Current Academic Year Grant Recipients

The following students were awarded undergraduate student research and/or travel grants from the Fisher College.

Undergraduate Research Grants in 2022 – 2023    

“The Effects of TcpCon Model Systems Dictyostelium discoideum
     Student: Victoria Akingbehin
     Mentor: Dr. Michelle Snyder (Biological Sciences)

“Investigating the Relationship Between NADase and Ubiquitin Ligase Activity in TcpC”
     Student: Zachary Alexander
     Mentor: Dr. Michelle Snyder (Biological Sciences)s

“Investigating Seasonal and Yearly Variations in the Intestinal Microbiome of African Elephants (Loxondonta africana)”
     Student: Alexandra Amos
     Mentor: Dr. Petra Tsuji (Biological Sciences)

“Investigating Pgam2 at Transcription Level Of Septic Mice”
     Student: Hiba Awan
     Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hemm (Biological Sciences)

“Characterization of RpfB Riboswitch”
     Student: Swadha Bhatt
     Mentor: Dr. Ana Maria Soto (Chemistry)

“Single Particle Tracing Investigations of the Evolving Network Structure during Cross-linking Poly(thylene glycol)-based Hydrogels”
     Student: Rukhma Butt
     Mentor: Dr. Khanh-Hoa Tran-Ba (Chemistry)

“Using a qPCR Array to Determine Pathway Regulation Activated During Septic Shock”
     Student: Phoebe Calkins
     Mentor: Dr. Erin Harberts (Biological Sciences)

“Electronic Transport Properties of the Superconducting TiN-based Multilayers”
     Student: Adrian Campbell
     Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

“Search for ENZ Behavior in Fe-B Compounds”
     Student: Nathaniel Christopher
     Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

“Effects of TcpC's NADase Activity on Inhibition of Innate Immune Signaling”
     Student: Britney Erickson
     Mentor: Dr. Michelle Snyder (Biological Sciences)

“Reactivity of Parabens Towards Free Chlorine”
     Student: Kelsey Evans
     Mentor: Dr. John Sivey (Chemistry)

“Water Soluble Magic Numbered Gold Nanoclusters for Biological Applications”
     Student: Zara Freeland
     Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)

“Model System of Innate Immunity in Planaria Organisms”
     Student: Sarah Hamilton
     Mentors: Dr. Jack Shepard and Dr. Michelle Snyder (Biological Sciences)

“Population Genetics of Northern Map Turtles (Graptemys geographica) in the lower Susquehanna River”
     Student: Kaija Harlow
     Mentor: Dr. Steve Kimble (Biological Sciences)

“Evaluation of Dematin Expression in Endotexemic WT and TLR4 KO Mice”
     Student: Junela Hunat
     Mentor: Dr. Erin Harberts (Biological Sciences)

“THeat shock and 􀀀lonclp genetics altering effects on Escherichia coli
     Student: Chauncey Liffiton
     Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hemm (Biological Sciences)

“Electrochemistry Study of Gold-Nanoclusters: Effects on Methylene Blue Dye”
     Student: Everette McDuffie
     Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)

“Detection and Validation of Short Open Reading Frames in Escherichia coli
     Student: Grace Morris
     Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hemm (Biological Sciences)

“Simple Preparation of Primary Amines via Copper Catalysis”
     Student: William Schmidt
     Mentor: Dr. Gus Bakhoda (Chemistry)

“Gill Morphology of White Perch (Morone americana) Exposed to Hypoxia at Three Different Salinities
     Student: Riley Scott
     Mentor: Dr. Jay Nelson ((Biological Sciences)

“SERS Analysis of Organic Compounds in Gunshot Residue Using a Portable Raman Spectrometer”
     Student: Taylor Shafrovich
     Mentors: Dr. Mary Devadas and Dr. Ellen Hondrogiannis (Chemistry)

“Examination of Small Protein Accumulation During Conditions with Decreased Degradation Rate
     Student: Sampada Shrestha
     Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hemm (Biological Sciences)

“Total Synthesis of Cladosporitide A”
     Student: Olivia Sipes
     Mentor: Dr. Keith Reber (Chemistry)

“Synthesis and Characterization of Biicosahedral Au24Co Nanoclusters”
     Student: Desmond Smith
     Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)

“Detection of Proprogation of Electromagnetic Surface Waves Along the Silicon-titanium Boundary”
     Student: Daryna Soloviova
     Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

“Development of a Test for a Oathogen from the Middle East ”
     Student: Larissa Speaks
     Mentor: Dr. Kelly Elkins (Chemistry)

“Predation in the Orchid Mantis (Hymenopus coronatus): Effects of Prey Size on Prey Capture and Diet Determination through eDNA ”
     Student: Mary Sullivan
     Mentor: Dr. Christopher Oufiero (Biological Sciences)

“Bimetallic Superatom Bi-icosahedron Au25 Clusters: An Optical and Electrochemical Study”
     Student: Samantha Topka
     Mentor: Dr. Mary Sajini Devdas (Chemistry)

“Synthesis of Fungal Metabolite, Prunomarin A”
     Student: Matthew Vollmuth
     Mentor: Dr. Keith Reber (Chemistry)

“Synthesis of Mixed Bi-Icosohedron Nanoclusters with Increased Fluorescence”
     Student: Samantha Topka
     Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)

“Comparison of the Effects of Amino Acid Mutations on NADase Activity of Uropathogenic Escherichia coli and Acinetobacter baumannii TIR Proteins”
     Student: Tamara Vallejo-Schmidt
     Mentor: Dr. Michelle Snyder (Biological Sciences)

“Investigating the sORFs yjjY, bdm_osmC_2, thrW_ykfI_1, and ynef_yneG_0 as Potential Genes Encoding Small Proteins
     Student: Samantha Walunas
     Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hemm (Biological Sciences)

“Using Galvanic Exchange to make Gold based Ferrofluids for Biological Applications
     Student: Maria Webster
     Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)

“The Influence of Mandible Size on Prey Handling Time ”
     Student: Marlena Wood
     Student: Elizabeth McMillan
     Mentor: Dr. Christopher Oufiero (Biological Sciences)