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Summer 2023 Summer Research Fellows announced

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Posted on Tuesday, May 9, 2023

The Westminster College Drinko Center for Undergraduate Research has awarded 10 fellowships for the seventh annual Summer Research Fellows program. 

Ten 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: 

Dane Fasick, a sophomore mathematics major from New Brighton, Pa., and Dr. Adam Blumenthal, assistant professor of math and computer science, on the project “Using Graph Theory to Explore Edge Burning in Graphs and Find the Edge Burning Number.”

Taylor Harman, a junior neuroscience major from Edinburg, Pa., and Dr. Deanne Buffalari, associate professor and chair of the psychology department, on the project “Does Stimulant History Affect Response to Nicotine in Rats?”

Emily Huff, a junior biochemistry from New Wilmington, Pa., and Dr. Marosh Furimsky, associate professor and chair of the biology department, on the project “Bisphenol F’s Effects on Gene Expression and Behavior in Zebrafish.”

Avery Keenan, a first-year environmental science major from Cranberry, Pa., and Dr. Patrick Krantz, associate professor of environmental science and director of Westminster’s Outdoor Laboratory, on the project “Temperature Regulation, Swarm Prediction and Honey Production at the Westminster College Apiary.”

Annika McCabe, a junior interdisciplinary major focusing on writing and film from Youngstown, Ohio, and Dr. Trisha Cowen, assistant professor of English, on the project “A Dissection of Trauma in the Horror Genre.”

Grace Phillips, a junior English major from Saxonburg, Pa., and Dr. Trisha Cowen, assistant professor of English, on the project “Bad Girl: An Examination of Flawed Female Characters in Contemporary Novels.”

Hannah Piccirilli, a junior majoring in neuroscience and international relations with a modern language emphasis from Erie, Pa., and Dr. Eric Fields, assistant professor of psychology, on the project “EEG Correlates of Memory Encoding and Consolidation from Emotional Stimuli.”

Lyddia Rougeux, a sophomore molecular biology major from Pittsfield, Pa., and Dr. Joshua Corrette-Bennett, associate professor of biology, on the project “Effects of an Inhibitory Molecule on Quorum-sensing Involved in Biofilm Production.”

Reid Sanderson, a first-year broadcast and sports communications major from Meadville, Pa., and Bradley Weaver, broadcasting and sports communications faculty, on the project “Project Green Screen.”

Amy Tutt, a junior biology and pre-veterinary science major from Poway, Calif., and Dr. John Robertson, associate professor of biology, on the project “Implications of Hypothyroidism on Reproductive Development in Xenopus laevis.”

The fellowship includes stipends for both the undergraduate researchers 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 for Undergraduate Research, at ugresearch@westminster.edu.  

Students pictured top left to right: Reid Sanderson, Dane Fasick, Grace Phillips, Annika McCabe and Emily Huff. Bottom left to right: Avery Keenan, Amy Tutt, Lyddia Rougeux, Taylor Harman and Hannah Piccirilli. 

Faculty pictured top left to right: Dr. Adam Blumenthal, Dr. Eric Fields.  Dr. Marosh Furimsky, Dr. Patrick Krantz and Bradly Weaver. Bottom left to right: Dr. Deanne Buffalari, Dr. Joshua Corette-Bennett, Dr. John Robertson and Dr. Trisha Cowen.