UW Undergraduate Research Day Set for April 29

April 24, 2006 -- University of Wyoming and state community college students will explain more than 220 projects during Undergraduate Research Day 2006, set for Saturday, April 29.

Oral presentations will be held in the College of Engineering building from 1-5 p.m. Poster presentations will take place in the Wyoming Union Family Room from 4:30-6:30 p.m.

“Look at the kind of work undergraduates are doing here at UW,” says Bill Gern, UW vice president for research and economic development. "It’s amazing and it underscores the fact that students have remarkable opportunities to spend a lot of one-on-one time with faculty, doing work that only graduate students do at many larger schools.”

Gern says surveys of UW graduates show that students who conducted undergraduate research found it to be one of the most important experiences or their undergraduate careers.

Individual presentations are limited to 15 minutes, followed by a five-minute question and answer session. Students will present research in areas such as agriculture, business, education, engineering, health sciences, biological and physical sciences, mathematical sciences, social sciences, and the arts and humanities. A complete list of student projects can be seen by visiting http://epscor-wise.uwyo.edu and clicking on "2006 Wyoming Undergraduate Research Day."

Research Day is sponsored by the UW offices of Research, Student Affairs, and Academic Affairs; and also, by the College of Arts and Sciences Summer Independent Study Program, the College of Agriculture, the College of Engineering, the College of Health Sciences, Idea Networks for Biomedical Research Excellence, UW Honors Program, Wyoming EPSCoR, the Wyoming NASA Space Grant Consortium, and the McNair Scholars Program.

For more information, call Barbara Kissack at (307) 766-2033 or e-mail bkissack@uwyo.edu.

Wyoming students who will present at Undergraduate Research Day, listed by hometown, major and title of presentation:

Big Horn -- Mandolyn Vendela, Kinesiology and Health Promotion and Spanish, "A Secondary Data Analysis of Body Mass Index Changes in Kindergarten-Sixth Grade Children Attending Two Wyoming Elementary Schools."

Big Piney -- Nick Smith, Electrical Engineering, "Greenskeeper Carl (Autonomous Greens Mower)."

Casper -- Amy Albertson, Molecular Biology, "Potential Mechanism for the Transmission of Chronic Wasting Disease Through Fecal Matter in Mule Deer"; Jason Casebolt, Biology, "Plastid ORF 470 Sequences of Eimeria Parasites"; Tyler Clayton, Computer Science, "Falsity: A Revolutionary Online Gaming Engine"; Brady Frude, Biology, "Isospora spp. in Whiptails from Guatemala" and "A Study of Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep Lamb Survival and Potential White Muscle Disease Due to Deficient Levels of Forage Selenium"; and Angela Granum, International Studies, "Ethnic Conflict and the Democratic Process: An Examination of Aymara and Quechua Indians in Bolivia."

Other presenters from Casper are T.J. Henderson, Civil and Architectural Engineering, "UW Police Station and Parking Garage"; Christer Karlsson, Mathematics and Computer Science, "An Ensemble of Network Intrusion Detection Systems"; Kalob Komma, Chemical Engineering, "Production of Diesel from Wyoming Coal"; Gavin Lawlis, Biology and Pre-Medicine, "Distribution and Diversity of DNA Bacteriophage Viruses in Aqueous Systems of the Rocky Mountains: A Metagenomic Approach"; Cheryl Mandich, Biology, "Plastid ORF 470 Sequences of Eimeria Parasites"; Courtney Martini, Biology, "Eimeria and Isospora Species From Small Mammals in China"; Carol Martinson, "Transit Design Group"; Jake Neumiller, Biology, "The Prevalence of Eimeria Species in Wyoming Ground Squirrels in Casper, Wyoming."

Other presenters from Casper are Laura Nickerson, Speech, Language and Hearing Science, "The Contribution of Child-Directed Speech to Children's Speech Sound Development: Linking Maternal Vowel Production to Children's Vowel Acquisition"; Leah Quealy, Biology and Pre-Medicine, "Isolation and Characterization of DNA Bacteriophage Viruses from Coalbed Methane Waste"; Catherine Leigh Reeves, Education, "The Bible in Shakespeare"; Alicia Roberts, Vocal Performance, "The Importance of the Italian Language to the Da Capo Aria Performance Practice"; Arik Smith, Biology, "The Prevalence of Eimeria Species in Wyoming Ground Squirrels in Casper, Wyoming"; Jessica Sundrell, Theatre and Dance, "Women of Lockerbie: Lighting a Modern Tragedy"; Sara Theiss, Biology, "Women As Aggressors: A Look at the Dynamics and Frequency of Female Perpetrated Domestic Violence."

Cheyenne -- Andrew Bastian, Chemical Engineering, "Production of Diesel from Wyoming Coal"; Chris Beatty, Electrical Engineering, "Smoke Alarm for the Hearing Impaired"; Andrew Catellier, Electrical Engineering, "Cranial Contral (Wheel) Chair"; Ryan Coulter, "Transit Design Group"; Emily Cram, Women's Studies and Sociology, "Compulsory Monosexism: Bisexual Epistemologies and the Challenge to Queer Movement Politics"; Brandon Drake, Anthropology and Biology, "Variation in Folsom Lithic Technology at the Barger Gulch Site."

Other Cheyenne presenters are Ashley Driscoll, Chemical Engineering, "Production of Diesel from Wyoming Coal"; Ryan Fertig, Civil Engineering, "Micro-Cracking in Carbon-Epoxy Composite"; James Hamilton, Chemistry and Biology, "Controlled Drug Delivery System through Covalent Bond"; Jihye Kim, Pharmacy, "Paradoxical Effects of Gingolide B on Cardiomyocyte Contractile Function Under Normal and High Glucose Environments"; Kevin Malatesta, Psychology and Anthropology, "Ethnography in Germany: Examining Xenophobia and Ethnocentrism Related to Turks and Muslims in Germany"; Perry McCollum, "Transit Design Group."

Other Cheyenne presenters are Ashley Nelson, Zoology and Physiology, "Ovulatory Model in Ovarian Cancer: Ovarian Response to Hormonal Stimulation in TP53-Deficient Mice"; Katrina Reed, Architectural Engineering, "Cornelius Cohousing Community"; Erin Shefferly, Zoology and Physiology, "Characterizing Structures of Recombinant PrP and Synthetic Spider Silk"; Josh Staley, Electrical Engineering, "Chess Automation Board (CAB)" and "Parallel Machines"; Qi Wang, Microbiology and Molecular Biology, "Expression of GFP by the GnRH Receptor Promoter."

Other Cheyenne presenters are Korie Whiteman, Secondary Mathematics Education, "Teaching Math in a Multi-Gendered Classroom: How Can Math Teachers Ensure That All Students Have an Equal Chance at Learning Math?"; Kathleen Wiser, English, "The Wheel Turns: Robert Jordan's Use of Genre in 'The Eye of the World'"; Sarah Wolff, Anthropology and History, "Antiquities Act of 1906: Why was Devils Tower the First National Monument?"; Brian Zuelke, Electrical Engineering, "Automatic Tape-Looping System: Prototype of a New Electronic Musical Instrument."

Chugwater -- Kurt Guidice, Civil and Architectural Engineering, "UW Police Station and Parking Garage."

Cody -- Charles Christensen, Finance, "UW Portfolio Management Program"; Erik Reynolds, Zoology and Physiology, "Light-Induced Oxidation and Reduction of Iron: A Primordial Iron Cycle on Earth and Mars?"; Beth Soltero, Athletic Training and Dance, "Achilles Tendon Rupture in Dancers."

Dayton -- Betsy Mock, Agroecology, "Spider Web: A Layman's Online Resource on Spiders."

Douglas -- Jennifer Nunn, Pre-Pharmacy," Overfeeding Induces Leptin Resistance Associated with Heart Dysfunction"; Anthony Roberts, Political Science, "Chinese Development of Southeast Asia: The Road to Hegemony"; Patrick Shea, Mechanical Engineering, "Analysis of Anisotropic Elastic-Plastic Properties of Titanium Tubing."

Evanston -- Katherine Codner-Galloway, "Transit Design Group"; D. Paul Denson, Computer Engineering, "Speech Recognition Telephone"; Joshua Wright, Civil and Architectural Engineering, "UW Police Station and Parking Garage."

Gillette -- Fred Isaack, Associate of Science, "Culturable Actinomycete Density in Sagebrush Rhizospheres"; Bryce Mayo, Biology, "Comparative Analysis of the Educational Systems of China and the United States"; Diane Mills, "Transit Design Group"; Michael Nielsen, Zoology and Physiology and Art, "Health Care in Rural Tanzania: An Educational Plan for Increasing Awareness and Understanding" and "Transit Design Group"; Jason Smith, Biology, "Antimicrobial Properties of Actinomycetes from Sagebrush Rhizospheres."

Green River -- Trevor Castillion, Computer Science and Management Information Systems, "Influences on a Visitor's Behavior at the National Mall in Washington D.C."; Christopher King, Conflict Studies and Psychology, "Religion as Nationalism Versus Religiosity: The Serbian Road to War"; Jessica Stevens, Molecular Biology; "Reevaluating Sialylation of Human Plasminogen in the Baculovirus-Insect Cell System."

Greybull -- Alyson Smith, Chemistry and Molecular Biology, "Spider Silk Expression in Alfalfa."

Huntley -- Cole Coxbill, "Transit Design Group."

Jackson -- Peter McCullough, "Transit Design Group."

Kemmerer -- Alisa Mori, Molecular Biology, "Genomic Organization of Spidracin Genes"; Zach Tyrell, Chemical Engineering, "CO2 Sorption in Ionic and Nanoparticle Membrane Material."

LaGrange -- John Miller, Mechanical Engineering, "Quadra-Cycle Modifications."

Lander -- Jennifer Harris, Microbiology, "Tracing Evolutionary Characteristics Using Protein Electrophoresis: An Examination of Three Genuses of Trout."

Laramie -- Rene Alber, "Transit Design Group"; Travis Baldwin, Civil and Architectural Engineering, "UW Police Station and Parking Garage"; George Franck, "Transit Design Group"; Rob Harder, "Transit Design Group"; Aaron Hockman, History, "Soldier's Time"; Aaron Hudlemeyer, Mechanical Engineering, "Mobility Aid for Disabled Canine"; Jeffery Lang, Mathematics, "Perturbations of Real Matrices and Their Singular Values"; Sean Ley, Mechanical Engineering, "Mobility Aid for Disabled Canine"; Paul Morgan, Psychology, "Into the Abyss, and the Arms of a Savior: On Being Bipolar and Christian"; Matt Russell, Mechanical Engineering, "Solar Powered Greenhouse Dehumidification System."

Other Laramie presenters are Christopher Schabron, Civil and Architectural Engineering, "UW Police Station and Parking Garage"; Patrick Shea, Mechanical Engineering, "Mobility Aid for Disabled Canine"; Megan Shiles, "Transit Design Group"; Erin Stoesz, Geology and Geophysics, "Detecting Surface Deformation of Volcanoes Using the Long Laser" and "Gaelic in the Fiddle: Exploration of the Factors Contributing to this Statement"; Bryce Straka, Mechanical Engineering, "Simple Solutions in Complex Systems: A Study of Liability Insurance Reform"; Friederike Tomasini, "Transit Design Group"; Cheri Weaver, Political Science, "Simple Solutions in Complex Systems: A Study of Liability Insurance Reform"; Brad Williams, Mechanical Engineering, "Solar Powered Greenhouse Dehumidification System"; Kristen Venner, "Transit Design Group"; Brett Zenisek, Mechanical Engineering, "Solar Powered Greenhouse Dehumidification System."

Lusk -- Tasha Moreno, Psychology, "Rape Myth Acceptance Among Undergraduate Males: The Effects of Gender Contest and Degree of Anonymity."

McKinnon -- Christopher Bergmeier, "Transit Design Group."

Moorcroft -- Kari Fuller, Electrical Engineering, "Parallel Machines."

Powell -- Micheal Asay, Jane Chun, Levi Collins, Tyler Cox, Kyle Fenton, Jack Leonhardt, Amanda Nutt, Vin Nyugen, Reuben Spomer, all biology students, "Antibiotic Activity of Bacteria From Alpine Tundra Soil"; and George Kimmet, Accounting, "So You're Thinking About Accounting: An Undergraduate's Guide to Studying and Practicing Accounting";

Rawlins -- Sara Babcock, Molecular Biology, "Construction of a COX3 and TRP1/LYS2 Clone" and "Redox Protein Modification Implicated in Diabetic Cardiomyopathy"; Brian Dean, Electrical Engineering, "Chess Automation Board (CAB)"; Steve Kaspar, Electrical Engineering, "Guitar Combo-Amp With Built-in Effects"; Leif Paulson, Chemistry, "Examining the Geometric Conformations of the Peptide Bond in Solid Hydrogen"; Michael Strand, History and Sociology, "Marx and Globalization."

Riverton -- Alyssa Cooper, Electrical Engineering and Molecular Biology, "Production of Recombinant Silk Proteins and the Formation of Synthetic Spider Silk Fibers"; Jennifer Jacobs, Business Administration and Finance, "Psychological Phenomena of the Holocaust"; Nicole Jordan, Chemistry, "New Hope for a Devastating Crisis: The Treatment of HIV and AIDS"; Karissa McNiven, Zoology and Physiology, "The Use of H2 Histamine Receptor Antagonists to Increase Tolerance to Heat Stress"; Adam Oman, Chemical Engineering, "Production of Diesel from Wyoming Coal"; Dale Smith, Management Information Systems, "Task Force for Program Advancement Web Interface System (TFPA-WIS)."

Rock Springs -- Jeremy Crandall, Civil and Architectural Engineering, "UW Police Station and Parking Garage"; Stephanie Hungerford, "Transit Design Group"; Andrew Kuhlmann, Political Science, "Malpractice Insurance in Wyoming: A Public Policy Analysis"; Katherine Rogers, Molecular Biology, "Discovering the Genetics Behind Hormone Signaling Pathways"; Nicole Sarff, Civil and Architectural Engineering, "UW Police Station and Parking Garage"; Ryan Starkovich, Civil and Architectural Engineering, "UW Police Station and Parking Garage."

Sheridan -- Justin Carroll, Electrical Engineering, "Variable Area Flow Meter Utilizing LVDT Resolver"; Dianne Reed, French and International Studies, "Xenophobia and Cocoa: Ethnic Dispute in Cote d'Ivoire"; Rebecca Tonak, Psychology and Communications, "Perception of Family and Friend Support and Social Participation Between Interracial and Same-Race Couples."

Shoshoni -- Michael Barber, Electrical Engineering, "Guitar Combo-Amp With Built-in Effects."

Sundance -- Caitlin Gade, Medical Microbiology, "Cloning, Expression, and Testing of a Novel Brucella Antigen in an Improved Diagnostic Assay for Sheep Brucellosis"; Megan Schnorenberg, Mathematics, "Historical Perspectives on Prime Numbers and Their Influence on the RSA Cryptography."

Ten Sleep -- Brittany Cherry, English, "Identity in Francis Hodgson Burnett's 'A Little Princess' and 'A Secret Garden.'"

Thermopolis -- Kellie Nelson, Communication and Political Science, "Metaphors of Mormonism"; Gavin Phillips, Computer Engineering, "Cranial Contral (Wheel) Chair" and "Fast Object Recognition"; Laura Vietti, Geology and Geophysics, "Disaggregation of Quartzite Enclaves in the S-type Vega Pluton, North-Central Norway."

Torrington -- Mike Bostick, Mathematics, "Some Results on Stochastic Differential Equations: Theoretical and Numerical Results"; Patrick Harris, Psychology, "Social and Individual Differences that Effect Marriage Happiness."

Winter Haven -- Seth Hansen, Agroecology, "Appropriate Strategies for the Safe Use of Wastewater in Urban Agriculture of Sub-Saharan Africa."

Worland -- Michelle Neumann, English and International Studies, "African Feminism and the War for Biafra: Representations of Women's Participation in Achebe's Girls at War and Emecheta's Destination Biafra"; Lindsay Pahl, Zoology and Physiology, "Seasonality and Tachykinins"; Travis Thompson, Chemistry, "Characterization and Detection of Hydroxylated Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Metabolites Utilizing Liquid-Liquid-Liquid Microextraction and Solution Fluorescence Spectroscopy"; Jordan Wilde, Business Administration, "Joseph Smith: Portrait of a Prophet."

Posted on Monday, April 24, 2006