UW Students to Present Research Work

July 16, 2004 -- University of Wyoming students will present their research projects Monday, Aug. 2 at the 12th annual UW McNair Scholar research conference.

The 16 students, who began the UW McNair Scholars Program June 1, will explain their findings from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. in Room 308 of the Classroom building. They conducted their research through the program, which prepares students from underrepresented groups for entry and success in doctoral degree programs.

To be eligible, students must meet certain federal income guidelines, have at least a 3.0 grade point average and be first generation college students (or of an underrepresented ethnic minority group). The scholarship includes a paid summer research internship in which students work with faculty and graduate student mentors to complete significant research projects.

For more information, call Susan Stoddard at (307) 766-6525 or Zackie Salmon at (307) 766-3818.

The McNair Scholars Program, funded by the U.S. Department of Education, is part of the federal TRIO programs that help students to overcome financial, cultural, social and academic barriers. UW has six TRIO programs with outreach sites located throughout the state.

UW McNair students presenting their projects, listed by hometown, name of project and UW faculty mentor are:

ALPINE -- Jaremy Creechley, physics junior, "Time Correlation Functions for Electron Transfer Rates in Anharmonic Solvents," faculty mentor Yuri Dahnovsky, Department of Physics and Astronomy.

CASPER -- Daniel Hill, molecular biology/microbiology senior, "Creation of a Recombinant Baculovirus Expression Vector Encoding Mammalian Sialic Acid Synthase and CMP-Sialic Acid Synthetase," faculty mentor Donald Jarvis, Department of Molecular Biology.

CHEYENNE -- Maricella Sanchez, sociology senior, "Measuring the Level of Solidarity in the Laramie and Cheyenne Chicano Community Among Immigrant and Non-Immigrant Chicanos," faculty mentor Margaret Zamudio, Department of Sociology.

DOUGLAS -- Amanda Graham, psychology senior, "Volunteer Bias in Sexual Assault History Research," faculty mentor Matthew Gray, Department of Psychology; and Brannon McCullough, physics/chemistry senior, "Optical Characteristics of Melanin-Pigmented Dermal Tissue," faculty mentors Cameron Wright and Steven Barrett, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

GLENDO -- Jody Sanborn, psychology senior, "An Investigation of Emotional Numbing in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder," faculty mentor Matthew Gray, Department of Psychology.


GRETNA, NEB. -- Sascha Rogers, zoology and physiology senior, "Investigation of Genetic Variability in the Prion Protein Gene of Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep," faculty mentors Elizabeth Williams and Jean Jewell, Department of Veterinary Sciences.

LANDER -- Colleen Boodleman, agroecology senior, "GIS Modeling: Investigating Population Densities and Changing Land Use Patterns in the River Njoro Watershed in Kenya," faculty mentor Scott Miller, Department of Renewable Resources.

KEMMERER -- Sherry Adrianos, molecular biology senior, "Spider Silk Protein Production and Purification Utilizing Yeast (Pichia pastoris)," faculty mentor Randy Lewis, Department of Molecular Biology.

NORTH PLATTE, NEB. -- Tina Maria Mayfield, psychology senior, "The Investigation of the Relationship between Need for Cognition and Pluralistic Ignorance Regarding Sexual Activity," faculty mentor Scott Freng, Department of Psychology.

POWELL -- Chelsa Harrison, political science senior, "Declining Voter Participation Among Young College Students Ages 18-29," faculty mentor Steven Van Winkle, Department of Political Science; and Makayla Allison O'Dell, social work senior, "Effects of Parenting Styles on Children with ADHD in Wyoming," faculty mentor James Smith, Department of Social Work.

RANCHESTER -- Coyle Neal, political science senior, "Roman Military and Political Reactions to Boudicca's Rebellion," faculty mentor Fred Homer, Department of Political Science.

RAWLINS -- Christian Valtierra , education senior, "Study to Understand Views on Mexican Culture and the Effects of the Study Abroad Programs," faculty mentor Francisco Rios, Department of Educational Studies.

THERMOPOLIS -- Tonya Lorenz, psychology senior, "The Relationship between Native American vs. Caucasian Stereotypical Crime and Internal vs. External Attribution Style," faculty mentor Martin Bourgeois, Department of Psychology; and Chadwick Vaupel, history senior, "Relationships between the 'Industrious Revolution' and Crime," faculty mentors Mark Potter and Kristine Utterback, Department of History.

Posted on Friday, July 16, 2004