Undergraduate Research Updates: Fall 2011 Grant Winners Announced

The Office of Undergraduate Research administers several grants throughout the year that fund any full-time UVM undergraduates' research. Once students establish themselves in research environments (the office also mentors students as they consider research opportunities, and then coordinates their placements), they are encouraged to apply for these research awards. This past fall, students from across the university went through a rigorous application process for several different award opportunities. The following students received these competitive grants:

Mini Grants

Mini Grants are offered three times a year (Fall, Spring, and Summer), fund 35 students annually and provide up to $500 ($1000 in the summer) for research expenses that may include everything from art, office, or lab supplies, mileage to/from project site, data entry, transcription or translation, and many more things.

THE DEADLINE FOR SPRING 2012 MINI GRANTS IS: FEBRUARY 3, 2012

Fall 2011 Mini Grant recipients - Major, Title of Research (faculty sponsor):

• Emily Andersen, Animal Science, The Impact of Social Isolation on the Anxiolytic Effects of Exercise in C57 Mice (Wm. Falls)
• Kira Benson, Molecular Genetics, Dose Dependent Effects of Miochondrial Targeted Nitroxides on Malignant Mesothelial Cells (Nicholas Heintz)
• Chelsea Fifield, Social Work, The Professional Interface of Intimate Partner Violence and Restorative Justice (Gale Burford)
• Eliza Gardner-Morse, Biological Sciences, Reproductive Division of Labor in Forced Associations of Pogonomyrmex barbatus Ant Queens (Sara Helms Cahan)
• Cassandra Godzik, Neuroscience/Psychology, College Life Study (Jamie Abaied)
• Kristin Heller, Business Administration, How Corporate Social Responsibility Affects Job Seekers Perceptions of Potential Employers (David Jones)
• Ashley Jones, Medical Laboratory Sciences, Comparing Trypansma cruzi Infection rates in Insect Vectors in Bolivia (Lori Stevens)
• Danielle Leahy, Nutrition Food Sciences, Effects of Branched Chain Amino Acid Supplementation on DOMS (Stephen Pintauro)
• Catherine McGoldrick, Environmental Sciences, Post-Relocation Analysis of Compost Runoff at the Intervale Composting Facility in Burlington, VT (Donald Ross)
• Molly Morrissey, Biological Sciences, Assessing metabolic exertion during diel migration of Mysis relicta bioassays of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (Jason Stockwell)
• Ariel Robbins, European Studies, Women and the Vichy Ideal: Daily Life, Choice and Social Power under German Occupation in World War II (Steven Zdatny)
• Gain Robinson, Neuroscience, The Effects of Secretin on Extinction of Eyeblink Conditioning (John Green)
• Rachel Schneider, Social Work, Making a Better Place for Youth (Gary Widrick)
• Tessera Strand, Biochemistry, Kinetic Assay Analysis of Single-Point Mutation of Histidine tRNA Synthetase Escherichia coli Enzyme Equivalent of Human HARS Mutation Found in Usher-Like Syndrome (Christopher Francklyn)
• Loren Teetelli, Art History/Anthropology, Pre-Columbain Reinstallation Project at the Fleming Museum of Art (Wm. Mierse)

UROP

The Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) funds Honors College students in faculty-mentored research projects across all disciplines. Since Honors College students complete a thesis, practicum or creative project in their senior year, this program covers unusual expenses not normally incurred over the course of a typical class (e.g. necessary research travel, scientific equipment not already in the lab, certain kinds of computer software, etc). Awarded three times each year (Fall, Spring - due February 10, 2011, and Summer - due May 11, 2011) these awards are for up to $300.

Congratulations Fall 2011 UROP recipients! - Major, Title of Research (faculty sponsor):

• Meghan Arpino, Environmental Sciences, Lead and Phthalates at Home: Parental Awareness and Environmental Health Resources (Charlse Hulse)
• Eric Chase, Chemistry, Chemotherapeutic Drug Delivery to Cancerous Cells Using Silica Microspheres (Christopher Landry)
• Kelsey Cook, Plant Biology, A Mathematical Enquiry into the Boundaries Between Species and their Hybrids: The Case of Polypodium incognitum (David Barrington)
• Chelsea Fifield, Social Work, Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) (Holly-Lynn Busier)
• Kristin Heller, Business Administration, How Corporate Social Responsibility Affects Job Seekers Perceptions of Potential Employers (David Jones)
• Casey Manning, Public Communication, Perceived Effectiveness of Social Media Usage in Higher Education (Jane Koldinsky)
• Catherine McGoldrick, Environmental Sciences, Post-Relocation Analysis of Compost Runoff at the Intervale Composting Facility in Burlington, VT (Donald Ross)
• Ariel Robbins, European Studies, Women and the Vichy Ideal: Daily Life, Choice and Social Power under German Occupation in World War II (Steven Zdatny)