Student-Mentor Teams Selected for SURE 2008
The Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) program supports student-mentor teams participating in a mutually beneficial and intense 8-week collaborative research project.
Among the various activities sponsored by the Undergraduate Research Program, SURE involves mentoring and student research at the highest level possible. Selection into the program is competitive and includes substantive academic, scholarly, and mentoring components. While peer-reviewed dissemination is not a required outcome, projects conducted during SURE are expected to have the potential to result in scholarly publication or presentation beyond Elon, in addition to enriching our own community via on-campus venues such as SURF. For participation in SURE mentors and students receive stipends, students are provided on-campus housing, and grants-in-aid are made available to directly support the research projects.
For the second year in a row, the institution has generously increased the budget for SURE, providing awards for 30% more students. The Undergraduate Research Program Advisory Committee (URPAC), which serves as the selection body for SURE applications, enthusiastically supports 28 student-mentor teams selected to participate in summer 2008, as given below.
Summer 2008 marks the second year in which an endowed fund has made possible additional growth of the SURE program. The Joseph Powell SURE Fellowships are awarded to the top one or two SURE applicants each summer.
The Joseph Powell SURE Fellows for 2008 are Jackson Coppock and Larissa Ferretti.
The SURE 2008 Teams are:
Kimberly Abel (PSY) and Dr. Maurice Levesque (PSY)
“Body Image and Interpersonal Attraction: How Men’s and Women’s Expectations about Romantic Partners are Influenced by Body Dissatisfaction”
Kristin Arfman (ESS) and Dr. Eric Hall (HHP)
“Influence of Exercise on Media Representations of “Ideal” Body Image in College Males”
Daniel Brown (BIO) and Dr. Linda Niedziela (BIO)
“Stress-Inducible Gene and Developmental Toxicology in Zebrafish”
James Burns (ESS) and Dr. Eric Hall (HHP)
“Improvements in Self Esteem Following 8-week Exercise Intervention”
Grace Chao (ESS) and Dr. Paul Miller (HHP)
“Effects of Conjugated Linoleic Acid Supplementation and Exercise on Body Composition and Blood Lipid Profile”
Amanda Clark (CHM) and Dr. Kathy Matera (CHM)
“The Effect of Oxidized Lipids on Other Lipids and the Composition of Artherosclerotic Plaques”
Jackson Coppock (ESS), J. Powell SURE Fellow, and Drs. Joyce Davis and Paul Miller (HHP)
“The Influence of Music on Affective Response to Exercise at Ventilatory Threshold”
Chris Farnsworth (ENS) and Dr. Doug Redington (ECO)
“Economic Impact Assessment of Potential Greenway Along the Haw River in Alamance County”
Larissa Ferretti (PSY), J. Powell SURE Fellow, and Dr. Maureen Vandermaas-Peeler (PSY)
“Effects of Parent Training on Preschoolers’ Numeracy Skills”
Amy Gatto (HUS) and Dr. Cindy Fair (HUS)
“Transition Model for HIV-Infected Adolescents From Pediatric to Adult Care”
Sara Gould (Elem. Ed.) and Dr. Deborah Long (EDU)
“The Elon Academy: A Transformative Experience”
Amelia Helms (BIO) and Dr. Jeffrey Coker (BIO)
“Homeotic Gene Expression During Earthworm Regeneration”
Alexandra Kay (BIO/ENS) and Dr. David Vandermast (BIO)
“Effects of European Wild Boar Rooting Activity on Plant Diversity in High Elevation Beech Forests of Great Smoky Mountains National Park”
Erika Lamanna (ECO) and Dr. Steve DeLoach (ECO)
“Measuring the Impact of Credit on Health Outcomes in Developing Countries”
Jonathan Mahlandt (PSY) and Dr. Tom Green (PSY)
“Impact of Instructional Placement on the Performance of a Serial Reaction Time Task”
Matthew Marcum (PHY) and Dr. Tony Crider (PHY)
“Detecting Faint Asteroids with the PROMPT Array”
Victor McGlaughlin (CSC) and Prof. Joel Hollingsworth (CSC)
“Ad Hoc Mobile Embodied Agents”
Stefanie Meyers (COM) and Dr. Connie Book (COM)
“Simple Questions, Complex Answers: An Examination of SB5’s Impact on Texans”
Caroline Peckels (CHM) and Dr. Kathy Matera (CHM)
“The Formation of Free Radicals From Amyloid-Beta Plaques and Their Effect On Biomolecules”
Carolyn Popek (ESS/PSY) and Dr. Wally Bixby (HHP)
“Does Exercise Impact Brain Activity Associated with Cognitive Challenge During and Following Exercise of Various Intensities”
Monica Poteat (BIO/ENS) and Dr. David Vandermast (BIO)
“Does Allelopathy Explain the Scarcity of Spruce and Fir Trees in the Beech Gaps of Great Smoky Mountains National Park?”
Tony Rizzuto (CHM) and Dr. Karl Sienerth (CHM)
“Studying Carbon-Dioxide Conversion Catalysts in a New Solvent”
Paul Robinette (ENS) and Dr. Janet MacFall (ENS/BIO)
“The Effect of Disturbance on the Spread of Invasive Plants Species in the Haw River Watershed”
Scott Russell (BIO) and Dr. Brant Touchette (BIO)
“Use of Artificial Neural Networks for Ecological Modeling of Harmful Algal Blooms in the Pamlico River Estuarine System, North Carolina”
Margaret Spingler (PSY) and Dr. Alexa Darby (PSY)
“Service-Learning and Changes in Understanding the Complexities of Children Living in Poverty”
Ashley Steele (ENS) and Dr. Janet MacFall (ENS/BIO)
“The Effect of Disturbance on the Spread of Invasive Plants Species in the Haw River Watershed”
Zachary Usher (HST/POL) and Dr. Charles Irons (HST)
“The Union Leagues in North Carolina”
Phillip Zakas (BIO) and Dr. Linda Niedziela (BIO)
“Plant Extract Toxicology and Compound Isolation”