Archived Research Grants

The following students were awarded undergraduate student research grants from the Fisher College.

Undergraduate Research Grants in 2025 鈥 2026    

鈥淔inding Population Genetics in Mealybugs Domesticated by Acropyga exsanguis 础苍迟蝉鈥
     Student: Joslyn Adams
     Mentor: Dr. Jacqueline Doyle (Biological Sciences)

鈥淎ssessing the Efficacy of BECC-derived Adjuvants to Skew Allergy Immunotherapy"
     Student: Oluwajomi Akinwumi
     Mentor: Dr. Erin Harberts (Biological Sciences)

鈥淓ffects of Volatile Repellents on Spotted Wing Drosophila鈥
     Student: Rana Alzyoud
     Mentor: Dr. Vonnie Shields (Biological Sciences)

鈥淓valuating the Essential Role of BRD2 in Oocyte Development鈥
     Student: Abena Amfo-Koranteng
     Mentor: Dr. Stephen Hancock (Chemistry & Forensic Science)

鈥淎ssessing the Efficacy of BECC-derived Adjuvants to Skew Allergy Immunotherapy"
     Student: Lana Avery
     Mentor: Dr. Daniela Chavez (Biological Sciences)

鈥淓stimating Historic Population Fluctuations of an Endangered Freshwater Cetacean (Inia boliviensis)鈥
     Student: Jesse Birdsall
     Mentor: Dr. Jacqueline Doyle (Biological Sciences)

鈥淓xamining the Potential of BECC 438 and 470 Adjuvants in the Development of Effective Allergy Shots"
     Student: Amanda Bonetti
     Mentor: Dr. Erin Harberts (Biological Sciences)

鈥淭otal Synthesis of Acremostrictin鈥
     Student: Jennafer Buckshaw
     Mentor: Dr. Keith Reber (Chemistry & Forensic Science)

鈥淚nvestigating the Effects of Lesion-Induced Damage on Radial Glial Morphology and Reactive Gliosis in the Cerebral Cortex of Turtle Brains鈥
     Student: Elena Christou
     Student: Kyle Hastings
     Mentor: Dr. Carmen Falcone (Biological Sciences)

鈥淣atural vs. Artificial Prey in Mantis (Hierodula membranacea) Strike Performance"
     Student: Harper Davis
     Mentor: Dr. Christopher Oufiero (Biological Sciences)

鈥淓ffects of Fluorine Incorporation on the Superconducting Properties of Yttrium Barium Copper Oxide Thin Films鈥
     Student: Cristofar Varela Duarte
     Mentors: Dr. Rajeswari Kolagani (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淓ffect of PEGDA Molecular Weight on Photopolymerization Characteristics鈥
     Student: Daniel Eisenstein
     Mentor: Dr. Khanh-Hoa Tran-Ba (Chemistry & Forensic Science)

鈥淕enome-Wide Phylogenetic Analysis of Inia boliviensis and Inia geoffrensis
     Student: Samantha Emich
     Mentor: Dr. Jacqueline Doyle (Biological Sciences)

鈥淭he Role of Sleep Disorders and the Circadian Transcription Factor BHLHE40 in Cancer Risk Among Women"
     Student: Cat Evans
     Student: Naomi Omo-Taiga
     Mentor: Dr. Kathryn McDougal (Biological Sciences)

鈥淓ffects of Sonication versus UV Irradiation on the Final Morphology of Silver Nanoparticles鈥
     Student: Lloyce Frimpong
     Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry & Forensic Science)

鈥淗eavy Metal Contaminants in Ashwagandha Herbal Supplements鈥
     Student: Mikayla Garraty
     Mentor: Dr. Kelly Elkins (Chemistry & Forensic Science)

鈥淟ACV in Chipmunk Samples鈥
     Student: CJ Gaskill
     Mentor: Dr. Kishana Taylor (Biological Sciences)

鈥淚nvestigating Astrocyte Diversity in the Bird Brain Auditory System鈥
     Student: Alyssa Geddie
     Student: Prasiddika Thapaliya
     Mentor: Dr. Carmen Falcone (Biological Sciences)

鈥淎C (Tapping) Nanolithography Using Atomic Force Microscopy鈥
     Student: Antonio Gomez
     Mentors: Dr. David Schaefer (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淒eveloping Analytical Methods for Detecting Short-Chain PFAS Using GC/MS 鈥
     Student: Jessie Goodman
     Mentor: Dr. Kathryn Kautzman (Chemistry & Forensic Science)

鈥淩ole of COL5A1 Variation in Physical Activity and Injury 鈥
     Student: Lauren Greene
     Mentor: Dr. Kathryn E. McDougal (Biological Sciences)

鈥淭uning the Photoluminescence of Atomically Precise Au Nanoclusters with Pt and Rh Dopants鈥
     Student: Kristin Gyimah
     Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry & Forensic Science)

鈥淪earch for Non-toxic Counterparts of (Tl,Hg)BaCaCuO High Tempearture
厂耻辫别谤肠辞苍诲耻肠迟辞谤蝉鈥
     Student: Tyler Hannesson
     Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淚nvestigating the Role of the P2-P3 Helices in an RNA Riboswvitch鈥
     Student: Paige Headley
     Mentor: Dr. Ana-Maria Soto (Chemistry & Forensic Science)

鈥淚nvestigation of Immunoadjuvants BECC 438 & 470 in Improving the Efficacy of Allergy Shots"
     Student: McKenzie Horne
     Mentor: Dr. Erin Harberts (Biological Sciences)

鈥淓xploring Sediment Dynamics in Temperate Estuaries within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed"
     Student: Fiona Hutchison
     Mentor: Dr. Alice Besterman (Biological Sciences)

鈥淐haracterizing the Replication Dynamics of La Crosse Virus in Vero Cells鈥
     Student: Elexa Jones
     Mentor: Dr. Kishana Taylor (Biological Sciences)

鈥淪ynthesis of Prunomarin-A鈥
     Student: Morgan Kelly
     Mentor: Dr. Keith Reber (Chemistry & Forensic Science)

鈥淎nalyzing Mutations at the J24 Juction Region of an RNA Riboswitch鈥
     Student: Manal Khan
     Mentor: Dr. Ana-Maria Soto (Chemistry & Forensic Science)

鈥淓xperimental Methodologies Involved in the Interaction of Host-Pathogen Systems: The Effects of Crispr Cas9 Mutants in Dictyostelium discoideum 骋别苍别蝉鈥
     Student: Tatah Lamin
     Mentor: Dr. Michelle Snyder (Biological Sciences)

鈥淐haracterizing the Replication Kinetics of Jamestown Canyon Virus in C6/36 Cells鈥
     Student: Ulysses F. Matricciani
     Mentor: Dr. Kishana Taylor (Biological Sciences)

鈥淥ptimizing Engineered Prototypes to Improve Habitat for Captive Aquatic Turtles鈥
     Student: Cristofar Dante Meucci
     Mentors: Dr. Pamela Lottero-Perdue (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淯sing Autonomous Recording Units To Determine Salt Marsh Bird Occupancy"
     Student: Jonah Meyers
     Mentor: Dr. Alice Besterman (Biological Sciences)

鈥淎ttenuated Total Reflectance - Fourier Transform InfraRed Spectroscopy Characterization of Pressure Sensitive Adhesives: Before and After Chemical Fingerprint Processing 鈥
     Student: Meagan Miguelpablo
     Mentor: Dr. Khanh-Hoa Tran-Ba (Chemistry & Forensic Science)

鈥淩heology Probes the Expansion of Poly(ethylene glycol) Diacrylate Hydrogels During UV-Induced Post-Photopolymerization 鈥
     Student: Jacob Miley
     Mentor: Dr. Khanh-Hoa Tran-Ba (Chemistry & Forensic Science)

鈥淒evelopment of an Anti-transferrin Receptor Recombinant Immunotoxin Using a Stability-Optimized Pseudomonas Exotoxin A Domain III鈥
     Student: Risa Morales
     Mentor: Dr. John Weldon  (Biological Sciences)

鈥淒etermination of the Phosphorylation Status of Cyanobacteria RpaB and its Effect on Photosynthetic Efficiency"
     Student: Liana Mullican
     Mentor: Dr. Iskander Ibrahim (Biological Sciences)

鈥淪edimentation Impact on Marsh Stability"
     Student: Emmalynn Mutombo
     Mentor: Dr. Alice Besterman (Biological Sciences)

鈥淭he Influences of Cellular Stress on the in vivo Oligomerization States of the RpaB Protein in Synechococcus sp. PCC 7942 Cyanobacteria"
     Student: Amara Njoku
     Mentor: Dr. Iskander Ibrahim (Biological Sciences)

鈥淩efining Population Genetics of Northern Map Turtles (Graptemys geographica) in Maryland and Pennsylvania鈥
     Student: Sam Norris
     Mentor: Dr. Steve Kimble   (Biological Sciences)

鈥淒etermination of the Oligomerization Status of Cyanobacterial Rre1 Under Different Redox Conditions"
     Student: Justin Obi
     Mentor: Dr. Iskander Ibrahim (Biological Sciences)

鈥淚dentification of Small 笔谤辞迟别颈苍蝉鈥
     Student: Temiloluwa Oladipo
     Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hemm   (Biological Sciences)

鈥淓ngineering Silver Nanorods and Cubes to Detect N-Nitrosodiphenylamine鈥
     Student: Efosa Owie
     Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry & Forensic Science)

鈥淕enetic Variation in the DRD3 Gene and Susceptibility to Substance Use"
     Student: Frederick Phillips
     Mentor: Dr. Kathryn McDougal (Biological Sciences)

鈥淭he Impact of Sediment Grain Size on the Efficacy of Runnels in Salt Marsh Restoration"
     Student: Salecia Poles
     Mentor: Dr. Alice Besterman (Biological Sciences)

鈥淪ediment Particle Size's Impact on Viable Wetland Remediation Methods in the Chesapeake Bay"
     Student: Havish Rekula
     Mentor: Dr. Alice Besterman (Biological Sciences)

鈥淧assing the Microbial Baton: Maternal Microbiota Transfer in Northern Map Turtles (Graptemys geographica)鈥
     Student: Attia Robinson
     Mentor: Dr. Steve Kimble (Biological Sciences)

鈥淥rigins of the Northern Map Turtles (Graptemys geographica) Microbiome鈥
     Student: Litzzy Romero
     Mentor: Dr. Steve Kimble (Biological Sciences)

鈥淭he Effects of TirC in Dictyostelium edited by CRISPR-Cas9鈥
     Student: Daniel Sackey
     Mentor: Dr. Michelle Snyder (Biological Sciences)

鈥淓ffect of Natural and Artificial Prey Stimuli of Giant African Mantis (Sphodromantis
viridis) Strike Performance"
     Student: Malia Salas
     Mentor: Dr. Christopher Oufiero (Biological Sciences)

鈥淚n-Vivo Phosphorylation in Hik2 of Synechococcus elongatus"
     Student: Wilki Sanchez Jr
     Mentor: Dr. Iskander Ibrahim (Biological Sciences)

鈥淒ung Beetles: Using their Gut Microbes to Save the Planet, One Plant Fiber at a Time鈥
     Student: Asa Seay
     Mentor: Dr. Anne Estes  (Biological Sciences)

鈥淪iCu Co-sputtering for Metal-insulator Transition Study鈥
     Student: Jeremiah Seib
     Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淭he Impact of Camouflage on Morphological Evolution in Mantises"
     Student: Dafenie Sherman
     Mentor: Dr. Christopher Oufiero (Biological Sciences)

鈥淓stablishing the Evolutionary Relationship Between Inia geoffrensis and I. boliviensis Using Phylogenomics鈥
     Student: Michaela St. John
     Mentor: Dr. Jacqueline Doyle (Biological Sciences)

鈥淚nfluence of Life Stages on Critical Thermal Limits in the Arizona Tan Mantis (Stagmomantis gracilipes)"
     Student: Chelsea Staab
     Mentor: Dr. Christopher Oufiero (Biological Sciences)

鈥淎nalyzing Airways of Allergic Mice Treated with BECC Adjuvanted AIT"
     Student: Isabella Sturla
     Mentor: Dr. Erin Harberts (Biological Sciences)

鈥淓xamining BECC 438 and 470 Effects on Allergen Antibodies"
     Student:Queen Tamakloe
     Mentor: Dr. Erin Harberts (Biological Sciences)

鈥淓ffects of Natural and Article Prey Stimuli on Orchid Mantis (Hymenopus coronatus)
Strike Performance"
     Student: Anayeli Galvan Tello
     Mentor: Dr. Christopher Oufiero (Biological Sciences)

鈥淚nvestigation of the Reduction of SrTIO3 Substrates During Pulsed Laser Deposition of Metal Oxide Thin Films鈥
     Student: Christopher Toomer
     Mentor: Dr. Rajeswari Kolagani (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淎ssess The In Vivo Phosphorylation Status of RpaA Under Different Redox Conditions"
     Student: Asia Trogdon
     Mentor: Dr. Iskander Ibrahim (Biological Sciences)

鈥淓ngineering 2D Ag Nanoparticle Using the Ligand (4-Bromo-phenyl)-diphenyl-amine鈥
     Student: Naomi Uiyoshioria
     Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry & Forensic Science)

鈥淕enome Wide Phylogenetic Analysis of Inia boliviensis
     Student: Ashley Van
     Mentor: Dr. Jacqueline Doyle (Biological Sciences)

鈥淩egulation of Rre1 Phosphorylation Under Different Redox Conditions"
     Student: Ny'Gia Williams
     Mentor: Dr. Iskander Ibrahim (Biological Sciences)


Undergraduate Research Grants in 2024 鈥 2025

鈥淪tructure-Activity Relationships of Methyl Benzoate Analogs as Repellents Against Spotted-wing Drosophila鈥
     Student: Rasha Alzyoud
     Mentor: Dr. Vonnie Shields (Biological Sciences)

鈥淚mage Data Poisoning Attacks on Machine Learning Models鈥
     Student: Manyaka Anjorin
     Mentor: Dr. Akshita Maradapu Vera Venkata Sai (Computer & Information Sciences)

鈥淪ubstituted Amide Semi-Reduction 鈥
     Student: Jennifer Buckshaw
     Mentor: Dr. Keith Reber (Chemistry)

鈥淥ptical Band Gap Variance of STO Induced by Oxygen Reduction鈥
     Student: Zachary J. Dietz
     Mentors: Dr. Rajeswari Kolagani & Dr. Jeffrey Simpson (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淢anipulating TLR4 Surface Expression to Investigate its Influence on UV-Induced Cell鈥
     Student: Shae Downes
     Mentor: Dr. Erin Harberts (Biological Sciences)

鈥淓xtraction of Organic Components from Smokeless Gunpowder鈥
     Student: Malia Foreman
     Mentor: Dr. Ellen Hondrogiannis (Chemistry)

鈥淢agnetic, Optical, and Electronic Transport Properties of the FeCuB Compounds鈥
     Student: Lukas Hamann
     Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淒etermination of Iron and Copper Content in Fe-Cu-B Compositional Spread鈥
     Student: Tyler Hannesson
     Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淭he Impact of Microplastic Exposure on Plant Development 鈥
     Student: Rebecca Harasymczuk
     Mentor: Dr. Iskander Ibrahim (Biological Sciences)

鈥淎nalyzing Students Graph Reasoning, Construction, and Selection鈥
     Student: Chase Frater
     Student: Audrey Gianelle
     Student: Aidan Powell
     Mentor: Dr. 
Kristin Frank (Mathematics)

鈥淓xploring the Effect of TcpC NADase Activity on Planarian Clearance of E.coli
     Student: Amina Daniels
     Mentor: Dr. Michelle Snyder (Biological Sciences)

鈥淎pplying Newly Designed Genetic Markers to Analyze the Population Connectivity of a Disperal-limited Coastal Species鈥
     Student: Abi Millholland
     Mentor: Dr. Wilbur Ryan (Biological Sciences)

鈥淓xtraction and Characterization of Organic Gunshot Residue from Gunpowders.
     Student: Efosa Owie
     Mentor: Dr. Mary Sajini Devadas
 (Chemistry)

鈥淚nvestigating Maternal Transfer of Microbiota Through Eggshells in Northern Map Turtles (Graptemys geographica)鈥
     Student: Attia Robinson
     Mentor: Dr. Steven Kimble
 (Biological Sciences)

鈥淓ffects of TirC in Dictyostelium edited by CRISPR-Cas9鈥
     Student: Daniel Sackey
     Mentor: Dr. Michelle Snyder (Biological Sciences)

鈥淧olarization Reflectometry for Determination of Optical Anisotropy of TiN/AIN Metamaterial 厂耻辫别谤肠辞苍诲耻肠迟辞谤蝉鈥
     Student: Thomas Snarski
     Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淎ssessing Oviposition Deterrence of Spotted-wing Drosophila by Voltile Organic Compounds鈥
     Student: Juan Marquez Vargas
     Mentor: Dr. Vonnie Shields (Biological Sciences)

鈥淓xploring gp94's Role in Lytic Growth of Phage Alexphander鈥
     Student: James-Antoni Wilson
     Mentor: Dr. Stephen Hancock (Chemistry)

鈥淐apacitance of Electroactive Gold Cluster鈥
     Student: Jakob Winterle
     Mentor: Dr. Mary Sajini Devadas (Chemistry)


Undergraduate Research Grants in 2023 鈥 2024    

Rosselia and Depositional Processes in the Juniata Formation鈥
     Student: Bilel Abderrahim
     Mentor: Dr. Andrew Hawkins (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淭unable Dye Laser for Optical Scattering Spectroscopies鈥
     Student: Foysal Ahmed
     Mentor: Dr. Jeffrey Simpson (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淯tilizing Planaria as a Model Organism to Investigate the Bacterial Virulence Factor TCPC鈥
     Student: Victoria Akingbehin
     Mentor: Dr. Michelle Snyder (Biological Sciences)

鈥淏ehavioral Effects of Natural Compounds Using an Insect Model鈥
     Student: Rasha Alzyoud
     Mentor: Dr. Vonnie Shields (Biological Sciences)

鈥淚dentifying the Role of Apoptosis in Sea Anemone Fission鈥
     Student: Sydney Bayne
     Student: Trinity Mays
     Mentor: Dr. Wilbur Ryan (Biological Sciences)

鈥淯ncovering the Hidden Heroes of Dung Beetle Dynasty: A Metagenomic Study of Rood Ball Microbiomes鈥
     Student: Preeti Biraji
     Mentor: Dr. Anne Estes (Biological Sciences)

鈥淧opulation Genetics of Northern Map Turtles鈥
     Student: Aislinn Bloom
     Mentor: Dr. Steve Kimble (Biological Sciences)

鈥淒oes a Potential Termite Recognition Molecule Vary in Fungal Pathogen蝉?鈥
     Student: Makaelan Bond
     Mentor: Dr. Mark Bulmer (Biological Sciences)

鈥淪kewing of UV-induced Cell Death Pathways Using TLR4 Ligands鈥
     Student: Sumra Chaudhry
     Mentor: Dr. Erin Harberts (Biological Sciences)

鈥淔luorescence Imaging of Single-Particle Dynamics at the Oil-Water Lateral Interfaces鈥
     Student: Mac Crimmins
     Student: Mary McDonald
     Mentor: Dr. 
Khanh-Hoa Tran-Ba (Chemistry)

鈥淚dentifying Counterfeit Semaglutide鈥
     Student: Amina Daniels
     Mentor: Dr. 
Kelly Elkins (Chemistry)

鈥淎nalyzing the Impact of HLA-C on the KSHV Viral Lifecycle鈥
     Student: Miriam Diallo
     Mentor: Dr. Elana Ehrlich (Biological Sciences)

鈥淲ater Soluble Magic Numbered Gold Nanoclusters for Cancer Therapy
     Student: Zara Freeland
     Mentor: Dr. Mary Sajini Devadas
 (Chemistry)

鈥淚dentification of Bacteriophage Alexphander's Immunity Repressor鈥
     Student: Margaret Galo
     Mentor: Dr. Stephen Hancock
 (Chemistry)

鈥淣on-Destructive DNA Quantification on Au25 and Plasmonic Gold Nanoclusters鈥
     Student: Steven Gerguis
     Mentor: Dr. 
Mary Sajini Devadas (Chemistry)

鈥淒eveloping a Bispecifc T-cell Engager to Eliminate Anti-FVIII B-cells鈥
     Student: Eber Guzman-Cruz
     Mentor: Dr. John Weldon (Biological Sciences)

鈥淭he Search for Metal-insulator Transition in Fe-B Compounds鈥
     Student: Lukas Hamann
     Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淚nvestigating Nonspectral Color Discrimination in Sugar Gliders鈥
     Student: Morgan Hawkins
     Mentor: Dr. Harald Beck (Biological Sciences)

鈥渜PCR Assay Exploring Planarian Ability to Clear Escherichia Coli in the Presence of Protein TcpC鈥
     Student: Lenora Ingram
     Mentor: Dr. Michelle Snyder (Biological Sciences)

鈥淚nvestigating Small Proteins in a 螖lonclpP Mutant in E.coli
     Student: Nicole Kahler
     Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hemm (Biological Sciences)

鈥淭he Investigation of Fga during the Course of Murine Endotoxemia.鈥
     Student: Annie Keele
     Student: Rachel Kramer
     Student: John Scoffone
     Mentor: Dr. Erin Harberts (Biological Sciences)

鈥淎nalyzing the Gut Microbiome of Captive Polar Bears鈥
     Student: Dajaha Kenney
     Mentor: Dr. Peko Tsuji (Biological Sciences)

鈥淒etection of Salmonella in Lettuce Using Mouse Toll-Like Receptor 4鈥
     Student: Areej Khan
     Student: Jisela Ramos
     Mentor: Dr. Erin Harberts (Biological Sciences)

鈥淯nderstanding Metal Ion Influence on MeR/DinB-like DNA Binding Protein of Mycobacterium Alexphander鈥
     Student: Lea Kosanovic
     Mentor: Dr. Stephen Hancock
 (Chemistry)

鈥淭he Effects of Salt Concentration on the Expression of TcpC, a Virulence Factor Found in Uropathogenic Escherichia coli
     Student: Tatah Lamin
     Mentor: Dr. Michelle Snyder (Biological Sciences)

鈥淒igital Twins Research鈥
     Student: Samuel LaPree
     Mentor: Dr. 
Akshita Maradapu Vera Venkata Sai (Computer & Information Sciences)

鈥淥ne Microbe's Waste is Another Microbes's Meal: How do Bacteria Interact to Degrade Cellulose in the Bull-headed Dung Beetle?鈥
     Student: Chloe Mateleska
     Mentor: Dr. Anne Estes (Biological Sciences)

鈥淚nvestigating Protein Localization in the Liver of Endotoxemic WT and TLR4-/- Mice鈥
     Student: Glory Omodia
     Mentor: Dr. Erin Harberts (Biological Sciences)

鈥淪tructural Characterization of the TIR Domain of TirB, a D. discoideum TIR Domain Containing Protein鈥
     Student: Ayotunde Omomo
     Mentor: Dr. Michelle Snyder (Biological Sciences)

鈥淭he Quantification of Organic Smokeless Powder Analytes using Gas Chromatography with a Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer鈥
     Student: Mackenzie Overholser
     Mentor: Dr. 
Ellen Hondrogiannis (Chemistry)

鈥淓ffects of Fluorination on CMn03 Thin Films鈥
     Student: Madison Previti
     Mentor: Dr. Rajeswari Kolagani (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淭oll-Like Receptor Four and Sepsis-Induced Cardiomyopathy in Murine Endotoxemia Models鈥
     Student: Cristal Salgado
     Mentor: Dr. Erin Harberts (Biological Sciences)

鈥淭otal Synthesis of Acremostrictin鈥
     Student: Olivia Sipes
     Mentor: Dr. 
Keith Reber (Chemistry)

鈥淎u25 Nanocluster Modification with Anthracene-Based Ligands鈥
     Student: Desmond Smith
     Mentor: Dr. 
Mary Sajini Devadas (Chemistry)

鈥淯sing Negative Photoresist in Fabrication of Silicon/Titanium Interface for Study of Interfacial Electromagnetic Waves鈥
     Student: Thomas Snarski
     Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淎nalysis of Variation of DNA Methylation Between Smokers, E-cigarette Users, Occasional Users and Non-users Employing PCR High Resolution Melt鈥
     Student: Madison Strasser
     Mentor: Dr. 
Kelly Elkins (Chemistry)

鈥淐omparison of Fluorination Effects on La0.67Ca0.33MnO3 and CaMnO3
     Student: Luke Thress
     Mentor: Dr. Rajeswari Kolagani (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淢easuring Germinal Center Activation to Evaluate Efficacy of Allergy Immunotherapy鈥
     Student: Nathan Usi
     Mentor: Dr. Erin Harberts (Biological Sciences)

鈥淎mide Semi-Reduction鈥
     Student: Grace Vaillancourt
     Mentor: Dr. 
Keith Reber (Chemistry)

鈥渟ORFs as Genes Encoding Small Proteins in Lonclp Mutants鈥
     Student: Samantha Walunas
     Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hemm (Biological Sciences)

鈥淕old Nanoclusters Synthesized with an Electroactive Ligand鈥
     Student: Jakob Winterle
     Mentor: Dr. Mary Sajini Devadas
 (Chemistry)

鈥淢etabolic Characterization of Anaerobes in the Onthophagus taurus&苍产蝉辫;惭颈肠谤辞产颈辞尘别鈥
     Student: Aron Winton
     Mentor: Dr. Anne Estes (Biological Sciences)

鈥淚ngestion Rate Variation Among Distinct Species of Habitat Mimicking Ecomorph Praying Mantises and Relations to Nandible Morphology鈥
     Student: Marlena Wood
     Mentor: Dr. Chris Oufiero (Biological Sciences)


Undergraduate Research Grants in 2022 鈥 2023    

The Effects of TcpCon Model Systems Dictyostelium discoideum
     Student: Victoria Akingbehin
     Mentor: Dr. Michelle Snyder (Biological Sciences)

鈥淚nvestigating the Relationship Between NADase and Ubiquitin Ligase Activity in TcpC鈥
     Student: Zachary Alexander
     Mentor: Dr. Michelle Snyder (Biological Sciences)s

鈥淚nvestigating Seasonal and Yearly Variations in the Intestinal Microbiome of African Elephants (Loxondonta africana)鈥
     Student: Alexandra Amos
     Mentor: Dr. Petra Tsuji (Biological Sciences)

鈥淚nvestigating Pgam2 at Transcription Level Of Septic Mice鈥
     Student: Hiba Awan
     Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hemm (Biological Sciences)

鈥淐haracterization of RpfB Riboswitch鈥
     Student: Swadha Bhatt
     Mentor: Dr. Ana Maria Soto (Chemistry)

鈥淪ingle Particle Tracing Investigations of the Evolving Network Structure during Cross-linking Poly(thylene glycol)-based Hydrogels鈥
     Student: Rukhma Butt
     Mentor: Dr. Khanh-Hoa Tran-Ba (Chemistry)

鈥淯sing a qPCR Array to Determine Pathway Regulation Activated During Septic Shock鈥
     Student: Phoebe Calkins
     Mentor: Dr. Erin Harberts (Biological Sciences)

鈥淓lectronic Transport Properties of the Superconducting TiN-based Multilayers鈥
     Student: Adrian Campbell
     Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淪earch for ENZ Behavior in Fe-B Compounds鈥
     Student: Nathaniel Christopher
     Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淓ffects of TcpC's NADase Activity on Inhibition of Innate Immune Signaling鈥
     Student: Britney Erickson
     Mentor: Dr. Michelle Snyder (Biological Sciences)

鈥淩eactivity of Parabens Towards Free Chlorine鈥
     Student: Kelsey Evans
     Mentor: Dr. John Sivey (Chemistry)

鈥淲ater Soluble Magic Numbered Gold Nanoclusters for Biological Applications鈥
     Student: Zara Freeland
     Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)

鈥淢odel System of Innate Immunity in Planaria Organisms鈥
     Student: Sarah Hamilton
     Mentors: Dr. Jack Shepard and Dr. Michelle Snyder (Biological Sciences)

鈥淧opulation Genetics of Northern Map Turtles (Graptemys geographica) in the lower Susquehanna River鈥
     Student: Kaija Harlow
     Mentor: Dr. Steve Kimble (Biological Sciences)

鈥淓valuation of Dematin Expression in Endotexemic WT and TLR4 KO Mice鈥
     Student: Junela Hunat
     Mentor: Dr. Erin Harberts (Biological Sciences)

鈥淭Heat shock and 魛lonclp genetics altering effects on Escherichia coli
     Student: Chauncey Liffiton
     Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hemm (Biological Sciences)

鈥淓lectrochemistry Study of Gold-Nanoclusters: Effects on Methylene Blue Dye鈥
     Student: Everette McDuffie
     Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)

鈥淒etection and Validation of Short Open Reading Frames in Escherichia coli
     Student: Grace Morris
     Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hemm (Biological Sciences)

鈥淪imple Preparation of Primary Amines via Copper Catalysis鈥
     Student: William Schmidt
     Mentor: Dr. Gus Bakhoda (Chemistry)

鈥淕ill Morphology of White Perch (Morone americana) Exposed to Hypoxia at Three Different Salinities鈥
     Student: Riley Scott
     Mentor: Dr. Jay Nelson ((Biological Sciences)

鈥淪ERS Analysis of Organic Compounds in Gunshot Residue Using a Portable Raman Spectrometer鈥
     Student: Taylor Shafrovich
     Mentors: Dr. Mary Devadas and Dr. Ellen Hondrogiannis (Chemistry)

鈥淓xamination of Small Protein Accumulation During Conditions with Decreased Degradation Rate
     Student: Sampada Shrestha
     Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hemm (Biological Sciences)

鈥淭otal Synthesis of Cladosporitide A鈥
     Student: Olivia Sipes
     Mentor: Dr. Keith Reber (Chemistry)

鈥淪ynthesis and Characterization of Biicosahedral Au24Co Nanoclusters鈥
     Student: Desmond Smith
     Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)

鈥淒etection of Proprogation of Electromagnetic Surface Waves Along the Silicon-titanium Boundary鈥
     Student: Daryna Soloviova
     Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淒evelopment of a Test for a Oathogen from the Middle East 鈥
     Student: Larissa Speaks
     Mentor: Dr. Kelly Elkins (Chemistry)

鈥淧redation in the Orchid Mantis (Hymenopus coronatus): Effects of Prey Size on Prey Capture and Diet Determination through eDNA 鈥
     Student: Mary Sullivan
     Mentor: Dr. Christopher Oufiero (Biological Sciences)

鈥淏imetallic Superatom Bi-icosahedron Au25 Clusters: An Optical and Electrochemical Study鈥
     Student: Samantha Topka
     Mentor: Dr. Mary Sajini Devdas (Chemistry)

鈥淪ynthesis of Fungal Metabolite, Prunomarin A鈥
     Student: Matthew Vollmuth
     Mentor: Dr. Keith Reber (Chemistry)

鈥淪ynthesis of Mixed Bi-Icosohedron Nanoclusters with Increased Fluorescence鈥
     Student: Samantha Topka
     Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)

鈥淐omparison of the Effects of Amino Acid Mutations on NADase Activity of Uropathogenic Escherichia coli and Acinetobacter baumannii TIR 笔谤辞迟别颈苍蝉鈥
     Student: Tamara Vallejo-Schmidt
     Mentor: Dr. Michelle Snyder (Biological Sciences)

鈥淚nvestigating the sORFs yjjY, bdm_osmC_2, thrW_ykfI_1, and ynef_yneG_0 as Potential Genes Encoding Small Proteins
     Student: Samantha Walunas
     Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hemm (Biological Sciences)

鈥淯sing Galvanic Exchange to make Gold based Ferrofluids for Biological Applications
     Student: Maria Webster
     Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)

鈥淭he Influence of Mandible Size on Prey Handling Time 鈥
     Student: Marlena Wood
     Student: Elizabeth McMillan
     Mentor: Dr. Christopher Oufiero (Biological Sciences)


Undergraduate Research Grants in 2021 鈥 2022    

鈥淐omparing Methods of Measuring Sodium Ion Concentrations in Solution鈥
     Student: Adelabu Afe
     Mentor: Dr. Ana Maria Soto (Chemistry)

鈥淪ingle Particle Tracking in Poly(ethylene glycol): How the Water Content Defines the Transport in Hydrogels鈥
     Student: Ahmed Ahmed
     Mentor: Dr. Khanh-Hoa Tran-Ba (Chemistry)

鈥淧olorization Reflectometry for Multilayered Metamaterials鈥
     Student: Javier Arteaga
     Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淗igher Resolution Imaging and Analysis of Nonlinear Effects of Transmission of Infrared Light Through Ferrofluids as a Gravity Analog鈥
     Student: Nathaniel Chritopher
     Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淜inetics of Halosalicylate Chlorination at Low pH鈥
     Student: Jacob Damrow
     Mentor: Dr. John Sivey (Chemistry)

鈥淨uantifying Active Halogen Residuls Using TMB鈥
     Student: Vicent DiPietri
     Mentor: Dr. John Sivey (Chemistry)

鈥淐omplement Immune Response Activation in TLR4 Knockout Cells鈥
     Student: Mehnaz Falguni
     Student: Phoebe Calkins
     Student: Anique Aaron

     Mentor: Dr. Erin Harberts (Biological Sciences)

鈥淚nvestigating Competition Between Fungi and Termites鈥
     Student: Joseph Fowler
     Mentor: Dr. Mark Bulmer (Biological Sciences)

鈥淲ater Soluble Bimetallic Gold Nanoclusters鈥
     Student: Zara Freeland
     Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)

鈥淪ynthesis and Characterization of Fe(acac)3 and Co(acac)2 Ferrofluids for Sensing Applications鈥
     Student: Zolani Grady
     Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)

鈥淭ermite Social Defenses Against Pathogens鈥
     Student: Samantha Greenbaum
     Mentor: Dr. Mark Bulmer (Biological Sciences)

鈥淚nvestigation of DMTN Gene Expression Using a Cell Culture Model of Endotoxemia鈥
     Student: Junela Hunat
     Mentor: Dr. Erin Harberts (Biological Sciences)

鈥淓ffect of Specific Amino Acid Mutations on AbT1R NADase Activity鈥
     Student: Abra Koudjra
     Mentor: Dr. Michelle Snyder (Biological Sciences)

鈥淏ase Substitution and Structure/Dynamics of Fis-DNA Complex鈥
     Student: Hannah Littlle
     Mentor: Dr. Stephen Hancock (Chemistry)

鈥淔actors Affecting the Transition and Stabilization of B to A DNA鈥
     Student: Tsion Mekonnen
     Mentor: Dr. Ana Maria Soto (Chemistry)

鈥淓lectromagnetic Surface Waves at Gold-Silver Interface鈥
     Student: Cody Miller
     Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淪ynthesis of Halichonic Acid A and Halichonic Acid B鈥
     Student: Emma Niner
     Mentor: Dr. Keith Reber (Chemistry)

鈥淭he Molecular Response of Alternative Pathways Activated During Septic Shock鈥
     Student: Kathryn Nunez
     Mentor: Dr. Erin Harberts (Biological Sciences)

鈥淭he Role of Exposure Route on the Toxicity of PFOS to the House Cricket鈥
     Student: Alex Pellegrini
     Mentor: Dr. Christopher Salice (Environmental Science & Studies Program)

鈥淒esigning and Building Semi-Natural Amazonian and North American Freshwater Ecosystem Exhibits鈥
     Student: Brianna Porter
     Mentor: Dr. Christopher Oufiero (Biological Sciences)

鈥淨uantification of Air Pollutants Found in Tree Leaf Samples鈥
     Student: Solangel Senzano
     Mentor: Dr. Kathryn E. Kautzman (Chemistry)

鈥淪ERS Detection of Gunshot Residue Using a Portable Raman Spectrometer鈥
     Student: Taylor Shafirovich
     Mentor: Dr. Ellen Hondrogiannis and Dr. Mary Sajini Devdas (Chemistry)

鈥淧hotolithography for Gold-Silver Interface鈥
     Student: Daryna Soloviova
     Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淪ynthesis of Mixed Bi-Icosohedron Nanoclusters with Increased Fluorescence鈥
     Student: Samantha Topka
     Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)

鈥淢echanically Optimizing Light Scattering Optomechanics
     Student: Cedric Wang
     Mentor: Dr. Jeffrey Simpson (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淯tilizing Galvanic Exchange to Synthesize Gold Based Ferrofluids
     Student: Maria Webster
     Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)

鈥淕eneration of Structurally Diverse Lipid A鈥
     Student: Zachary Williford
     Student: Michael Lukianenko
     Student: Michel Kane-Jackson
     Mentor: Dr. Erin Harberts (Biological Sciences)


Undergraduate Research Grants in 2020 鈥 2021    

鈥淢ethod Development for the Quantification of Atmospheric Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons鈥
     Student: Jessica Bodner
     Mentor: Dr. Kathryn Kautzman (Chemistry)

鈥淗PLC Quantitation of Furanocoumarins in Dietary Supplements鈥
     Student: Miriam Bregman
     Mentor: Dr. Ellen Hondrogiannis (Chemistry)

鈥淚mpact of Furin on the Cytotoxicity of Anti-CD22 Recombinant Immunotoxins Derived from Pseudomonas exotoxin A
     Student: Kavitha Brunner
     Mentor: Dr. John Weldon (Biological Sciences)

鈥淓ffect of Photomagnetic Dyes on the Magnetization of FeCo Ferrofluid Nanoparticles鈥
     Student: James Bryant
     Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)

鈥淧resence of Autophagic Proteins in Human Cytomegalovirus Particles鈥
     Student: Jessica Caple
     Mentor: Dr. Barry Margulies (Biological Sciences)

鈥淪ingle-particle Tracking of Microsphere Diffusion in Poly(ethyleneglycol) Hydrogels鈥
     Student: Elizabeth Casillas
     Mentor: Dr. Khanh-Hoa Tran-Ba (Chemistry)

鈥淕old Cluster Doped Semiconductors for Art Conservation鈥
     Student: Allejandra Chavez
     Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)

鈥淗alogenation of Product Characterization of Agricultural Dichloroacetamide Safeners鈥
     Student: Bryce Collingwood
     Mentor: Dr. John Sivey (Chemistry)

鈥淧erformance Evaluation of Corrosion Inhibitors for Oxidative Systems鈥
     Student: Max Denn
     Mentor: Dr. John Sivey (Chemistry)

鈥淏romination of Halosalicylates: Kinetics and Product Characterization鈥
     Student: Olivia Driessen
     Mentor: Dr. John Sivey (Chemistry)

鈥淚maging Single-particle Dynamics in Poly(ethylene Glycol): Does Size Matter?鈥
     Student: Kathryn Foreman
     Mentor: Dr. Khanh-Hoa Tran-Ba (Chemistry)

鈥淚mmunological Profile of CD-1 Mice in an Adjuvanted Vaccine Model
     Student: Phuc Gin
     Student: Kerri Keenan

     Mentor: Dr. Erin Harberts (Biological Sciences)

Novel Application of qPCR Melt Analysis Following BRED
     Student: Feben Habtehyimer
     Mentor: Dr. Stephen Hancock (Chemistry)

鈥淢agnetic Properties and Losses of Iron/Cobalt-based Ferrofluid鈥
     Student: Kent Hess
     Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淢ethod Validation of Portable Raman Spectrometer for Gunshot Residue鈥
     Student: Shawn Hess
     Mentor: Dr. Ellen Hondrogiannis (Chemistry)

鈥淢agnetic Metal-doped Monolayer Protected Gold Nanoclusters鈥
     Student: Nicole Hondrogiannis
     Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)

鈥淧erformance Evaluation of Corrosion Inhibitors for Oxidative Systems鈥
     Student: Hanna Hudson
     Mentor: Dr. John Sivey (Chemistry)

鈥淚mmunological Profile of CD-1 Mice Vaccinated with Ova-BECC438
     Student: Kerri Keenan
     Mentor: Dr. Erin Harberts (Biological Sciences)

鈥淏acteriophage Treatment as a Potential Method to Clear Cell Culture Infection
     Student: Oliva Konen
     Mentor: Dr. John Weldon (Biological Sciences)

鈥淪ynthesis of Air-stable Gold-coated Iron Cobalt Nanoparticle-based Ferrofluid for Chemotherapy鈥
     Student: Lynn Krushinski
     Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)

鈥淯tilizing Gold Clusters in the Detection of Dopamine and Serotonin鈥
     Student: Genaro Lavarias III
     Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)

鈥淧rocess Optimization for Tuning the Oxygen Stoichiometry鈥
     Student: Caleb Maddux
     Student:  Jennifer Scheiderer
     Mentor: Dr. Rajeswari Kolagani (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淓ffect of Sequence on the Binding of YdaO 搁颈产辞蝉飞颈迟肠丑别蝉鈥
     Student: Maya Mastronardo
     Mentor: Dr. Ana Maria Soto (Chemistry)

鈥淔actors Affecting the Transition from B-DNA to A-DNA鈥
     Student: Tsion Mekonnen
     Mentor: Dr. Ana Maria Soto (Chemistry)

鈥淩ole of Electron Mediators in Microbial Fuel Cell Output
     Student: Caden O'Connell
     Mentor: Dr. Anne Estes (Biological Sciences)

鈥淭otal Synthesis of Strychnuxianal鈥
     Student: Neechi Okwor
     Mentor: Dr. Keith Reber (Chemistry)

鈥淨uantitative Analysis of Nonlinear Effects of Transmission of Infrared Light Through Ferrofluid, as Gravity Analog鈥
     Student: Jonathan Perry
     Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淪ynthesis of Iron-Alloy Nanoparticle Based Ferrofluids for Mechanical and Biomedical Utilization鈥
     Student: Alexandra Reifer
     Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)

鈥淓ffect of Sequence on the Conformation of YdaO 搁颈产辞蝉飞颈迟肠丑别蝉鈥
     Student: Amber Rogers
     Mentor: Dr. Ana Maria Soto (Chemistry)

鈥淪afety and Efficacy of Antiherpetic Microneedles鈥
     Student: Lauren Sadowski
     Mentor: Dr. Barry Margulies (Biological Sciences)

鈥淒evelopment of an Anti-LMP2 Disulfide Stabilized Recombinant Immunotoxin Based on Pseudomonas exotoxin A
     Student: Ruby Sprehe
     Mentor: Dr. John Weldon (Biological Sciences)

鈥淓lectrochemistry of 6-(Ferrocenyl)Hexanethiol-coated Gold Nanoclusters鈥
     Student: Nathaniel Stevens
     Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)

鈥淒iscrimination of Organic and Non-organic Green Coffee Using UPLC-MS鈥
     Student: Brianna Stang
     Mentor: Dr. Shannon Stitzel (Chemistry)

鈥淚nvestigating the Survival of Herpes simplex Viruses on Toothbrushes鈥
     Student: Chad Suissa
     Mentor: Dr. Barry Margulies (Biological Sciences)

鈥淪ynthesis of Mixed Bi-Icosohedron Nanoclusters with Increased Fluorescence
     Student: Samantha Topka
     Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)

鈥淚nvestigating the Survival of Herpes simplex Viruses on Plastic Straws鈥
     Student: Rista Upadhyay
     Mentor: Dr. Barry Margulies (Biological Sciences)

鈥淒etermining Effects of Deicing Salt on Baltimore Country Department of Public Works Surface-Water Reservoirs鈥
     Student: Kathleen Usary
     Mentor: Dr. Joel Moore (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)


Undergraduate Research Grants in 2019 鈥 2020

鈥淕enetic Analysis of Gopher Tortoises from Barefoot Beach, Florida鈥
     Student: Kalekidan Abera
     Mentor: Dr. Colleen Winters (Biological Sciences)

鈥淪ingle-Molecule Studies of Ionic Interactions of Lithium Ions in Poly(Ethylene Oxide)鈥
     Student: Kanika Ajmani
     Student: Rose Willis

     Mentor: Dr. Khanh-Hoa Tran-Ba (Chemistry)

鈥淓lectrochemical Investigations of Linkage Isomerism in Ruthenium Sulfoxide Complexes鈥
     Student: Connor Barrett
     Mentor: Dr. Timothy Brunker (Chemistry)

鈥淥ptimized Protocol for Automated Sexual Assault Sample Cleanup鈥
     Student: Alison Bender
     Mentor: Dr. Kelly Elkins (Chemistry)

鈥淪orghum and Carcinogen Metabolizing Enzymes in Colon Cancer Cells
     Student: Heather Buck
     Mentor: Dr. Petra Tsuji (Biological Sciences)

鈥淎ntibiotic Resistance in Bacterial Isolates from the Gut Microbiome of the Dung Beetle Onthophagus taurus
     Student: Kylie Brandt
     Mentor: Dr. Anne Estes (Biological Sciences)

鈥淜inetically Controlled Synthesis of Quantum Sized Gold and Gold-Iron Nanoclusters for Biological Applications鈥
     Student: Pierce Brown
     Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)

鈥淢utations to Improve the Cytotoxicity of Recombinant Immunotoxins
     Student: Keeley Butters
     Mentor: Dr. John Weldon (Biological Sciences)

鈥淚nvestigating Human Cytomegalovirus G Protein Coupled Receptor Encoded by US27鈥檚 Role in Autophagy
     Student: Jessica Caple
     Mentor: Dr. Barry Margulies (Biological Sciences)

鈥淪tructural Characterization of the Methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus Tir5 Domain-containing Protein
     Student: Destiny Carpenter
     Mentor: Dr. Michelle Snyder (Biological Sciences)

鈥淗alogenation of Dichloroacetamide Safeners-kinetics鈥
     Student: Bryce Collingwood
     Mentor: Dr. John Sivey (Chemistry)

鈥淟et鈥檚 Help the Snails Build a Phylogenetic Tree鈥
     Student: Taylor Crider
     Mentor: Dr. Colleen Winters (Biological Sciences)

鈥淧erformance Evaluation of Corrosion Inhibitors for Oxidative Systems鈥
     Student: Max Denn
     Mentor: Dr. John Sivey (Chemistry)

鈥淏romination of Halosalicylates: Kinetics and Product Characterization鈥
     Student: Olivia Driessen
     Mentor: Dr. John Sivey (Chemistry)

鈥淨uantifying Insect Diversity within Deer Exclosures鈥
     Student: Mia Dubin
     Mentor: Dr. Harald Beck (Biological Sciences)

鈥淪tructural Characterization of the TIR Domain of TIR B, a D. discoideum TLR Domain Containing Protein鈥
     Student: Sarah Elsayed
     Mentor: Dr. Michelle Snyder (Biological Sciences)

鈥淟ow Concentration Co-Analysis of Antiherpetic Through Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry
     Student: Nicholas Giannasca
     Mentor: Dr. Barry Margulies (Biological Sciences)

鈥淓ffects of Petroleum Production Water on Metabolic Rate and Thyroxine Regulation in Wood Frogs Lithobates sylvaticus
     Student: Matthew Godbey
     Mentor: Dr. Christopher Salice (Biological Sciences)

鈥淪ynthesis of Aristoquinoline鈥
     Student: Priyansh Gujarati
     Mentor: Dr. Keith Reber (Chemistry)

鈥淭uning Wavelength to Improve Nanoparticle Detection Via DLS
     Student: Daniel Guzman
     Mentor: Dr. Jeffrey Simpson (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淒etermination of Optical Constants of Superconducting Metamaterials with Polarization Reflectometry
     Student: Kent Hess
     Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淯sing Longitudinal Synoptic Sampling Methods to Understand Total Solute Inputs in Maryland Streams
     Student: Kathleen Hohweiler
     Mentor: Dr. Joel Moore (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淓lectrochemical and Optical Properties of Ligand-Exchanged Gold Nanoclusters鈥
     Student: Nicole Hondrogiannis
     Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)

鈥淒etermination of the 鈥漁rigin of Honey Samples via Trace Mineral Analysis and ICP-MS鈥
     Student: Priscilla Hounkponou
     Mentor: Dr. Sarah Stokes (Chemistry)

鈥淓ffects of TirB on Dictyostelium discoideum Cells
     Student: John Jones
     Mentor: Dr. Michelle Snyder (Biological Sciences)

鈥淪elenium-mediated Epigenetic Regulation of Selenoprotein Expression in Colon Cancer
     Student: Zeguela Kamgate
     Mentor: Dr. Petra Tsuji (Biological Sciences)

鈥淕raphene Oxide Based Metal Hybrid Systems: Sensing Capabilities鈥
     Student: Hadi Kelani
     Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)

鈥淚ron/Cobalt-based Ferrofluid as Hyperbolic Metamaterial
     Student: Will Korzi
     Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淕eneration of a Model Cell Line Expressing CD22 for the Study of Recombinant Immunotoxins in Tissue Culture鈥
     Student: Samantha Kouneski
     Mentor: Dr. John Weldon (Chemistry)

鈥淪ynthesis of Air Stable Gold Coated Iron and Cobalt Nanoparticle Based Ferrofluids鈥
     Student: Lynn Krushinski
     Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)

鈥淓lectrochemical Analysis of Organic and Water-soluble Gold Nanoparticles鈥
     Student: Genaro Lavarias
     Student: Nathanial Stevens
     Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)

鈥淪tereotypic Behavior in Mammals at the Maryland Zoo鈥
     Student: Zenobia McCants
     Student: Molly Minnick
     Student: Rachel Prosser

     Mentor: Dr. Harald Beck (Biological Sciences)

鈥淐omparative Genomics of Seven Bacillus Isolates from Dung Beetle Larvae
     Student: Alison Moss
     Mentor: Dr. Anne Estes (Biological Sciences)

鈥淪tudy of Nonlinear Effects of Transmission of Infrared Light
     Student: Jonathan Perry
     Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淨uantitation of Mitragynine and 7-Hydroxymitragynine in Kratom鈥
     Student: Kira Piccone
     Mentor: Dr. Ellen Hondrogiannis (Chemistry)

鈥淐haracterization of an Endonuclease VII in the Genome of Mycobacteriophage Ph8s鈥
     Student: Kate Riccardino
     Mentor: Dr. Stephen Hancock (Chemistry)

鈥淪uper Atom Clusters of AU: Synthesis and Optical Characterization鈥
     Student: Nicholas Ruszala
     Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)

鈥淔ormation of Trihalomethanes via Halogenation of Natural Organic Matter Precursors鈥
     Student: Marella Schammel
     Mentor: Dr. John Sivey (Chemistry)

鈥淵faT Characterization in Escherichia. coli
     Student: Katrina Schmidt
     Mentor: Dr. Michelle Snyder (Biological Sciences)

鈥淓ffect of High-polyphenol Sorghum Extracts on Catalytic Activity of Selenoproteins in Colon Cancer
     Student: Ashish Singh
     Mentor: Dr. Petra Tsuji (Biological Sciences)

鈥淐haracterization of the Small Protein CydX Through Short Open Reading Frame Substitution in E. coli
     Student: Bradley Stansbury
     Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hemm (Biological Sciences)

鈥淭ermite Antifungal Protein Activity as a Mechanism Against Their Entomopathogens鈥
     Student: Alanna Stefano
     Mentor: Dr. Mark Bulmer (Biological Sciences)

鈥淒iscrimination of Organic and Non-Organic Green Coffee Using UPLC-MS鈥
     Student: Brianna Stang
     Mentor: Dr. Shannon Stitzel (Chemistry)

鈥淪ingle-Molecule Studies of Ionic Interactions of Lithium Ions in Poly(Ethylene Oxide)鈥
     Student: Michaela Sumilang
     Mentor: Dr. Khanh-Hoa Tran-Ba (Chemistry)

鈥淐haracterization of MerR-like Gene Product from Alexphander鈥
     Student: Melissa Temkov
     Mentor: Dr. Stephen Hancock (Chemistry)


Undergraduate Research Grants in 2018 鈥 2019

鈥淏romination Kinetics and Reactivity of Salicylic Acids鈥
Student: Garrett Alexander II
Mentor: Dr. John Sivey (Chemistry)

鈥淪tructural Characterization of Methicillin-Sensitive Staphylo-coccus aureus TIR Protein鈥
Student: Ahmed Al Khafaji
Mentor: Dr. Michelle Snyder (Biological Sciences)

鈥淓ffect of Ions on the Conformation and Stability of an RNA Riboswitch鈥
Student: Bryan Bahoua
Mentor: Dr. Ana Maria Soto (Chemistry)

鈥淪ERS Detection of Nerve Agent Simulants鈥
Student: Dustin Baird
Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)

鈥淚nvestigating Human Cytomegalovirus G Protein Coupled Receptor Encoded by US27 Role in Autophagy鈥
Student: Soumia Bekka
Mentor: Dr. Barry Margulies (Biological Sciences)

鈥淒evelopment of a Mitochondrial DNA Assay for SNP Screening Using PCR High-Resolution Melt Curves鈥
Student: Allison Bender
Mentor: Dr. Kelly Elkins (Chemistry)

鈥淗PLC Quantitation of Furanocoumarins in Dietary Supplements鈥
Student: Miriam Bergman
Mentor: Dr. Ellen Hondrogiannis (Chemistry)

鈥淪ingle-Molecule Tracking Studies of Lithium Ion Diffusion in Poly(Ethylene Oxide)鈥
Student: Benjamin Bilik
Mentor: Dr. Khanh-Hoa Tran-Ba (Chemistry)

鈥淐haracterization of the Small Protein CydX Through Short Open Reading Frame Substitution in E. coli
Student: John Biondi
Student: Bradley Stansbury
Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hemm (Biological Sciences)

鈥淜inetically Controlled Synthesis of Quantum-Sized Gold Nano-clusters for Biological Applications鈥
Student: Pierce Brown
Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)

鈥淒ietary Polyphenols and Sulforaphane: Impact on Cell Proliferation, Apoptosis, and Metastasis in Colon Cancer鈥
Student: Christopher Burkhardt
Mentor: Dr. Petra Tsuji (Biological Sciences)

鈥淒ietary Micronutrients: Impact on Hallmarks of Colon Cancer鈥
Student: Michelle Darkwa
Mentor: Dr. Petra Tsuji (Biological Sciences)

鈥淚n Vivo Release Study of Matrix-Based Antiherpetic Intravaginal Ring鈥
Student: Amanda Evans
Student: Jennifer Suon
Mentor: Dr. Barry Margulies (Biological Sciences)

鈥淎 Dietary Study of a Maryland Population of Northern Map Turtles Upriver of the Conowingo Hydroelectric Dam鈥
Student: Matthew Gacheny
Mentor: Dr. Richard Seigel (Biological Sciences)

鈥淟ow-Concentration Analysis of Acyclovir through Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry鈥
Student: Nicholas Giannasca
Mentor: Dr. Barry Margulies (Biological Sciences)

鈥淪ingle-Molecule Investigations of Molecular Partitioning into Poly(Ethylene Oxide) Films鈥
Student: Priyansh Gujarati
Mentor: Dr. Khanh-Hoa Tran-Ba (Chemistry)

鈥淗exanethiolate Protected Super Atom Clusters of Gold: A Kinetic Study鈥
Student: Nicole Hondrogiannis
Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)

鈥淪ynthesis and Optical Properties of Gold Nanoparticles Using Anthracenethiol Ligand鈥
Student: Brianna Hutson
Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)

鈥淚ncreasing Viscosity to Slow Down the Nanoparticles for Size Characterization Using Dynamic Light Scattering鈥
Student: Hristo Ivanov
Mentor: Dr. Jeffrey Simpson (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淪ynthesis of GOx-Metal Nanoparticle Hybrids for Sensing and Catalytic Applications鈥
Student: Hadi Kelani
Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)

鈥淐hemical and Absorptive Properties of Atmospheric Aerosols鈥
Student: Zackary Kinlein
Mentor: Dr. Kathryn Kautzman (Chemistry)

鈥淔urin Gene Expression Systematically Reviewed via qPCR鈥
Student: Oliva Konen
Mentor: Dr. John Weldon (Biological Sciences)

鈥淯sing Polarized Reflectometry for Determination of Optical Anisotropy of Multilayered MgB2-based Metamaterials鈥
Student: Will Korzi
Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淪ynthesis of Air Stable Iron and Cobalt Nanoparticle Based Ferrofluids鈥
Student: Lynn Krushinski
Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)

鈥淢easuring Force of a Single-Beam Optical Trap for Manipulation of Gold Nanostructures鈥
Student: Kameron Langford
Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)

鈥淐hemical Identification of Cocoa Geographic Origin Using UPLC-MS鈥
Student: Gabrielle Lembo
Mentor: Dr. Shannon Stitzel (Chemistry)

鈥淒eveloping Long-Acting Implants for Breast Cancer Prevention鈥
Student: Chloe Lissauer
Mentor: Dr. Barry Margulies (Biological Sciences)

鈥淒iphthamide-deficient Elongation Factor 2 in HeLa Cells鈥
Student: Elliot Lowe
Mentor: Dr. John Weldon (Biological Sciences)

鈥淚nvestigating the Survival of HSV-2 on Various Fomites鈥
Student: Ricardo Mack
Student: Imani Pearson
Mentor: Dr. Barry Margulies (Biological Sciences)

鈥淐haracterizing Storm Event Concentration-Discharge Relation-ships Using High-Frequency Data鈥
Student: Melinda Marsh
Mentor: Dr. Joel Moore (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淧henotypic Characterization of Bacterial Isolates from the Gut of Dung Beetle Onthophagus taurus
Student: Alison Moss
Mentor: Dr. Anne Estes (Biological Sciences)

鈥淏romination and Chlorination Kinetics of Dichloroacetamide Herbicide Safeners鈥
Student: Mark Niedzwiecki
Mentor: Dr. John Sivey (Chemistry)

鈥淐ircular Dichroism Spectroscopy of Steric Interactions in Type鈥慖 Collagen鈥
Student: Jainik Patel
Mentor: Dr. Khanh-Hoa Tran-Ba (Chemistry)

鈥淐reation of a Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV) pUS27-GABARAP Expressing Cell Line to Screen for Novel Antiherpetic Drugs鈥
Student: Kiam Preston
Mentor: Dr. Barry Margulies (Biological Sciences)

鈥淚nvestigating the Relationship Between Furin Cleavage and Cytotoxicity in a Recombinant Immunotoxin Based on Pseudomonas exotoxin A鈥
Student: Danielle Reifer
Mentor: Dr. John Weldon (Biological Sciences)

鈥淓stablishing Baseline TSS and DOC Prior to Stream Restoration鈥
Student: Nicole Reifer
Mentor: Dr. Joseph Bushey (Chemistry)

鈥淓ffect of Urban Sedimentation on Blacknose Dace Feeding Performance鈥
Student: Oliva Saliger
Mentor: Dr. Jay Nelson (Biological Sciences)

鈥淏reaking the Lag Phase: Demography of an Invasive Tree in Arboreta鈥
Student: Laura Schammel
Mentor: Dr. Laura Gough (Biological Sciences)

鈥淐omparing the Bromination Kinetics of Dimethenamid in Natural and in Synthetic Waters鈥
Student: Marella Schammel
Mentor: Dr. John Sivey (Chemistry)

鈥淓ffect of Sequence and Length on M. tuberculosis 搁颈产辞蝉飞颈迟肠丑别蝉鈥
Student: Spiridon Sevdalis
Mentor: Dr. Ana Maria Soto (Chemistry)

鈥淭he Presence and Persistence of Antibiotic Resistance Genes in the Microbiome of WildCaught Onthophagus taurus
Student: Sarah Smith
Mentor: Dr. Anne Estes (Biological Sciences)

鈥淪ynthesis of Ultra-Small Cysteine-Capped Gold Nanoparticles by pH Switching of theAU(I)-Cysteine Polymer鈥
Student: Stephanie Spickard
Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)

鈥淪tructural and Electrical Properties of Oxygen Deficient Strontium Titanate Films鈥
Student: Francis Walz
Student: Azriel Weinreb
Mentor: Dr. Rajeswari Kolagani (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淚dentification and Characterization of Small Proteins in Streptococcus pneumoniae
Student: Yishak Woldetsadik
Mentor: Dr. Mara Shainheit (Biological Sciences)


Undergraduate Research Grants in 2017 鈥 2018

鈥淒issecting the Catalytic Fragment of Pseudemonas Exotoxin A鈥
Student: Alec Ahearn
Mentor: Dr. John Weldon (Chemistry)

鈥淰ibrating Sample Magnetometer for Materials Characterization鈥
Student: Bryan Augstein
Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淭he Effect of flgA Reinsertion into E. coli on Cell Motility and Erik Signaling within D. discodeum
Student: Harpal Bains
Mentor: Dr. Michelle Snyder (Biological Sciences)

鈥淐hemical Weathering of the Mount Washington Amphibolite and Hollofield Layered Ultramafite鈥
Student: Luke Barragan
Mentor: Dr. Joel Moore (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淢etal Nanoparticles for Heavy Metal Sensing Using Raman Spectroscopy鈥
Student: Landon Bechdel
Mentor: Dr. Mary Sajini Devadas (Chemistry)

鈥淭hree-Dimensional Analysis of Combination Drug Therapy for Herpes Simplex Virus 1鈥
Student: Soumia Bekka
Mentor: Dr. Barry Margulies (Biological Sciences)

鈥淒etermination of Nicotine Content in Dokha by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry鈥
Student: Amanda Belunis
Mentor: Dr. Ellen Hondrogiannis (Chemistry)

鈥淪tream Restoration Monitoring鈥
Student: Christopher Bower
Mentor: Dr. Joel Moore (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淓ffect of SELENOF-Expression on Selenium-Mediated DNA Methylation鈥
Student: Veronica Canarte
Mentor: Dr. Petra Tsuji (Biological Sciences)

鈥淎ffordances of an iPad-based Physics curriculum: Prospective Teachers鈥 Physics Conceptual Understanding and Technology Self-efficacy鈥
Student: Matthew Conway
Mentor: Dr. Deepika Mennon (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淪pectral Characterization of Pterin Molecules: Implications for Detecting Life on Mars鈥
Student: Christopher Cook
Mentor: Dr. Amy Williams (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淪elective Quantification of Chlorine and Bromine in Water Using Halogen Trapping Agents鈥
Student: Ryan Dias
Mentor: Dr. John Sivey (Chemistry)

鈥淒etermining Ancient Tectonic Processes in East Africa via Rhenium-Osmium Isotope Analysis on Mantle鈥
Student: Alexandra Ducatte
Mentor: Dr. Wendy Nelson (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淒oes the Reappearance of a Dorsal Fin in the Black Ghost Knife Fish (Apteronotus albifrons) Affect Swimming Kinematics and Sprint Speed?鈥
Student: Mary Eisinger
Mentor: Dr. Christopher Oufiero (Biological Sciences)

鈥淒etermining the Safety and Efficacy of Antiherbetic Rings In vitro
Student: Amanda Evans
Student: Nicholas Giannasca
Student: Stacy Overby
Student: Jennifer Suon
Mentor: Dr. Barry Margulies (Biological Sciences)

鈥淐omparison of Swabs at Absorbing and Releasing Blood for DNA Analysis鈥
Student: Karrah Findley
Mentor: Dr. Kelly Elkins (Chemistry)

鈥淭otal Synthesis of Ineariifolianone鈥
Student: Ian Gilbert
Mentor: Dr. Keith Reber (Chemistry)

鈥淐hemical Clues Associated with Death as Odorant Stimuli in the House Cricket, Acheta domesticus
Student: Luam Haile
Mentor: Dr. Vonnie Shields (Biological Sciences)

鈥淪ynthesis and Optical Characteristics of Magic Numbered Gold Nanoparticles鈥
Student: Brianna Hutson
Mentor: Dr. Mary Sajini Devadas (Chemistry)

鈥淪ynthesis and Characterization of a Graphene Oxide -Ag and Pd Nanoparticle Hybrid System for Catalytic Applications鈥
Student: Hadi Kelani
Mentor: Dr. Mary Sajini Devadas (Chemistry)

鈥淧otential Epigenetic Regulation of Selenoprotein Expression鈥
Student: Olivia Konen
Mentor: Dr. Petra Tsuji (Biological Sciences)

鈥淢easuring Hydrogen Gas Generation Using TiO2 - Gold Cluster System鈥
Student: Thomas Kountz
Mentor: Dr. Mary Sajini Devadas (Chemistry)

鈥淪ynthesis and Characterization of Vanadium based Type II Metamaterial 厂耻辫别谤肠辞苍诲耻肠迟辞谤蝉鈥
Student: Kameron Langford
Mentor: Dr. Mary Sajini Devadas (Chemistry)

鈥淧etrographic and Chemical Analysis of the Baltimore Mafic Complex Serpentinites鈥
Student: Jeremy Leierzapt
Mentor: Dr. Wendy Nelson (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淒eveloping Long-Lasting Implants for Breast Cancer Prevention鈥
Student: Chloe Lissauer
Mentor: Dr. Barry Margulies (Biological Sciences)

鈥淧re-restoration and Post-restoration Analysis of Rural to Urban Stream Sediments: Particulate Carbon, Nitrogen, and Phosphorus鈥
Student: Christopher Manning
Mentor: Dr. Joel Moore (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淢icrotexture Characterization in Hydrothermal Sinter Cores from Alaska鈥
Student: JoAnna Guadalupe Marlow
Mentor: Dr. Amy Williams (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淐ooperative Concentration-Discharge Hysteresis Patterns for Two Urban Watersheds in the Maryland Piedmont鈥
Student: Melinda Marsh
Mentor: Dr. Joel Moore (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淔actors Controlling the Selectivity and Rate of Alkylbenzene Bromination by Aqueous BrCl and Related Brominating Agents: Influence of Steric and Electronic Effects鈥
Student: Kayla Martin-Cutlet
Mentor: Dr. John Sivey (Chemistry)

鈥淕enotyping of Lithobates sylvatica by Sequencing of Microsatellite Loci鈥
Student: Jacob Mitchell
Mentor: Dr. Brian Masters (Biological Sciences)

鈥淓ffect of Early Angiogenic Activation During the Avascular Regenerative Period in Larval Axolotls鈥
Student: Rodrigo Montoro
Mentor: Dr. Renee Dickie (Biological Sciences)

鈥淢inimization of the Pseudomonas Exotoxin A Catalytic Domain via N-Terminal Substitutions鈥
Student: Nicolas Philip
Mentor: Dr. John Weldon (Biological Sciences)

鈥淐ombination of Sulforaphane and Selenium on DNA Methylation in Colon Cancer Cells鈥
Student: Sarah Price
Mentor: Dr. Petra Tsuji (Biological Sciences)

鈥淔urin Mutant Sequencing鈥
Student: Danielle Reifer
Mentor: Dr. John Weldon (Biological Sciences)

鈥淪tudies on Chemical Fate of Carbamate Pesticides in Tropical Freshwater Systems鈥
Student: Michael Rivera
Mentor: Dr. Clare Muhoro (Chemistry)

鈥淏romination Kinetics in Natural Waters: How Useful Are Data Collected in 鈥楥lean鈥 Systems鈥
Student: Marella Schammel
Mentor: Dr. John Sivey (Chemistry)

鈥淔abrication of Tin Calcium Fluoride Hyperbolic Metamaterial 厂耻辫别谤肠辞苍诲耻肠迟辞谤蝉鈥
Student: Sabrina Searfoss
Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淓xploring the Bromination Kinetics of Anisole and Salicylic Acid in Natural Water Systems鈥
Student: Tyler Swanson
Mentor: Dr. John Sivey (Chemistry)

鈥淒evelopment of a Plasmon-Enhanced Single-Beam Optical Trap for Controlled Manipulation of Metal Nanostructures鈥
Student: Timothy Szekerczes
Mentor: Dr. Mary Sajini Devadas (Chemistry)

鈥淪ynthesis and Characterization of Cobalt Nanoparticles for Ferrofluid Applications鈥
Student: Emmanuelle Nzouatcham Talsa
Mentor: Dr. Mary Sajini Devadas (Chemistry)


Undergraduate Research Grants in 2016 鈥 2017

鈥淕reen Synthesis of Gold Nanoparticles for Heavy Metal Sensing using Plants at Towson University鈥
Student: Landon Bechdel
Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)

鈥淒etection of Escherichia coli with a Plasmonic ELISA鈥
Student: Thomas Boise
Mentor: Dr. Kelly Elkins (Chemistry)

鈥淒etermining the Minimum Catalytic Fragment of Pseudomonas exotoxin A Domain III鈥
Student: Earl Brooks Jr.
Mentor: Dr. John Weldon (Biological Sciences)

鈥淎cquisition and Interpretation of the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectra of Complex Organic Molecules using the JEOL 400MHz Spectrometer鈥
Student: Hannah Burdge
Mentor: Dr. Keith Reber (Chemistry)

鈥淎 Metagenomic Analysis of the Feline Microbiome in Relation to Diet and Probiotic Supplementation鈥
Student: Eric Dales
Mentor: Dr. Petra Tsuji (Biological Sciences)

鈥淧rospective Science Teachers' Understanding of 3-Dimensional: Successes and Challenges鈥
Student: Lyvia DaSilva
Mentor: Dr. Deepika Menon (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淢ethod Development for Selective Quantification of Chlorine and Bromine in Water Samples鈥
Student: Ryan Dias
Mentor: Dr. John Sivey (Chemistry)

鈥淪ulfides in Spinel of the Ethiopian Rift Valley鈥
Student: Zachery Dick
Mentor: Dr. Wendy Nelson (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淨uantifying Carbon Species form a Rural to Urban Gradient鈥
Student: Seth Dobbis
Mentor: Dr. Joel Moore (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淒etermining the Efficacy of Antiherpetic Vaginal Rings in vitro鈥
Students: Jensen Dunkling, Jennifer Suon and J. Brian White
Mentor: Dr. Barry Margulies (Biological Sciences)

鈥淧hytochemical Synthesis of Metal Nanoparticles using Extracts from Plants on 91影视破解版's Campus鈥
Student: Victoria Fusco
Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)

鈥淎nalysis of Drug Release and Viral Supporesion of Implant Devices through Plaque Assay and High Performance Liquid Chromatography鈥
Students: Ariel Gordon and Ricardo Mack
Mentor: Dr. Barry Margulies (Biological Sciences)

鈥淥nset of Angiogenesis in Regenerating Salamander Tails鈥
Student: Christopher Goss
Mentor: Dr. Renee Dickie (Biological Sciences)

鈥淒evelopment and Characterization of Dynamic Light Scattering Instrumentation to Determine Nanoparticle Size鈥
Student: Samuel Harding
Mentor: Dr. Jeffrey Simpson (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淚dentification of the Cell Wall-associated Pneumococcal Protein Aminopeptidase N as a Potential Target Degraded by the Neutrophil-derived Serine Protease, Neutrophil Elastase鈥
Students: Scott Haynes and Charmaine Nganje
Mentor: Dr. Mara Shainheit (Biological Sciences)

鈥淧opulation Demographics of Spotted Turtles in Central Maryland鈥
Student: Hunter Howell
Mentor: Dr. Richard Seigel (Biological Sciences)

鈥淐haracterization of Escherichia coli yfaT, a Gene Predicted to Function in Host-pathogen Interactions鈥
Students: Jorden Lane
Mentor: Dr. Michelle Snyder (Biological Sciences)

鈥淪ynthesis and Characterization of Vanadium-based Type II Metamaterial 厂耻辫别谤肠辞苍诲耻肠迟辞谤蝉鈥
Students: Kameron Langford and Timothy Szekerczes
Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)

鈥淧etrographic Analysis of the Baltimore Mafic Complex鈥
Student: Jeremy Leierzapf
Mentor: Dr. Wendy Nelson (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淚nvestigating Surface-associated Choline Binding Protein on Streptococcus pneumoniae as Potential Targets that are Degraded by Neutrophil Serine Proteases鈥
Student: Rachel Lent
Mentor: Dr. Mara Shainheit (Biological Sciences)

鈥淐omparison of Gut Microbiomes between Wood Frogs and Spotted Salamandars throughout Metamorphosis鈥
Student: Elizabeth Lyons
Mentor: Dr. Brian Masters (Biological Sciences)

鈥淔actors Controlling the Regioselectivty and Rate of Arene Bromination鈥
Student: Kayla Martin-Culet
Mentor: Dr. John Sivey (Chemistry)

鈥淎nalysis of Swordtail Fish DNA Using PCR to Detect Genetic Variation in Microsatellite Loci鈥
Student: Crishia Martinez
Mentor: Dr. Brian Masters (Biological Sciences)

鈥淓lectronic Behavior of Coumarin-labeled Quantum-sized AU Clusters鈥
Student: Angela Meola
Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)

鈥淪ynthesis of Methyl-naphthalene Sulfonyl Chlorides as Precursors to Chiral Sulfoxide Ligands鈥
Student: Courtney Miller
Mentor: Dr. Timothy Brunker (Chemistry)

鈥淒etermination of Relative Proportions of Lithobates catesbeiana eDNA in Environmental Water Samples鈥
Student: Jacob Mitchell
Mentor: Dr. Brian Masters (Biological Sciences)

鈥淚CP-MS Detection Limits for Heavy Metals in Cocoa Liquors鈥
Student: Luke Monroe
Mentor: Dr. Shannon Stitzel (Chemistry)

鈥淐hemical and Absorptive Properties of Atmospheric Aerosols鈥
Student: Ana Morales
Mentor: Dr. Katheryn Kautzman (Chemistry)

鈥淩egulator RNA MTS 2282 ("B11") in Mycobacterium tuberculosis鈥
Student: Zelle Ndika
Mentor: Dr. Ana Maria Soto (Chemistry)

鈥1870s/1880s and HSE Abundances of Boninites from the Izu-Bonin-Mariana Forearc, IODP Expedition 352鈥
Student: Daniel Niles
Mentor: Dr. Wendy Nelson (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淭he Relationship between the 15kDa Selenoprotein and Colon Cancer Regulatory Genes in Colon Tumorigenesis鈥
Student: Angelica Patterson
Mentor: Dr. Petra Tsuji (Biological Sciences)

鈥淓lucidation of Human Cytomegalovirus HCMV) US27 Protein-protein Interactions鈥
Student: Kiam Preston Jr.
Mentor: Dr. Barry Margulies (Biological Sciences)

鈥淚nvestigating the Role of Surface-associated Exoglycosidases StrH, NanB, and BgaA in the Resistance of Streptococcus pneumoniae to Killing by Neutrophil Serine Proteases鈥
Student: Christine Qabar
Mentor: Dr. Mara Shainheit (Biological Sciences)

鈥淯sing a CRISPR-Cas9 System to Alter His-715 of eukaryotic Elongation Factor 2 (eEF2)鈥
Student: Jack Sanford
Mentor: Dr. John Weldon (Biological Sciences)

鈥淔abrication of Hyperbolic Metamaterial 厂耻辫别谤肠辞苍诲耻肠迟辞谤蝉鈥
Student: Sabrina Searfoss
Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淭owson University's Impact on the Water Quatlity of Local Streams鈥
Student: Derek Seibel
Mentor: Dr. Amy Williams (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淪tudies of the Reversible Hydroboration and Isomerization of Linear Alkenes using Bulky Azaferrocene-boranes鈥
Student: Deanna Sersen
Mentor: Dr. Timothy Brunker (Chemistry)

鈥淏ioenergetic Response to Stress: Lipid Content in Surface Water and Caddisfly Larvae Across an Urban to Rural Gradient鈥
Student: Madison Smith
Mentor: Dr. Christopher Salice (Biological Sciences)

鈥淒etermination of Cocoa Chemical Signatures Using LC-MS鈥
Student: Paige Sudol
Mentor: Dr. Ryan Sours (Chemistry)

鈥淒etection and Quantification of Lithobates sylvaticus in Environmental DNA Samples Using Species Specific Primers鈥
Student: Hassan Syed
Mentor: Dr. Brian Masters (Biological Sciences)

鈥淩egiospecific Rates and Steric Effects of Phenyl Ether Bromination by Aqueous Free Bromine鈥
Student: Garrett Taggert
Mentor: Dr. John Sivey (Chemistry)

鈥淒oes Aquatic Hypoxia Affect Predation Intensity of Juvenile Striped Bass (Morone saxatili蝉)鈥
Student: Anthony Tritz
Mentor: Dr. Jay Nelson (Biological Sciences)

鈥淭he Use of ddRADseq, a Partial Genome Sequence Technique, to Identify Polymorphic Microsatellite Loci鈥
Student: Alexandra Vlk
Mentor: Dr. Brian Masters (Biological Sciences)

鈥淪ynthesis and Characterization of a Graphene Oxide-metal Nanoparticle Hybrid System for Dual Sensing Applications鈥
Student: Shelby Weatherbee
Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)

鈥淭otal Dissolved Silica in Stream Waters Across a Forested to Urban Gradient鈥
Student: David Wessner
Mentor: Dr. Joel Moore (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淓valuating Chloramphnicol as an Agonist in Recombinant Immunotoxin Mediated Cell Death鈥
Student: Yu Yi Zhu
Mentor: Dr. John Weldon (Biological Sciences)


Undergraduate Research Grants in 2015 鈥 2016

鈥淐haracterizing Small Protein yoaX鈥
Student: Charles Allen
Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hemm (Biological Sciences)

鈥淕as Chromatographic and Mass Spectroscopic Study of Desomorphine Attribution鈥
Student: Kayli Antos Mentor:
Dr. Ellen Hondrogiannis (Chemistry)

鈥淐haracterizing of Small Protein YnfX in Escherichia coli
Student: Andrea Bempong
Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hemm (Biological Sciences)

鈥淨uantification of Antiviral Efficacy of Anti herpetic Drug Released from Implant Devices through Plaque Assay and High Pressure Liquid Chromatography鈥
Students: Kaitlyn Biles and Ariel Gordon
Mentor: Dr. Barry Margulies (Biological Sciences)

鈥淨uantification on Inorganic Salt Aerosols around Towson, Maryland鈥
Student: Max Bloomberg
Mentor: Dr. Kathryn Kautzman (Chemistry)

鈥淐omparison of Detection of Food-borne Pathogens by a PCR HRM Assay to a Rapid, Commercial-off-the-Shelf Water Test Kit鈥
Student: Thomas Boise
Mentor: Dr. Kelly Elkins (Chemistry)

鈥淲ater Quality of Natural Springs on Maryland and Southern Pennsylvania鈥
Student: Tim Bredder
Mentor: Dr. Amy Williams (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淭otal Synthesis of Pyrophen and Campyrones A-C鈥
Student: Hannah Burdge
Mentor: Dr. Keith Reber (Chemistry)

鈥淚nvestigating Choline Binding Proteins and Bacteriocins as Potential Targets on Streptococcus Pneumoniae that are Degraded by Neutrophil Serine Proteases鈥
Students: Cory Casal and Rachel Lent
Mentor: Dr. Mara Shainheit (Biological Sciences)

鈥淧yroxenite Xenoliths of the East African Rift鈥
Student: Alexander Cox
Mentor: Dr. Wendy Nelson (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淲ater Geochemistry from a Rural to Urban Gradient鈥
Student: Seth Dobbis
Mentor: Dr. Joel Moore (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淓xpression and Purification of Diphthaminde-modified Human Elongation Factor 2 from HEK293 Cells鈥
Student: Nathaniel Donahue
Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hemm (Biological Sciences)

鈥淥ptimum Solvent and Extraction for Aerosols鈥
Student: Stacey Dougher
Mentor: Dr. Kathryn Kautzman (Chemistry)

鈥淣ext - Generation Sequencing Analysis of the Impact of Urbanization on Coyote Gut Microbiome鈥
Student: Ashley Firesryche
Mentor: Dr. Brian Masters (Biological Sciences)

鈥淐oyote Diet Comparative Analysis using Next - Generation Sequencing鈥
Student: Bruno Franco
Mentor: Dr. Brian Masters (Biological Sciences)

鈥淐onfirming the Synthesis of Intragenic S.P. DsbB鈥
Student: Andrea Haupt
Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hemm (Biological Sciences)

鈥淎 Biochemical Approach to Identify Cell-wall Associated Proteins on Streptococcus Pneumoniae that are Degraded by Neutrophil Serine Proteases鈥
Students: Scott Haynes and Charmaine Nganje
Mentor: Dr. Mara Shainheit (Biological Sciences)

鈥淎 Small Protein within Escherichia coli's Glutamine Synthetase鈥
Student: Jeffrey Hilditch
Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hemm (Biological Sciences)

鈥淧opulation Demographics of Spotted Turtles (Clemmys guttata) in Central Maryland鈥
Student: Hunter Howell
Mentor: Dr. Richard Seigel (Biological Sciences)

鈥淨uantum Mechanical Tunneling Applied to Frustrated Total Internal Reflection鈥
Student: Nathan Hull
Mentor: Dr. Jia-An Yan (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淒etermining the Existence of Intragenic Small 笔谤辞迟别颈苍蝉鈥
Student: John Kelly
Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hemm (Biological Sciences)

鈥淥pto-Electronic Properties of Monolayer-Protected Gold Clusters Functionalized with a New Fluorescent Ligand鈥
Student: Thomas Kountz
Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)

鈥淯sing Acrylamide Gels to Determine the Allelic Diversity of Wood Frog Loci鈥
Student: Jessica Krummel
Mentor: Dr. Brian Masters (Biological Sciences)

鈥淭he Detection and Testing of Primers for Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction: Detection of the American Toad (Anaxyrus americanum)鈥
Student: Melissa Lanborn
Mentor: Dr. Brian Masters, (Biological Sciences)

鈥淚nvestigation of the Magnetoresistance in Strained Thin Films of Electron-doped and Hole鈥慸oped Perovskite Manganites鈥
Students: Bridget Lawson and Samuel Neubauer
Mentor: Dr. Rajeswari Kolagani (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淐haracterization of the Small Protein DsbB*鈥
Student: Christina Lein
Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hemm (Biological Sciences)

鈥淐haracterization of the Role of yiaX in the Cell鈥
Student: Jordan Lingo
Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hemm (Biological Sciences)

鈥淒evelopment of Mitochondrial DNA Primers Specific to Genetic Loci in Cope's Gray Tree Frog for use in Quantitative PCR鈥
Student Elizabeth Lyons
Mentor: Dr. Brian Masters (Biological Sciences)

鈥淎re the Athletic Ones the Handsome Ones? Linking Female Preference to Locomoter Performance in Xiphophorus montazumae
Student: Rachael Mady
Mentor: Dr. Christopher Oufiero (Biological Sciences)

鈥淒etermination of Cocoa Liquor Provenance Using Fatty Acid Signatures鈥
Student: Sara Maloney
Mentor: Dr. Shannon Stitzel (Chemistry)

鈥淧roposed Synthesis of Cleroburyin A鈥
Student: James Mease
Mentor: Dr. Keith Reber (Chemistry)

鈥淒evelopment of Primers for Identification of Lithobates catesbeiana in Environmental DNA Samples鈥
Student: Jacob Mitchell
Mentor: Dr. Brian Masters (Biological Sciences)

鈥淧roperties of Atmospheric Aerosols Released During Biomass Burning鈥
Student: Ana Morales
Mentor: Dr. Kathryn Kautzman (Chemistry)

鈥淐haracterization of Virulence Factors in Escherichia coli that Promote Intracellular Survival Following Phagocytosis by Dictyostelium discoideum
Student: Phillip Phan
Mentor: Dr. Michelle Snyder (Biological Sciences)

鈥淪tereospecificity in the B-to-Z DNA Transition鈥
Student: Kelsey Polak
Mentor: Dr. Richard Preisler (Chemistry)

鈥淒etermination of Drug Release Kinetics of Antiherpetic Vaginal Rings in Simulated Vagina Fluid鈥
Students: Jaspreet Samra and J. Brian White
Mentor: Dr. Barry Margulies (Biological Sciences)

鈥淯sing a CRISPR - Cas9 Knockout to Evaluate the Role of Ferin in the Intoxication Pathway of Pseudomonas exotoxin A鈥
Student: Jack Sanford
Mentor: Dr. John Weldon (Biological Sciences)

鈥淐hromatographic Investigation of the Interaction between the Polymorphic Compound mCyPU and Tailored Surfaces鈥
Student: Brandon Smiddy
Mentor: Dr. Ryan Sours (Chemistry)

鈥淒evelopment of Ruthenium Complexes of Chiral Sulfoxide Ligands as Redox and Light-Activated Molecular Switches鈥
Student: Cassidy Stout
Mentor: Dr. Timothy Brunker (Chemistry)

鈥淒etermination of Cocoa Liquor Provencance using Elemental Signatures鈥
Student: Paige Sudol
Mentor: Dr. Ryan Sours (Chemistry)

鈥淚dentification and Development of Lithobates sylvaticus Specific Primers for the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)鈥
Student: Hassan Syed
Mentor: Dr. Brian Masters (Biological Sciences)

鈥淪ynthesis and Characterization of Cobalt Nanostructures and Its Catalytic Applications鈥
Student: Sarah Talamantez-Lyburn
Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)

鈥淚dentification and Testing of Polymerase Chain Reaction Primers for NextGeneration Sequencing Analysis of Environmental DNA鈥
Student: Jill Taylor
Mentor: Dr. Brian Masters (Biological Sciences)

鈥淧opulation Diversity Analysis by Identification of Polymorphisms in the Wood Frog Genome Using ddRADseq, A partial Genome Sequence Technique鈥
Student: Alexandra Vlk
Mentor: Dr. Brian Masters (Biological Sciences)

鈥淐hromatographic Investigation of the Interaction between the Polymorphic Compound, mNPU and Tailored Surfaces鈥
Student: Taylor Watts
Mentor: Dr. Ryan Sours (Chemistry)

鈥淪ynthesis of a Graphene Oxide-Metal Nanoparticle Hybrid System for Use as an Electrochemical Sensor鈥
Student: Shelby Weatherbee
Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)

鈥淔unctional Analysis of Small Protein BybC in Escherichia coli
Student: Jacob Wieland
Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hemm (Biological Sciences)

鈥淢agnification with Transformation Optics Lenses鈥
Student: William Zimmerman
Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淒esigning an RNA Model for Studying Mycobacterium tuberculosis ydaO Riboswitch鈥
Student: Yongyun Zhou
Mentor: Dr. Ana Maria Soto (Chemistry)

鈥淐ombination Therapy to Enhance the Efficacy of Recombinant Immunotoxins: Evaluating the Role of Mitochondrial Translation in Toxin-mediated Cell Death鈥
Student: Yuyi Zhu
Mentor: Dr. John Weldon (Biological Sciences)


 

Undergraduate Research Grants in 2014 鈥 2015

鈥淪pecies and Strain Identification of Metarhizium Fungi through Culture-Dependent and Independent Methods鈥
Student: Tyler Biles
Mentor: Dr. Mark Bulmer (Biological Sciences)

鈥淨uantifying Carbonaceous Contributions to Light-Absorbing Atmospheric Aerosols鈥
Student: Amanda Brock
Mentor: Dr. Beth Kautzman (Chemistry)

鈥淓valuation of a Biodegradable Penciclovir Matrix Delivery System for the Long Term Reduction in HSV-2 Reactivations in Guinea Pig Model鈥
Students: Hannah Burdge and Maria Palitino
Mentor: Dr. Barry Margulies (Biological Sciences)

鈥淢ajor and Minor Element Analysis of Ocean Island Basalt Sulfide Inclusions from Reunion Island鈥
Student: Brett Caldwell
Mentor: Dr. Michael Mengason (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淗ow do Male Mountain Bluebirds Discover that their Eggs have Hatched鈥
Student: Chelsea Connor
Mentor: Dr. Scott Johnson (Biological Sciences)

鈥淒etermining How Teachers' Attitudes about Mathematics Professional Development Impact the Changes They are Willing to Make鈥
Student: Britaney Cosner
Mentor: Dr. Honi Bamberger (Mathematics)

鈥淐omparing the Effects of Various Neutral Diol Osmolytes with Trisethylenediaminecobalt on the Transition from B-DNA to Z-DNA鈥
Student: Aloise Diedrich
Mentor: Dr. Richard Preisler (Chemistry)

鈥淭he Occurrence of Micro-Bead Pollution in Baltimore Harbor鈥
Student: Jeremiah Feldstein
Mentor: Dr. Gregory Shofner (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淭he Effect of Prophylactic Treatment of Penciclovir on Genital Herpes in Cotton Rats (S. hispidus)鈥
Student: Jacqueline Hanfman
Mentor: Dr. Barry Margulies, (Biological Sciences)

鈥淎pplication of the Brine Shrimp Lethality Tests to Electronic Cigarette e-liquids and Produced Aerosols: A Toxicity Study鈥
Student: Jonathan Jopse
Mentor: Dr. Ellen Hondrogiannis (Chemistry)

鈥淚nteraction of Tir Domains in Dictyostelium discoideum
Student: Charrika Kelly
Mentor: Dr. Michelle Snyder (Biological Sciences)

鈥淯sing Trace Element Chemical Signatures to Determine Cocoa Liquor鈥
Student: Ravleenkaur Khalsa
Mentor: Dr. Ryan Sours (Chemistry)

鈥淒etermination of Cocoa Liquor Provenance Using Fatty Acid Signatures鈥
Student: Sara Maloney
Mentor: Dr. Shannon Stitzel (Chemistry)

鈥淒o Parent Male Mountain Bluebirds Control the Time of Nest-Leaving in their Offspring鈥
Student: Andre Nguyen
Mentor: Dr. Scott Johnson (Biological Sciences)

鈥淧olymorphic Microsatellite Loci Identification in Wood Frog Populations鈥
Student: Erika Lugo
Mentor: Dr. Brian Masters (Biological Sciences)

鈥淩efolding of Unmodified Human Elongation Factor 2 for the Vitro Reconstruction of Diphthamide Synthesis鈥
Student: Nirja Patel
Mentor: Dr. John Weldon (Biological Sciences)

鈥淕eochemical Analysis of the Weathered Products of the Mt. Washington Amphibolite and Hollofield Ultramafite in the Piedmont near Baltimore, Maryland鈥
Student: Lisa Perrin
Mentor: Dr. Joel Moore (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淭ransition of B-to-Z DNA in the presence of Alcohol Osmolytes and Salt鈥
Student: Kelsey Polak
Mentor: Dr. Richard Preisler (Chemistry)

鈥淎ntiviral Efficacy and Quantification of Antiherpetic Drug Released from Devices Created by a Novel Drug Delivery Method: Volatile Acid Solvent Evaporation (VASE)鈥
Students: Amandeep Samra, Kaitlyn Biles, Thamar Eitienne and Benjamin Harding
Mentor: Dr. Barry Margulies (Biological Sciences)

鈥淭he Formation of Vesicle Minerals of Summit Rock, Oregon鈥
Student: Matt Schuetzle
Mentor: Dr. Gregory Shofner (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淒evelopment and Characterization of Dynamic Light Scattering Instrumentation to determine Nanoparticle Size鈥
Student: Thomas Sebastian Jr.
Mentor: Dr. Jeffrey Simpson (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淓ffects of Eukaryotic Elongation Factor-2 Kinase siRNA Silencing on the Cytotoxicity of Pseudomonas Exotoxin A鈥
Student: Jamy Therres
Mentor: Dr. John Weldon (Biological Sciences)

鈥淎pplications of Silver Staining Analysis Technique to the Wood Frog Project鈥
Student: Alexandra Vlk
Mentor: Dr. Brian Masters (Biological Sciences)

鈥淐hromatographic Investigation of the Interaction between a Polymorphic Compound and Tailored Surfaces鈥
Student: Taylor Watts
Mentor: Dr. Ryan Sours (Chemistry)

鈥淭he Role of Dictyostelium discoideum G protein in Signaling and Bacterial Responses鈥
Students: Theresa White
Mentor: Dr. Michelle Snyder (Biological Sciences)

鈥淎 Tale of Two Snails鈥
Student: Chelsea Winters
Mentor: Dr. Colleen Winters (Biological Sciences)

鈥淒ecreased Micro-Nutrients in Soil Due to Road Salt Addition鈥
Student: Gregory Woodward
Mentor: Dr. Joel Moore (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淣anoparticle Size Dependence of Transition Temperature of Metamaterial Superconductor鈥
Student: Kathryn Zander
Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淩ole of Annealing in Nanoparticle-based Metamaterial 厂耻辫别谤肠辞苍诲耻肠迟辞谤蝉鈥
Student: William Zimmerman
Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)


Undergraduate Research Grants in 2013 鈥 2014

鈥淓volution of Gene Expression Validated Using the rtPCR Technique鈥
Students: Candice Amo-Adade and Jessica Foley
Mentor: Dr. David Hearn (Biological Sciences)

鈥淐ross-Linker Effect on Molecular Imprinted Polymer Sensors鈥
Student: Daniel Baumann
Mentor: Dr. Shannon Stitzel (Chemistry)

鈥淐haracterizing the Expression of the puuP_puuA_1 Protein鈥
Student: Daniel Bennett
Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hemm (Biological Sciences)

鈥淩egioselective Bromination of Phenylalanine: Quantifying Reaction Rates Under Controlled NaBr + NaOCL Conditions鈥
Student: Mark Bickley
Mentor: Dr. John Sivey (Chemistry)

鈥淒evelopment of Numerical Methods to Study Image Formation of Electron Scattering鈥
Student: Stephen Blama
Mentor: Dr. Jia-An Yan (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淭ransformation of an Herbicide's Active and 'Inert' Ingredients under Simulated Environmental Conditions鈥
Student: Mark Burton
Mentor: Dr. John Sivey (Chemistry)

鈥淐haracterization of Small Protein argF_ISC1_3 in Escherichia coli
StudentS: Baboucarr Ceesay and Kenneth Harris
Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hemm (Biological Sciences)

鈥淓longation Factor 2 Levels and Immunotoxin Activity鈥
Student: Anne Chamoun
Mentor: Dr. John Weldon (Biological Sciences)

鈥淭he B-Z-DNA Transition Under Elevated Temperatures and Osmotic Stress鈥 Maimouna Cisse
Mentor: Dr. Richard Preisler (Chemistry)

鈥淎nalyzing and Manipulating Small Protein Expression in elba_ycgX_11鈥
Student: Aileen Delgadillo
Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hemm (Biological Sciences)

鈥淭he Evolution of Viviparity in Squamate Lizards and the Effect of Reproductive Mode on Morphology and Sexual Dimorphism鈥
Student: Julia Dottle
Mentor: Dr. Christopher Oufiero (Biological Sciences)

鈥淓ffects on Surfacing Behavior of a Facultative Air Breather, Panaque maccus, in the Presence of the Predator鈥
Student: Molly Fisher
Mentor: Dr. Jay Nelson (Biological Sciences)

鈥淐haracterizing of caiT_fixA_0 Small Protein in Escherichia coli
Student: David Fricker
Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hemm (Biological Sciences)

鈥淐haracterizing Microsatellites in the American Toad鈥
Student: Allyson Genson
Mentor: Dr. Brian Masters (Biological Sciences)

鈥淒evelopment of a Simple, Quantitative Assay for Unlabeled Acyclovir in Clinical Samples鈥
StudentS: Benjamin Harding and Kevon Sampson
Mentor: Dr. Barry Margulies (Biological Sciences)

鈥淚solation and Characterization of a Small Putative Protein Encoded by the torR_torC_0 Gene in Escherichia coli鈥
Student: Shawn Hirsch
Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hemm (Biological Sciences)

鈥淭he Differences in Locomotion Between Species of Cichlids from Lake Mawai with Various Habitats and Diet鈥
Students: Shannon Horan and Nicole Staton
Mentor: Dr. Christopher Oufiero (Biological Sciences)

鈥淒irected Evolution of a Small Protein鈥
Student: Aqsa Jamil
Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hemm (Biological Sciences)

鈥淓lectronic Cigarette Aerosol Analysis: Instrumentation and Method Development鈥
Student: Jonathan Jopse
Mentor: Dr. Ellen Hondrogiannis (Chemistry)

鈥淚nvestigation of Expression Patterns in Small Protein dadX in Escherichia coli
Students: Megan Karanfil and Kelsey Shiflett
Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hemm (Biological Sciences)

鈥淢ineral Content and pH of Soil Sampled in the Glen Woods and Its Effect on Land Snails Found鈥
Student: Shivani Kharod
Mentor: Dr. Colleen Winters (Biological Sciences)

鈥淎nalysis of Cytomegalovirus (CMV) in US28 and Enhanced Binding Affinity of Viruses to the Mutant Strain Compared to the Wild-Type鈥
Student: Laura Kretzer
Mentor: Dr. Elana Ehrlich (Biological Sciences)

鈥淓xperimental Demonstration of Luneburg Lens Waveguides鈥
Student: David Lahneman
Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淧lanetary Accretion from E-Chondrites鈥
Student: Elizabeth Leidich
Mentor: Dr. Gregory Shofner (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淭ransformation of the MYB13 Gene鈥
Student: Sarah Lynch
Mentor: Dr. David Hearn (Biological Sciences)

鈥淓ffect of p53 Inhibition on Appendage Regeneration in Salamanders鈥
Student: Katelyn Marshall
Mentor: Dr. Renee Dickie (Biological Sciences)

鈥淭ransforming Brassica-Observing the Impact of Changes in Gene Expression in Wood Development鈥
Student: Kristina Martin
Mentor: Dr. David Hearn (Biological Sciences)

鈥淚nvestigating the Function of coaE_guaC_O in Escherichia coli
Student: Taylor Mcllquham
Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hemm (Biological Sciences)

鈥淭urning Off the GPA: A Furin's Involvement in the Intoxication Pathway of Recombinant Immunotoxins Based on Pseudomonas Exotoxin A鈥
Student: Bryan Miller
Mentor: Dr. John Weldon (Biological Sciences)

鈥淎nalysis of Cullin 5 Expression in Breast Cancer鈥
Student: Ninna Nana
Mentor: Dr. Elana Ehrlich (Biological Sciences)

鈥淒oes Social Status Influence Air-Breathing Behavior of a Facultative Air Breather, Panaque maccu蝉?鈥
Student: Cheyenne Owens
Mentor: Dr. Jay Nelson (Biological Sciences)

鈥淧urification of Unmodified Human Elongation Factor 2 in Vitro Reconstitution of Diphthamide Synthesis鈥
Student: Nirja Patel
Mentor: Dr. John Weldon (Biological Sciences)

鈥淐hromatographic Investigation of Humic Substance Adsorption on Calcite鈥
Student: Carrie Reed
Mentor: Dr. Ryan Sours (Chemistry)

鈥淭he Effects of Osmolytes and Transition Metal Complexes on the Conformational Transition from B-DNA to Z-DNA鈥
Student: Daniela Rey-Ardila
Mentor: Dr. Richard Preisler (Chemistry)

鈥淔lavonoids as a Tool to Investigate Regulation of Thioredoxin Reductase 1 and the 15kDa Selenoprotein in Colon Cancer鈥
Student: Lauren Rosso
Mentor: Dr. Peko Tsuji (Biological Sciences)

鈥淎 Novel Approach to Quantify Halide Concentration in Drinking Water and Related Matrices鈥
Student: Nicholas Sapienza
Mentor: Dr. John Sivey (Chemistry)

鈥淐loning and Characterization of CMV US28 Variants鈥
Student: Rebecca Silver
Mentor: Dr. Elana Ehrlich (Biological Sciences)

鈥淐haracterization of zupT_ribB_0 in Eschericha coli
Student: Ying Tan
Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hemm (Biological Sciences)

鈥淩eactivity of Anisole and Bromoanisola Regiosomers Towards Brominating Agents in Solutions of NaBr+ Free Available Chlorine鈥
Student: Daniel Victor
Mentor: Dr. John Sivey (Chemistry)

鈥淢easuring Nanoparticle Size Using Dynamic Light Scattering鈥
Student: Thomas Volpe
Mentor: Dr. Jeffrey Simpson (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淪tructural and Electrical Properties of Thin Films of Electron-Dopes Mixed Valent Rare Earth Manganites鈥
Student: Zoey Warecki
Mentors: Dr. Rajeswari Kolagani & Dr. Grace Yong (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淪tructural Characterization of TIR Domain of Dictyostelium discoideum
Student: Theresa White
Mentor: Dr. Michele Snyder (Biological Sciences)

鈥淎nalysis of Cullin 5 Expression in Breast Cancer鈥
Student: Sarah Wicks
Mentor: Dr. Elana Ehrlich (Biological Sciences)

鈥淚dentification and Characterization of a Small Protein in Escherichia coli
Student: Justin Willstaedt
Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hemm (Biological Sciences)

鈥淒ecreased Plant Micronutrients in the Critical Zone Due to Halite Addition鈥
Student: Gregory Woodward
Mentor: Dr. Joel Moore (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淢etamaterial Rout to High Temperature Superconductivity鈥
Student: Kathryn Zander
Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淭he role of Dictyostelium discoideum TirA in Signaling and Anti-Bacterial Responses鈥
Student: Ava Zapf
Mentor: Dr. Michelle Snyder (Biological Sciences)


Undergraduate Research Grants in 2012 鈥 2013

鈥淐haracterization of Small Escherichia coli 笔谤辞迟别颈苍蝉鈥
Student: Fatimeh Abuikhdair
Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hemm (Biological Sciences)

鈥淔abrication of Tapered Waveguides via Photolithography鈥
Student: Todd Adams
Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova, (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淔errofluids as Hyperbolic Metamaterials鈥
Student: Evan Bates
Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淪tructural Characterization of TIR Domain of TirA, A TLR in Dictyostelium discoidium
Student: Michael Berlett
Mentor: Dr. Michelle Snyder (Biological Sciences)

鈥淭he Effect of Relative Hydrophobicity of Osmolytes in the B-to-Z DNA Transition鈥
Student: Maimouna Cisse
Mentor: Dr. Richard Preisler (Chemistry)

鈥淒evelopment and Characterization of Dynamic Light Scattering Instrumentation to determine Nanoparticle Size鈥
Student: Christopher DiFatta
Mentor: Dr. Jeffrey Simpson (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淐aMnO3-x: A Biomimetric Catalyst for Water Splitting鈥
Student: Tyler Goehringer
Mentor: Dr. Grace Yong (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淐omparative Structural Macroanalysis of the Middle to Upper Solariun鈥
Student: James C. Gossweiler
Mentor: Dr. Joel Moore (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淭he Effects of Hypoxia on Fitness in Juvenile Striped Bass, Morone saxatiles
Student: Raven S. Gossweiler
Mentor: Dr. Jay Nelson (Biological Sciences)

鈥淐haracterization of the Small Protein yciX-can1 in Escherichia coli
Student: Matthew Howard
Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hemm (Biological Sciences)

鈥淨uantifying Land Use and Lithology Across USGS Gaged Catchments in the Maryland Piedmont Region鈥
Student: Katherine Hresko
Mentor: Dr. Joel Moore (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淪piropyran Dyes: A Comparison of Two Synthetic Methods鈥
Student: Navdeep Kaur
Mentor: Dr. Shannon Stitzel (Chemistry)

鈥淪mall Pool Analysis for Microsatellite Mutations in Spotted Salamanders鈥
Student: Brianna Lynn
Mentor: Dr. Brian Masters (Biological Sciences)

鈥淚nvestigation of the Relationship between Tetradentate Aminosulfoxide Ligand Structure and Geometric Isomerism in their Ru(II) Dichloride Complexes鈥
Student: William Nagel
Mentor: Dr. Timothy Brunker (Chemistry)

鈥淧rovenance Determination of Dark Chocolates using Organic and Trace Element Chemical Signatures鈥
Student: Naissem Le Nodjinam
Mentor: Dr. Shannon Stitzel (Chemistry)

鈥淭race Mineral Chemical Composition and Distribution in Common Carbonate Aquifer Materials and Contribution to Risks in Carbon Capture and Sequestration鈥
Student: Allison Rico
Mentor: Dr. Joel Moore (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淓ffects of Photolithography Processes on the Properties of Manganite Thin Films鈥
Student: Christopher Rubin
Mentor: Dr. Rajeswari Kolagani (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淒eveloping Thin Films of La1-x-yCaxPbyMnO3 for Uncooled Bolometer Application鈥
Student: Evan Schulz
Mentor: Dr. Grace Yong (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淏ehavioral Olfactory Responses of House Crickets to Plant Volatiles鈥
Student: Harlan Shafer
Mentor: Dr. Vonnie Shields (Biological Sciences)

Dictyostelium discoideum TirA Stimulates Generation of Reactive Oxygen in Response to Bacteria鈥
Student: Kierra Stephens
Mentor: Dr. Michelle Snyder (Biological Sciences)

鈥淎nalysis of Reproductive Behavior in Male Spotted Salamanders鈥
Student: Katherine Sunderland
Mentor: Dr. Brian Masters (Biological Sciences)

鈥淢ultiple Paternity Testing in Housed Southern Stingrays (Dasyatis amaericana) by Examination of Microsatellites鈥
Student: Joseph Szewczyk
Mentor: Dr. Brian Masters (Biological Sciences)

鈥淒esigning a Ribosomal RNA Model for Understanding the Effects of Mutations in Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Student: Amber Truitt
Mentor: Dr. Ana-Maria Soto (Chemistry)

鈥淎nalysis of Circulating Strains of Cytomegalovirus (CMV) in Mali鈥
Student: Sarah Wicks
Mentor: Dr. Elana Ehrlich (Biological Sciences)


Undergraduate Research Grants in 2011 鈥 2012

鈥淎n Investigation of Leaf and Stem Anatomical Features in Chrysothamnus. Do Anatomical Features Inform Evolutionary Relationships among Specie蝉?鈥
Student: Scottie Berk
Mentor: Dr. Roland Roberts, (Biological Sciences)

鈥淭emporal Variation in the Structure of Aquatic Turtle Populations鈥
Student: Nathan Byer
Mentor: Dr. Richard Seigel (Biological Sciences)

鈥淔ine Structure of Olfactory Antennal Sensory Organs of the Cricket, Acheta domesticus
Student: Curtisha Charles
Mentor: Dr. Vonnie Shields (Biological Sciences)

鈥淭he B-to-Z form DNA Transition鈥
Student: Charlotte Chaze
Mentor: Dr. Richard Preisler (Chemistry)

鈥淭he Role of Chemical Denaturants and Helix Stabilizers in Inducing Conformational Transition from B-to-Z DNA鈥
Student: Charlotte Chaze
Mentor: Dr. Richard Preisler (Chemistry)

鈥淪eed Dispersal Pathways of Wavy Leaf Basket Grass鈥
Student: Ken Compher
Mentor: Dr. Vanessa Beauchamp (Biological Sciences)

鈥淥ptically Pumping a Dye for Resonance Raman Spectroscopy鈥
Student: Michael DeRito
Mentor: Dr. Jeffrey Simpson (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淒evelopment of Design Techniques for Accessible Data Visualization for the Blind: The Weather Map Project鈥
Student: Rhian Driscoll
Mentor: Dr. Suranjan Chakraborty (Computer and Information Sciences)

鈥淏iochemical Characterization of Small Cytochrome Oxidase 笔谤辞迟别颈苍蝉鈥
Student: Caitlin Fagan
Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hemm (Biological Sciences)

鈥淕enetic Diversity and Population Structure of Solidago sempervirens L.
Student: Nyshia Garcia
Mentors: Dr. Rolland Roberts & Dr. Larry Wimmers (Biological Sciences)

鈥淓ffects of Thermal Annealing Process on Magnetoresistance of Rare Earth Manganese Oxide Thin Films鈥
Student: Tyler Goehringer
Mentor: Rajeswari Kolagani (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淣eural Origins of Intraspecific Variance in Hypoxia Tolerance of Juvenile Striped Bass (Morone saxatilis)鈥
Student: Andrew Gschweng
Mentor: Dr. Jay Nelson (Biological Sciences)

鈥淚nvestigation into the Essential Amino Acids for Small Protein Ybgt Function in Escherichia coli
Student: Brittany Haynes
Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hemm (Biological Sciences)

鈥淎 Mammal Species Survey at Eden Mill Nature Center鈥
Student: Rachel Herbert
Mentor: Dr. Harold Beck (Biological Sciences)

鈥淔ledging Behavior of the Mountain Bluebird鈥
Student: Rachel Herbert
Mentor: Dr. L. Scott Johnson (Biological Sciences)

鈥淐ross Species Microsatellite Evaluation: The Case of Simarouba amara and Ailanthus altissima
Student: Leteisha Hunt
Mentor: Dr. Roland Roberts (Biological Sciences)

鈥淪ynthesis of Phosphanyl(Organyl)Boranes and their uses as Ligands In Transition Metal Complexes鈥
Student: Anthony Jiang
Mentor: Dr. Clare Muhoro, (Chemistry)

鈥淪tructural Characterization of Dictyostelium TIR Domain-Containing 笔谤辞迟别颈苍蝉鈥
Student: Krista Johnson
Mentor: Dr. Michelle Snyder, (Biological Sciences)

鈥淒etermining Drug Output in Two Types of Silicone Implant鈥
Student: Nicole Johnson
Mentor: Dr. Barry Margulies, (Biological Sciences)

鈥淚nvasive Ecology of Oplismenus H. undulatifolius (Wavy-Leaf Basket Grass) Based on Mycorrhizal Associations in Northern Maryland Deciduous Forests鈥
Student: Cody Kepner
Mentor: Dr. Vanessa Beauchamp, (Biological Sciences)

鈥淏iochemical Characterization of the Small Cytochrome Oxidase Protein YccB鈥
Student: Meighan LeGrand
Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hemm (Biological Sciences)

鈥淚nvestigation of ADAD1 for Use in a Multiplex Real Time PCR Assay for the Detection of Sperm in Forensic Samples鈥
Student: Carlo Mercado
Mentor: Dr. Cynthia Zeller (Chemistry)

鈥淒endrochronology of Heavy Metal Contamination of Extinct Palmerton, Pennsylvania Zinc Smelting Site鈥
Student: Elizabeth Myers
Mentor: Dr. Steven Lev (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淐an Female Mountain Bluebirds Control the Hatching Times of their Eggs鈥
Student: Felicia Napolillo
Mentor: Dr. L. Scott Johnson (Biological Sciences)

鈥淪oil Speciation within Palmerton, Pennsylvania Zinc Smelting Site's Air Shed鈥
Student: Julie New
Mentor: Dr. Steven Lev (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淭itanium (II)-Catalyzed Hydroborations of Novel Unsaturated Heteroatomic Substrates鈥
Student: Abdulafeez Oluyadi
Mentor: Dr. Clare Muhoro (Chemistry)

鈥淓ffects of Base Substitutions on the Stability of Kissing Loop Complexes鈥
Student: Monica Padgett
Mentor: Dr. Ana Maria Soto (Chemistry)

鈥淚dentification and Quantification of Anthropogenic Aerosol Compounds and Levels in Towson, Maryland鈥
Student: Kumaran Ramakrishnan
Mentor: Dr. Kathryn Kautzman (Chemistry)

鈥淐arbon Cycling in an Urban Environment鈥
Student: Michael Reed
Mentor: Dr. Joel Moore (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淧alepathology of Cetacean Vertebra from Pope's Creek, Calvert County, Maryland鈥
Student: Allison Ricko
Mentor: Dr. Jonathan Filer (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淧ulse Laser Deposition (PLD) of Y2Ba4Cu8O16 (Y248) Epitaxial Thin Films鈥
Student: Evan Schulz
Mentor: Dr. Grace Yong (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淭he Role of Dictyostelium TirA in the Signal Transduction Response to Bacterial Prey鈥
Student: Bivor Shrestha
Mentor: Dr. Michelle Snyder (Biological Sciences)

鈥淒etection of Misidentified Plants in the San Juan Estate Cocoa Collection鈥
Student: Michael Smith
Mentor: Dr. Roland Roberts (Biological Sciences)

鈥淒NA Barcoding Polygyrid Land Snails within the Order Stylommatophora using Mitochondrial Gene 12S鈥
Student: Thomas Swauger
Mentor: Dr. Colleen Winters (Biological Sciences)

鈥淭he Effects of Urbanization on the Hydrology of Upper Herring Run Watershed鈥
Student: Michael Thorpe
Mentor: Dr. Jonathan Filer (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淓xploring the Utility of Microsatellites for Unraveling Evolutionary Relationships Among Species of Lorandersonia
Student: Joseph Walburn
Mentor: Dr. Roland Roberts (Biological Sciences)


Undergraduate Research Grants in 2010 鈥 2011

鈥淚dentification of Dictyostelium discoideum
Student: Naomi Ampofoh
Mentor: Dr. Michelle Snyder, (Biological Sciences)

鈥淰isual orientation behavior of gypsy moth larvae to emissive colors鈥
Student: Katelyn Bettie
Mentor: Dr. Vonnie Shields, (Biological Sciences)

鈥淏iochemical purification of cytochrome bd oxidases with the small proteins YbgT and YccB鈥
Students: James Burton and Robert Hanna
Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hemm, (Biological Sciences)

鈥淓ffects of variable stem length on RNA flexibility鈥
Student: Gordon Crews
Mentor: Dr. Ana Maria Soto, (Chemistry)

鈥淪ynthesis of Boron Nitride nanotubes via chemical vapor deposition and arc discharge鈥
Students: Michael DeVanzo, Gene Shanholz and Joshua Tyler
Mentor: Dr. Jeffrey Simpson (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淚nveestigating the impact of caffeine on FOS protein expression in the nucleus accumbens of the rat鈥
Student: Paulomi Dholakia
Mentor: Dr. Elizabeth Duncan-Vaidya (Biological Sciences)

鈥淪train relaxation and low field magneto-resistance in ultra thin manganite films鈥
Students: Gilles Dongmo-Momo and Cacie Hart
Mentor: Dr. Rajeswari Kolagani, (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淢agneto-resistance studies of strained manganese oxide thin films鈥
Students: Gilles Dongmo-Momo and Cacie Hart
Mentor: Dr. Rajeswari Kolagani, (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淚dentifying the bacteria associated with the Dung Beetle, Onthophagus taurus
Student: Karla Feeser
Mentor: Dr. Ann Estes, (Biological Sciences)

鈥淕ermination and competitiveness of Oplismenus hirtellus ssp. undulatifolius, new invader in Maryland forests鈥 Megan Ghothane
Mentor: Dr. Vanessa Beauchamp, (Biological Sciences)

鈥淓ffects of thermal annealing process on Rare Earth manganese oxide thin films鈥
Student: Tyler Goehringer
Mentor: Dr. Rajeswari Kolagani (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淚nvestigation into the role of small proteins YbgT and YccB in cytochrome oxidase activity in Escherichia coli
Student: Brittany Haynes
Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hemm (Biological Sciences)

鈥淓llicott City Granite: cause of foliation and feldspar lath alignment鈥
Student: Lindsay Keeney
Mentor: Dr. Rachel Burks Rea (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淪hort term ingestive feedback mechanisms in gypsy moth larvae鈥
Students: Madiha Khalid and Jillian Sanford
Mentor: Dr. Vonnie Shields (Biological Sciences)

鈥淗ow do environmental conditions affect animal reproductive strategies? Insight from a study of Tree Swallows breeding under extreme conditions鈥
Student: Dovid Kozlovsky
Mentor: Dr. L. Scott Johnson (Biological Sciences)

鈥淓ffect of mutation in the binding of Kanamycin to Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Student: Ying Li
Mentor: Dr. Ana Maria Soto (Chemistry)

鈥淒etermination of Nitrogen and Phosphorus surface runoff and groundwater leaching of a Tall Fescue lawn with an application of granular 14-2-14 on lawns of varying slope鈥
Student: Gregory Lomb
Mentor: Dr. Jonathan Filer (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淭itanium (II)-catalyzed hydroborations of novel unsaturated heteroatomic substrates鈥
Student: Abdulafeez Oluyadi
Mentor: Dr. Clare Muhoro (Chemistry)

鈥淨uantifying Bumblebee (Bombus so.) population decline through microsatellite date鈥
Student: Travis Poulsen
Mentor: Dr. David Hearn (Biological Sciences)

鈥淪trategies for breeding in an unpredicatbel and harsh environment: Do Tree Swallows set up some of their offspring to die?鈥
Student: David Satterfield
Mentor: Dr. L. Scott Johnson (Biological Sciences)

鈥淢easurement of nano-structured graphitic carbon using micro-Raman spectroscopy鈥
Student: Logan Scheel
Mentor: Dr. Jeffrey Simpson (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淐affeine-induced reinstatement of sucrose seeking in rats鈥潀
Student: Catherine Vogel
Mentor: Dr. Elizabeth Duncan-Vaidya (Biological Sciences)

鈥淚mproved synthesis of Penciclovir [PCV; 9-(4-hydroxy-3-hydroxymrthtlbut-1-yl)guanine]鈥
Student: Steven Whitt
Mentors: Dr. Barry Margulies (Biological Sciences) & Dr. Lev Ryzhkov (Chemistry)


Undergraduate Research Grants in 2009 鈥 2010

鈥淗omeland Security: Chlorine Transportation Optimization for the Chemical Security Analysis Center鈥
Students: Jonathan Howe, Derek Morgan, Patrick O'Neill, Michael Orlitzky, Solomon Stein, Samantha Stevenson and Alana Thompson
Mentors: Dr. Sergiy Borodachov & Dr. Alexei Kolosnikov (Mathematics)

鈥淭he Effect of Deterrents on Gypsy Moth Food Consumption: A Behavioral Investigation鈥
Students: Nnenna Aginam and Jillian Sanford
Mentor: Dr. Vonnie Shields (Biological Sciences)

鈥淒etection of Misidentified Plants in the International Cocoa Genebank, Trinidad鈥
Student: James Bardsley, III
Mentors: Dr. Roland Roberts & Dr. Larry Wimmers (Biological Sciences)

鈥淚solation and Identification of Termite Fungal Pathogens鈥
Student: Roxann Cavey
Mentor: Dr. Mark Bulmer (Biological Sciences)

鈥淢icro-Raman Spectroscopy and AFM Studies of Atomically-Thin Graphite鈥
Students: John Hasslinger and Kevin Mead
Mentor: Dr. Jeffrey Simpson (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥000100100 Questions鈥
Student: Michael Matthews
Mentor: Dr. Darush Davani (Computer & Information Sciences)

鈥淪ensitivity of B-to-Z- DNA Transition to Macromolecular Crowding鈥
Student: Crista Nguemeta
Mentor: Dr. Richard Preisler (Chemistry)

Phylogepgraphy of Arabidopsis Lyrata ssp. Lyrata Inferred from the Distribution of G3pdh Haplotypes among Populations in the Eastern United States鈥
Student: Abdulafeez Oluyadi
Mentor: Dr. Roland Roberts (Biological Sciences)

鈥淒evelopment of Chiral Azaferrocenes鈥
Student: Benjamin Roembke
Mentor: Dr. Timothy Brunker (Chemistry)

鈥淒o Mammals Utilize Storm Water Retention Ponds as a Surrogate for Natural Wetland蝉?鈥
Student: David Satterfield
Mentor: Dr. Harald Beck (Biological Sciences)

鈥淚dentification of Peptides which Effectively Modify Calcite Crystal Growth鈥
Student: Stephanie Stanley
Mentor: Dr. Ryan Sours (Chemistry)

鈥淓valuating Water Chemistry in Rural and Urban Watersheds on Trace Metal Uptake in Black Nose Dace Otoliths鈥
Student: Elluz Chong Qui
Mentor: Dr. Steven Lev (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淓ffect of Susbtrate and Thickness Variation in the Properties of Rare Earth Manganese Oxide Thin Films Used for Infrared Detectors鈥
Students: Gilles Dongmo-Momo and Dou Dou Qian
Mentor: Dr. Rajeswari Kolagani (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淎utonomous Helicopter Software鈥
Student: Lynn Durholz, Josh Giltinan and Logan Scheel
Mentor: Dr. Darush Davani (Computer and Information Sciences)

鈥淎ssessing the Influence of Road Salting Techniques on Surface Water Chemistry in the Red Run Watershed, Maryland鈥
Student: Kristen Lazzeri
Mentor: Dr. Steven Lev (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淭he Effect of the Conformational Flexibility between Monodentate Ligand and Bidentate Ligand in B-to-Z-DNA Transition: Role of Hydration鈥
Student: Crista Tiyouh Nguemeta
Mentor: Dr. Richard Preisler (Chemistry)

鈥淚nvestigating the Impact of Caffeine on Sucrose Self-Administration in Rats鈥
Student: Edward Retzbach
Mentor: Dr. Elizabeth Vaidya (Biological Sciences)

鈥淚dentification of the Function and Mechanism of Autophagy in Dictyostelium discoideum
Student: Lauren Winter
Mentor: Dr. Michelle Snyder (Biological Sciences)

鈥淚nvestigating the Impact of Short-term and Chronic Caffeine Effects on Anxiety鈥
Student: Whitney Marie Wolfgang
Mentor: Dr. Elizabeth Vaidya (Biological Sciences)


Undergraduate Research Grants in 2008 鈥 2009

鈥淭ransition Metal Complexes and the B-to-Z- DNA Transition: Investigating the Role of Charge and Hydration鈥
Student: Ira Ashman
Mentor: Dr. Richard Preisler (Chemistry)

鈥淒etection of Misidentified Plants in the International Cocoa Genebank, Trinidad鈥
Student: James Bardsley, III
Mentors: Dr. Rolland Roberts & Dr. Larry Wimmers (Biological Sciences)

鈥淥olitic Limestone Bed within Appalachian Acadian Flysch鈥
Student: Alison Bradford
Mentor: Dr. Jonathan Filer (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淒etection of Illicit Synthetically Prepared Hormones Found in Ground Veal鈥
Student: Shawn Callahan
Mentor: Dr. James Saunders (MB3)

鈥淎voidance of Chemical Cues by the Northern Two-Lined Salamander, Eurycea bislineata
Student: Lisa Chicarella
Mentor: Dr. Donald Forester (Biological Sciences)

鈥淓valuating the effects of roadway derived Zn on the earthworm, Lumbricus terrestris, in an urban soil鈥
Student: Elluz Chong Qui
Mentor: Dr. Steven Lev (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淐haracterizations of Three Spiroplasma Strains Isolated from Leafhopper Insects鈥
Student: Grace Demehin
Mentor: Dr. Gail Gasparich (Biological Sciences)

鈥淪ynthesis of an Isotopically Labeled Acyclovir to Study Pharmacokinetics in Mice鈥
Student: Daniel Dougher
Mentor: Dr. Barry Margulies (Biological Sciences)

鈥淗ow are Arthropod Decomposer Communities Affected by Varying Deer Densitie蝉?鈥
Student: Daniel Ellis
Mentor: Dr. Harald Beck (Biological Sciences)

鈥淕enetic Analysis of Gopher Tortoises from Moody Air Force Base鈥
Student: Oluwarotimi Folorunso
Mentor: Dr. Colleen Sinclair (Biological Sciences)

鈥淒evelopment of Perovskite Manganite Thin Films for Uncooled Night Vision Sensors and Other Room Temperature Applications鈥
Student: Bao Ha
Mentor: Dr. Rajeswari Kolagani (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淭he Effect of Magnetic Field on Photoinduced Effects in Bi0.4Ca0.6MnO3
Student: Benjamin Hofmanng
Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淏uilding NXT Robot To Communicate With Existing Robots鈥
Student: Seungmin Kang
Mentor: Dr. Darush Davani (Computer and Information Sciences)

鈥淭he Fabrication of a Vector to Report HHV-6 Infection of Oligodenrocytes Using Fluorescence Microscopy鈥
Student: Eric Legenzov
Mentors: Dr. Barry Margulies & Dr. Larry Wimmers (Biological Sciences)

鈥淒etermining the Sensitivity of Gustatory Neurons in the Maxillary Styloconic Sensilla of Gypsy Moth Larvae鈥
Students: Timothy Martin and and Khalid Srour
Mentor: Dr. Vonnie Shields (Biological Sciences)

鈥淚nvestigating the Impact of Binge Eating on Anxiety in a Rodent Model鈥
Student: Heidi McGee
Mentor: Dr. Elizabeth Vaidya (Biological Sciences)

鈥淢ulti-Modal Communication Between Robots鈥
Student: Richard Murphy
Mentor: Dr. Darush Davani (Computer and Information Sciences)

鈥淚solation and Amplification of the psaI-R75 - accD Chloroplast Gene for Phylogenetic Inference among Species of Chrysothamnus
Student: Helen Naylor
Mentor: Dr. Roland Roberts (Biological Sciences)

鈥淕rowth of Juvenile Blacknose Dace (Rhinichthys atratulus) Along an Urban to Rural Gradient鈥
Student: Jennifer Rollins
Mentor: Dr. Joel Snodgrass (Biological Sciences)

鈥淎 Veterinary Use for Subcutaneous Implants to Treat FHV-1鈥
Student: Samantha Semenkow
Mentor: Dr. Barry Margulies (Biological Sciences)

鈥淒evelopment of an Easily Implemented Quantitative Assay for Unlabeled Acyclovir in Clinical Samples鈥
Student: Carmine Sonzone
Mentor: Dr. Barry Margulies (Biological Sciences)

鈥淚mproving the Phage Display Technique for Identifying Calcite-binding Peptides鈥
Student: Stephanie Stanley
Mentor: Dr. Ryan Sours (Chemistry)

鈥淚s Flow Preference of Individual Blacknose Dace (Rhinichthys atratulus) Dependent on Performance Ability or Environmental History?鈥
Student: Nicole Williamson
Mentor: Dr. Jay Nelson (Biological Sciences)


Undergraduate Research Grants in 2007 鈥 2008

鈥淗eteroepitaxy of Peroskite Metal Oxides Thin Films on Silicon: The Effect of Thermal Stress鈥
Student: Sanjay Adhikari
Mentor: Dr. Rajeswari Kolagani (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淪ediment Delivery Into the Confluence of Potomac & Shenandoah River鈥
Student: Daniel Benbow
Mentor: Dr. Jonathan Filer (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淭he Effects of White-Tailed Deer on Leaf Litter Ant Communities鈥
Student: Adam Busy
Mentor: Dr. John LaPolla (Biological Sciences)

鈥淭he Behavioral Effects of Chronically Elevated Stress Hormones鈥
Student: Charles Chambers
Mentor: Dr. Jack Shepard (Biological Sciences)

鈥淔luid Inclusion Analysis of Massive Anhydrite From the Manus Basin, Papua New Guinea鈥
Student: Michael Cotter
Mentor: Dr. David Vanko (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淚nvestigation of the Oxidation Growth Kinetics of Doped (La0.67Ba0.33MnO3) and Undoped (LaMnO3) Perskovite Films using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) lithography鈥
Students: Michael Earle and Marc Schneider
Mentor: Dr. David Schaefer (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淚dentification of TirA-associating Proteins in Dictyostelium discoideum
Students: Mike Elwarner, Jessica Leuschner and Leila Logue
Mentor: Michelle Snyder (Biological Sciences)

鈥淗ow are Arthropod Decomposer Communities Affected by Varying Deer Densitie蝉?鈥
Student: Daniel Ellis
Mentor: Harald Beck (Biological Sciences)

鈥淚dentification of Novel Gene Products Involved in Bacterial Recognition by Dictyostelium discoideum
Student: James Foley
Mentor: Michelle Snyder (Biological Sciences)

鈥淓xploration and Analysis of Transition Metal Complexes: The roles of Charge, Hydrogen Bonding, and Stereochemistry on the stabilization of Z-DNA鈥
Student: Bao Ha
Mentor: Dr. Richard Preisler (Chemistry)

鈥淚dentification of the Mechanism for Chiral Modification of Calcite Morphology by Aspartic Acid Enantiomers鈥
Student: Sausan M. Jaber
Mentor: Dr. Ryan Sours (Chemistry)

鈥淗igh Temperature Electronic Transport Properties of Bi1-x (Sr1- y Cay)x MnO3
Student: Khim B. Karki
Mentors: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淎n External Morphological Investigation of the Labial Palp Organ鈥
Student: Neal Karlin
Mentor: Dr. Vonnie Shields (Biological Sciences)

鈥淎ssessing the Presence of Antimony in Storm Water Retention Basin Soils in the Red Run Watershed, Owings Mills, Maryland鈥
Student: Meaghan Kimmitt
Mentor: Dr. Steven Lev (Physics, Astronomy and Geosciences)

鈥淗as Evolution Occurred in Ragweed in Response to Urban Environments鈥
Student: Tiha Long
Mentor: Dr. Larry Wimmers (Biological Sciences)

鈥淎nalysis of Microbial Communities Present During Post-Harvest Fermentation of Trinidadian Cocoa鈥
Student: Ashley Kurzweil
Mentor: Dr. Joy Watts (Biological Sciences)

鈥淪ensory Coding of Stimulants and Deterrents by Gypsy Moth Larvae: SA Neuropsychological Investigation鈥
Students: Timothy Martin and Khalid Srour
Mentor: Dr. Vonnie Shields (Biological Sciences)

鈥淓ffects of Predicted Sea Level Rise on Block Island鈥
Student: Vivian L. Moran
Mentor: Dr. David Vanko (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淒ecreasing Stereotypic Behaviors in Captive Rhesus Macaques (Macaca mulatta) with the Use of a Modified Foraging Enrichment Device鈥
Student: Shannon Murphy
Mentor: Dr. L. Scott Johnson (Biological Sciences)

鈥淣est-site Selection by Northern Two-lined Salamanders (Eurycea bislineata)鈥
Students: Schyler Nunziata, Emily Anderson and Christine Chun
Mentor: Dr. Donald Forester (Biological Sciences)

鈥淚nvestigation on Processes of Degradation of N-Methyl Carbamate Pesticides under Environmental Aquatic Conditions鈥
Student: Demar R.G. Pitter
Mentor: Dr. Clare Muhoro (Chemistry)

鈥淎 Controlled Method of Raising Blacknose Dace, Rhinichthys atratulus, in the Laboratory鈥
Student: Jessie Salmon
Mentor: Dr. Joel Snodgrass (Biological Sciences)

鈥淚nvestigating the Microbial Diversity in the GI Tract of the Wood Eating Catfish鈥
Student: Damian Smoot
Mentor: Dr. Joy Watts (Biological Sciences)

鈥淎 Novel Chromatographic Approach to Select Effective Peptide Modifiers of Calcium Carbonate Crystal Growth鈥
Student: Tissa J. Thomas
Mentor: Dr. Ryan Sours (Chemistry)

鈥淓ffects of Post-Deposition Thermal Annealing on the Properties of 鈥楥MR Manganite鈥 Thin Films鈥
Student: Gene VanMeter
Mentor: Dr. Rajeswari Kolagani (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淕rease Wipe: A Class Characteristic鈥
Student: Derrek Windsor
Mentors: Dr. Ryan Sours (Chemistry) & Dr. Dana Kollmann (Sociology, Anthropology and Criminal Justice)


Undergraduate Research Grants in 2006 鈥 2007

鈥淐alibration of Magnetic Force Between Atomic Force Microscope Tip and Titanium Current Nano-Ring鈥
Students: Sanjay Adhikari and Carey Baxter
Mentor: Dr. David Schaefer (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淓xamination of the Properties of CMR Thin Films under Different Deposition Properties of the Development Manganite Sensors鈥
Student: Sanjay Adhikari and Katie Walker
Mentors: Dr. Raj Kolagani & Dr. Grace Young (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淐haracterization of Dictyostelium discoideum Acyloxaycl Hydrolase Gene鈥
Students: Daniel Cassily and Dave Samaroo
Mentor: Dr. Michelle Snyder (Biological Sciences)

鈥淪tudy of I-V Characteristics in La0.7-yPryCa0.3MnO3 Thin Films鈥
Student: Anthony Davidson, III
Mentor: Dr. Raj Kolagani (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淓nzymes of Energy Supply and Spring Swimming Performance of Blacknose Dace (Rhinichthys atratulus) at Two Levels of Training鈥
Student: Alex Fishman
Mentor: Dr. Jay Nelson (Biological Sciences)

鈥淢easuring the Flux of Roadway Derived Metals in the Red Run Watershed, Owings Mills, Maryland鈥
Student: Robert Flora
Mentor: Dr. Stephen Lev (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淎nalysis and Characterization of a Novel Arabidopsis thaliana 狈-惭别迟丑测濒迟谤补苍蝉蹿别谤补蝉别鈥
Student: Kathleen Ketchum
Mentors: Dr. Cynthia Bolognese (Chemistry)

鈥淒etermination of the Rate of Guanosine from a Silicone Implant鈥
Student: Rachel Stephens-Kuester
Mentor: Dr. Barry Margulies (Biological Sciences)

鈥淧opulation Structure of Solidago sempevirens: An Obligate Halophyte Distributed Along the Chesapeake Bay鈥
Student: Wanda Massey
Mentor: Dr. Roland Roberts (Biological Sciences)

鈥淕enetic Diversity of terrestrial Snail, Ventridens ligera, Populations of Plummers Island鈥
Student: Rebecca McConnell
Mentor: Dr. Colleen Sinclair (Biological Sciences)

鈥淐haracterization of Dictyostelium discoideum Receptor/Lys M Domain-Containg Protein鈥
Student: Uju Nnameka
Mentor: Dr. Michelle Snyder (Biological Sciences)

鈥淚nvestigating Vulnerabilities of Bluetooth Technologies鈥
Student: Michael J. Orr
Mentor: Dr. Goran Trajkovski (Computer and Information Sciences)

鈥淧rocessing of Gustatory Information by Taste Organs in Gypsy Moth Larvae: An Electrophysiological Study鈥
Student: Nick Rich
Mentor: Dr. Vonnie Shields (Biological Sciences)

鈥淪ensory Complement Belt鈥
Student: Julius Schlosburg
Mentor: Dr. Goran Trajkovski (Computer and Information Sciences)

鈥淐atalytic Hydroboration of Vinyphosphines as a Route to Phosphany(organyl)boranes鈥
Student: Sonia Thangavelu
Mentor: Dr. Clare Muhoro (Chemistry)

鈥淎 New method to Treat Herpesvirus Infections鈥
Student: Rachel Zinsou
Mentor: Dr. Barry Margulies (Biological Sciences)


Undergraduate Research Grants in 2005 鈥 2006

鈥淎re activities of enzymes supplying immediate energy to muscle related to sprint swimming performance in blacknose dace (Rhinichthys atratulu蝉)鈥
Student: Angela Amato
Mentor: Dr. Jay Nelson (Biological Sciences)

鈥淔eeding Stimulant Mixtures on Deterrency in Gypsy Moth Larvae鈥
Student: Nicole Arnold
Mentor: Dr. Vonnie Shields (Biological Sciences)

鈥淚dentification of non-biting midgen (Cricotopus sp.) from Baltimore area streams, for use in the development of a DNA sequence catalog鈥
Student: Daniel Cassilly
Mentor: Dr. Colleen Sinclair (Biological Sciences)

鈥淎nalysis of In Vivo Acyclovir Release in Murine Models Using High Pressure Liquid Chromatography鈥
Student: Jason Cochran
Mentor: Dr. Barry Margulies (Biological Sciences)

鈥淒evelopment of NSMO thin films on Silicon for X-Ray Detector Applications鈥
Students: David Cox and Rajeh Mundle
Mentor: Dr. Rajeswari Kolagani (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淪tudy of Magneto resistance in La. PR. Ca3MnO3 thin films鈥
Student: Anthony Davidson
Mentor: Dr. Rajeswari Kolagani (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淧otential role of Corticotropin Releasing Factor (CRF) in Mediating Stress Potentiated Anxiety in Rats鈥
Student: Maudlyn Etekochay
Mentor: Dr. Jack Shepard (Biological Sciences)

鈥淓xtinction Patterns of the Frasnian-Famennian Boundary鈥
Student: Jamie Fleming
Mentor: Dr. Jon Filer (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淪tructural Analysis of Soapstone in Montgomery and Howard County Quarries鈥
Student: Brandon Glass
Mentor: Dr. Rachel Burks (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淣anolithography Using the AFM鈥
Students: Kyle Hall and Matthew Sneider
Mentor: Dr. Rajeswari Kolagani (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淐ompositional Analysis of Perovsike-Maganese Oxide Thin Films Using X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) Spectroscopy鈥
Student: Andrew Hurst
Mentors: Dr. Rajeswari Kolagani and Dr. Steve Lev (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淓ffect of Uptake Route on Bioaccumulation of Trace Elements in Larval Amphibians鈥
Student: Katherine Jackson
Mentor: Dr. Ryan Casey (Chemistry)

鈥淒evelopment and In Vitro Evaluation of a Transdermal Acyclovir Patch鈥
Students: Lucia Principe and Seyed Tofighbakhsh
Mentor: Dr. Barry Margulies (Biological Sciences)

鈥淚nvestigating Phylogenetic Relationships among Species of Chrysothamnus: An Evaluation of the Phylogenetic Utility of Seven Nuclear 骋别苍别蝉鈥
Student: Jonathan Soistman
Mentor: Dr. Roland Roberts (Biological Sciences)

鈥淓ffects of a Wetlands Drawdown on an Aquatic Snake鈥
Student: Nicole Wright
Mentor: Dr. Richard Seigel (Biological Sciences)


Undergraduate Research Grants in 2004 鈥 2005

鈥淚nertial Navigation Systemy鈥
Student: Jonathan Buck
Mentor: Dr. Goran Trajkovski (Computer and Information Sciences)

鈥淪etting up an Infrastructure for PYRO Robotics Experiments Based on the PYRO Software Package鈥
Student: Matthew Brake
Mentors: Dr. Goran Trajkovski (Computer and Information Sciences)

鈥淐haracterization of a Novel Spiroplasma Strain & Design of Spiroplasma Specific PCR Primers鈥
Student: R. Thomas Koerbe
Mentor: Dr. Gail Gasparich (Biological Sciences)

鈥淩NA Analysis & Differential Gene Expression in Blacknose Dace (Rhinichthys atratulus): Effects of Urbanization鈥
Student: Elizabeth Tall
Mentor: Dr. Gail Gasparich (Biological Sciences)

鈥淎 Novel Therapy for Herpesvirus Infections鈥
Student: Michael Carr
Mentor: Dr. Barry Margulies (Biological Sciences)

鈥淧hotoinduced Resistivity Changes in Bi0.4Ca0.6MnO3 Thin Films鈥
Student: Robert Kennedy
Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淩elaxation of Photoinduced Effects in Bi0.4Ca0.6MnO3 Thin Films鈥
Student: Robert Kennedy
Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淐ar Tires as a Source of Zinc to the Environment鈥
Student: Elizabeth Hamilton
Mentor: Dr. Steve Lev (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淕ene Identification in Corals: Understanding Gene Evolution for Cell Survival鈥
Student: Sovath Chum
Mentor: Dr. Colleen Sinclair (Biological Sciences)

鈥淒etermining the Provenance of Sediments Deposited During the Late Devonian Within the Central Appalachian Basin鈥
Student: Jason Dinh
Mentors: Dr. Jon Filer & Dr. Steve Lev (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淭he Urban Environment, Global Warming and Genetic Diversity in Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. (Common Ragweed)鈥
Student: John Maciolek
Mentors: Dr. Roland Roberts & Dr. Larry Wimmers (Biological Sciences)

鈥淧rehistoric Native American Soapstone Vessels and Quarries In and Around the Patuxent River鈥
Student: Laura Cohen
Mentor: Dr. Rachel Burks (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淪entry Unit鈥
Students: Richard Snyder, James Cox, Katrina Howard and Andrew Ajello
Mentor: Dr. Goran Trajkovski (Computer and Information Sciences)

鈥淓lectrophysiological Responses of Receptor Cells in the Galeal Styloconic Sensilla of Gypsy Moth Larvae: Tuning, Sensitivity, and Temporal Coding Properties鈥
Student: Joshua Swearingen
Mentor: Dr. Vonnie Shields (Biological Sciences)

鈥淭axonomical Analysis of Subfamilies of Robber Flies (Diptera asilidae) Using Molecular Techniques鈥
Student: Stephen Page
Mentor: Dr. Gail E. Gasparich (Biological Sciences)


Undergraduate Research Grants in 2003 鈥 2004

鈥淣ear Field Scanning Optical Microscope for Photoinduced Effect Study鈥
Student: Luis Adalco
Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淩obot Morphology Studies鈥
Student: Jeffrey Berg
Mentors: Dr. Darush Davani & Dr. Goran Trajkovski (Computer and Information Sciences)

鈥淩obot Morphology鈥
Student: Daniel Bittner
Mentors: Dr. Darush Davani & Dr. Goran Trajkovski(Computer and Information Sciences)

鈥淏iological Particle Adhesion and Materials Characterization Using the Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS)鈥
Students: Michael Buck and Carolyne Gikunju
Mentor: Dr. Steven Lev (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淭he Study of Macromolecular Bio-crystals Using Atomic Force Microscopy鈥
Student: Kevin Bunin
Mentor: Dr. David Schaefer (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淓ffects of Combining Selected Deterrent Phytochemicals on the Feeding Behavior of Gypsy Moth Larvae鈥
Student: Don Bunney
Mentor: Dr. Vonnie Shields (Biological Sciences)

鈥淪earching for Potential RNA Interference Targets鈥
Student: Steven D. Callahan
Mentors: Dr. David Rawn (Chemistry) & Dr. Goran Trajkovski (Computer and Information Sciences)

鈥淔luids Accompanying Tourmaline Growth Within Early Paleozoic Metasediments of the Maryland Piedmont: Fluid Inclusion Evidence鈥
Student: Cassandra Cook
Mentor: Dr. David Vanko (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淲ireless Interfacing With Brain Stem Robots鈥
Students: Adam Durana and Kevin Mager
Mentor: Dr. Goran Trajkovski (Computer and Information Sciences)

鈥淐amera Based Object Identifier鈥
Students: Gleb Gudzenko and Julius Schlosburg
Mentors: Dr. Darush Davani & Dr. Goran Trajkovski(Computer and Information Sciences)

鈥淎 Watershed Model for Minebank Run鈥
Student: Michael Hansei
Mentor: Dr. Brian Fath (Biological Sciences)

鈥淭he Geologic Character of the Former Upper Devonian Appalachian Mountain Belt鈥
Student: Maritza Mejias
Mentors: Dr. Jonathan Filer & Dr. Steven Lev (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淩are Earth Element and Trace Element Investigation of the Minerals Within the Loch Raven Schist鈥
Student: Francis McCubbin
Mentor: Dr. Steven Lev (Physics, Astronomy, & Geosciences)

鈥淧b-Pb Dating of Metamorphic Garnets from the Maryland Piedmont鈥
Student: Emily Neral
Mentor: Dr. Steven Lev (Physics, Astronomy, & Geosciences)

鈥淢easurement of Photo-Induced Resistance Change in Thin Films鈥
Student: Mason Overby
Mentor: Dr. M. Raj Rajeswari (Physics, Astronomy, & Geosciences)

鈥淭axonomical Analysis of Subfamilies of Robber Flies (Diptera asilidae) Using Molecular Techniques鈥
Student: Stephen Page
Mentor: Dr. Gail E. Gasparich (Biological Sciences)

鈥802.11G Networking Research and Implementation for the Robotics Laboratory鈥
Student: Vassilos Pirpiris
Mentors: Dr. Darush Davani & Dr. Goran Trajkovski (Computer and Information Sciences)

鈥淰ictim Acquisition Agent鈥
Student: Daniel Stamate
Mentors: Dr. Darush Davani & Dr. Goran Trajkovski (Computer and Information Sciences)

鈥淰ictim Acquisition Agent Project, Part 2鈥
Students: Matthew Roberts and Daniel Stamate
Mentors: Dr. Darush Davani & Dr. Goran Trajkovski (Computer and Information Sciences)

鈥淐harge Ordering in Bi1-xCaxMnO3 Thin Films鈥
Student: Luanje A. Tifang
Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy and Geosciences)

鈥淩esponses of a Headwater Stream Minnow to Various Stream Odors鈥
Student: Brittany Trushel
Mentor: Dr. Joel Snodgrass (Biological Sciences)


Undergraduate Research Grants in 2002 鈥 2003

鈥淪creening Deterrent Phytochemicals as Possible Biocontrol Agents Against Gypsy Moth Larvae鈥
Student: Kismet-Gerald Tetteh Agbasi
Mentor: Dr. Vonnie Shields (Biological Sciences)

鈥淓ffects of Adenosine and its Modulators on Regional Blood Flow鈥
Student: Haja Fatmata B. Bah
Mentor: Dr. Erik Silldorff (Biological Sciences)

鈥淚mprinting to Chemical Cues: The Basis for Home Pond Selection by Marbled Salamanders (Ambystoma opacum)鈥
Students: Jessica Blake and Richard Edmunds
Mentor: Dr. Don C. Forester (Biological Sciences)

鈥淢easuring of Fungal Spore Adhesive Forces using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) Techniques鈥
Student: Michael Buck
Mentor: Dr. David Schaefer (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淪ources of Late Devonian Sediments in the Appalachian Basin鈥
Student: John Burkley
Mentor: Dr. Steven Lev (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淎n Analysis of the Optimal Staffing Level of the Baltimore City Fire Department鈥
Students: Kristina Diaz, Michael J. Machovec, Peguy Pierre-Louis, Marco Radzinschi, Melissa Helene Rosendorf and Ian Stalfort
Mentors: Dr. Coy May & Dr. Andrew Engel (Mathematics)

鈥淗ow Plastic Are Feeding Preferences in Gypsy Moth Larvae?鈥
Student: Leila K. Dodson
Mentor: Dr. Vonnie Shields (Biological Sciences)

鈥淔luid Inclusions in Anhydrite from the Manus Basin (Papua New Guinea)鈥
Student: Kathryn Elizabeth Gatton
Mentor: Dr. David Vanko (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淐haracterization of Biological Materials Using the Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS)鈥
Student: Carolyne Gikunju
Mentor: Dr. David Schaefer (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淟inking External Morphology and Sprint Performance in European Sea Bass (Dicentrarchus labrax)鈥
Student: Corey A. Handelsman
Mentor: Dr. Jay Nelson (Biological Sciences)

鈥淯nderpotential Deposition of Lead Atoms on a Silver Surface鈥
Student: Lori Korczynski
Mentor: Dr. David Larkin (Chemistry)

鈥淒etermining if VirF Positively Activates Transcription of Shigella Virulence Genes by Direct Interaction with the Alpha Subunit of RNA Polymerase鈥
Student: Joseph Krecz
Mentor: Dr. Gail E. Gasparich (Biological Sciences)

鈥淏iostratigraphic Correlation of the Middle Devonian Mahantange Formation, Northeastern West Virginia and Southern Pennsylvania鈥
Student: Francis M. McCubbin
Mentor: Dr. Jonathan Filer (Physics, Astronomy, & Geosciences)

鈥淎n Investigation of Chlorine Isotope Fractionation in Ordovician Black Shales from Southwestern Wales鈥
Student: Patrick Thomas Morton
Mentor: Dr. Steven Lev (Physics, Astronomy, & Geosciences)

鈥淭hin Film Characterization for Photonic Device Application鈥
Student: Alozie Ikechukwu Nwoko
Mentor: Dr. Vera N. Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy, & Geosciences)

鈥淚nvestigation of Virus-like Particles from Spiroplasma Strain 5398 Isolated from Biting Midges鈥
Student: Marietta Oduor
Mentor:
Mentor: Dr. Gail E. Gasparich (Biological Sciences)

鈥淢ale-Biased Offspring Sex Ratio in the House Wren鈥
Student: Nicole Pellerite
Mentor: Dr. Brian Masters (Biological Sciences)

鈥淓stablishing a Workbench Setup for Robotics Experiments鈥
Student: Albert Gary Williams
Mentors: Dr. Darush Davani & Dr. Goran Trajkovski (Computer and Information Sciences)

鈥淪urface-Enhanced Raman Scattering from Molecules Adsorbed on Colloids and Nanoparticles鈥
Student: Ying Lung Tse
Mentor: Dr. Boon Loo (Chemistry)


Undergraduate Research Grants in 2001 鈥 2002

鈥淭ime Dependent Stability Studies of Chlorophylls a and b鈥
Student: Louie Alvano
Mentor: Dr. David Larkin (Chemistry)

鈥淚nvestigating the Origin of Pegmatites in the Baltimore Area鈥
Student: Shaun Barrow
Mentors: Dr. Rachel Burks, Dr. Steven Lev & Dr. David Vanko (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淓ffects of Hydrin Z on Cutaneous Electrical Properties In the Northern Grass Frog (Rana pipien蝉)鈥
Student: Dorothy Ann Borowy
Mentor: Dr. Jerry Robinson (Biological Sciences)

鈥淢easuring Fungal Spore Adhesive Forces Using AFM Techniques鈥
Student: Michael Buck
Mentor: Dr. David Schaeffer (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淪oil lead concentrations of Natural and Anthropogenic Origins in Towson Maryland USA and its Threat to Human Health鈥
Student: Justin Wayne Custer
Mentor: Dr. Steven Lev (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淭he Role of Substrate-bourne Chemical Cues During Predator Avoidance by the Two-lined 厂补濒补尘补苍诲别谤鈥
Student: Jeanette Dawson
Mentor: Dr. Don Forester (Biological Sciences)

鈥淧opulation Genetics of Eurycea junaluska in the Southern Appalachians鈥
Students: Andrew Eckert and Katie Smith
Mentor: Dr. Gail Gasparich (Biological Sciences)

鈥淭he Role of Substrate-borne Chemical Cues During Predator Avoidance by the Pigmy 厂补濒补尘补苍诲别谤鈥
Student: Matthew Evans
Mentor: Dr. Don Forester (Biological Sciences)

鈥淎n Experimental Determination of Microcline Dissolution Rates in an Artificial System鈥
Student: Patrick Hetzel
Mentor: Dr. Steven Lev (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淣anomechanical Study of Silicon Using Atomic Force Microscopy and X-ray Diffraction Techniques鈥
Student: Jeremy Robinson
Mentor: Dr. David Schaefer (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淎n Investigation onto the Mineralogy of Asteroid 4 Vesta鈥
Student: Amy Rosenberg
Mentors: Dr. Steven Lev & Dr. Alex Storrs (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

鈥淭ourmaline Occurences in the Setters Quartzite, Setters Schist, Cockeysville Marble, and Pegmatite Intrusion鈥
Student: Eric Watt
Mentor: Dr. Steven Lev (Physics, Astronomy, & Geosciences)


Undergraduate Research Grants in 2000 鈥 2001

鈥淭he Prevalence of Hematazoa in Cardinalis. Examining the Correlation between Plumage Brightness and Infections鈥
Student: Ms. Kimberly Briggs
Mentor: Dr. Scott Johnson (Biological Sciences)

鈥淐loning and Analysis of Plant PM H+-ATPases鈥
Student: Karen DeFeo

鈥淭he Effects of Predatory Fish on the Growth and Survivorship of Eurycea Larvae and Orconectes Crayfish in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park鈥
Student: Victoria Derr
Mentor: Dr. Don Forester (Biological Sciences)

鈥淢icrohabitat Preferences of Eurycea Larvae, with and without Orconectes 颁谤补测蹿颈蝉丑鈥
Student: Andrew Eckert
Mentor: Dr. Don Forester (Biological Sciences)

鈥淲atershed Urbanization: Effects on Swimming Performance of Blacknose Dace (Rhinichthys atratulus)鈥
Student: Portia Gotwalt

鈥淭axonomical Analysis of Subfamilies of Robber Flies (Diptera asilidae) Using Molecular Techniques鈥
Student: Anastasia Grigorieva

鈥淯nderpotential Deposition of Lead Atoms onto Silver Electrodes鈥
Student: Desmond Kaplan

鈥淒ietary Analysis of Snakes in the Great Smoky Mountain Range in Correlation with the Population Density of Streamside Salamanders鈥
Student: Thomas King
Mentor: Dr. Don Forester (Biological Sciences)

鈥淚dentification/Classification of Spiroplasma Strain 3597鈥
Student: Randolph Thomas Koerber

鈥淭he Study of Nanomechanical Properties of Silicon by use of Nanoindentation and X-ray Diffraction鈥
Student: Josh Robinson

鈥淭rophic Morphology and Resource Use Among Populations of Eurycea Salamanders in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park鈥
Student: Tonya Wolf
Mentor: Dr. Don Forester (Biological Sciences)

鈥淧opulation Genetics Study of Eurycea junaluska 厂补濒补尘补苍诲别谤鈥
Student: Annemarie Zabbara


Undergraduate Research Grants in 1999 鈥 2000

鈥淐ell Specific Expression Characterization of a Plant Ca 2+ ATPase鈥
Student: Christina Caplinger

鈥淭he Effects of Land Use on Algal Growth: Bioassay of Nutrient Stimulation and Toxic Effects鈥
Student: Carl Cappelletti

鈥淐haracterization and Classification of the First Spiroplasma Isolated from a Biting Midge (Forcipomyia gluaca) using Serological and Molecular Techniques鈥
Student: Adrienne Cottrell

鈥淩estriction Fragment Length Polymorphism Analysis of Group VIII Tabanid Spiroplasmas鈥
Students: Abram Geisendorfer, Cheryl Gardyn and Lisa DiStefano

鈥淐ross Species Amplification of Microsatellite Loci in Salamander Genomes鈥
Student: Chris Hofman

鈥淒evelopment of a Malaria Vaccine Using Recombinant Mycobacterium bovis BCG鈥
Student: Erin Kelleher

鈥淜inematic Analysis of Indicators Within the Gunpowder Shear Zone, Eastern Maryland Piedmont鈥
Student: Joseph Kopera

鈥淔iber degradation, energy loss, and digestive physiology of Panaque maccus
Student: Toba Niazi

鈥淭he Use of Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA Analysis in Typing Group VIII Spiroplasmas鈥
Student: Anna Segal, Stephanie Harrod and William T. Foreman