SURF 2012 Awardees

We are pleased to announce our Summer Undergraduate Research Fund awardees for Summer 2012.  Sixty-four students recieved SURF awards for Summer 2012, the largest group we’ve ever funded!

Project Title:  Improving Efficiency of Narrative Discourse Analysis in Persons with Brain Injuries
 Alexandra Addabbo, Communications Disorders
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Carl Coelho, Department of Communications Disorders

Project Title:The Role of BspA-like Protein in the Microbial Gut Community of Reticulartermes Flavipes and Identification of Species that are Involved in Lignocellulose Degredation
Adam Bartholomeo, Molecular and Cell Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Daniel Gage, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology
Named Award: Ocean Rain Family Foundation Fund for Summer Undergraduate Research Award

Project Title:  Surveying the Self-Medication Practices of Adults with Sickle Cell Disease
Courtney Beyers, Nursing
Faculty Mentor: Victoria Odesina, DNP, Department of Nursing

Project Title: Investigating of an Efficient System to Harvest Clean Energy from Structural Vibrations
Bryan Blanc, Civil Engineering
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Ramesh Malla, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Named Award: The DeMaio Family Summer Undergraduate Research Fund

Project Title:  Investigating of an Efficient System to Harvest Clean Energy from Structural Vibrations
Kelsey Bloc, Chemical Engineering
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Yong Wang, Department of Chemical, Materials, and Biomolecular Engineering

Project Title:  On the Semantic Organization of Concrete and Abstract Terms: a Follow-up to Dunabietia et al. 2009
Christopher Brozowski, Cognitive Science
Faculty Mentor: Dr. James Magnuson, Department of Psychology

Project Title:  Psychological and Emotional Factors to Development in Young Adults with HIV
Jenna Burns, Nursing
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Elizabeth Anderson, Department of Nursing

Project Title:  An Investigation into the Synthesis and Reaction Properties of Sulfur Monoxide
Casey Camire, Chemistry
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Nicholas Leadbeater, Department of Chemistry

Project Title: The Impact of the Zebra Mussel (Dreissena Polymorpha) Invasion in the Hudson River on the Feeding Ecology of Three Larval and Juvenile Fish Species
Grace Casselberry, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Eric Schultz, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Project Title:  Interfaces Between Two Polymorphs of Natural Crystal Titanium Dioxide
Jason Chan, Materials Science and Engineering
Faculty Mentor: Dr. C. Barry Carter, Department of Chemical, Materials, and Biomolecular Engineering

Project Title:  Role of CELF4 in the Differentiation and Maturation of the Retinal Ganglion Cell Layer
Sean Condon, Physiology and Neurobiology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Rahul Kanadia, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology

Project Title: The Functionality of Bacteriorhodopsin Mutants for the Detection of hazardous Chemicals
Edward Courchaine, Structural Biology/Biophysics
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Robert Birge, Department of Chemistry
Named Award: Doug Anton Award

Project Title:  Enhancing Autistic Children’s Communicative Skills
Darryl Cummings, Biomedical Engineering
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Anjana Bhat, Department of Kinesiology
Named Award:  The McKinney-Lindsay Family Award

Project Title:  A Method for Observing the Development of Biofilms on Water Purification Membranes in Real Time
Jacob Deneff, Chemical Engineering
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Leslie Shor, Department of Chemical Engineering

Project Title:  Better Defining the Habitat Characteristics that Effect the Survival of Death of Newly Planted Eelgrass Beds
Jennifer Dootz, Marine Science
Faculty Mentor: Dr. James Vaudrey, Department of Marine Science

Project Title: Sexual Imprinting in Betta Splendens
Steven Ehrlich, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Eric Schultz, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Named Award: Mark E. Karp Award

Project Title: Effort-Related Impairments Produced by Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines
Brian Epling, Individualized and Interdisciplinary, Behavioral Neuroscience
Faculty Mentor: Dr. John Salamone, Department of Psychology

Project Title:  Eurycea Bislineata Embryonic Development: Revisited 101 Years Later
Taylor Ferguson, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Elizabeth Jockusch, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Project Title: Pax7, MyoD and Myogenin Expression in the Lambs of Over and Underfed Ewes
Rachel Forbes, Animal Science
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Sarah Reed, Department of Animal Science

Project Title: The Somatotropic Axis in the Nutritionally Compromised Ewe
Student Apprentice:  Michelle Forella, Department of Animal Science
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Steven Zinn, Department of Animal Science
Named Award: Treibick Scholar

Project Title:  Intra-uterine Growth Retardation in Sheep
Amanda Fox, Animal Science
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Steven Zinn, Department of Animal Science

Project Title: Restoring Effort-Related Functions in Models of Depression Symptoms: Reversing Fatigue Symptoms Induced by Tetrabenazine with the Adenosine A2A Antagonist Msx-3
Charlotte Freeland, Physiology and Neurobiology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. John Salamone, Department of Psychology

Project Title: The Effect of Land Locking an Aquaporin Expressino in the Intestinal Epithelium of Alosa Pseudoharengus (alewife)
Emily Funk, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Dr. Eric Schultz, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Named Award: Mathew Jasinski Award

Project Title: A Pilot Study of a Rodent Model of HI Brain Injuries of Prematurity
Haley Garbus, Psychology
Dr. Roslyn Holly Fitch, Department of Psychology
Named Award: College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Deans Award

Project Title: Investigation of the Mechanism of Cellular Toxicity of Silica Particles
Alexandra Goetjen, Molecular and Cell Biology
Dr. David Knecht, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology
Named Award: Alan Bernstein Award

Project Title: Understanding the Host Cell Factors that Drive Actin Pedestal Assembly During Enterohemorrhagic E. Coli Infection
Sarah Grout, Biological Sciences
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Kenneth Campellone, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology
Named Award: College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Deans Award

Project Title: Copenhagen as a Canvas: a Study of the Presence of Street Art
Karolina Hac, Art History
Faculty Mentor:  Dr. Jean Givens, Department of Art and Art History

Project Title: Characterization of Dicer Expression in Abnormal Skin Types
Katherine Han, Molecular and Cell Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Sam (Soheil) Dadras, Department of Genetics and Developmental Biology

Project Title: Supramolecular Polymerization from Branched Macromolecules
On-You Jung, Chemistry
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Yao Lin, The Institute of Material Sciences

Project Title: Analysis of the 2012 Connecticut Redistricting Comprehensive Electoral and Demographic Data
Christopher Kempf, Political Science
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Ronald Schurin, Department of Political Science
Named Award: Christopher M. Lewis Fund

Project Title:  Are New England and Eastern Cottontails Competing for the same food resources?
Samantha Kremidas, Natural Resources
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Morty Ortega, Department of Natural Resources and Environment

Project Title: Development of Behavioral Endpoints for Mummichog (Funding Geteroclitus) as a Toxicology Model for Estuarine Environments
Tanya Lama, Natural Resources Management
Faculty Mentor: Dr.Thijs Bosker, Department of Natural Resources and the Environment
Named Award: Mr. Michael Alpert and Ms. Ariana Napier Honors and Enrichment Scholarship

Project Title: Serum Type II Collagen Telopeptide (CTX II) Levels in a Rabbit Septic Arthritus model
Juliana Lau, Biological Sciences
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Mark Lee, M.D., Department of Orthopaedics
Named Award: College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Deans Award

Project Title: Slowing, Cooling, and Laser Spectroscopy of CaF
Tony Le, Physics
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Edward E. Eyler, Department of Physics
Named Award: College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Deans Award

Project Title: Measuring the Affinity Between Translation Factor BipA and the 70S Ribosome
David Levitz, Structural Biology and Biophysics
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Victoria Robinson, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology

Project Title: Inherit the Culture: Traditional Puppetry in China
Xingxin Liu, Puppet Arts
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Bartolo P. Roccoberton, Jr., Department of Dramatic Arts

Project Title: Analysis, Probability, and Mathematical Physics on Fractals
Jason Marsh, Mathematics
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Alexander Teplyaev, Department of Mathematics
Named Award: Trimble Family Award

Project Title: A Descriptive Study of Postoperative Pain Management for Opiod Tolerant Patients
Casey Martin, Nursing
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Deborah McDonald, Department of Nursing

Project Title: Synthesis and Characterization of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles
Nathan Martin, Materials Science and Engineering
Faculty Mentor: Dr. C. Barry Carter, Department of Chemical, Materials and Biomolecular Engineering

Project Title: Effect of Maternal HyD Supplementation on Fetal Bone Development in Pigs
Katelyn McFadden, Animal Science
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Kristen Govoni, Department of Animal Science

Project Title: Chronic Administration of the Non-Competitive NMDA Antagonis, Ketamine: Can Parvalbumin Positive Interneuron Loss be Related to Deficits in Cognition?
Casey McMahon, Psychology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. James Chrobak, Department of Psychology

Project Title: Functional Characterization of the Reconstituted ADP/ATP Carrier by Luminescence
Catherine O’Brien, Molecular and Cell Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Nathan Alder, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology
Named Award: College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Deans Award

Project Title: Functional Analyses of the Developmental Genes Fringe, Frizzled, and Dishevelled in Appendage Patterning in the Red Flour Beetle Tribolium Castaneum
Devin O’Brien, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Elizabeth Jockusch, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Named Award: College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Deans Award

Project Title: Ranavirus in Connecticut: a Potential Threat to Local Amphibian Populations
Kelly O’Connor, Natural Resources Conservation
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Tracy Rittenhouse, Department of Natural Resources and the Environment
Named Award: Sterling – Wasserman Family Award

Project Title: Design a Microfluidic Protozoa Separator for Genetic Analysis of Microbial Eukaryotes in Termine Guts
Erika Orner, Pathobiology and Veterinary Sciences
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Leslie Shor, Department of Chemical Engineering
Named Award: Treibick Scholars

Project Title:Translating Period Costume for Modern Theatre
Christine Ostner, Design/Technical Theater
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Laura Crow, Department of Dramatic Arts
Named Award: Robert and Elizabeth Subkowsky Award

Project Title: Population Structure and Territoriality in the Invasive Ant
Anne O’Sullivan, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Eldridge Adams, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Named Award: Ocean Rain Family Foundation Fund for Summer Undergraduate Research Award

Project Title: Bacterial SmtA as an Antioxidant that Influences Bacterial Survival in a Mammalian Infection
Neyati Patel, Biomedical Engineering
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Michael A. Lynes, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology
Named Award: Treibick Scholars

Project Title: Toward an Understanding of Performance Contents for the Carols of the Ritsor Mannuscript, BL Add. 5665
Anastasia Pilato, Music History
Faculty Mentor:  Dr. Eric Rice, Department of Music
Named Award: Dr. Roger Cherney Award

Project Title: Impact of Statistical Salience on Metonymy Resolution
Robert Powers, Cognitive Science
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Whitney Tabor, Department of Psychology and Linguistics
Named Award: College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Deans Award

Project Title: Development of a Computer Model for Melanoma Metastasis
Priya Ranade, Biological Sciences
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Michael Lynes, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology

Project Title:From Blank Page to Final Bow: a Comprehensive Approach to the Creation of 21st Century American Opera
Spencer Reese, Music
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Constance Rock, Department of Music
Named Award: Dr. Roger Cherney Award

Project Title: Integrating Vision and Speech: a Window Into the Developing Mind
Arielle Rubin, Psychology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Heather Bortfeld, Department of Psychology
Named Award: Ocean Rain Family Foundation Fund for Summer Undergraduate Research Award

Project Title: A “Helpless” System for the Generation of Recombinant Vaccinia Viruses
Ethan Sarnoski, Pathobiology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Paulo Verardi, Department of Pathobiology

Project Title: Remembering the Holocaust and Combatting Indifference: the Jewish Museum Berlin
David Schwegman, History
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Cathy Schlund-Vials, Department of English and the Asian American Studies Institute
Named Award: Virginia DeJohn Anderson Award

Project Title: The Reflection of Human Capitalist and Discrimination Theory in Public and Private Gender Wage Gap Policies
Claire Simonich, Political Science
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Virginia Hettinger, Department of Political Science
Named Award: The DeMaio Family Summer Undergraduate Research Fund

Project Title: Characterization of Equine Satelite Cells
Tymoteusz Siwy, Animal Science
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Sarah Reed, Department of Animal Science

Project Title: Optimization of pH by the Injection of CO2 for the Best Compromise Between Productivity and Production Costs for Garcilaria Tikyahaie Nursery Systems
Philip Speirs, Psychology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Charles Yarish, Department of Biology

Project Title: Estrogen Control of SOX9 in Human Pluripotent Embryonal Carcinoma NT2/D1 Cell Line
Robert Stickels, Molecular and Cell Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Andrew Pask, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology

Project Title: Looking to the SKY: Chromosomes and Cancer
Parker Sulkowski, Molecular and Cell Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Rachel O’Neill, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology

Project Title: Characterization of Ependymal Barrier Integrity in the Human Brain
Ye Sun, Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Joanne Conover, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology

Project Title: The Role of Adiponutrin Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms on the Genetic Predisposition to Fatty Liver in Dairy Cattle
Molly Viner, Animal Science
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Heather White, Department of Animal Science
Named Award: Treibick Scholars

Project Title: Irish Revel Songs: Spreading the Word
Christopher Wasko, Music
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Mary Ellen Junda, Department of Music
Named Award: Robert and Elizabeth Subkowsky Award

Project Title: Stochastic Analysis, Lyapunov Exponents
David Wierschen
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Alexander (Sasha) Teplyaev, Department of Mathematics

Project Title: Functionalization and Analysis of Graphene Oxide and Its Applications
Adam Woomer, Chemistry
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Douglas Adamson, Department of Chemistry

Project Title: Signal Detecting Theory for Detecting Sound Periodicity
Cheng Yang, Biomedical Engineering
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Heather Reed, Department of Psychology
Named Award: Treibick Scholars

Project Title: Reconstruction of Rhodopsin in Nanodiscs and Lipodisq Complexes
Diane Yu, Structural Biology/Biophysics
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Arlene Albert, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology
Named Award: Dr. John Tanaka Academic Enhancement Fund for Honors