Seven University of Central Arkansas students were recently awarded Student Undergraduate Research Fellowship grants.
The SURF program allows undergraduate students to conduct in-depth research projects in their specific fields of study with faculty mentors.
The students and their research projects are:
*Justin Allen of Mt. Vernon was awarded a $3,900 grant. The project is titled, “Cloning by Yeast Gap Repair to Determine the Different Functions of the Homologous Proteins Mdv1 and Caf4”. Justin’s work focuses on the analysis of chimera proteins. The project will look at which domain of the protein determines the function for Mdv1 and which domain determines the function for Caf4. Justin will work with his mentor Dr. Kari Naylor, assistant professor of biology.
*Skipper Thurman of Mountain View was awarded a $3,900 grant. The project is titled, “The Design and Testing of a Novel Method to Measure Pain Withdrawal Threshold in Physiological Studies”. Skipper’s research seeks to improve established methods of pain measurement as well as contribute to the body of data involving diabetic neuropathy. Skipper will work with his mentor, Dr. Azida Walker, assistant professor of physics and astronomy.
*Danielle Tippit of Russellville was awarded a $3,900 grant. The project is titled, “The application of whole mount in situ hybridization as a new method to analyze gene expression in developing epidermal tissues in plants”. Danielle will be investigating a method called whole mount in situ hybridization, historically not used in plants, where she will be able to detect gene expression without the need to slice that tissue into sections. Danielle will work with her mentor Dr. J. D. Swanson, assistant professor of biology.
*Autumn Bewley of Jonesboro was awarded a $3,900 grant. The project is titled, “Immune Responses to a Nickel-based Anti-Tumor Compound in Both Mercury Susceptible and Mercury Resistant Mice”. This project is designed to assess immune responses to a Nickel-based compound to determine if this compound might be safely used as an anti-tumor drug in humans. Autumn will work with her mentor Dr. Ben Rowley, assistant professor of biology.
*Heather J. Clarke of North Little Rock was awarded a $3,900 grant. The project is titled, “Analysis of B-cell Antibody Gene Segment Use in Response to Mercury Treatment”. The specific aim of this project is to compare antibody gene segments used in mercury-treated (autoimmune) mice versus control mice. The results will indicate if mercury is capable of selecting for specific autoimmune antibody responses within the exposed group, similar to what might be expected in a human autoimmune response to mercury. Heather will work with her mentor Dr. Ben Rowley, assistant professor of biology.
*Lyndsey Ingram of Jonesboro was awarded a $3,900 grant for her project titled “Reliability and validity of measuring scapular upward rotation using an electrical inclinometer.” Her research study will attempt to validate the use of an electrical inclinometer to measure upward rotation of the scapula (shoulder blade). Lyndsey is an undergraduate student in the Department of Kinesiology & Physical Education and is majoring in Athletic Training. Lyndsey will work with her mentor Dr. W. Steven Tucker, an assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education.
*Ariel Adams of Conway was awarded a $ 2,250 SURF grant. The project is titled, “Test-Retest Reliability of the Family Paradigm Assessment Scale (F-PAS).” This project will measure the reliability of an instrument to help families identify their decision-making strategies which should be considered in family-centered clinical-decision-making by speech-language pathologists, audiologists, and other professionals. Ariel will work with her mentor Dr. Mary Jo Cooley Hidecker, assistant professor of speech-language pathology.
To be eligible, a student must have a minimum grade point average of 3.25, 30 or more hours of credit toward his or her degree, and the support of a faculty mentor. The program is open to all academic disciplines.
The SURF program is sponsored by the Arkansas Department of Higher Education.
