The Westminster College Drinko Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning has awarded grants to six students to continue their undergraduate research.

"Enhancing opportunities for undergraduate research is an important component of the work of the Drinko Center in enriching undergraduate education," said Dr. Virginia Tomlinson, Westminster College associate professor of sociology and director of the Drinko Center. "The Undergraduate Research Initiative provides funding for students to conduct research and to present their research at regional and national conferences. So far this year six students have been awarded grants to conduct research."

The students who have received awards are:

Ashley Boucek, a senior molecular biology major, is a daughter of Albert and Lisa Boucek of Allison Park and a graduate of North Allegheny High School. She will use the grant to further her research on "Vitamin D metabolites and dedifferentiation inducing signals in Ambystoma mexicanum." She is working with Dr. Joshua Corrette-Bennett, assistant professor of biology.

William "Mike" Kochemba, a junior chemistry major, is a son of Brenda Kochemba-Heck and Chris Heck of Grove City and a graduate of Grove City Area High School. He will use the grant to continue his research on "Luminescence of lanthanide salts containing nitrosalicylaldehyde Schiff-base derived ligands." He is working with Dr. Peter Smith, assistant professor of chemistry.

Anna Montgomery, a senior molecular biology major, is a daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Montgomery of Cortland, Ohio, and a graduate of Lakeview High School. She will apply the grant to continued research on "Temperature-Dependent Rate of Limb Regeneration in Ambystoma mexicanum." Her adviser is Corrette-Bennett.

Shelley Perschke, a senior molecular biology major, is a daughter of Thomas and Jenny Perschke of Renfrew and a graduate of Butler Area High School. She will use the grant to further her research on "The Effect of Phthalates on HOXA13 in Ambystoma mexicanum." She is working with Corrette-Bennett.

Jennifer Steele, a senior chemistry major, is a daughter of Gregory and Susan Steele of Beaver and a graduate of Beaver Area High School. She will apply the grant to continued research on "The Synthesis of 1,4-Butanediol from Aldose and Ketose Sugars Using Wilkinson's Catalyst in Aqueous Solutions." Smith is her adviser.

Mallory Strickland, a senior biochemistry major, is a daughter of Howard and Deborah Strickland of North Huntingdon and a graduate of Norwin High School. She will apply her grant to further research on "The Effects of Therapeutic Touch on the Renaturation of Ribonuclease A." She is working with Dr. Helen Boylan, associate professor of chemistry.

All grant recipients are invited to participate in the Undergraduate Research Symposium held on campus in the spring.

Contact Tomlinson at (724) 946-6033 or e-mail tomlinvm@westminster.edu for additional information.