Undergraduate Research
Filter Undergraduate Research
Shamsolzaman Faramarzi, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Physics
Areas of Study: Applied Physics, Nanomaterials, Optics
Research Interests with Students: Fabrication of nanomaterials based on laser technology with applications in different areas such as: Medicine, Environment, electronics, Energy sources….
Megan Pannell, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Biology
Areas of Study: Cellular and Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Cell Signaling
I have previously used bacteria, eukaryotic cell culture, and mice as model organisms for biofilm, cancer and traumatic brain injury research.
Research Interests with Students: bacterial quorum sensing, biofilms, native plants as antimicrobials, and always open to student ideas and interests!
Tom Gonzalez, Professor of Mathematics & Computer Science
Areas of Study: Mathematics, Computer Science, Information Technology
Research Interests with Students: graph theory, web app development, mobile app development, cybersecurity
Chuck Fink, Ph.D. , Associate Professor of Biology
Areas of Study: Neuroscience, Cell Biology, Cancer Biology, Cell Culture, Microscopy
Research Interests with Students: Examples of recent student projects include using cell culture and fluorescence microscopy to study organelle structure, intracellular calcium signaling, and the effects of anti-cancer treatments. I’m open to discussing new project ideas.
Annabelle McKie-Voerste, Ph.D. , Assistant Professor of Biology
Areas of Study: Ornithology, evolution, and marine biology.
Research Interests with Students: Currently setting up a jellyfish research laboratory where we can test optimal care conditions such as feeding rate, temperature variation, and preferred planula settlement substrate.
Christopher Manis, Assistant Professor of Biology; Research Associate
Areas of Study: Population Ecology; Conservation
Research Interests with Students: Population Ecology of Aquatic Turtles, Snakes, Salamanders, and Tree Frogs; Heavy Metals Presence in Aquatic Turtles; Conservation of Imperiled Species of Turtles and Tortoises.
John Lugthart, Professor of Biology
Areas of Study: aquatic ecology; stream invertebrates, effects of ecological restoration
Research Interests with Students: water quality assessments, ecology of stream invertebrates
During 2022, I will be working with students in assessing macroinvertebrate communities and water quality in a section of Mill Creek bordering the property of Park Creek Elementary School and students sampling turtles in a wetland on the same property. Students who have an interest in streams and rivers, water quality, and aquatic plant and animal communities are welcome to talk with me about research possibilities.
April A Kay, Ph.D. , Professor of Biology
Areas of Study: Microbiology, Biotechnology, Biomolecular Science
Research Interests with Students: Microbial and Algae Biotechnology, Study Aquatic ecosystems with algae and brine shrimp, microbial xylitol synthesis, microbial sugar metabolism research, natural antimicrobials, and probiotics.
Dr. Susan Eastman, Ph.D. , Associate Professor of English
Areas of Study: Contemporary American Literature; Cultural Studies; War literature, films, and memorials; Graphic Novels; Environmental Humanities (memorials, place/space/affect, literature about/set in our region)
Research Interests with Students:
Visual rhetoric, war memorials; place/space affect theory; Environmental Humanities
Elizabeth P Dunaway, Ph.D. , Associate Professor of Psychology
Areas of Study: comparative cognition; learning and behavior; cognitive and behavioral psychology
Research Interests with Students: Pavlovian and operant learning strategies used across species (specifically rats, betta fish, and humans); spatial navigation strategies used by betta fish; the effects of emotion and attention on pain tolerance in humans; eyewitness memory
Research
Welcome to our undergraduate research page. The purpose of this page is two-fold. We want to introduce students to the wonderful research experience spread across our world class faculty and to also present students with individual undergraduate research opportunities with faculty who are prepared to work with them.