Summer 2022 Summer Research Fellows announced

The Westminster College Drinko Center for Undergraduate Research has awarded eight fellowships for the sixth annual Summer Research Fellows program.

Eight student-faculty pairs were selected for the highly competitive research fellowship. Student and faculty pairs from all academic disciplines were encouraged to apply.

This year’s fellowship winners and their projects are:

Caroline Fox, a junior biology major from Acton, Calif., and Dr. Marosh Furimsky, professor and chair of the biology department, on the project “Examining the Effects of Aspartame on Zebrafish Development.”

Aidan Guzma, a senior neuroscience major from Clinton, Pa., and Dr. Deanne Buffalari, associate professor of neuroscience and chair of the psychology department, on the project “What Role Does Hormone Replacement Therapy Play in Behavioral Responses When Exposed to Acute Stressors?”

Lauren Millhorn, a senior English major from Rogers, Ohio, and Dr. Trisha Cowen, assistant professor of English, on the project “’What Manner of Man is This?:’ Religious, Postcolonial, Feminist, and Sexual Representations of Vampiric ‘Others’?”

Emma Parker, a junior biochemistry major from Poolesville, Md., and Dr. Diana Ortiz, associate professor of biology, on the project “Field Collection of Mosquitos in Taboga, Costa Rica, for Determination of Mosquito Fauna Diversity.”

Jacob Patton, a senior chemistry major from Harrisville, Pa., and Dr. Helen Boylan, professor of chemistry and chair of the Center for the Environment, on the project “Determination of Phosphorus Concentration in a Lake and Surrounding Fields and Streams.”

Natalie Rose, a junior biochemistry major from Streetsboro, Ohio, and Dr. Patrick Lackey, assistant professor of chemistry, on the project “Characterization of the Binding Between Different mRNA Intermediates and 3’hExo.”

Madelyn Scarmack, a junior biology major from Sharon, Pa., and Dr. Joshua Corrette-Bennett, associate professor of biology, on the project “The Effect of Beta-alanine on Wound Healing and Limb Regeneration of Axolotl.”

Megan Strohmenger, a senior biology major from Olmstead Falls, Ohio, and Dr. Ann Throckmorton, professor of biology, on the project, “Determining the LC50 of Oxtinoxate for the Sea Anemone Aiptasia Pallida.”

The fellowship includes stipends for both the undergraduate researcher and their faculty mentor to work on a research project of their choosing for four to six weeks.

The Drinko Center for Undergraduate Research also covers housing costs for recipients who wish to reside on campus for their research period.

For more information, please contact Dr. Karen Resendes, director of the Drinko Center, at 724-946-7211.

Pictured above, clockwise, are Emma Parker, Lauren Millhorn, Aidan Guzma, Caroline Fox, Madelyn Scarmack, Megan Strohmenger, Jacob Patton and Natalie Rose. 

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