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LU announces 2015 undergraduate research grants

Thursday, Lamar University’s Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) Director Kumer Das announced university funding for 19 proposals that will involve the work of 22 students mentored by 17 faculty members. The grants were announced at a reception in the Mary and John Gray Library.

Grant recipientsNow in its third year, undergraduate research grant requests at LU doubled from the prior year. This year the office received 34 proposals from 40 undergraduate students. In 2014, the grants resulted in almost 50 presentations, including one at Posters on the Hill in Washington, D.C., where LU was the only Texas university represented.

“To be selected for one of these research grants is quite an accomplishment in its own right,” said President Ken Evans.

“The opportunities undergraduate students have in the research process are an ability to formulate research questions, engage in the discovery process, structure processes for understanding phenomenon, and learn to tolerate conclusions that don’t exactly arrive at what you’d hoped they would.”

The process itself is so incredibly valuable because it affects students in their careers whatever they may choose,” Evans said in addressing the gathering in the University Reception Center. “There is no question that it affects positively their ability to move on in graduate education whether they go all the way toward a doctorate or not.”

“What we provide our students here is the opportunity to distinguish themselves,” Evans said.

“As an undergrad, I never had the opportunity to participate in something like this,” said James Marquart, provost and vice president for academic affairs. “Here at Lamar University undergraduates are developing a relationship with a faculty member who can lead them through the research process and then provide an entry into the Academy and the entire research enterprise.” 

“It is so important that we have these vehicles for our students to perform research,” Marquart said. But particularly valuable, he said, is the student-faculty mentor relationship that demonstrates “what inquiry is and the potential for a life of the mind.

Recipients of 2015 undergraduate research grants are:

Omar Aguilar, a freshman from Port Arthur, TX, studying environmental sciences, will be mentored by Andrew Gomes, research associate professor of chemical engineering, in research on Chromatograph-Mass Spectrometric Analysis of Phthalates In Food Packaging and Children’s Toys.

Stephanie Bermudez, a post-baccalaureate student from Beaumont, studying psychology and speech and hearing sciences, will be mentored by Edythe Kirk, assistant professor of psychology, in a study on Extrinsic Laryngeal Muscle Activity and Heart Rate During Film Stimuli.

Carlos Caballero, a senior from Port Neches, studying physics and mechanical engineering, will be mentored by Cristian Bahrim, associate professor of physics and electrical engineering, in a study titled Active Flow Control Systems and Solar Energy Harvesting Device in Aerospace Applications.

Merideth Chilton and Nicolas Nikoloutsos, both seniors from Vidor, studying biology, will be mentored by Ian Lian, assistant professor of biology, for Exploration of a Novel Approach to Reverse Cancer Malignancy.

Kyle Edwards, a senior from St. Kitts studying civil engineering, will be mentored by Nicholas Brake, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering, in the study of The Development of A Cost Effective Electrically Conductive Concrete For Highway Infrastructure Applications.

Jordan Goldstein, a senior from Beaumont, and Chelsea McDonald, a senior from Vidor, both studying biology, will be mentored by Matthew Hoch, associate professor of biology, in a study on Wind Waves Affect Benthic-Planktonic Microbial Community Interaction in Sabine Lake Estuary.

Omar Gonzalez, from Port Neches, is studying biology and will be mentored by Ashwini Kucknoor, assistant professor of biology, in a study on The Role and Significance of Filamentous Proteopospoglycan in Leishmania Amazonensis.

Christina Guerra, a junior from Nederland studying speech and hearing sciences, will be mentored by Monica Harn, department chair and associate professor of speech and hearing sciences, in a study on Phonological Cross-Linguistic Effects in Bilingual Spanish-English Speaking Children in Early Childhood Development.

Emmy Hammonds, a TALH senior from Beaumont, in biology and political sciences, will be mentored by Ashwini Kucknoor, assistant professor of biology, in a study on Surface Proteins of Leishmania Parasites.

Brooke Herrin, a sophomore from Kirbyville, and Ashlain McGriff, a junior from Crosby, TX, both in speech and hearing sciences, will mentored by Timothy Meline, professor of speech and hearing sciences, in research titled How does a History of Late Learning of Speech Sounds Affects a Child’s Emotional Well-Being?

Natalie Hudson, a junior from Pasadena studying American Sign Language and mathematics, will be mentored by Robert O’Connor and Freddie Titus, assistant professor of teacher education, in developing a 3D Vector Model Teaching Apparatus.

Manisha Patel, a junior from Beaumont, studying chemical engineering, will be mentored by Evan Wujcik, assistant professor of engineering, in developing a Portable Device with Alumina Technology for the Filtration of Metals and Bacteria in Drinking Water.

John Pickren, a senior from Beaumont, studying physics and electrical engineering, will be mentored by Cristian Bahrim, associate professor of physics and electrical engineering, in research on Identification of the Chemical Composition for Over-the-counter Medicines through Optical Analysis.

Maci Reeves, a senior from Nederland, studying biology, will be mentored by Matthew Hoch, associate professor of biology, in research on Microphytobenthos Resuspension Results in a Priming Effect of Terrigenous Dissolved Organic Matter Mineralization in a Shallow, Well-being estuary.

Julia Richardson, a senior from Beaumont, studying speech and hearing sciences, will be mentored by Nandhu Radhakrishnan, assistant professor of speech and hearing sciences, in research on A Closer Look at Asymptomatic Voice Disorders & Prevention.

Trent Shoefstall, a junior from Nederland, studying mechanical engineering, will be mentored by Xianchang Li, associate professor of mechanical engineering, in examining the Impact of the Length and Angles of Suction Pipes on the Performance of a Centrifugal Pump.

Jamie Stafford, a senior from Nederland studying physics and chemistry, will be mentored by Bogdana Bahrim, associate professor of physics, researching Resonant Charge Transfer Processes in Ion-Surface Interactions.

Kaitlin Taylor, a senior from Beaumont studying speech and hearing sciences, will be mentored by Ashley Dockens, assistant professor of speech and hearing sciences, for A Survey and Analysis of Audiologist Opinion on Geriatric Audiological and Remediation Habits.

Jiaxuan Xu, a junior from Beaumont studying mechanical engineering, will be mentored by Ramesh Guduru, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, in research on Glue-Based Thermoelectric Devices.

Serving on the OUR Advising committee are: Kendrick Aung, professor, engineering; Cristian Bahrim,  professor, physics; Peggy Doerschuk, professor, computer science; T.J. Geiger, assistant professor, English; Matthew Hoch, associate professor, biology; Peter Kelleher, associate provost for research; Dr. Timothy Meline, professor, speech-language pathologist; Jimmy Moss, professor, business; Mary Kelley-Scheer, professor, history; Dorothy Sisk, Conn Chair and professor, education; Juan Zabala, vice president for advancement; Weihang Zhu, associate professor, engineering.