2009 Award Recipients
| Student Name | Major/Department | Advisor/Mentor | Proposal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cameron Betterly | Business/Management | Mary Durfee, Social Science | “Evaluating Sovereignty: Third Parties and the International Judicial Process” |
| Viktor Bollen | Physics | Kim Fook Lee, Physics | “Generation of Bi-partite Entanglement using Coherent States” |
| Daniel Dubiel | Mechanical Engineering/ Biomedical Engineering | Tammy L. Haut Donahue, MEEM | “Parametric study of stress concentration in artificial heart using finite element analysis” |
| Genevieve Gierke | Biomedical Engineering | Megan Frost, Biomedical | “Light Filtering Polymers for More Biocompatible Coatings on Blood and Tissue Contacting Medical Devices” |
| Sarah Gray | Biomedical Engineering | Seth Donahue, Biomedical | “Alkaline Phosphatase Activity Increased by Serum-Borne Factors in Hibernating Bears” |
| Angela Guisfredi | Exercise Science | Jason Carter, Exercise Science | “Lactate threshold and aerobic capacity during on-ice and off-ice testing” |
| Sulagna Gupta | Biochemistry-Molecular Biology | Ramakrishna Wusirika, Biology | “Rhizoremediation of heavy metals through plant-microbe interaction” |
| Sarah Hopson (HI) | Biochemistry and Molecular Biology – Chemistry | Pushpalatha Murthy, Chemistry | “The Optimization of the Heterologous production of Alkaline Phytase in the yeast Pichia pastoris” |
| Gareth Johnson | Mechanical Engineering | Keat Ghee Ong, Biomedical | “Development of Self-diagnosing Adaptive Structures for Composite Materials” |
| Jizhou Li | Mathematics | Thomas E. Merz, SBE | “An Experimental Study of the Effect of Framing on Risk Taking in Strictly Competitive Games” |
| Elizabeth Moore | Biomedical Engineering | Megan Frost, Biomedical | “Synthesis and Characterization of Novel S-Nitrosothiol Compounds for Nitric Oxide Delivery” |
| Kyrie Pappas | Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (Chemistry Concentration) | Shiyue Fang, Chemistry | “Selective Acylation of Polyamines at Ambient Temperature” |
| James Pouliot | Psychology | Susan Amato-Henderson, Cognitive and Learning Sciences | “Altruism and Materialism as Predictors of Educational Options in the Engineering Major” |
| Andrew Ramsey | Mechanical Engineering | Seong-Young Lee, MEEM | “Design and Manufacture of a Model Gas Turbine Combustor” |
| Nick Schaub | Biomedical Engineering | Ryan Gilbert, Biomedical | “Axon Regeneration With 6-Aminonicotinamide Releasing Poly-L-Lactic Acid Polymer Fibers in the Presence of Astrocytes” |
| Jill Smith (HI) | Forestry | Marty Jurgensen, SFRES | “Carbon Variation in Organic Matter through the Soil Profile” |
| Stephanie Smith | Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | Rupali Datta, Biological Sciences | “Potential Use of Vetiver Grass in Remediation of Antibiotics in the Environment” |
| Auriel Van Der Laar (HI) | Wildlife Ecology and Management | David Flaspohler, SFRES | “Habitat Classification and Biological Inventory of Pioneer Scout Reservation” |
| Eli Vlaisavljevich | Biomedical Engineering | Rupak Rajachar, Biomedical | “Bioactive Magnetoelastic Materials as Coatings for Implantable Biomaterials” |
| Lisa Weidemann (HI) | Environmental Engineering | Noel Urban, Civil and Environmental Engineering | “Mercury Concentrations in Macro Invertebrates and Pore Water samples of Torch Lake and Surrounding Wetlands” |
| Ashley Yenoir (HI) | Biological Sciences | Jason Carter, Exercise Science | “Effects of fish oil on human blood pressure and muscle sympathetic nerve activity during psychological stress” |
| Ryan Young | Chemical Engineering and Biology | Michael E. Mullins, Chemical Engineering | “Development of a Polymer-Lipid Complex That Restores Neuronal Membrane Continuity Following Axonal Damage” |
| Jie Zeng | Mathematics | Yolanda Munoz Maldonado, Mathematics | “Application of Functional Data Analysis in the Study of Aerosol Absorption and Dispersion in Mexico City” |
2008 Award Recipients
| Student Name | Major/Department | Advisor/Mentor | Proposal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Blaser | Computer Engineering | Robert Pastel (Assistant Professor, Computer Science) | “Utilizing the Law of Centering” |
| Breanne Carne | Wildlife Ecology & Management | David Flaspohler (Associate Professor, SFRES) | “Influence of legacy tree retention in aspen forests on golden-winged warbler habitat quality” |
| Jared Cregg | Biomedical Engineering | Ryan Gilbert (Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering) | “Conduits Containing Aligned Microfibers and Anisotropic Laminin-1 for Guided Peripheral Nerve Regeneration” |
| Laura Crimmins | Geological Engineering | John Gierke (Associate Professor, GMES) | “Mapping the Freshwater/Seawater Interface Within the Terminal Moraine Separating the Bering Glacier from the Gulf of Alaska Using a Horizontal-Loop ElectroMagnetic (HLEM) Survey” |
| Joseph Dammel | Environmental Engineering | Kathleen Halvorsen (Associate Professor, Social Sciences and SFRES) | “The effect of climate change beliefs and values on support/use of alternative fuels like cellulosic ethanol” |
| Logan Janka | Biomedical and Mechanical Engineering | Rupak Rajachar (Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering) | “Bioactive coatings for the prevention of infection in implantable biomaterials” |
| Kun mo Kim | Electrical Engineering | Tricia Chigan (Assistant Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering) | “Security in vehicular ad-hoc networks” |
| Keith Kinnear | Audio Production and Technology | Christopher Plummer (Assistant Professor, Visual and Performing Arts) | “Michigan's Upper Peninsula Sound Effects Library” |
| Jenna Klein | Biological Sciences | Jason Carter (Exercise Science) | “Muscle sympathetic nerve activity in migraineurs vs. healthy controls” |
| Ryan Lemmens | Mechanical Engineering and Applied Physics | Dennis Meng (Assistant Professor, MEEM) | “A Comparative Study of the Power Efficiencies of Bubble Actuation Methods” |
| Nicole Lepinski | Biological Sciences | Tammy Haut Donahue (Associate Professor, MEEM) | “Menisci Tissue Response Leading to Osteoarthritis” |
| Mengya Li | Victoria Bergval (Associate Professor, Humanities) | “How to Utilize Cultural Conflicts in Business Conduct” | |
| Sarah McIntyre | Biomedical Engineering | Ryan Gilbert (Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering) | “Translational Thin Film Construct a 5-Step Gradient of Neutrophin-3 for Regeneration Following Spinal Cord Injury” |
| Alexey Morozov | Electrical Engineering | Jason Blough (Assistant Professor, MEEM) | “GPS Guided Robotic Car” |
| James Peitzmeier | Mechanical Engineering | Mahesh Gupta (Professor, MEEM) | “Analysis of Integrated Accumulators and Frame for Hybrid Hydraulic Vehicles” |
| Brandon Pereles | Biomedical Engineering | Keat Ong (Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering) | “An Implantable Sensor for Biomedical Application” |
| Rebekah Price | Materials Science and Engineering | Jim Hwang (Professor, Materials Science and Engineering) | “Novel Metal Perhydride for Hydrogen Storage” |
| Kelsey Sprenger | Chemical Engineering | Jason Keith (Associate Professor, Chemical Engineering) | “Diesel Particulate Trap Regeneration Modeling” |
| Danielle Stoll | Biomedical Engineering | Seth Donahue (Associate Professor, Biomedical Engineering) | “The Effects of Hibernation on Trabecular Bone Properties In Black Bears (Ursus Americanus)” |
| Kassidy Yatso | Applied Ecology & Environmental Science | Erik Lilleskov (Adjunct Professor, SFRES) | “Earthworm Mesocosms: Litter Type Effect on Earthworm Growth” |
| Jeff Zylinksi | Mathematics | Fabrizio Zanello (Assistant Professor, Mathematics) | “Gorenstein Hilbert function in codimension 11” |
2007 Award Recipients
| Student Name | Major/Department | Advisor/Mentor | Proposal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lindsey Barlow | Biomedical Engineering | Seth Donahue | The Effects of Hibernation on Porosity in Black Bear (Ursus Americanus) Femurs |
| Ben Coupland | Applied Physics | Yoke Khin Yap | Exploration of Carbon Nitride |
| Chelsey Crosse | Chemistry | Caroline Taylor | Geometry and Charge Density of an Excited State of CaOH |
| Jennifer Diaz Tavarez | Mechanical Engineering | John K. Gershenson | Product and Process Platform Development |
| Zachary Edel | Mechanical Engineering | Abhijit Mukherjee | Study of the Growth of a Single Vapor Bubble Inside a Microchannel |
| Chad Fortin | Applied Ecology and Environmental Science | David Flaspohler | Measuring Arthropod Densities |
| Garrett Gibbons | Pharmaceutical Chemistry | Shiyue Fang | Silver Catalyzed Enyne Cycloisomerization |
| Sara Gibbs | Biomedical Engineering | Jeremy Goldman | Angiopoietin-2 Promotes Capillary Stabilization |
| James Hollenbeck | Computer Engineering/Software Engineering | Roger Kieckhafer | Modeling Performance/Reliability Trade-offs in Wireless Sensor Networks |
| Elsa Jensen | Applied Ecology Concentrations in Plant Sciences and Wetlands | Rod Chimner | Ecohydrological Conditions of a Beta Grise Costal Dune and Swale Wetland |
| Jeffrey Katalenich | Mechanical Engineering | Brad King | Analysis of the Use of Magnetic Torque in the 3-Axis Stabilization of a Nanosatellite in Low-Earth Orbit |
| Kari Klaboe | Civil Engineering | Tess Ahlborn | Ultra High Performance Concrete Setting Times and Conditions |
| Rebecca Klank | Biomedical Engineering | Ryan Gilbert | Testing the Effects of Adding PEG to Agarose and Methylcellulose Hydrogel Blends |
| Stuart Kramer | Applied Ecology | Kathleen Halvorsen | Social Effects of Lignocellose Biofuel Production in the Upper Midwest |
| Andrew McInnes | Anthropology | Sam Sweitz | The Aguirre Sugar Mill Historic Research Project |
| Sarah Molitoris | Applied Ecology and Environmental Science | Christopher Webster | Understory Plant Diversity in Relation to Legacy Trees in Aspen Forests |
| Alexander Nelson | Computer Science | Victoria Bergvall | Media Influences on Scientific Literature |
| Andrew Spaeth | Chemistry | Eugenijus Urnezius | Novel Synthetic Approach to Bi-zwitterionic Phosphoniumborances in Organic Hydrogen Activation |
| Sarah Stream | Exercise Science and Health and Biological Sciences | Jason Carter | Effects of Sleep on Autonomic Acibity During Simulated Microgravity |
| Tara Swanson | Mechanical Engineering | Tammy Donahue | Recovery of Meniscal Tissue Following a Period of Disuse |
| Wei Tang | Pharmaceutical Chemistry | Shiyue Fang | Mono-acetylation of Symmetric Diamines |
| Sherri Wiseman | Biomedical Engineering | Ryan Gilbert | Rapid Gelling Polyethylene Glycol Hydrogel System |
| Alexandra Zevalkink | Materials Science and Engineering | Peter Moran | Development of a Low Temperatur, Thin Film Solid Oxide Fuel Cell |
2006 Award Recipients
| Student Name | Major/Department | Advisor/Mentor | Proposal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Katherine Becker | Materials Sci and Engrg | Calvin White | Fatigue Failure of Solid State Seam Welds in Aluminum Extrusions |
| Adam Brown | Mechanical Engineering | Jeff Naber | Characterization and Optimization of Combustion in High Content Ethanol Fuels |
| Caleb Carlin | Applied Physics | Tony Rogers | Study of Additivity Rules for Inorganic Salts |
| Stephanie Drake | Biomedical Engineering | Chung-Jui Tsai | Aspen Cell Culture to Study the Regulation of Secondary Metabolism |
| Ryan Essex | Mechanical Engineering | Gordon Parker | US Navy Crane Ship Crane Pay Load Motion Damping |
| Dan Freeman | Physics | Miguel Levy | The Fabrication of Magneto-Optic Films by RF Magnetron-Sputtering |
| Garrett Gibbons | Chemistry | Shiyue Fang | Nucleophilic Addition to Pyridine Derivatives: Synthesis of Azospyrocyclic Compounds |
| Kelly Guzzardo-Plewa | Finance/ Economics | Hao Qi | Horizon Effect in Equity Premium Puzzle and Optimal Investment Portfolio |
| Matthew Hansen | Electrical Engineering & Physics | Yoke Khin Yap | Controlled Growth of CArbon Nanotubes through PECVD |
| Tara Hansen | Bio Sciences/ Pre-Med | Tammy Haut Donahue | The Effect of Disuse on Matrix Production in the Knee Joint |
| Brian Keltt | Chemical Engineering | Julie King | Fuel Cell Research |
| Katie Kruger | Biochemistry/ Molecular Biology | Ramakrishna Wusirika | A Pilot Scale Study of Rice and Arabidopsis Putative Bidirectional Promoters |
| Susan LaCasse | Communication & Cultural Studies /Psychology | Victoria Bergvall | The Link Between Saving Native Language and Sustainability Interests at MTU |
| Gregory LeFevre | Environmental Engineering | Brian Barkdoll | Modeling Effects of Climate Change on Sediment Transport in Hydrologic Systems |
| Christa Luokkala | Biology | Christian Giardina | Comparison of Vegetation Diversity in Adjacent Old-Growth and Managed Forests in the Great Lakes Region |
| Aaron Maki | Biomedical Engineering | Seth Donahue | The Effect of Agining and Disuse on the Dynamic Histology of Grizzly Bear Femurs |
| Julie Matijega | History | Alison Hoadland | Architect Dictionary |
| Evan Milton | Biological Sciences | Heather Youngs | Characterization of Peptide Inhibitors of Glycosyl Hydrolases in the Model Plant, Arabidopsis Thaliana |
| Jill Recla | Bioinformatics | Victor Busov | Unlocking the Secrets of Gibberellin Metabolism and Signaling Through the Use of Microarray Analysis |
| Rachel Robertson | Mathematics | Phil Merkey | Network Flow with Snow Removal |
| Rachel Rosten | Materials Science and Engineering/ Physics | Nina Orlovskaya | Self-Organized Nanostructured Thin Films for Catalysis in Perovskite Related Membrane Reactors |
| Whitney Sauve | Environmental Engineering | Marty Auer | Heterotrophy in Lake Superior |
| Duane Stephenson | Business | Joel Touriniemi | Relating Role-Dependant Influences with Student Business Ethics |
| Kyle Stover | Forestry | Andrew Storer | Impacts and Relationships of Exotic Earthworms with Weevil Communities and Weevil Herbivory in Uper Michigan's Huron Mountains |
| Craig Wilson | History | Pat Martin | Fiery Heart: A Comprehensive Investigation of the West Point Foundry Blast Furnace |
2005 Award Recipients
| Student Name | Major/Department | Advisor/Mentor | Proposal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matthew Davenport | Physics | Yoke Khin Yap | Vertically Aligned Carbon Nanotubes |
| Brian DeVree | Biology/Biochemistry Conc. | Micheal Gretz | N/A |
| Marcy Erickson | Applied Ecology | Leah & John Vucetich | N/A |
| Sean Fuller | Elec. Eng. | Paul Bergstrom | N/A |
| Betsy George | Mathematics/Discrete Concentration | Phillip Merkey | N/A |
| Gerald Greer | Social Sciences/Historical Studies | Christa Walck | N/A |
| Tara Hansen | Biological Sciences | Tammy Haut Donahue | N/A |
| Jennifer Heglund | Environmental Eng | David Watkins | N/A |
| Andrea Krevinghaus | Environmental Eng | Marty Auer | N/A |
| Lea Marlor | Materials Eng | Mark Plichta | N/A |
| Danielle Miller | Biomedical Eng/Int'l French Minor | Seth Donahue | N/A |
| Melanie Mullins | Psychology | Susan Amato-Henderson | N/A |
| Hans Nyberg | Computer Eng/Int'l Spanish Minor | David Nelson | N/A |
| Douglas Sage | Mechanical Eng | Jeffrey Allen | N/A |
| Emily Smith | Biology | Susan Bagley | N/A |
| Stacie Wieszczyk | Biomedical Eng/Polymer Sci & Eng/Philosphy & Ethics | Debra Charlesworth | N/A |
| Heather Wright | Environmental Eng/Ecology | James Mihelcic | N/A |
2004 Award Recipients
| Student Name | Major/Department | Advisor/Mentor | Proposal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Katie Bendall | Environmental Engineering | Kurt Paterson | N/A |
| Katelin Engerer | Biomedical Engineering | David Nelson | Human Thermoregulation |
| Susan Hallesy | Mechanical Engineering | Michele Miller | Ultrasonic Machining of Glass |
| Susan Brown | Forestry | Andrew Burton | Soil Respiration System Comparison |
| Matthew Davenport | Physics | Yoke Khin Yap | Vertically Aligned Carbon Nanotubes |
| Justin Gillespie | Mechanical Engineering | Tammy Donahue | Optimization of a Total Artificial Heart |
| Kristen Karnowski | Biomedical Engineering; Pre-Med | Debra Wright | Polymer Composite for Orthopedic Applications |
| Sarah Magee | Biomedical Engineering | TammyDonahue | Synthetic Material for Replacement of Cartilage in the Human Knee |
| Meghan McGee | Biomedical Engineering | SethDonahue | Properties of Black Bear Bones related to Osteoporosis |
| Elizabeth Norman | Chemical Engineering | Daniel Crowl | Flammability Limits of Hydrogen |
| Student Name | Major/Department | Advisor/Mentor | Proposal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chad Bareither | Mechanical Engineering | Michele Miller; Craig Friedrick | Investigation of precision machining and micromachining |
| Rebecca Fisher | Mechanical Engineering | Tammy Haut-Donahue | Mechanotransduction in Soft Tissue |
| Adam Hales | Mechanical Engineering | Scott Post | Construction of Apparatus for Experiments |
| Lindsay Halkola | Social Science | Timothy Scarlett | Investigation of Economic and Cultural Development Surrounding West Point Foundry Archaeological Preserve |
| Meghan McGee | Biomedical Engineering | Seth Donahue | Properties of Black Bear Bones related to Osteoporosis |
| Wanda Rodriguez | Civil & Environmental Engineering | Alex Mayer | |
| Sakiko Suzuki | Biomedical Engineering | Seth Donahue | Analysis of Bone Cells Exposed to Mechanical Stimulation |
| Tiffany Torrance | Civil & Environmental Engineering | Martin Auer | Assessment of WLSSD's Biofiltration System and Related Experimentation |
| Jessica Tracey | Physics | Will Cantrell | Investigation of Nonequilibrium Deliquescence of Sodium Chloride |
| Student Name | Major/Department | Advisor/Mentor | Proposal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beth Conrad | Chemistry | Eugenijus Urnezius | Organometallic Polymers |
| Kriselda Cuellar | Civil & Environmental Engineering | John VandeLindt | Definition of "Failure" in Wood Shear Walls |
| Wade DePas | Biomedical Engineering | David Nelson | Effects of Heat Shock Proteins on Tendon Microstructure |
| Blake Fecteau | Mechanical Engineering | JohnSutherland | Properties of Cutting Fluids |
| Lindsay Godin | Biomedical Engineering | Seth Donahue | Analysis of Bone Cells Exposed to Mechanical Stimulation |
| Kristin Harvey | Biomedical Engineering | Seth Donahue | Properties of Black Bear Bones related to Osteoporosis |
| Anna Swartz | Humanities | Richard Selfe | Participant Observation of K-12 Professional Development Design Team |
| JessicaTracey | Physics | Will Cantrell | Intermolecular Bonding Networks Among Water Molecules |
| Steven Veenman | Chemical Engineering | Jason Keith | Study of Nitric Oxide Decomposition |
| Abbigale Wilson | Biological Sciences | Rosalie Kern | Effects of Emotional Arousal on Memory |