| |
| Current Research |
| Identifying Oak (Quercus) species at Pierce Cedar Creek using amplifications of the matK gene. |
| Kirsten Borek |
|
Oak species hybridize within across species fairly readily, which makes identification of them through morphological characteristics very difficult in the field. Through the use of DNA isolation, amplification, and sequencing, we were able to compare DNA sequences of the matK gene region of various oak species and their hybrids. Ideally, the sequences will be very similar from oak samples of the same species, and more different when compared to samples from different species.
Planned presentations: (1) Pierce Cedar Creek Institute on September 19. (2) Poster at West Michigan Regional Undergraduate Science Research Conference on October 31. |
|
|
| |
| Teresa Buiocchi |
 |
As a Personal Care R&D Intern, I am working on three intertwined projects at Amway. (1) Understanding G&H Body Shampoo in the Chinese market based on a usage and attitudes study prompted by a drop in market share, (2) cost analysis of polymers, and (3) in-vitro studies to test irritation levels of formulas.
I will be presenting at Amway's World Headquarters on August 6 at 1 p.m.
Faculty mentor Dave Fochtman; Funded by Amway. |
|
|
| |
| Determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) using polymerized ionic liquid (PIL)-coated fibers with SPME-GC-FID |
| Katie Brandt |
 |
Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) is a technique used to pre-concentrate chemical compounds from various matrices by exposing a coated fiber to the sample. This fiber is then desorbed in a gas chromatograph where the analytes are separated. In this project, new coatings based on polymeric ionic liquids (PILs) were used to identify the optimal extraction parameters for harmful aromatic compounds (polyaromatic hydrocarbons). The effect of extraction parameters on the fiber reproducibility was examined. |
| Graduate student mentor Yunjing Meng; Faculty advisor Dr. Jared Anderson; Funded by NSF grant |
|
|
| |
| Is Sexual Behavior in the American Cockroach (Periplaneta Americana) Innate or Modified by Experience? |
| James Carrow |
 |
| Results to be presented in the fall of 2009 to the Aquinas College community and later to The West Michigan Regional Undergraduate Science Research Conference in October 31, 2009. |
| |
| |
| Faculty mentor Dr. Tom Bahl;
Funded by Mohler Summer Research Grant |
|
|
|
| |
| The Ethnogeography of Grand Rapids – 1920 |
| Nicole Caswell |
 |
A systematic sampling of the residents of Grand Rapids, Michigan from the 1920 US Census with special emphasis on the spatial and aocioeconomic characteristics of immigrant populations. The spatial distribution of the residents is compared to qualitative descriptions of immigrant neighborhoods and enclaves revealing significant variations between the census data and previously published historical analysis. Planned presentation at the East Lakes Divisino of the American Association of Geographers Conference in Dayton, Ohio, on October 24, 2009. |
| Faculty mentor Dr. Rich McCluskey;
Funded by Mohler Summer Research Grant |
|
|
| |
| K-step Domination |
| Ember Clark |
 |
We worked at and succeeded in deriving formulas for a few different kinds of graphs which would yield the domination number of the graph when given "n" and "k." We did this mostly by constructing efficient dominating sets and finding upper bounds, lower bounds, and patterns. We are also striving to make some more general statements involving diameter, radius, and center. Poster session at Aquinas College on October 1, 2009. |
| Faculty mentor: Dr. Joe Spencer;
Funded by Mohler Summer Research Grant |
|
|
| |
| Identifying the non-fuel layers formed from biodiesel fuels |
| Caylee Fias |
| During this summer's research, we worked with biodiesel fuel to identify the different compounds present in the two non-fuel layers that occur during formation of the fuel. The present compounds included soaps, glycerol, methanol, water and another carbon-based compound we were unable to study fully during our time this summer. We also determined many simple ways to extract the soaps present in the non-fuel layers and tested the extracted soaps for their effectiveness in cleaning grease. Planned presentation at Aquinas in September, 2009. |
| Faculty mentor Sister Katrina Hartman;
Funded by Mohler Summer Research Grant |
|
| |
| Rebecca Hyatt |
 |
The goal of our summer research is to study the cleaving effects of the streptococcal enzyme, IdeZ, on human IgG, one type of antibody in the human immune system. We are also exploring the relationship between the enzyme's ability to cleave IgG in the presence of iodoacetate, a known inhibitor, and cystatin c, which has been shown to enhance enzymatic activity in previous studies. Planned presentations: (1) Michigan Branch of the American Society for Microbiology Fall 2009 (2) West Michigan Regional Undergraduate Science Research Conference on October 31, 2009. |
| Faculty mentor Dr. Jen Hess;
Funded by Mohler Summer Research Grant |
|
|
| |
| Nested Hyperbolic Polygons |
| Jillian Russo |
 |
We studied hyperbolic polygons. Jillian discovered some constructions which, combined with hyperbolic trigonometric formulas, give us all the angles, lengths and areas of the hyperbolic polygons and parts of hyperbolic polygons. We use her construction to prove the constructible hyperbolic regular polygons have the same number of sides as the constructible Euclidean polygons. We have a paper entitled, "Nested Hyperbolic Polygons," has been accepted at the Rose-Hulman Undergraduate Math Journal. |
| Faculty mentor Dr. Mike McDaniel;
Funded by Mohler Summer Research Grant |
|
|
| |
| Low temperature transcriptional networks and their effect on the transcript of cold-regulated genes in Arabidopsis thaliana |
| Elliot C. Sedlecky |
 |
|
| Faculty mentor: Dr. Sarah Jane Gilmour and Principal Investigator Dr. Mike Thomashow at Michigan State University; Funded by the MSU Undergraduate Summer Research Experience in Plant Genomics |
|
In this lab, we are particularly interested in identifying and understanding the low temperature transcriptional networks that plants have evolved to survive freezing temperatures. Specifically, I am working with Arabidopsis thaliana t-DNA insertion mutants in transcription factors that are believed to have roles in the low temperature transcriptional network. I am examining these knock-out mutants for changes in expression of cold-regulated genes in response to low temperature. I am using quantitative Real-Time PCR (qRT-PCR) to examine the transcript levels of these genes in the mutant plants compared with that of wild-type plants. The goal is to better understand cold acclimation with an ultimate goal of decreasing crop loss due to freezing temperatures. |
|
|
| |
| Molly Soper |
My project for the summer was to consolidate 4 methods of testing sunscreen actives by HPLC into one in order to increase the Amway quality assurace lab efficiency. In addition, I optimized the method in order to use less solvent and decrease waste. I presented at Amway on August 27, 2009.
|
| Mentor: Kem Charron; Funded by: Amway |
|
| |
| Eric Tank |
| An Exploration of Iconography in the Eastern Churches |
 |
My goal was to explore the icon tradition of the Eastern Churches by studying the particular method and style of Western Ukrainian Iconography. I was able to accomplish this goal by writing an icon in studio, learning the theory of iconography through lecture, and understanding the historical development of iconography by participating in various excursions to museums, churches and monasteries. My research was conducted at the Ukrainian Catholic University in L'viv Ukraine. Presented a general historical overview of iconography in Dr. Marko's Eastern Christian Churches class this semester. |
| Faculty mentor Dr. Robert Marko; Partial funding from Aquinas Student Senate Grant |
|
|
| |
| Joanne Vanderhyde and Alyssa Fleser |
|
|
| |
| Van Andel Institute (VAI) Student Independent Study |
| Christopher Madziar - The Characterization of Mucin-1 and its Associated Proteins That Carrythe Concanavalin A and Bauhinia Purpurea Lectin Binding Moieties. Intern at the Laboratory of Cancer Immunodiagnostics at VAI. |
| |
| Emily Popma - Mutagenesis of GCCR and PTH1R as Part of the Construction of Inducible Expression Systems for GPCRs. Intern at the Laboratory of Structural Science at VAI. |
| |
| Marian Testori - Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1: Incorporation of Mutant VP16 into the Viral Genome. Intern at a Laboratory at VAI. |
|
