News Service

3-13-08

Iowa State undergraduates present their research at annual Capitol event

AMES, Iowa -- They've studied the location of Iowa's ethanol plants, the public's understanding of Doppler radar, the genetic relationships of bobcats in Iowa and surrounding states, immigration in rural counties from 1950 to 2000 and lots more.

And so 21 Iowa State University undergraduates had plenty to tell legislators and others during the third annual "Research in the Capitol" event March 10 in Des Moines.

The event brought more than 60 undergraduate students from each of Iowa's three Regent Universities (Iowa State, the University of Iowa and the University of Northern Iowa) to the Capitol for a demonstration of the depth and breadth of research activities by undergraduate students.

John Brighton, Iowa State's vice president for research and economic development, complimented the students at the gathering and encouraged them to continue their research work.

"Research is a very effective part of the learning process," he said. "It parallels classroom learning in a way that provides a good educational balance."

Brighton also encouraged the students to consider graduate school and more research.

"Research is important to society and the state," he said. "It produces new discoveries and that can create new companies that build our economy."

The Research in the Capitol program was created by the honors programs at Iowa State, Iowa and Northern Iowa.

The Iowa State students who presented their work at the capitol, their hometowns, majors, research projects and research mentors were:

• Takiyah Abdulmalik, Oxon Hill, Md., food science, Parameters affecting levels of gallocatechins in oolong teas, mentors Aubrey Mendonca, an associate professor of food science and human nutrition and Sean O'Keefe, an associate professor of food science and technology at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg.
• Kristy Bellinger, Omaha, Neb., biology, Genetic relationships of bobcats in Iowa and surrounding Midwestern states, mentors William Clark, a professor of ecology, evolution and organismal biology; Dawn Reding, a graduate student; and Anne Bronikowski, an assistant professor of ecology, evolution and organismal biology.
• Lori Neuman-Lee Biggs, Adel, English and biology, Feeding behavior altered by short-term atrazine exposure during incubation in map turtles (Graptemys), mentor Frederic Janzen, a professor of ecology, evolution and organismal biology.
• Rachel Butterworth, Apple Valley, Minn., meteorology, A survey of the public understanding of Doppler radar, mentors Cinzia Cervato, an associate professor of geological and atmospheric sciences; William Gallus, a professor of geological and atmospheric sciences and Kevin Kloesel, assistant dean of the College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences at the University of Oklahoma in Norman.
• Lucas Carlstrom, Eldridge, animal science and microbiology, Identification of a novel genetic analysis for Factor VII deficiency in canines, mentor Matthew Ellinwood, an assistant professor of animal science.
• Peter Choi, Ames, psychology, Unable to focus: negative affect in proactive and reactive control, mentor Robert West, an associate professor of psychology; and Stephanie Travers, an assistant professor of psychology at Luther College in Decorah.
• Courtney Cornick, Bolingbrook, Ill., psychology, Diversity and group counseling, mentor Nathaniel Wade, an assistant professor of psychology.
• Priscilla Delgado, Des Moines, microbiology, Soybean Sudden Death Syndrome: Temperature effects on the fungal pathogen, mentors Leonor Leandro, an assistant professor of plant pathology; and Gladys Mbofung, a post-doctoral student.
• Andrew Dust, Waterloo, economics and mathematics, Immigration in rural counties from 1950-2000: Waves or ripples?, mentor Peter Orazem, a University Professor of economics.
• Isaac Hinton, Coralville, biology, Forces experienced on the hamstring, mentor Tim Derrick, an associate professor of kinesiology.
• Brian Kaplinger, Omaha, Neb., aerospace engineering, Asteroid Deflection Research Initiative (ADRI): A comparison of low, medium, and high energy methods, mentors Bong Wie, a professor of aerospace engineering; and John Basart, a professor emeritus of electrical and computer engineering.
• Kok Keong Lim, Selayang Baru, Selangor, Malaysia, microbiology, Understanding root health to improve soybean productivity in Iowa, mentors Leonor Leandro, an assistant professor of plant pathology; and Carlos Gongora-Canul, a graduate student.
• Rebecca Luchtel, Spirit Lake, nutritional sciences, Dietary egg white protein diets reduce cardiovascular disease biomarkers in rats, mentor Kevin Schalinske, an associate professor of food science and human nutrition.
• Katie Lutz, Ames, genetics, RecA targeted homologous recombination in zebrafish, mentors Jeff Essner, an assistant professor of genetics, development and cell biology; and Hsin-Kai Liao, a graduate student.
• Matt Martin, Rochester, Minn., aerospace engineering, Imaging airflow over an airfoil near stall, mentors Hui Hu, an assistant professor of aerospace engineering; and Hirofumi Igarashi, a graduate student.
• Mark Rosmann, Harlan, agronomy and history, Improving soil quality in Iowa organic farming, mentors Kathleen Delate, an associate professor of horticulture; and Cynthia Cambardella, an associate professor of soil tilth and a soil scientist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Soil Tilth Laboratory.
• Mileka Scurlock, Omaha, Neb., kinesiology and health, Perceptions and attitudes toward physical activity of postmenopausal African American women, mentor Panteleimon Ekkekakis, an associate professor of kinesiology.
• Lindsay Thompson, Huxley, kinesiology and health, The effect of task complexity on walking in young adults, mentors Kristin Lowry, a graduate student; and Ann Smiley-Oyen, an associate professor of kinesiology.
• Bethany Wilcoxon, Atlantic, community and regional planning, The Corn Belt's ethanol plants: Do locational factors matter?, mentors Monica Haddad, an assistant professor of community and regional planning; Francis Owusu, an associate professor of community and regional planning; and Gary Taylor, an assistant professor of community and regional planning.
• Nathan Willis, Omaha, Neb., aerospace engineering; and Sam Wagner, Webster City, aerospace engineering and mathematics, Student design of a satellite for lunar surface analysis and solar sailcraft demonstration, mentors Bong Wie, a professor of aerospace engineering; and Matthew Nelson, an engineer in aerospace engineering.

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Quick look

Twenty one Iowa State undergraduates recently presented their research to legislators and others gathered in the rotunda of the Iowa Capitol. The poster presentations were part of the third annual "Research in the Capitol" event that showcases student research at Iowa's three Regent Universities.