in the Arabian Peninsula.”
Noha Algahimi, chemical engineering, “UNL International Genetically Engineered Machines (iGEM) Team.”
Logan Altrichter, architectural studies, “Teaching Pedagogy on Integrated Design in Architecture.”
Mohamed Aly, computer engineering, “Software Application for Improving Performance in Large Undergraduate Classes.”
Nathan Asselin, computer science, “Improving Vehicle Crash Reporting.”
Alexander Batelaan, chemistry and mathematics, “Designing a Diradical with High Thermal Stability.”
Flora Bescansa Luers, mechanized systems management and anthropology, “The Impact of Food Insecurity on the Health and Wellbeing of Ethiopia and Zambia’s Southern Peoples.”
Shikshya Bhusal, biochemistry, “Investigation of Students’ Understanding of Light-Matter Interactions.”
Bergen Bruhn, psychology, “Understanding the Cochlear Implant.”
Brian Bulin, advertising and public relations, journalism and broadcasting, “Czech-American Culture in the Bohemian Alps Region of Nebraska.”
Grace Carlson, biological systems engineering, “Using Neuroimaging to Assist Cochlear Implant Programming.”
Jun Rong Brian Chong, computer science, “Automatically Identifying, Counting and Describing Wild Animals in Camera-Trap Images with Deep Learning.”
Ellie Churchill, history, and classics and religious studies, “An Interactive, Multimedia eBook on Ancient Drama.”
Connor Clanton, biochemistry, “Biophysical Characterization of Stabilin-2.”
Shane Clegg, computer science, “Building the George Eliot Digital Archive, Phase 2.”
Delimulati Diliziba, mechanical engineering, “Development of Three-Dimensional Porous Network Models Using Polydimethylsiloxane and Sugar Block.”
Benjamin Downing, microbiology, “Mutational Inactivation of A. thaliana RNA Dependent RNA Polymerases by Gene Editing.”
Christian Dukunde, integrated science, “Informatics-Guided Approach to Study miRNA Sorting Through Motif Finding.”
Brandon Ee, psychology, “Predictors of Adolescent Disclosure of Peer Victimization.”
Margaret Gies, architectural studies, “Nebraska Shelterbelt Archive.”
Andrew Goldsmith, architectural studies, “FACT_Book.”
Freddy Gonzalez, biological sciences, “Isolating Novel Species Within the Microbiota of Daphnia magna to Understand Host-Microbe Interactions.”
Julien Hoffman, English, and women’s and gender studies, “Illustrations of Femininity, Power and Magic: A Study of the Representations of Women and Girls as Witches in Comics Throughout History.”
Megan Jones, psychology, “Comparing Positive and Negative Emotion Recognition in Individuals After Traumatic Brain Injury.”
Alyssa Kobza, sociology and art, “Investigating the Sociological Imagination Through Lithography.”
Ellen Kratzer, English, graphic design and classical languages, “An Interactive, Multimedia eBook on Ancient Drama.”
Mitchell Lange, computer engineering, “Analyzing Muons and Other Particles from the Large Hadron Collider.”
Vanessa Larsen, classics and religious studies, “An Interactive, Multimedia eBook on Ancient Drama.”
Helen Little, biological systems engineering, “Treating Non-Point Source Cocktails: Pesticide Removal Utilizing In-stream Best Management Practices.”
Miranda Martin, biological sciences, “The Influence of Temperature and Density on the Induction of Winged Aphids.”
Zach Martin, social science, “Sustainability of Inquiry-Based Teaching Guided by Instructional Coaches.”
Samuel Martinez, microbiology, “Generation of Antibody Against Glycoprotein-3 of the Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus.”
Erin McNeil, architectural studies, “Material Agency in Architecture.”
Nicholas Morgan, biological sciences, “Investigating the Connection Between Sexual Cannibalism and Offspring Quality in the Dark Fishing Spider, Dolomedes tenebrosus.”
Roxanne Mpinganzima, “UNL International Genetically Engineered Machines (iGEM) Team.”
Murtaza Nalwala, civil engineering, “Testing and Modelling of Polymeric Materials for Resilient Infrastructures.”
Carter Nelson, graphic design, “Art and the Portrayal of Mental Illness.”
Aime Nishimwe, integrated science, “Understanding Rwanda’s Soil Quality and Management Practices.”
Grace Oh, biochemistry, “Identify Neural Mechanism of Speech Perception in Adult with Cochlear Implants Using Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy.”
Hannah Oh, mathematics, “The Nobel Prizes in the Natural Sciences as Proxy for National Scientific Strength: A Databased Approach.”
Jessica Schafer, landscape architecture, “Nebraska Shelterbelt Archive.”
Charlee Sindelar, elementary education, “Influences of Executive Function on Self-Efficacy for Reading.”
Anton Skretta, philosophy, “Ethical Assurance Cases: An Adaptation of Software Engineering Safety Assurance Cases to Provide a Framework for Ethical Considerations Throughout the Development Process.”
Stephan Sutter, biological sciences and biochemistry, “Developing Targeted ChIP Methods in Sulfolobus solfataricus to Identify Proteins Involved in Epigenetically Controlled Expression.”
Megan Wackel, biochemistry, “The Impact of Food Insecurity on the Health and Wellbeing of Ethiopia and Zambia’s Southern Peoples.”
Meagan Willoughby, architectural studies, “Nebraska Shelterbelt Archive.”
Beibei Xiong, computer engineering and electrical engineering, “Biomarker Discovery Using High-Throughput Biological Data.”
Qixuan Yang, actuarial science and mathematics, “Nontechnological Acquisition, Relatedness and Innovation Output.”
Olena Yarmolyuk, architectural studies, “Design for Decline.”
Mitchell Znamenacek, architectural studies, “Czech-American Culture in the Bohemian Alps Region of Nebraska.”

Milford:

Logan Hauder, chemical engineering, “UNL International Genetically Engineered Machines (iGEM) Team.”

Newman Grove:

Alaina Rast, elementary education and special education (K-6), “IEP Analysis of Students with Visual Imparments.”

Omaha:

Chelsea Akyeampong, global studies and political science, “To Enter Africa from America: U.S. Empire, Race and the African Question, 1847-1919.”
Connor Albin, biological systems engineering, “Engineering Rehabilitation Devices for Integration in ‘GoBabyGo!’ Cars.”
Majdi Alkarute, architectural studies, “Architectural Exhibitions: The Disciplinary Edge.”
Frederick Azalekor, biochemistry and gerontology, “Identifying the Nitrogenase Gene in Corn Rhizosphere Isolates: Analysis of Their DMBOA Sensitivity.”
Michael Banwo, chemical engineering, “UNL International Genetically Engineered Machines (iGEM) Team.”
Seth Blakestad, microbiology, “Degradation of Relic DNA in Soil.”
Andrew Butler, electrical engineering, “Study of Battery Energy Consumption Behaviors of Cybersecurity Software of Embedded Computing Systems.”
Matthew Chen, environmental restoration science, “Investigation of Nutrient Imbalances in the Niobrara River.”
Megan Ekstrom, English, “The George Eliot Digital Archive Project.”
Patrick Forbes, biochemistry, “Biophysical Characterization of Stabilin-2.”
Paige Haskett, architectural studies, “Teaching Pedagogy on Integrated Design in Architecture.”
James Heisner, anthropology, and women’s and gender studies, “Lincoln’s Culture: Preservation of Classical Music Printed Programs.”
Philamon Hemstreet, biological systems engineering and biochemistry, “Engineering Lipid Nanoparticles for Targeted Delivery for Vitamin E to Treat Inflammation in Arterial Tissues.”
Brianna Juma, nutritional science and dietetics, “The Impact of Food Insecurity on the Health and Wellbeing of Ethiopia and Zambia’s Southern Peoples.”
Isabelle Koehler, chemical engineering, “Nanoscale Interrogation of Supported Ionomer Catalyst Layers for Hydrogen Fuel Cells.”
Brandon McDonald, biological systems engineering, “Nanoparticle Treatment to Counter Reactive Oxygen Species After Traumatic Brain Injury.”
Angel Olivera-Torres, biological systems engineering, “Cell Patterning in Microfluidic Devices Combined with Micro-Contact Printing.”
Collin Podany, chemical engineering, “Testing the Removal of Nutrients in Streams with Nebraska Buffers.”
Gayle Rocz, dance and English, “The Complete Letters of Willa Cather.”
Megan Ruckman, biological systems engineering, “Optimizing PLGA Nanoparticles and Drug Combinations to Induce Synthetic Lethality in Pediatric Brain Cancer.”
Nora Schuele, pre-health and nursing, “Self-Management in Heart Failure: mHealth Interventions.”
Naomi Tsukada, chemical engineering, “The Effects of Carbon Catabolite Repression in Actinobacillus succinogenes.”
Hannah Uhl, psychology, “Definitions of Water Quality.”
Huey-Xian Wong, biochemistry and psychology, “Effects of the Interactions Between WhiB1 and the Primary Sigma Factor SigA on Other SigA-Dependent Transcriptional Regulators in Mycobacterium tuberculosis.”
Florian Wurtele, biochemistry, “Identifying the Nitrogenase Gene in Corn Rhizosphere Isolates: Analysis of Their DMBOA Sensitivity.”
Stephen Yaghmour, chemical engineering, “Theoretical and Numerical Investigations for Solutions to Nonlocal Systems with Applications in Peridynamics.”

Papillion:

Nate Koeppe, electrical engineering, “Spectroscopic Ellipsometry-Based Optical Analysis of Slanted Columnar Nanostructures Grown by Glancing Angle Deposition System”; Connor McFayden, environmental studies, “Changes in Land Use Along Kenya’s Lake Turkana.”

Roca:

Alexi Robertson, classics and religious studies, and classical languages, “An Interactive, Multimedia eBook on Ancient Drama.”

Seward:

Brittany Ringler, elementary education, “Examining Students’ Writing Skills in the Context of Executive Function and Self-Efficacy.”

Swanton:

Wendi Haufle, pre-health and nursing, “Self-Management in Heart Failure: mHealth Interventions.”

Tekamah:

Carter Walford, physics and mathematics, “Development of Methods to Reject Cosmic Ray Muons as a Background to Searches for Fractionally Charged Particles at the Large Hadron Collider.”

Thurston:

Corbin Lamplot, broadcasting, “Videographer.”

Trumbull:

Jonathan Askey, French and biochemistry, “Synthesis of Chiral Phosphonates (Phosphate Mimics) Through Enzymatic Dynamic Reductive Kinetic Resolution.”

Union:

Alexus Hansen, biological sciences, “Overwintering Physiology in Monarch Butterflies (Danaus plexippus).”

Weeping Water:

Mackenzie Burch, English, “Building the George Eliot Digital Archive, Phase 2.”

West Point:

Morgan Peatrowsky, elementary education, “Exploring the Relations between Executive Function, Self-Efficacy and Mathematics Skills.”

York:

Alyssa Arndt, child, youth and family studies, “The Impact of Food Insecurity on the Health and Well-being of Ethiopia and Zambia’s Southern Peoples.”

Yutan:

John Grinvalds, journalism, “A History of Anticolonial Struggle in Nebraska: Nebraskan History in Local and Regional Archives.”

Elsewhere

Fayetteville, Arkansas:

Joseph Broadway, mechanical engineering, “Validation of a Mathematical Model for Predicting Heat Flux in 3D Printed Titanium Alloy Parts.”

Lake Forest, California:

Brandon Lassalle, biological sciences, microbiology and biochemistry, “UNL International Genetically Engineered Machines (iGEM) Team.”

Crystal Lake, Illinois:

Morgan Padera, speech-language pathology, “Getting Ready 0-3.”
Rachel Stein, microbiology, “Mutational Inactivation of A. thaliana RNA Dependent RNA Polymerases by Gene Editing.”

Downers Grove, Illinois:

Janelle Bernaky, elementary education, “Exploring the Relations Between Executive Function, Self-Efficacy and Mathematics Skills.”

Island Lake, Illinois:

Zoe Battaglia, history and anthropology, “Habeas Corpus and Legal Histories of the North American West.”

Fishers, Indiana:

Megan Otte, biological systems engineering, “Optimizing PLGA Nanoparticles and Drug Combinations to Induce Synthetic Lethality in Pediatric Brain Cancer.”

Carter Lake, Iowa:

Luke Galvan, mathematics and physics, “A Computational Investigation of a Continuum Model for Flocking Dynamics.”

Cedar Falls, Iowa:

Mallorie Sckerl, psychology and English, “An Investigation into Origins of Sexual Assault in the Catholic Priesthood.”

Clive, Iowa:

Rachel Brush, elementary education and coaching, “Examining Students’ Writing Skills in the Context of Executive Function and Self-Efficacy.”

Leawood, Kansas:

Abigail Smith, biological systems engineering, “Optimization of Lateral Acceleration in Base Leads.”

Overland Park, Kansas:

Annie Mimick, interior design, “A Comparative Case Study of Four Informal Learning Spaces on Campus.”

Wichita, Kansas:

Spencer Jones, biochemistry, “The Effects of Iron-Sulfur Clusters on Fluorescent Markers in Mycobacterium tuberculosis.”

Shrewsbury, Massachusetts:

Julianne Fay, biochemistry, “The Impact of Food Insecurity on the Health and Wellbeing of Ethiopia and Zambia’s Southern Peoples.”

Eagan, Minnesota:

Amy Koenig, architectural studies, “The Examination and Reconstruction of Libeskind’s ‘Three Lessons on Architecture’.”

Woodbury, Minnesota:

Wesley Deuel, speech-language pathology, “Examining Students’ Writing Skills in the Context of Executive Function and Self-Efficacy.”

Kansas City, Missouri:

Rebecca Leuschen, biochemistry, “Mutational Inactivation of A. Thaliana RNA Polymerases by Gene Editing.”

Lee’s Summit, Missouri:

Madeline McGill, landscape architecture, “National Significance of a National Heritage Area.”

Morganville, New Jersey:

Evan Hymanson, mechanical engineering, “Ablative and Confining Layers in Laser Peening for Hybrid Additive Manufacturing.”

Madison, South Dakota:

Simone Droge, history and English, “The Complete Letters of Willa Cather.”

Salem, South Dakota:

Kayla Vondracek, environmental studies, “Human Influence on the Biodiversity of Algae in the Niobrara River.”

Vermillion, South Dakota:

Ananth Venkatachalam, chemical engineering, “Nanoparticle Necklace Arrays and its Applications.”

Flower Mound, Texas:

Christopher Goulet, music, “An In-Depth Analysis of Peter Klatzow’s ‘Dances of Earth and Fire’.”

Indore, India:

Rahul Prajapati, computer science, “UNL International Genetically Engineered Machines (iGEM) Team.”

Jalandhar, India:

Salan Preet Kaur, biological sciences, “Does HIV Promote HPV-Related Eye Tumors?”

Noida, India:

Kushagra Kapil, computer science and mathematics, “Development and Assessment of an Improved Next-Generation Transcriptome Assembler.”

Tehran, Iran:

Hessan Sedaghat, mechanical engineering, “Development and Integration of a Robotic System to Simulate Autonomous Management in Plant Nursery.”

Ipoh, Malaysia:

Yi Xuen Tay, psychology, “International Students’ Motivations, Experiences and Intended Outcomes on their Participation in Greek Letter Organizations.”

Kajang, Malaysia: