Students Receive Grants for Undergraduate Research Presentation

The Westminster College Drinko Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning awarded undergraduate research grants to 10 students to present their research at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) April 10-12 at Salisbury (MD) University.

NCUR, established in 1987, is dedicated to promoting undergraduate research, scholarship, and creative activity in all fields of study by sponsoring an annual conference for students. Unlike meetings of academic professional organizations, this gathering of young scholars welcomes presenters from all institutions of higher learning and from all corners of the academic curriculum. Through this annual conference, NCUR creates a unique environment for the celebration and promotion of undergraduate student achievement, provides models of exemplary research and scholarship, and helps to improve the state of undergraduate education.

NCUR 22 will bring together undergraduates involved in scholarly and artistic activities from more than 300 colleges and universities in the nation. Since the first conference in 1987, NCUR has grown to become a major annual event drawing well over 2,200 undergraduates, faculty, and administrators to promote undergraduate research in all fields of study.

One benefit of presenting at NCUR is the opportunity for students to publish their work in the Conference Proceedings, which is distributed to institutions across the nation. All student presenters at the conference are invited to submit manuscripts for review. Submitting work to the Proceedings has many advantages, especially the opportunity to receive comments from faculty outside the student's college or university, which enhances the paper for submission to other sources in the student's field; and the opportunity to list the publication on résumés for graduate and professional school applications.

Westminster students who will present their research are:

John Barley, a senior biology major, is a son of John Barley of Beaver Falls and a graduate of Blackhawk High School. He will present "Ethanol Exposure at Varying Developmoental Time Points Differentially Affects Eye Patterning in Zebrafish Embryos." His adviser is Dr. Marosh Furimsky, Westminster College assistant professor of biology.

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 present "Vitamin D Metabolites and Dedifferentiation Inducing Signals in Ambystoma Mexicanum." Dr. Joshua Corrette-Bennett, Westminster College assistant professor of biology, is her adviser.

Dana Larson, a senior mathematics major, is a daughter of Richard and Dawn Larson of Warren and a graduate of Warren Area High School. She will present "Optimal Strategies for High Low Guessing Game." Dr. Carolyn Cuff, Westminster College professor of mathematics, is her adviser.

Andrew Miller, a senior history major, is a son of Bruce and Lorie Miller of Erie and a graduate of McDowell High School. He will present "'Basileu Neonymphe, Theos Diaphylaxei Se': An Analysis of the Byzantine Royal Wedding Ceremonies Contained in the De Ceremoniis Aulae Byzantinae." Dr. A. Dwight Castro, Westminster College professor of classics, is his adviser.

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 present "Temperature-dependent Rate of Limb Regeneration in Ambystoma Mexicanum." Corrette-Bennett is her adviser.

Nicole Panza, a senior mathematics major, is a daughter of Nancy Panza of Glenshaw and Louis Panza of Eighty Four. She is a graduate of Shaler Area High School. She will present "Applications of Game Theory to Student Peer Evaluations." Cuff is her adviser.

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 present "The Effect of Phthalates on HOXA13 Expression in Regenerating Limbs of Ambystoma Mexicanum." Corrette-Bennett is her adviser.

Bethany South, a senior sociology major, is a daughter of Sandra South of Bradford and a graduate of Bradford Area High School. She will present "The Effects of Dormitory Housing and First-Year Program on the Development of Social Capital." Dr. Virginia Tomlinson, Westminster College associate professor of sociology and director of Westminster's Drinko Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, is her adviser.

Anna Maria Sparacino, a senior mathematics major, is a daughter of Christopher and Sharon Sparacino of Verona and a graduate of Saint Joseph High School. She will present "The Evolution of the ABO Blood Group: A Mathematical Model." Cuff is her adviser.

Amy Whitling, a senior psychology major, is a daughter of Nelson and Linda Whitling of Shippenville and a graduate of Clarion Area High School. She will present "Source of Self-esteem, Similarity, and Competition among College Roommates during the First Year of College." Dr. Sherri Pataki, Westminster College assistant professor of psychology, is her adviser.

Three additional Westminster students' research was accepted, but the students are unable to attend:

Cory Criss, a senior biochemistry major, is a son of Terry and Caroline Criss of Beloit, Ohio, and a graduate of West Branch High School. His research is "Gold Mediated Cellular Delivery of Anticancer Drugs." Dr. Peter Smith, Westminster assistant professor of chemistry, is his adviser.

Christine Eaton, a senior biology major, is a daughter of Bradley and Cynthia Eaton of Keswick, Va., and a graduate of Monticello High School. Her research is "The Effects of 2,3,7,8 Tetrachlorodibenzo-P-Dioxin Exposure on Cardiac Development and Function in Zebrafish." Furimsky is her adviser.

Kristin Nelson, a senior sociology-criminal justice and English major, is a daughter of Karen Nelson of White Oak and a graduate of McKeesport Area High School. Her research is "The Decline of Social Connectivity Related to Stress, Depression, Isolation, and Suicide in College Students." Her advisers are Tomlinson and Dr. Kristin Park, Westminster associate professor of sociology.

"Enhancing opportunities for undergraduate research is an important component of the work of the Drinko Center in enriching undergraduate education," said Tomlinson. "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 over 80 students have been awarded grants to conduct and present research."

All grant recipients are invited to participate in Westminster's Undergraduate Research Symposium held on campus April 19.

Contact Tomlinson at (724) 946-6033 or e-mail tomlinvm@westminster.edu or visit www.westminster.edu/drinko for additional information. Visit www.ncur.org to learn more about NCUR or http://www.salisbury.edu/ncur22 for more information about this year's conference.