Campus laboratories are active places during the Summer 2018 semester, as 12 Student
Research Fellowship projects are being investigated by undergraduate and graduate-level
students.
Grants administrator Wendy Stapp, with the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, said the Office of the Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs provided funding for 10 of these projects, with additional support received from the College of Arts, Sciences and Education to finance two SRF proposals.
“We had 18 project applications, a variety of proposals offered by a number of university colleges,” Stapp said. “All of the projects that were given support are underway, with students being paid over a three-month period for their work as principal investigators. Their faculty mentors receive stipends to cover supplies and other costs that result from these activities.”
Michael Reger, an assistant professor of Public Health in the College of Health Professions, is supporting Breanna Frasher, a third-year student in the program, as she researches Phytoestrogen Release and the Risk of Total and Advanced Colorectal Cancer.
“I think this is a great project, particularly if Breanna were considering a Master of Science degree,” Reger said. “The research work allows her to determine if this type of work is something she wants to keep doing, while gaining the advantage of having her name included in a published study.”
Reger said Frasher is immersed in background work, including the interpretation of various pieces of literature, and as a student research fellow will help to develop the manuscript of their publication.
“Learning how to analyze data is a valuable asset for any student considering going on to a graduate-level program, and is a skill set prospective employers are looking for,” Reger said. “This kind of research will set Breanna apart as it is of great assistance in pursuit of a leadership position.”
Here are the other SRF programs supported by the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs:
Student Research Fellow: Jesse Birsching, Optometry
Faculty mentor: Dr. Amy Dinardo, Michigan College of Optometry
Project: “Not a Dry Eye in the House?: A Clinical Analysis of the Meibomian Gland
Structure and Function in Patients Without Dry Eye Disease”
Student Research Fellow: Andrew Bobian, Pre-Pharmacy
Faculty mentor: Dan Adsmond, College of Arts, Sciences and Education, Physical Science
Project: “Using Amidines as Centerpieces of Ternary Cocrystal Design”
Student Research Fellow: Roan Fahey, Biology
Faculty mentor: Christopher Westerkamp, College of Arts, Sciences and Education,
Biological Sciences
Project: “Effect of Chronotype and Time of Day on Exercise Performance”
Student Research Fellow: Zackary Hren, Chemistry
Faculty mentor: Luis Rivera, College of Arts, Sciences and Education, Physical Sciences
Project: “Pressure Effects on the Relaxation of an Excited Ethane Molecule in an
Argon Bath”
Student Research Fellow: Tayler Jones, Pharmacy
Faculty mentor: Kim Hancock, College of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Science
Project: “Dissolution of Antidepressant Medications in a Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy
Dissolution Simulation”
Student Research Fellow: Samuel Joseph, Pre-Pharmacy
Faculty Mentor: Luis A. Rivera, College of Arts, Sciences and Education, Physical
Sciences
Project: “A Molecular Dynamics Study of an Order-Disorder Trannsition in a Small
Confined System”
Student Research Fellow: Micaela Rice, Pre-Pharmacy
Faculty Mentor: Dan Adsmond, College of Arts, Sciences and Education, Physical Sciences
Project: “Investigation of Amide Coformets for Sulfa Drug Cocrystals”
Student Research Fellow: Gregory Shaffer, Pharmacy
Faculty mentor: Jennifer Lamberts, College of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences
Project: “Understanding the Role of Neuroinflammation in Parkinson’s Disease”
Student Research Fellow: Heidi Stultz, Pharmacy
Faculty mentor: Qian Ding, College of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences
Project: “Prevalence of Antipsychotic Medications Prescribing Errors for Elderly
Patients Based on Medicare Claims Data”
Student Research Fellow: Megan Van Baren, Pharmacy
Faculty mentor: Felix Amissah, College of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences
Project: “Impact of Cyclooxygenase Inhibitor/Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Combination
on Rho GTPase Function in Lung Cancer Cells”
Student Research Fellow: Jacklyn Zvonar, Biology/Pre-Medicine
Faculty mentor: Changqi Zhu, College of Arts, Sciences and Education, Biological
Sciences
Project: “Mechanistic Study of the Role of Atg Genes in Fruit Fly Lifespan Regulation
through Adult Muscle Tissues”
Each student research fellow will present their findings at a symposium to be held Wednesday, Aug. 22 in Room 126 of the Science Building, beginning at 2 p.m.
PHOTO CAPTION: Breanna Frasher, a third-year Public Health student from Beaverton
(left) is completing a Student Research Fellowship at Ferris State University this
summer. She is studying Phytoestrogen Release and the Risk of Total and Advanced Colorectal
Cancer with the support of assistant professor of Public Health Michael Reger.