UCARE Projects Funded for 2005-2006
Accountancy
Rachel Stigge (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Janice Lawrence
Gender Composition of the Board of Directors and Financial Statement Restatements
Fraud is becoming a serious issue in the business world today. Many firms have had to be restated and their financial statements have been questioned. Studies have shown that women are less likely than men to commit fraud and so women are better trusted in the business world today. The board of directors has also gained more power in firms and it is interesting to see how the number of women on the board of directors has changed. That leads to the question of whether there is a correlation between the number of women on the board of directors and whether or not the firm has been restated.
Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communcation
Krisha Kozak (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Patricia Fairchild and Dr. Dan Wheeler (Ag LEC/4-H Program )
Servant Leadership A Key Component of Service Learning
Emily Snodgrass (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. Linda Moody
Identifying Motivation of UNL Students Involved with Advocacy of Social Issues and Civic Engagement
A civic engagement instrument will be created/modified/replicated to measure civic engagement of UNL students and the social justice issues with which students can identify. With the information gathered, improved student programming will be offered in areas and with agencies addressing the social issues that emerge as the most important to UNL students. This will help to encourage students to become, and inspire growth within, civically engaged students.
Lyndsey Volkmer (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Linda Moody
Effects of Career Development Events as a Recruitment Strategy
Career Development Events (CDE) are a component of agricultural education that reinforce and assess the skills and knowledge of agricultural education students.
Effects of Career Development Events as a recruitment strategy for the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources is the first step in determining the overall effectiveness CDE. This study will determine if a student's performance in a CDE correlates with their outlook and receptiveness of attending the University of Nebraska-Lincoln . This initial study will serve as a benchmark in a longitudinal study and could eventually serve as a recruitment action plan for the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources.
Agronomy and Horticulture
Kevin Keller (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Bruce Anderson
Alfalfa Productivity and Quality
My research project is on alfalfa quality and productivity. This project entails the studying of traits from 5 different varieties that are important in the production of valuable forages. Specific traits that I will be observing and measuring are dry down rates, disease resistance, re-growth, over wintering performance, yield, relative feed value and crude protein percentage. The goal of this research is to find what kind of differences can be observed from these largely varying varieties, and to obtain an idea of what characteristics work well for alfalfa forages grown in Nebraska .
Jill Miser (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. Garald Horst
Determining the optimum nutrient quantity for establishing bluegrass seedlings.
Leslie Burchell (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. Paul Read
Effects of High pH-Induced Chlorosis on Four Grape Cultivars
Aaron Clare (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Paul Read
Micropropagation of New Grape Cultivars
Merilynn Hirsch (First Year UCARE student) working with Dr. Walter Schacht
Absorption of Nutrients
Matt Domeier (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Kim Todd Richard Sutton
Plant Images and Websites for Resident and Distant Learning
Kaylene Harms (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Paul Staswick
Characterization of IAA-conjugating Enzymes from Rice
Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) is a plant hormone involved in many aspects of plant development. The plant Arabidopsis thaliana produces a family of structurally related enzymes that form amino acid conjugates with IAA, thus rendering IAA inactive. Three rice proteins with sequence homology to the IAA-active Arabidopsis enzymes have been identified and cDNAs synthesized. The purpose of this project is to clone the rice genes into an expression vector and express the proteins which will then be characterized as to their activity with IAA. If these proteins function in the same way as the Arabidopsis proteins, we may gain insight into how some hormones are regulated in plants.
Jessica Ritter (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. Kim Todd
Consumer Preference of Ornamental Grasses
Agronomy and Horticulture/West Central Research Extension Center
Drew Anderson (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. Dale Lindgren
Flower Anomolies in Penstemon genus
Animal Science
Nicole Heywood (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. Mary Beck
Localization and gene expression of estrogen receptors in avian bone
Melissa Thompson (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. Dennis Brink
Comparative Study of Grass-based Dairies in the US and New Zealand
Natalie Hart (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. Andrea Cupp
HAS 2,3 and Hyal 1 during vascular differentiation in ovarian development
Robyn Longfellow (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. Andrea Cupp
Expression of VEGF isoforms and Arterial Differintiation During Ovarian Development
In my second year of UCARE study, I will be focusing on the specific role of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) isoform 164, and anti angiogenic isoform 164b in ovarian follicle development using Real Time-PCR. I will also determine the amount of arteries versus veins during ovarian development using whole mount immunohistochemistry with arterial (ephrin B2) and venuole (EphB4) specific marker.
Elizabeth Maricle (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Rodger Johnson
Effects of nutrition during gilt development on sow lifetime productivity of two prolific maternal lines
The overall objective of the project is to determine whether reproductive longevity of females can be enhanced by how they are fed during their development period. Physiological development will be monitored by recording age when each gilt reaches puberty. Lean growth will be characterized from the body weight and ultrasound measurements of back fat thickness and longissimus muscle area (LMA). The data will then be analyzed for the first two Reps for genetic line differences, treatment differences, and genotype x nutrition interactions.
Jessika Uden (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Phillip Miller
Energy and Nutrient Utilization of Corn and Corn-processing Co-products for Growing Finishing Pigs
Angela Buehner (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Merlyn Nielsen
Behavioral/cognitive differences of mouse lines selected for different response to stress
I will be assessing the behavioral and cognitive differences of two mouse
lines bred for different responses to stress: one high stress (SH) and one low
stress (SL). Radioimmunoassay of corticosterone concentrations collected at
different time points during restraint stress will be compared to evaluate the
effect of acute and chronic stress between the two lines of mice. Behavior
and cognitive activity of the mouse lines will be evaluated in a water maze,
in response to acute and repeated restraint stresses.
Lesha Eggers (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Merlyn Nielsen
Role of mGPD in Response to High and Low Heat Loss Selection
I will be analyzing the role of mitochondrial glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (mGPD) in thermogeneis. I will be breeding mice with a mGPD knockout gene to lines of high-mainenance-energy heat-loss (MH) and low-maintenanace-energy heat-loss (ML). I will then use calorimeters to measure the heat loss in the mice and determine if the mGPD gene is involved in the large differences in thermogenesis observed between the MH and ML mice. Eventually, this project could lead to studies of this locus in cattle and other livestock to evaluate whether we have an important locus for use in selection to change feed intake and costs of production.
Grant Boschult (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. John Weber
Generation of New Mouse Mutants that Affect Immunity
Amanda Kreis (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. John Weber
Positional Cloning of a New Hair and Skeletal Mouse Mutant, bhl
Since no known mutants comparable to bhl (belly hair loss) map to the X chromosome, my project is two fold: 1. To locate and sequence the mutated gene responsible for a the new X-linked mouse mutant with hair and skeletal abnormalities called bhl; 2. To study the phenotype in more detail. The results of identifying the mutated gene along with a more thorough analysis of the mutant phenotype will contribute to the understanding of the functions of genes in mammals and may lead to a publication.
Jennafer Glaesemann (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Brett White
Plasma Membrane Integrity of Swine Embryos Following Cryopreservation
Efforts have been made to adapt cryopreservation to all domestic animal species since the onset of livestock embryo freezing technologies in the 1980's, but despite many advances, swine have proven to exhibit challenges due to their extreme sensitivity to cooling. Recent studies suggest that Meishan embryos have a higher capacity to survive the vitrification process compared to White crossbred embryos; therefore, the objective of this research is to examine the plasma membrane of pre-implantation embryos to determine if structural proteins are key to the Meishan's higher survival rate. By determining how Meishan embryos can better survive cryopreservation, further progress may be made in embryo preservation methodologies for all species, the implications of which can affect preservation of maternal germplasm, global genetic transport, breeding line regeneration and/or proliferation, and resources for the genetic rescue of certain species. My role in this project will be to develop skills in embryo handling and cryopreservation of swine embryos and learn techniques for analysis of plasma membrane integrity in pre-implantation embryos, including immunocytochemistry procedures for identification of proteins associated with the extracellular matrix.
Bill Pohlmeier (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Brett White
Mechanisms Underlying GnRH Regulation of Early Embryonic Development
Anthropology
Laurie Einspahr (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. Mary Willis
The Lost Boys of Sudan an In-Depth Look
Joe Lamb (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Mark Awakuni-Swetland
Native American Maize Horticulture The Conundrum of High Value and Low Productions
Several Great Plains Native American tribes practiced self-sustaining horticulture of corn, beans, and squash at the time of first contact with Euro-Americans. Dried Indian corn remains a highly valued commodity for private and public feasting. This project will examine corn production, processing, and ideology as they have evolved through time. Students will participate in planting corn and a variety of other heritage vegetables in East Campus gardens using traditional and modern hand tools. A portion of the corn will be harvested and processed into dried corn. Local native elders will be informally interviewed to determine current ideologies about corn and its use.
Erin Dempsey (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Paul Demers
An Archaeological Study of Nebraska 's Historic Trails
This project focuses on research and compilation of data on the historic trails of Nebraska . One of the goals for the project is to build a database to include each trail, recording known sites and collecting information on site function, condition, ownership, potential for further research, as well as analyzing archaeological, geophysical, and GIS data recovered from the 2005 field season.
Hiroko Yoshida (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Robert Hitchcock
The assessment of the impact of environment alternation on humans' lives
Sachi Tomizawa (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Robert Hitchcock
Japanese Aid and Modernization in Eastern and Southern Africa
Ellen Wright (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Robert Hitchcock
The Role of Water in African Economics, Gender Roles, and Indigenous People
Jessie Merkel (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Martha McCollough
Archival Research on Cheyenne Resistance Strategies
Architectural Engineering
Brian Skourup (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Ece Erdogmus
The Rough Cilicia Archaelogical Project
Donald Craddock (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. Dale Tiller
Converging redundant sensor networks for improved building control
Matthew O'Boyle (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. Dale Tiller
Converging redundant sensor networks for improved building control
Marc Choiniere (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Lily Wang
Productivity and Perception Based Evaluation of Indoor Noise Criteria
The goal of this project is to find out how effective current noise criteria systems are at determining the effects of background noise on a subject's productivity and psychoacoustic perception. The project will experimentally measure productivity and subjective perception from subjects exposed to realistic background noise, which could be caused by mechanical systems present in almost every indoor situation. Based on the data, current noise criteria systems will be graded, and revisions will be suggested. If these systems are found lacking, the PI will endeavor to propose a new system, with the ultimate goal of directly impacting information submitted to ASHRAE Fundamentals and Application Handbooks.
Daniel Hilgendorf (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Lily Wang
Acoustical Studies of Holland Performing Arts Center
Sunil Patel (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. Lily Wang
Rain Noise on Roof Structures
For my 2 nd year of UCARE, I plan to study rain noise on different roof structures. A small enclosure has already been constructed and will be used for this experiment. So, I will update roofs, complete a rain generation system, and then test the resulting noise levels in the small enclosure. This will help determine how the sound generated by rainfall, affects the acoustic properties inside the enclosure depending on the roof structure.
Architecture
Phillip Christensen (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Jeffrey Day
Architecture/Art/Landscape
Evan Gunn (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. Jeffrey Day
Sheldon/Life & Bemis Store
Leslie Hill (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. Jeffrey Day
Waste Product III The New Nebraska Farmhouse
Masashi Ito and Erin Ostendorf (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Rumiko Handa
The spirit of design multimedia database
Peter Bissen (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Mark Hoistad
In.Form Journal of Architecture, Design, and Material Culture
Randi Thomas (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. Mark Hoistad
Material Preferences in Advertising
This year I will be continuing the research previously started in material use in advertisements. I will be taking a more in-depth look at the target audience of the magazines, concerning gender, age, and interests, and how this affects material use. In the end, I will have a better understanding of how materials are perceived by the advertising industry, and in turn by the general population.
Neil Legband (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. Nathan Howe
Creating new applications for a CNC machine.
Katharine Hall and Mary Kaiser (First year UCARE students) working with Dr. Nathan Krug
Sustainable Design Research and Visual Library Collection
For this UCARE project, we will be working with Professor Nate Krug to research buildings that exercise elements of sustainable architecture. Sustainable architecture involves the design of buildings that are environmentally friendly, perhaps through building with recycled/biodegradable materials or increasing the energy efficiency of a building. In this project we will work to develop a database of images and information about buildings that meet requirements for sustainable design. We will start with buildings specifically recognized by LEED, and continue from there. This database will eventually be used to facilitate curriculum for classes on sustainable design. Architecture designed with concern for the environment is becoming more and more important as a professional pursuit, and having this curriculum available will be an important step in the capability of the UNL College of Architecture to educate students on sustainable design.
Anita Powell (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Amber Mohr
Research and Planning Exhibits for the Kruger Gallery
I will assist curator in researching historical interiors and museum objects using library resources and primary sources in the collection archives. Design, research, and produce educational gallery text for four display boxes for the 2006-2007 Kruger Gallery exhibition "The Human Aspect of Design." Submit research for inclusion in object files.
Jesse Deffenbaugh (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Patricia Morgado
Building (in) the New World Latin American Architecture or (Star)chitecture in Latin America
The project “Building (in) the New World: Latin American Architecture or (Star)chitecture in Latin America” presents a great opportunity for me to discover the effects of globalization on Latin American architecture. I will be conducting extensive research into why “(Star)chitects” - celebrity architects based in the US and/or Europe - are becoming so famous and welcome in Latin America while receiving very little criticism - in the past decade over 15 projects have been developed by architects that include Gehry and others. Meanwhile Latin American architects designing in the United Sates and in Europe are not received in equal conditions. Much of my work will be focused on researching specific topics, preparing graphic material, and providing editorial assistance. With a good knowledge of the Spanish language, I will be able to better understand the written material I will be uncovering, facilitating my research.
Ryan Henrickson (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Patricia Morgado
Unveiling Latin American Architecture
The area of the American continent, south of the border, has become known under one name Latin America . Even though it encompasses much diversity in its landscapes, it is mistakenly viewed as a homogeneous entity. With the technologies at hand, this project seeks to broaden architects' and students' perception of the architectural production of this region by exposing the history, publications, issues and events dealing with Latin American architecture through a website. I will be providing assistance to Professor Morgado in continuing the building of a Latin American architecture website and as its editor. I will be in charge of contacting students, as well as Latin American architects and critics asking for contributions to the website.
Stacey Clausen (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. James Potter
Sacred Spaces A Survey of Worship Architecture in Nebraska
Amy Kraus (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. James Potter
The spirit of design multimedia database
Allison Struck (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. James Potter
The spirit of design multimedia database
Jessica Ginther (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. Keith Sawyers
Buildings of Nebraska Guidebook ( Southeast Nebraska Chapter)
The goal of my project is to assemble major components of draft manuscript and accompanying graphic material for the Southeast Nebraska chapter of the Nebraska volume of the Buildings of the United States guidebook series. I have compiled information on town histories and buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Starting in the Fall of 2005 I will begin research of contemporary buildings located in the region. Technical information and accompanying graphic material obtained from the design firms and on-site visitation will provide the bases for developing entries for these buildings.
Andrea Wilkerson (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Keith Sawyers
Buildings of Nebraska Guidebook ( Northeast Nebraska Chapter)
The goal of this project is to assemble major components of a draft manuscript and accompanying graphic support material for the Northeast Nebraska chapter of the guidebook, Buildings of Nebraska. Sponsored by the Society of Architectural Historians, the book is one of a 60-volume series titled, Buildings of the United States . Activities undertaken during the first year will include historical research, on-site building reconnaissance, evaluation and preliminary mapping.
Architecture/Interior Design
Matt Goldsberry (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. Duncan Case
Hybrid Libraries; designing tomorrows digital library
Kari Pederson (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Duncan Case
Designing for the Digital Future in Music
The project "Designing for a Digital Future in Music" will investigate the impact and influence that design and music will continue to have on each other in the future, with a focus on how to most effectively enhance music through design.
Chris Toothaker (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. Duncan Case
Designing a Digital Environment
Megan Sather (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. Betsy Gabb
In.Form Journal
My project for the second year of UCARE is to produce, publish and market the 6th edition of In.Form. In.Form volume 6 will be on The Human Aspect of Design. I will be the chief editor of the journal and will be involved in all aspects of publishing the journal.
Kathleen Swoboda (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Betsy Gabb
In.Form Journal of Architecture, Design, and Material Culture
Lynette Klein (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Mark Hinchman
A History of Furniture and Interiors text book
Megan McCluskey (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. Mark Hinchman
The Ship Designs of Arthur Davis
John Ogomo (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Mark Hinchman
The History of Furniture
Art and Art History
Akemi Hayashibara (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. Dana Fritz
Real Japan
Kimberly Brown (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Aaron Holz
Hybrids, Couples and Portraiture
Austen Arnould (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Wendy Katz
A Cultural and Critical History of Photography
Ben Kamprath (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Sandra Williams
Completion of Two Public Art Pieces in Lincoln Middle Schools and Thematic Exhibition for The Museum of Nebraska Art in Kearney and Ann Nathan Gallery in Chicago , Illinois
Cessa Cantrell (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. Mo Neal
Installation Art and Mixed Media
In terms of installation art, my project will basically consist of an exploration of a concept through several different artistic mediums. The primary entities behind my work will include painting, sculpture, and photography to purvey my eventual concept. Also, the inclusion of audio devices through sculptural terms will be considered in preparation for displaying the finished piece.
Biochemistry
Jennifer Haas (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. John Markwell
The Biochemical Effects of Food and Fluid Intake on Human Performance
We are studying the biochemical effects of food and fluid intake on human performance variables such as alertness, drowsiness, fatigue, and stamina. NIOSH grip muscle tests, blood glucose levels, salivary pH levels, blood pressure, heart rate will be monitored.
Matthias Albin (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Ruma Banerjee
Androgen Regulation of Human Cystathionine beta-synthase
Francis Mann (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Raymond Chollet
Analysis of Plant Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxylase (PEPC) Structure and Activity Alterations by Mutation of the Conserved C-terminus
Yoshio Toda (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. Jaekwon Lee
Roles of Yap1 and Yap2 in Copper Metabolism of the Yeast Saccharomyces Cerevisiae
Brittany Prather (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. John Markwell
Directed Evolution of a Plant Enzyme
My project will be to screen mutants produced by error-prone PCR to look for mutants of the formate dehydrogenase able to use NADP+ instead of NAD+. The goal is to find an enzyme that can use NADPH as a substrate and to put this enzyme into the leaf mitochondrion. In this location, such an enzyme may be able to catalyze the formation of formate from CO2 and act as a second site of CO2 fixation.
Brady Brabec (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. Stephen Ragsdale
Characterization of Basic Residues in Carbon Monoxide Dehydrogenase II
Josh Thoendel (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. Robert Spreitzer
Role of Posttranslational Modifications in Rubisco Function
Because ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase catalyzes the rate-limiting step of photosynthesis, there is much interest in genetically engineering its improvement in plants. Four posttranslational modifications (two methyl cysteines and two hydroxy prolines) were recently discovered in the high-resolution x-ray crystal structure of the algal enzyme. This project will use biochemical and genetic methods to define the importance of the modified residues. Mass spectrometry will also be used to determine how these modifications may be regulated.
Jeanine Frey (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Julie Stone
Characterization of a FBR6-interacting protein, ANNAT1
Jason Hamata (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. Julie Stone
Positional Cloning of Arabidopsis thaliana Cell Death Mutants
Carrie Lebsack (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Donald Weeks
Testing the efficacy of a new RNA interference (RNAi) system in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii
Dr. Kemp Horken in the Weeks laboratory has devised a new system for inducing RNA interference (RNAi) in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. This system may allow us to “ knock out” or “knock down” expression of specific genes in the C. reinhardtii genome in a much more facile and effective manner than previously devised systems. The new system is a greatly simplified method for synthesizing plasmid constructs that produce small stretches of double stranded RNAs. Such RNAs are responsible for triggering “gene silencing” in C. reinhardtii and other eukaryotic cells. My responsibility will be to test how well this new system works compared to earlier systems .
Jesse Smith (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. Donald Weeks
Are CO2-responsive genes required for growth of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii under low (ambient) CO2 concentrations?
Biochemistry/Plant Science Initiative
Natsuki Nagashima (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Raymond Chollet
The Divergent Ppc Transcripts and PEP-Carboxylase Isoforms in the Green Microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii A Model Photosynthetic Eukaryote
This basic research will focus on the continued investigation of the transcripts and polypeptide levels of the Ppc1 and Ppc2 genes and their protein products present in the model green alga C. reinhardtii . Previous results indicated that the Ppc1/2 mRNA messages are up-/down-regulated in a coordinate fashion by changes in carbon dioxide and ammonium levels supplied to the growth medium (Mammedov, Moellering, & Chollet, The Plant Journal , 2005). In future studies, we will build upon this foundation by determining the effects of various nitrate growth conditions on the Ppc transcripts and corresponding polypeptides. In addition, I will seek the first insight on possible interactions between the two divergent Ppc proteins in Chlamydomonas .
Biological Sciences, School of
Trung Viet Nguyen (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Anisa Angeletti
Replication of Herpes Simplex Virus Genome
Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) causes a wide range of infections in humans, from cold sores to genital and ocular lesions. The goal of this project is to understand the mechanisms which allow HSV to replicate and maintain stably in host cells for a long period of time in persistent infection. The approach is using the established novel yeast system to study the replication of HSV genome. The expected outcome is to identify parts of HSV DNA which allow HSV genome to replicate in yeast. This will lead to further studies of HSV replication in a more sophisticated tissue culture model.
Marcus Kotalik (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. Audrey Atkin
Relationship Between UDE and DSE in mRNA Decay
Rachel Uhrenholdt (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Audrey Atkin
Potential regulatory mechanism for wild type mRNA decay
Rena Yamanaka (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. Audrey Atkin
Role of Farnesol in Candida albican's Morphologic Switch
Robert Prochaska (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. Zoya Avramova
Identification of peptides specifically binding to methylated histones in Arabidopsis thaliene
Emily Doll (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Gwen Bachman
Age Related Behavior and Physiology in Male Thirteen-lined Squirrels
Study the behavior and physiology in male thirteen-lined ground squirrels to learn more about the factors that affect the timing of their natal dispersal. This will be done by observing size, weight, and age at which dispersal occurs and how far they go.
Ashley Bowers (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. Alexandra Basolo
Shell Shopping The Importance of Shell Choice in Hermit Crabs
Shell quality is important to hermit crabs because it can affect the crabs' survival and fitness. My experiment will test whether hermit crabs prefer shells with holes at the apex or near the lip. This experiment will contribute to our knowledge about the factors that play a role in shell choice behavior in hermit crabs.
Nanyamka Washington (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. Alexandra Basolo
Predator Prey Interactions
Noah Beadell (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. Catherine Chia
Characterization of cell lines reconstituted with gp 130
Amanda Goodenberger (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Alan Christensen
Physical mapping of the mitochondrial genome of the model plant Arabidopsis
The project will map the purified mitochondrial genome of Arabidopsis, taking care not to contaminate it with the nuclear genome. This includes growing Arabidopsis, purifying the mitochondria, making fosmid libraries, and analyzing the DNA using CHEF gels. Restriction mapping and some limited sequencing of clones will also be done in order to establish which forms of the genome are present in mitochondria. This work will provide an essential framework for understanding the mitochondria of plants.
Cynthia Larsen (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Alan Kamil
The Cognition of Pilfering Behavior
Lacy Phillippe (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Johannes Knops
Determining the effects of temperature and soil moisture on herbaceous plant physiological performance in the tall grass prairie.
I will be analyzing the quantities of Carbon, Nitrogen, and Phosphorus in both fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) and through food they consume. Both the flies and food are provided by Hadise Kabil, a PhD. student in Dr. Larry Harshman's lab at UNL. The objective of the experiment is to observe whether or not the composition of the food consumed has any effect on the quantities of Carbon, Nitrogen, and Phosphorus found in the flies. Variables of this experiment include the age of the flies, the sex of the flies, whether or not mating has occurred, and the composition of the food source.
Danielle Johnson (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Svata Louda
Phylogenetic Analysis of Native Nebraska Thistles (genus Cirsium)
Martin Gakuria (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Eugene Martin
Effects of Solar UV on Marine Bacteria
Vinh Nguyen (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Etsuko Moriyama
Mining and molecular evolutionary analysis of olfactory receptor genes from multiple Drosophila genomes
Landon Collins (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Kenneth Nickerson
The Effects of Different Concentrations of Chemicals on Positive and Negative chemotaxis in Zymomonas mobilis
Zymomonas Mobilis is a fermentative gram-negative bacterium. This bacterium gets its metabolic energy anaerobically through the Entner-Doudoroff pathway. The goal of this experiment is to determine specific compounds and their concentrations which Z. mobilis might respond to, positively or negatively.
Jason Macrander (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Guillermo Orti
Development of Markers for Clupeiformes Molecular Phylogeny
Sven Larson (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. R.L. Pardy
Analysis of LPS in eukaryotic algae
Andrew Smith (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. William Wagner
Mechanisms Controlling Deceptive Signaling of Benefits
Gentry Rundle (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. Robert Weldon
Mutational Analysis
Kosuke Niitsu (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Anthony Zera
Biochemical-genetic study of lipid metabolism in a cricket species
I will use the technique of gel electrophoresis to test the hypothesis that the elevated level of lipid in enhanced flyers of a cricket species that contains flightless and flight-capable individuals results from genetic changes in lipid-producing enzymes. Lipid is the primary fuel used for flight in the species that will be studied. The relative mobility of enzymes through a gel can be used to identify genetic differences in the structure of the enzymes (changes in amino acid sequence that cause changes in mobility). These results will provide important new information on the biochemical mechanisms underlying adaptations for flight in insects.
Kristen Brumm (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Luwen Zhang
The Role of IRF and EBV Transformation
Biological Systems Engineering
Joshua Dodson (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Viacheslav Adamchuk
Validation of Emerging Soil Sensing Technology
Tanner and Tate Augustin (First year UCARE students) working with Dr. Greg Bashford
Comparison of Exercise Methods for Prevention of Atrophy in Spinal Cord Injury Patients
People with spinal cord injury experience muscle atrophy in their legs, which can be reduced by electrode-stimulated exercises. This UCARE project will develop a new exercise method (inclined squat) and compare it against the established exercise method (ERGYS Bicycle) for paraplegic patients. Comparisons will be made between the muscle atrophy observed from patients using each exercise method.
Garrett Pommeranz (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Michael Kocher
Comparison of Systems for Evaluating the Uniformity of a Row Crop Planter Drive
Chemical Engineering
Aaron Ankeny (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Hossein Noureddini
Extraction of Phosphorus from DDGS and Oil Cake/Gluten Feed
Adam Snoberger (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. Anu Subramanian
Effects of different sterilization methods on modified starch membranes and surfaces
Olga Dzenis (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Hendrik Viljoen
The Detection of Molds by PCR
Chemistry
Christopher McCune (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. David Berkowitz
Chemoenzymatic Approach to Optically Enriched Diols
Dalal Gumeel (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Chin Li Cheung
Fabrication of Nanopillar Structures on 2" Wafers by Nanosphere Lithography
My research is to develop non-conventional lithography techniques to fabricate semiconductor objects such as pillars with submicron diameters. Silica nanospheres will be synthesized as "etch masks" on semiconductor substrates. The spin coating technique to dispense and pattern these nanospheres on the substrates will be investigated. Resulting samples will be characterized with microscopy techniques. My primary focus for the first year is to learn relevant laboratory techniques and microscopy skills.
Zachary Martens (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Pat Dussault
Singlet Oxygenation of Alkenyl Silanes and Alkenylstannaes
Jaclyn Cecetka (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Mark Griep
Delta-Beta Interaction of the Sliding Clamp and Clamp Loader in DNA Replication
The overall purpose of my research project is to determine how the delta subunit pries open one interface of the beta subunit dimer. This work is significant because it will expand our knowledge of the mechanism by which DNA polymerase is able to synthesize such long DNA strands. During the first year, my primary role will be to familiarize myself with the laboratory techniques that will be utilized in this project and to learn more background information. This year will also serve as an opportunity to learn from Dr. Griep and other student researchers.
Joe Dondlinger (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. David Hage
Making interferograms for dyes used in Chemistry
Paxton Forgue (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Robert Powers
Metabolic Analysis of Aspergillus Nidulans Using NMR
Abraham Zabih (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Andrzej Rajca
Contrast Agent for MRI
Arlen Root (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Andrzej Rajca
Synthesis of Chiral Molecules
Jay Steinkruger (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. Jody Redepenning
Polymerization of L-Lactide using a Solid State Initiator Hydroxyapatite
Deepak Singh (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. John Stezowski
Jessica Peinado (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. John Stezowski
Molecular Level Studies of Tetracycline Antibiotics
Civil Engineering
Amanda Larsen (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. David Admiraal
Wireless Microcontroller Applications in Hydrology and Hydraulic Engineering
For rainfall measurement, radar data is relatively inaccurate, but it can be much improved with the addition of direct rainfall measurements. Rain gages are relatively cheap and can be installed throughout a watershed at low-cost, but collecting the data for real-time flood warnings is more difficult. The implementation of wireless microcontrollers to carry rainfall data to a central location will make rain gauges useful for real-time flood predictions. In this project, we plan to build, install, and test a small network of wireless rain gauges in a typical Lincoln neighborhood.
Patrick Hartman (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Istvan Bogardi
Decision Making on Surface Water and Groundwater Interaction
Ryan Duell (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Elizabeth Jones
Statewide Transportation Data Archiving System Applications to Traffic Signals
Classics and Religious Studies
Susan Eisenhauer (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Stephen Lahey
Analysis, History, and Theology of John Wycliff's 'De
Ideis'
This work of Wycliff, a late-medieval theologian, is just one of many Latin texts within his large body of known works. 'De Ideis' is currently unpublished, but an edited edition was found last summer in Trinity Library in Cambridge, using four or five various manuscript copies of Wycliff's text. I am currently transcribing this edited copy in 1910 hand onto computer for use by scholars via the internet. Once complete, I can then look at other manuscript copies not used in this edition for textual comparison. In addition to examination of the text itself, I intend to discuss Wycliff's life, theological ideas, and treatises on church reform, which were the cause of much controversy in fourteenth century England.
Computer and Electronics Engineering
Mohammad Rasul (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Bing Chen
Electrically Conductive Asphalt Concrete
Computer Science and Engineering
Krista Nelson (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. Myra Cohen
Covering Array Translator
Software interaction testing is a method to systematically sample configuration spaces when exhaustive testing of all combinations is infeasible. Covering arrays are used in this process to test all possible pairs instead of all possible combinations. In this project I will research and build a set of tools for interfacing between covering arrays and the actual software system. This toolset will include a verification and mapping program as well as an educational module that explains the basic concepts of this testing technique to software engineers.
Joseph Schulman (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Myra Cohen
Visualizing the Covering Array Landscape
Covering arrays are mathematical structures which are used in software interaction testing. In order to fine-tune current meta-heuristic search techniques, this project will look for a better understanding of the search landscape. It will specifically address the search space of large covering arrays. Results will be used in ongoing research by Dr. Cohen.
Derrick Stolee (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. Steve Goddard
KBDI and JZEE Implementation with NADSS
Brandon Smith (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Stephen Reichenbach
Information Modeling for Comprehensive Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatography
Bradley Becker (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. Charles Riedesel
Computer Science Education Are Nebraska Schools Hitting the Mark?
Joshua Rupiper (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Ashok Samal
Data Mining, Visualization, and Automated Analysis for Hydroinformatics
Charles Nolan (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Stephen Scott
Active Machine Learning with Imperfect Oracles
Akira Endo (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Leen-Kiat Soh
Intelligent Learning Material Delivery Agent
Guanshan Yu (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. Leen-Kiat Soh
Simulating a Blue Jay's Behavior Using Image Processing and AI Capabilities
William Bickford (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Vinodchandran Variyam
Methods of Streaming Data Compression
Tyler Tallman (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Jun Wang
A Peer-to-Peer Reputation Management System Architecture
Computer Science & Engineering/Mathematics
Adam Nordloh (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Ashok Samal and Thomas Shores
Diffusion Modeling for Microbiological Processes
Construction Systems
Marc Rood (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Stuart Bernstein
Construction Systems Research, Recruitment and Surveys
Criminal Justice
Dulce Clarence (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Greg DeLone
Hispanic Employment in Criminal Justice
The research will focus on Hispanics employed in the criminal justice system. Attention will focus on the number of Hispanic police officers and prosecutors. With the growing rate of Hispanics as a minority group in the United States , research will be conducted to see whether criminal justice agencies are employing individuals who are bilingual of Hispanic decent or non-Hispanics who have received training in Spanish.
CMSCE/ Physics and Astonomy
Patrick Honeycutt (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Kevin Lee
Interactive Assessment
Economics
Stefanie Tomkins (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. Roger Riefler
Urban Labor Market Conditions
Sean Golden (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. David Rosenbaum
An Analysis of Macro Economic Policies on Financial Markets
Educational Psychology
Rebecca Munro (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Beth Doll
Successful Student Study
While working with Beth Doll next semester on her longitudinal research project, The Successful Student Study, we will assess the learning environment of 60 elementary/middle school classrooms. Then we will examine the relationship between these environments and the progress of 300 randomly selected students in those classrooms. After following these students for 5 years as they transition from elementary school into middle school, we will identify changes in student competencies that result from school and classroom characteristics.
Elizabeth Arkfeld (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Susan Sheridan
Parent Engagement and Child Learning Birth to Five The Getting Ready Project
The Getting Ready Project is part of a federal initiative to learn more about promotion of children's learning and social-emotional development from birth to five years of age. The goal is to learn more about development of children and to promote readiness of children before they go to elementary school. My role in the project will be to observe children, enter and code data, and create parent-child portfolios.
Electrical Engineering
Phong Le (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Dennis Alexander
Nanoparticle Optical Communication Device
In the planned UCARE Project, we plan to develop novel designs for all optical devices and optical switch architectures based on the unique nanotechnology particle/quantum dot optical activity. Nano-particles/quantum dots have unique optical activity properties which can be fine-tuned easily by altering their size and composition. This unique optical activity of nano-particles/quantum dots allows researchers to introduce innovative and new design concepts that provide the researchers with the theoretical and technological basis for many all optical devices (AODs) leading to efficient new architectures of optical switches, known as Optical Cross-Connects (OXC) .
Craig Zuhlke (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Dennis Alexander
Optical Communications
In recent years, the demand for communication speed and bandwidth has been growing exponentially. Such dramatic growth coupled with the demand for new classes of service and network functionalities have stimulated the need for new devices, technologies, and development of new infrastructure for optical networks. Next generation optical networks, known as All-Optical Networks (AON), will exploit the potential of optical technologies to realize additional networking functionalities in the optical domain. Optical network capability is gradually growing in momentum towards all-optical infrastructure due to progress in technologies like Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) and All-Optical Devices (AOD). Advances in WDM are poised to make a single physical fiber virtually equivalent to hundreds of channels (wavelengths). However, development of AOD systems have been slow. Thus, innovations in AODs are needed to fill the gap, and to expedite the evolution of AON.
In the proposed UCARE research, we plan to develop novel designs for all optical devices and optical switch architectures based on the unique nanotechnology particle/quantum dot optical activity. Nano-particles/quantum dots have unique optical activity properties which can be fine-tuned easily by altering their size and composition. This unique optical activity of nano-particles/quantum dots allows researchers to introduce innovative and new design concepts that provide the researchers with the theoretical and technological basis for many AODs leading to efficient new architectures of optical switches, known as Optical Cross-Connects (OXC).
Khang Le (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. John Boye
Medical Applications for Neural Networks
Artificial neural networks were developed in the middle of the last century and became more common and usable in the 1980's. They are loosely modeled on the operation of the brain and are very successful in the handling of empirical data. In this proof of concept project, neural networks will be examined for possible medical applications. The development of a neural network involves trial-and-error experimentation. We will explore issues such as the ideal type of neural network to be used, the number of nodes, and the type of transfer functions.
James McFarland (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. Jerry Hudgins
Thermal Model Development and Verification for Power Electronics Modules
Using electrical resistor-capacitor networks to model the heat transfer within a semi-conductor packaging. Current models use Foster networks that are strictly 3 rd or 4 th order polynomial curve fits to the transient thermal impedance of a power module. These networks have no direct connection to the various layers of materials that make up a modern power semiconductor device package. Cauer (RC-ladder) networks provide a more physical interpretation of the equivalent thermal system. This research will show the accuracy of Cauer networks to represent the dynamic temperature behavior of a power device package and relate the circuit elements to physical descriptions of the materials and geometries involved.
Tadiyos Gebre (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Yongfeng Lu
Magnetic Confinement of Plasmas in Laser-induced Breakdown Spectroscopy
Craig Daly (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. Lance Perez
Medical Efficacy of the Madonna Electronic Respiratory Trainer
Engineering Mechanics
Benjamin Polly (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. Eveline Baesu
Mathematical Modeling of Cell Membranes
Scott Kratzer (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. Jiangyu Li
Thermo-electro-mechanical Testing of Piezoelectric Crystals
Amy Dimick (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. Mehrdad Negahban
Characterizing the Mechanical Effects of Shape Recovery in Amorphous Polymers
English
Lisa Larrew , Carlin Mackie, and Kristin McCann (First year UCARE students) working with Dr. Stephen Behrendt
Creating an Electronic Version of Poetess of Charlotte Smith
Charlotte Smith was a poet from the Romantic Era that made the sonnet form of poetry popular again through her work "Elegiac Sonnets". Much of her work is now inaccessible or hard to find. With the help of two other students we will help prepare her works to be put up onto a website so that they can be more accessible.
Tracy Simmons (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Susan Belasco
Whitman Archive Periodicals
My UCARE project will involve assisting in the finding of Whitman poems in 19th century periodicals, scanning or photographing them, transcribing them (which will involve training in XML), and helping in the research for histories of the periodicals.
The Periodical section of The Walt Whitman Archive is devoted to the poems that Whitman published in magazines and newspapers during the years that he wrote and revised his most important work, Leaves of Grass (1855). Altogether, Whitman published 131 poems in 41 periodicals from 1855 until his death in 1892. This section of the Whitman Archive will provide access to these hard-to-find poems, preserve the images of the original periodicals in electronic form, and assist scholars and students in understanding the other side of Whitman's life as a poet; one who constantly sought publication in the popular periodicals of his day in order to broaden his audience.
Erica Rogers (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Chris Gallagher
Assessment, Reform, and Public Discourse
Matthew Streff (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Stephen Hilliard
University of Nebraska Press - Marketing Department
Margaret Gurewitz (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Paul Olson
Mysticism and Culture
Ruth Standeven (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Mary Pipher
Publishing Creative Writing
My project will consist of the various types of research that must be done before an individual can submit a piece of writing to a publisher. I will attempt to submit a few of my own pieces of writing to several publishers as a means of research. I hope to present the different phases a person must go through from start to finish, Including the various types of publications that cater to creative non-fiction and the rejection/acceptance letters that are sent out to the writer when a piece is reviewed by the publishers.
Heidi Peters (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Kenneth Price
The Walt Whitman Archive
Danielle Luther (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Hilda Raz
Prairie Schooner Magazine Editorial Assistant
Mary Katherine McCarney (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. Hilda Raz
Prairie Schooner Magazine Editorial Assistant
English/Women's Studies
G Allen Ratliff (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Barbara DiBernard
History of the GLBT Community at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Entomology
Staci Bohling (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Dennis Berkebile
Immature Stable Fly Development Sites
Sarah Mack (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Marion Ellis
Drone Congregation Location
Lanae Pierson (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. John Foster
Molecular Genetics
The use of molecular genetics as an essential tool in answering biological questions is imperative. Several molecular tools, such as RAPD's, RFLP's, AFLP's, and sequencing can be used to answer questions regarding the genetic variation in pest insect populations. This project will provide me with the opportunity to work with senior Ph.D. students to learn DNA amplification, purification, quantification, and gain skills in one or more of the above molecular tools. My specific project will be to identify differences between populations of chinch bugs.
Sandra Schaeffer (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. Tiffany Heng Moss
An Investigation of Biochemical and Physiological Mechanisms of Resistance in Barley
Thu Vu (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. Tiffany Heng Moss
The Impact of Aphid Feeding on Invertase Activity in Agronomic Crops
Andrea Gutsche (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. Leon Higley
Differential Gene Expression of Barley in Response to Aphid Injury
Ashley Effken (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Blair Siegfried
Atrazine Induction of Cytochrome P450
Family and Consumer Sciences
Elizabeth Hult (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Yan Ruth Xia
Chinese Adolescent Perception of Mental Health
Adolescent mental health is a growing concern in China , and there is a lack of research and professional understanding of mental and behavioral health among its youth. Dr. Ruth Xia and I will be conducting a qualitative study of Chinese adolescents to determine their perceptions of mental health. We will interview approximately 20 Chinese adolescents and their parents to begin building a knowledge base for education and intervention, as well as provide groundwork for future research in the area.
Anh Do (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Gloria Gonzalez-Kruger
Latino Achievement Mentoring Program Evaluation
The Latino Achievement Mentoring Program and Evaluation was developed and implemented in 2000 to support the academic achievement of Latino youth. The program addresses academic, social, emotional, and family issues and needs of the youth. The youth are referred by Lincoln Public Schools and mentors are university students. Data is collected from mentees, mentors, and parents. In the short-term, this information is used to inform programming. This longitudinal data set also allows us to evaluate changes in the adolescents over time. Preliminary analysis is promising and shows a decrease in risk behaviors and coping strategies.
Jessica Garlock (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Gloria Gonzalez-Kruger
Latino Achievement Mentoring Program Evaluation
I work for the Latino Achievement Mentoring Program (LAMP) which is a program aimed at working with mentors and mentees to increase mentee success. Mentors are college students, some who are familiar with Spanish, others aren't, who are dedicated to helping their mentees develop better social, psychological and educational skills. As part of the LAMP Evaluation Team, it is my job to keep track of data to measure the improvement of these skills.
Lyndee Krepcik (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Cody Hollist
Study of the Latino/Brazilian Culture and Family Development
Julie Gompert (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Michelle Rupiper
Connecting Young Children to the Natural World
This project will consist of provoking children's curiosity about the natural world through hands-on exploration. We will teach children the scientific method to learn more about their world. Utilizing the scientific method, children will create hypotheses, make predictions, and carry out experiments to test their hypotheses and collect and record data. Pieces of documentation will be used to compare children's understanding of nature as well as their problem solving approaches over time.
Lori Kruse (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Julia Torquati
Environmental Education for Early Childhood
The goal of this project is to develop teaching methods that support young children in developing a holistic knowledge of the natural world. The project will take place at Ruth Staples Child Development Lab located on east campus. I will help develop methods by (1) investigating what support is needed to implement environmental education activities; (2) provide support and resources to early childhood teachers in planning, implementing, and evaluating environmental education activities; and (3) provide the basic knowledge of the science concepts and processes. Collaborating with early childhood educators to infuse environmental education throughout the curriculum will instill an environmental ethic in children at an early age.
Michelle Oberle (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Julia Torquati
Parent-Child Relationships and Children's Coping Strategies
This study will compare the influence of parental modeling, parenting practices, and parents' state of mind with respect to attachment on preschool children's coping strategies. Parents will complete survey measures of their coping strategies and parenting practices and participate in an interview to assess their attachment state of mind. Teachers will complete measures of children's coping strategies and social competence, and a story completion task will be used to assess children's coping strategies. My role on the project will be to conduct Adult Attachment Interviews (AAI: Main & Goldwyn, 1998) with participating parents, transcribe interviews, interview children, and enter data. Scientific methods used will include survey and interview methodology as well as quantitative data analysis. Understanding the various ways that parents influence children's ability to cope with minor stressors and ability to self-regulate will advance the field by specifying important developmental processes for both developmental theory and for school and clinical application.
Brooke Spath (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Julia Torquati
Quality Interventions for Early Childhood Education (QUINCE)
Food Science and Technology
Pei Ven Kam (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. Lloyd Bullerman
Inhibition of mold growth by sourdough bread cultures
Hooi Ling Lee (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Richard Goodman
Evaluation of Allergenic Proteins in Foods
Lindsey Bangert (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. Edward O'Neill
Food Processing Center Marketing Strategies
I will be working with the Food Processing Center staff to develop methods of promoting services offered to the food manufacturing idustry by the Food Processing Center . I will also be helping develop specific marketing strategies and appropriate tools. I will assist in the implementation of these strategies, and on completion of each strategy, will be evaluated for effectiveness.
Rachel Reuss (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Edward O'Neill
Providing Technical and Marketing Assistance to Food Businesses
Chaifei Soh (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Vicki Schlegel
Characterization of Herbal Extracts by Thin Layer Chromatography and FT-IR
Aubrey Vifquain (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Steve Taylor
Providing Technical Assistance to Food Businesses
The main focus of the projects will be assisting start-up food companies with new product development, dealing with issues such as food safety, ingredient functionality, and processing requirements. The student's main responsibilities will be to assist the project coordinator with analysis of food products and ingredients and producing actual bench top samples. This will involve the use of both analytical equipment as well as scaled down processing equipment like steam kettles and shear mixers. Many projects will also require literature reviews and library research to problem solve and determine appropriate ingredients, processing, etc. Projects will be completed in the research pilot plants at the Food Processing Center and may involve development of nutritional labels for the final product.
Elizabeth Brenner (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Michael Zeece
Development of a protein microarray for wheat lectin determination
Geosciences
David Teetzen (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. Mark Anderson
Analysis of Winter Mesoscale Events
Patrick Ducey (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. Christopher Fielding
Subsurface Geological Structure of the Burdekin River Delta Northeast Australia
Arlo McKee (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. Christopher Fielding
Applications of Ground-Penetrating Radar to Studies of Natural Fluvial Systems
Jonathan Schueth (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Tracy Frank
Low Isles Reef Study
Wendy Schultz (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. Robert Hunt
Analysis of Skeletal Variation in a Population of Extinct Miocene Rhinoceros from Nebraska
Keiji Uehara (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Richard Kettler
Detrital and Diagenetic Iron Mineralogy in Organic Carbon-Rich Sedimentary Rocks
The goal of this project is to examine the significance of the mineral siderite (iron carbonate) as a confounding variable in analyses of the organic carbon content of sedimentary rocks and as an indicator of environments in which the preservation of organic matter would have been enhanced. In the first year, we will test whether the method that is most commonly used for measuring the organic carbon content of rocks accounts adequately for the presence of siderite. My tasks during the first year are directed library research and a laboratory experiment to become familiar with the project.
Amy Moss (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. David Loope
History of Sand Dune Mobility in the Nebraska Sand Hills
Stephanie Day (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. Darryll Pederson
Boiling sand springs along the Dismal River near Thedford, NE
Amy Ruf (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Clinton Rowe
Sandhills meteorology
Abby Thell (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. Clinton Rowe
Temperature Variations due to Elevation and Ground Cover in the Nebraska Sand HIlls
For my UCARE project, I will be examining precipitation events in the Sand Hills region. I will focus my study on tracing the source of moisture that caused rainfall in the area. To do this, I will be looking at air masses in various regions several days before the event. I hope to gain a better understanding of the Sand Hills region and its weather.
Heather Smith (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. Michael Voorhies
Field Sampling & Laboratory Analysis of a New Cenezoic Fossil Site
When a new fossil bed is discovered, it is always important to study the information uncovered in the most comprehensive way. Not only must one document what fossils were found and in which layer of sediment they were located, but a Paleontologist must also take the fossil back to the laboratory to further examine it. With this project, I hope to not only personally expand my understanding of Paleontology field work and fossil preparation, but to also assist with uncovering new insight on what took place at this fossil bed.
Leah Schneider (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. David Watkins
Late Cretaceous Nannofossil Assemblage Variations as an Indicator of Paleoclimate Change
History
Sarah Beringer (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Donna Akers
Indian Removal
Andrew Hansen (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. David Cahan
A Biography of Hermann von Helmholtz
Chris McCoy (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Vanessa Gorman
The Effeminazation of Wealth in Ancient Greece
The work in progress studies the conceptualization of luxury and wealth in the Greek world in the 9th - 4th centuries BCE, in particular the transformation of the perception of wealth from a indicator of power and masculinity to one of corruption and effeminization. We will be studying primary and secondary literature, archaeology, numismatics, epigraphy, and comparative work in anthropology. The resulting work will bring precision to our understanding of Greek valuations of luxury and inform our knowledge of economic systems, social stratification, political organization, and philosophical developments.
Levi Drake (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. James Le Sueur
Algeria Islam and Politics in the Era of Globalization
April Kirkendall (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. James Le Sueur
Algeria Islam and Politics in the Era of Globalization
David Thomas (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. James Le Sueur
Decolonization Ends of Empire and Creation of the Contemporary World
Natasha Luepke (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. Carole Levin
The Execution of a King Charles I as Monster or Martyr
Erica Wright (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Carole Levin
Book co-authored by Carole Levin and John Watkins, titled Shakespeare Beyond Boundaries Genders, Cultures, Nationalities
The project that I will assist with is a book entitled Shakespeare beyond Boundaries Genders, Cultures, Nationalities , co-authored by Carole Levin and John Watkins. Dr. Levin's portion of the book will focus on the portrayal of gender and the female body within plays such as The Taming of the Shrew , Merchant of Venice , and Henry VI , Part I, and will frame these issues within the broader historical and cultural context of the English Renaissance.
History-Ethnic Studies
Jennifer Valadez (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. James Garza
Identity and History in the High School Classroom
Industrial and Management Systems Engineering
Anthony Baumgart (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Susan Hallbeck
Ergonomic Analysis of Wireless E-mail Devices
Brandyn Keithley (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Erick Jones
Using Industrial Engineering Tools to Improve Engineering Student Attrition
Aaron Davis (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Esmail Mohebbi
Quantitative Modeling and Analysis of Manufacturing and Service Operations
Scarlett Herring (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. Susan Hallbeck
The effects of arm elevation and position on the strength with regards to manual transmission truck drivers
Mark Pohl (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. Susan Hallbeck
Ergonomic Design of Laparoscopic Tools
Many areas of power-plant design remain outdated and in desperate need of ergonomic analysis. Interests include radiation monitoring devices, tools used to inspect nuclear fuel bundles, control room display panels, and thermoluminescent detection devices. The project may include ergonomic redesign of the hand-held monitoring devices used by health physicists (radiation protection workers), or of display panels utilized by operators. Also, a tool may be designed to assist in the inspection of new fuel assemblies by the reactor operator and inspection crew.
Libraries
Libraries Access/Branch Services
Jenna Rihanek (First year UCARE student) working with Kay Logan-Peters
History of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln - A Virtual Presentation
I will assist in researching the physical growth and development of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campuses. In particular, I am collecting information on pre-WWII buildings and the architects who designed them; on university administrators and personnel who were instrumental in the development of the university; on the various campus plans that were developed over the years; and on the acquisition of property as the university grew. Research is conducted using photographs, archival materials, and printed sources. I am working with collections at the Nebraska State Historical Society, the University Libraries and Archives, and other local repositories of information such as the Lincoln Journal Star. This information is currently being developed into a highly illustrated educational web page with content equivalent to a publication. The web page is designed as an interactive source of information about the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, with links to information about the buildings and architects.
Libraries Archives/Special Collections
Xaviera Flores (Second year UCARE student) working with Mary Ellen Ducey
University History Collections
Jody Imus (Second year UCARE student) working with Mary Ellen Ducey
Agricultural Communications Photograph Project
Libraries Digital Initiatives & Special Collections
Nicholas Swiercek (First year UCARE student) working with Brett Barney
Digital Research in the Humanities Digitizing Historical Documents
Anastasia Smallcomb (First year UCARE student) working with Katherine Walter
Models of Digital Scholarship
My project this first year will center around learning about many different aspects of humanities computing. Specifically, I will focus on digital imaging and the encoding of texts in eXtensible Markup Language (XML) using the Text Encoding Initiative (TEI) standard. I will be working with faculty in both the Electronic Text Center and Archives at Love Library, reading about digital scholarship models, and will digitize UNL archival materials that can be used in creating a second year project.
Lied Center
Darin Hemmer (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Nancy Engen-Wedin and Charles Bethea
How Improvisation and Community Issues Impact Native American Students
Ashley Pritchard (Second year UCARE student) working with Laura Levy
Marketing Intern
Management
Erica Ginn (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Fred Luthans
POB and Psy Cap (Hope & Stress)
John Falk (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. Fiona Fui-Hoon Nah
Sales and Marketing Effectiveness Through the Use of Emoticons in C2C Internet Commerce
Anh Dao Pham (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Fiona Fui-Hoon Nah
Human - Computer Interaction
Ai Pheeng Wee (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Keng Siau
Mobile Healthcare Informatics
Advances in wireless technology give pace to the rapid development of mobile applications. For the healthcare industry, mobile applications provide a new frontier in offering better care and services to patients, and a more flexible and mobile way of communicating with suppliers and patients. Mobile applications will provide important data in real time for patients, physicians, insurers, and suppliers. This research will examine various aspects of mobile healthcare informatics. Specifically, it will study mobile applications in healthcare, and explores new mobile healthcare applications.
Mathematics
Gabriel Smith (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Mark Brittenham
Dirichlet Functions in Number Theory and Beyond
William Norton (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Steven Dunbar
Numerical Analysis of Black-Scholes Equation and Jump Diffusion Processes
The goal of this project is to investigate the numerical stability of solution methods for equations of mathematical finance. In particular, the goal is to investigate the numerical stability of explicit, implicit and mixed numerical methods developed for the Black-Scholes equation when applied to a non-local version of the Black-Scholes equation. If successful, the research will provide great insight into the numerical solution of non-local equations and the pricing of options in markets with sharp price changes.
Melissa Ackerman (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. Glenn Ledder
Singular Value Decomposition
Derek Boeckner (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. Richard Rebarber
Control Theory Techniques Applied to Population Methods
Mechanical Engineering
Nathan Wood (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. Shane Farritor
Variable Terrain Exploration with the Cliff-bot System
Recent research at the University of Nebraska and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory has shown that a system of three individual rovers that work as a team can safely negotiate cliff faces, which are of great scientific interest because they may contain important data regarding past water flow and past life. The system of robots consists of two rovers designated as “Anchor-bots” that assist the motion of the third rappelling “Cliff-bot” along a cliff face using tethers. Simple terrain has already been navigated by the system. Current research includes navigating the system around corners, cliff faces with varying slope, and random cliff configurations that emulate terrain that such a system is likely to encounter.
Christopher Bruening (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. George Gogos
Vortex Tube Thermocycler
Jeremy VanDerslice (First year UCARE student) working with Dr. George Gogos
Development of the Vortex Tube Thermocycler for Rapid DNA Amplification
Aaron Holmberg (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. Brian Robertson
Experimental design for nanoscale mapping of magnetice material
We will map the magnetic characteristics of nanoscale magnetic materials using a scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM). The data gathered from these experiments will help us better understand the magnetic properties of these materials. This understanding can help in making high-density, fast, non-volatile magnetic memory and more powerful, lighter electric motors.
Modern Languages and Literatures
Lyubov Popov (Second year UCARE student) working with Dr. Radha Balasubramanian
Life and works of Viktoria Tokareva
Angela Botsford and Johanna Perry (First year UCARE students) working with Dr. Christina Brantner
German Women Composers and Artists
This project involves researching German women artists and composers (beyond well known artists) in order to find literature about their lives and th