EMU Today

YPSILANTI – A total of 19 Eastern Michigan University students will conduct research projects in partnership with EMU faculty members with the support of Winter 2021 and Summer 2021 Undergraduate Research Stimulus Awards.

The Undergraduate Research Stimulus Program is among several initiatives at EMU intended to facilitate research partnerships between undergraduate students and Eastern Michigan faculty. The awards were approved by the EMU Board of Regents at its regular meeting on June 10, 2021.

The wide-ranging research topics focus on areas such as autism, biology, architecture, language, nursing, and more.

Student awardees will receive a $2,000 fellowship in support of their research efforts, which will be paid in bi-weekly installments throughout the award period. This award will be in the form of a credit to the student’s university account. The collaborating faculty member may receive $500 to be used for lab/studio supplies or equipment, or other professional expenses.

The Provost and Executive Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs has awarded a total of $18,000 to nine undergraduate students and $4,233 to nine Eastern faculty for Winter 2021 research and creative projects under the program.

A total of $20,000 to 10 undergraduate students and $4,597 to 10 Eastern faculty has also been awarded by the Provost and Executive Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs for Summer 2021 research and creative projects under the program.

The cost of the Undergraduate Research Stimulus Program awards will be funded from the Provost's indirect cost recovery. The GameAbove alumni group is also funding a variety of projects.

Listed below are the student awardees, their majors, research topics, and faculty partners for their Winter 2021 projects:

Kasey Baker (majoring in Health Administration). “Infant Mortality in the United States and Canada: A Comparison of Data and Health Policy Trends.” Faculty mentor: Annemarie Kelly (School of Health Sciences).

Jaimie Barr (majoring in Psychology). “Determining the Prevalence of Children with Autism who Experience Delays to Behavioral Therapy in Michigan and Understanding the Needs of their Families.” Faculty mentor: Adam Briggs (Department of Psychology).

Morgan Chaudry (majoring in Biology). “Comparing Watershed Run Off and WWTP Effluents as Sources of Microplastics to the Huron River.” Faculty mentor: Kristi Judd (Department of Biology).

Carrie Kosiba (majoring in Biology). “Vocal Analysis of the Newly Described Atlantic Coast Leopard Frog.” Faculty mentor: Katherine Greenwald (Department of Biology).

Aaron Liske (majoring in Computer Science). “Remote Vehicle Data Gathering and Processing.” Faculty mentor: Xiangdong Che (School of Information Security & Applied Computing).

Kevin Purify (majoring in Fine Arts). “Small Architecture: Prefabricated Modular Spaces.” Faculty mentor: John DeHoog (School of Art & Design).

Micaela Schempf (majoring in Chemistry). “Replacement of Hydrazide Moieties in Novel Inhibitors of Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1.” Faculty mentor: Cory Emal (Department of Chemistry).

Nadia Silvia (majoring in General Biochemistry). “The Effect of Autophagy Related Protein 10 and its Mutants on Autophagosome Size and Number.” Faculty mentor: Steven Backues (Department of Chemistry).

Mary Watson (majoring in Biology and French). “Growth Rates & Metabolism in 5 Tarantula Species: Support for the Pace of Life Syndrome.” Faculty mentor: Cara Shillington (Department of Biology).

Listed below are the student awardees, their majors, research topics, and faculty partners for their Summer 2021 projects:

Garrett Bailey (majoring in Biology and Chemistry). “Optimization of Compucell 3D to Mimic Autophagic Body Clustering.” Faculty mentor: Steven Backues (Department of Chemistry).

Morgan Bergren (majoring in Geology - Hydrogeology). “Source Tracking of Chemical and Microbiological Contaminants in Millers Creek.” Faculty mentor: Christopher Gellasch (Department of Geography and Geology).

Tristan Burk (majoring in TESOL and Spanish K-12 Education). “Examining K-12 English as a Second Language Teachers’ Use of Resources on Promoting Racial Equity.” Faculty mentor: Zuzana Tomas (Department of World Languages).

Jessica Callaghan (majoring in Clinical Laboratory Science - Medical Laboratory Science). “The Effects of Yerba Santa on Haemophilus Species.” Faculty mentor: Lynne Shetron-Rama (School of Health Sciences).

Mair Edwards (majoring in Biology). “Analysing the Temperature Response of GGT1, a Photorespiratory Aminotransferase.” Faculty mentor: Aaron Liepman (Department of Biology).

Tanner Kendall (majoring in Nursing). “Nursing Student Lockdown Fatigue.” Faculty mentor: Meriam Caboral-Stevens (School of Nursing).

Jacob Kendrick (majoring in Mechanical Engineering Technology). “Investigate the Feasibility of Carbon Dioxide in an Applied Particle Image Velocimetry System.” Faculty mentor: Paul Kominsky (School of Engineering Technology).

Carlos Mellado Fritz (majoring in General Biochemistry). “Understanding the Difference in Thermal Stability of UHRF2.” Faculty mentor: Brittany Albaugh (Department of Chemistry).

Arturo Peña (majoring in Psychology). “Fear Acceptance Versus Fear Reduction for Proper Extinction Learning in Augmented Reality Exposure Therapy.” Faculty mentor: Ellen Koch (Department of Psychology).

Sydney Timmer (majoring in K-12 Vocal Music Education). “The Current Status of LGBTQ+ Inclusivity in U.S. Choral Classrooms.” Faculty mentor: Heather Shouldice (School of Music and Dance).

About Eastern Michigan University

Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest public university in Michigan. It currently serves more than 16,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Engineering and Technology; Health and Human Services; and, its graduate school. EMU is regularly recognized by national publications for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University's website.