Ferris State University students granted fellowships to spend their summer gaining
valuable research experience will present their findings during a symposium at 2 p.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 21 in the Interdisciplinary Resource Center, Room 120.
A dozen students participated in the Student Research Fellowship program, designed to support intensive full-time research projects between faculty and students during the 10-week summer semester. Each student will give a brief presentation on the progress they made this summer; additional time to discuss the projects will be available during a reception following the event at 4 p.m. in the IRC lobby, said Karen Strasser, director of academic research and grants for the Office of Academic Research.
Since it began in 2011, students from several disciplines offered at Ferris have researched a wide range of topics, from architectural theories to racial tolerance to sunlight’s role in melanoma. Lauren Clements, a Biotechnology major from Alto, was granted another fellowship to continue her cancer research efforts in Biology professor James Hoerter’s undergraduate research lab. Watch a video about Clements’ work in Hoerter’s Melanocyte Stem Cell Lab.
Student Research Fellows for the Summer 2013 semester are:
- Kelley Bearer, a Communication major: “Development of Web-Searchable Data Bases for Mindfulness and Contemplative Research and Practice in Higher Education” with George Nagel, professor of Communication (College of Arts, Sciences and Education)
- Lauren Clements, of Alto, Biotechnology major: “Autofluorescent Melanocyte Damage Probe Test” with James Hoerter, professor of Biology (College of Arts, Sciences and Education)
- Spencer Crittenden, of Rockford, Biotechnology major: “The Effect of Yeast Available Nitrogen (YAN) Level on Fermentation and End Product Characteristics in Wine and Beer” with Mark Thomson, associate professor of Chemistry (College of Arts, Sciences and Education)
- Tyler Felty, of Cedar Springs, Psychology major: “Menerva in Etruscan Art: Warrior-hood, Motherhood, and the Role of Women in Ancient Tuscany” with Rachel Foulk, assistant professor of Art History and Humanities (College of Arts, Sciences and Education)
- Trevor Fosso, of Pennock, Minn., Doctor of Optometry major: “Investigation of the Common Factors that Contribute to Multifocal Contact Lens Success” with Amy Dinardo, assistant professor of Optometry (Michigan College of Optometry)
- Scott Kollmeyer, of Tustin, Doctor of Pharmacy major: “Determination of Estriol Concentration in Various Non-Pharmaceutical Preparations of Topical Estrogen Cream” with faculty mentors Stephen Lee, associate professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Kim Hancock, professor of Pharmaceutics (College of Pharmacy)
- Shaughna Langerak, of Howard City, Biotechnology/Environmental Biology major: “TGF-B Signaling Mediated Aging Process in Adult Fruit Flies” with Changqui Zhu, associate professor of Biology (College of Arts, Sciences and Education)
- Nathan Richmond, of Big Rapids, Technical and Professional Communication major: “Assessments of Content Quality: Comparing Typed and Voice-to-Text Technologies” with Paul Zube, assistant professor (College of Arts, Sciences and Education)
- Melanie Ronquillo, of Waterford, Graphic Design major: “Empathy in Design Research” with faculty mentor Peter Zakrzewski, assistant professor of Graphic Design (College of Business)
- Daniel Tiesman, of Grand Rapids, Doctor of Pharmacy major: “Develop a Bariatric In Vitro Dissolution Method” with Kim Hancock, professor of Pharmaceutics (College of Pharmacy)
- Ashley Wachowicz, of Brant, Biology major: “The Effect of UVB on UVA-Damaged Regenerated Adult Melanocytes” with James Hoerter, professor of Biological Sciences (College of Arts, Sciences and Education)
- Catherine Plischke, of Grosse Ile, Pre-Med/Forensic Biology major: “The Effect of Spinal Cord Injury
on Learning and Memory: Enhancement with Exercise” with Mary Zimmer, associate professor
of Biology (College of Arts, Sciences and Education)
For additional information on the Student Research Fellowship program, visit here.