Dickinson College Student-Faculty Research Explores Nanotechnology, Health Impacts of Recession and More

In the lab

Photo by Tony Moore

2018 Summer Research

Ah, summertime ... time to unplug, unwind and relax. While some students spend the summer months on vacation, working a summer job or catching up on their reading lists, a number of Dickinsonians are chasing the limits of their curiosity with funded summer research projects. 

More than 50 students majoring in everything from medieval & early modern studies to computer science are engaging in research projects this summer, each accompanied by a supporting faculty member. Funded by such organizations as the National Science Foundation as well as Dickinson's Dana Research Assistantship and the Student-Faculty Research Endowment Award, these projects opportunities enable students to deeply explore topics they are passionate about side by side with faculty experts while contributing original knowledge on everything from nanotechnology to the health impacts of the Great Recession.

2018 Funded Summer Student-Faculty Research Projects

  • Joseph Bautista '20 (medieval & early modern studies), "Novel Saints: Novel, Hagiography and Romance from the 4th to the 12th Century," Dana Research Assistantship, Assistant Professor of Religion Peter Schadler
  • Amanda Baylor '20 (physics), "Photometry of 10 Eclipsing Variables in the Field of NGC 2362," Student-Faculty Research Endowment Award, Associate Professor of Physics & Astronomy Catrina Hamilton-Drager
  • Taylor Bednar '19 (chemistry, neuroscience), "Colorimetric Detection of Substitution Reactions in Living Cells," Student-Faculty Research Endowment Award, Assistant Professor of Chemistry Jason Gavenonis
  • Joshua Bennett '20 (theatre arts, music), "Stage Manager and Assistant to EAD Pendragon Theatre," Student-Faculty Research Endowment Award, Charles A. Dana Professor of Theatre Karen Kirkham
  • Shannon Bonner '19 (biochemistry & molecular biology), "Communication Between Immune Cells in Inflammatory Disease," Student-Faculty Research Endowment Award, Assistant Professor of Biology Tiffany Frey
  • Kendra Bonsey '19 (earth sciences), "Arctic and Alpine Climate Changes Research Experience (AACCRE): Field Research Methods to Document Modern and Ancient Climate Change in Alexandria Fiord, Ellesmere Island, Nunavut, Canada," The Moraine Foundation, Professor of Earth Sciences Ben Edwards
  • Kendra Bonsey '19 (earth sciences), "Investigation of Lead Isotopes as Chronostratigraphic Markers for Lake Sediments in Northeastern Pennsylvania," Student-Faculty Research Endowment Award, Assistant Professor of Earth Sciences Alyson Thibodeau
  • Ashir Borah '19 (mathematics, computer science), "Self-Adaptive Chaotic Mutation Operators in Evolutionary Computation," Student-Faculty Research Endowment Award, Professor of Computer Science Grant Braught
  • Alexander Bossakov '20, Rachel Gross '19, Muhajir Lesure '20, Meaghan McBride '19, Pema Tashi '20, Jingwen Zhang '20, "The 'Stay-Behinds': Village Labor and Sustainability in the New Era of Migration in Rural China," Susan Rose, Charles A. Dana Professor of Sociology, Director Community Studies Center and Professor of Anthropology Ann Hill
  • Julia Bray '19 (English), "Carlisle Indian School Digital Resource Center," Dana Research Assistantship, Charles A. Dana Professor of Sociology Susan Rose
  • Ethan Burg '19 (biochemistry & molecular biology), "G Protein Regulation of the Actin Cytoskeleton in the Cleavage Stage Embryo," National Science Foundation, Charles A. Dana Professor of Biology John Henson
  • Daniel Byun '19 (mathematics, economics), "Natural Disasters, Household Debt, and Inequality: County-Level Evidence from the United States," Student-Faculty Research Endowment Award, Assistant Professor of Economics Emily Marshall
  • Sarah Campbell '19 (sociology), "Balkanized Knowledge Enclaves and Semantic Oppression," Student-Faculty Research Endowment Award, Assistant Professor of Philosophy Jeff Engelhardt
  • Abaigeal Cottle '20 (archaeology, religion), "Joyce Tenneson Photography," Presidential Discretionary Fund, Trout Gallery Curator of Education Heather Flaherty
  • Allison Curley '19 (earth sciences), "Investigation of Lead Isotopes as Chronostratigraphic Markers for Lake Sediments in Northeastern Pennsylvania," Student-Faculty Research Endowment Award, Assistant Professor of Earth Sciences Alyson Thibodeau
  • Allison Curley '19 (earth sciences), "Arctic and Alpine Climate Changes Research Experience (AACCRE): Field Research Methods to Document Modern and Ancient Climate Change in Alexandria Fiord, Ellesmere Island, Nunavut, Canada," The Moraine Foundation, Professor of Earth Sciences Ben Edwards
  • Bryce Descavish '20 (biochemistry & molecular biology), "Pteridine Reductase Interface Peptides as Antileishmanial Agents," Dana Research Assistantship, Assistant Professor of Chemistry Jason Gavenonis
  • Hugh Downs '19 (classical studies, history), "Critical Edition of Maffei's Historiarum Indicarum Libri XVI (1588)," Dana Research Assistantship, Professor of Classical Studies Christopher Francese
  • Nicola Durham '20 (earth sciences, environmental science), "Arctic and Alpine Climate Changes Research Experience (AACCRE): Field Research Methods to Document Modern and Ancient Climate Change in Iceland," The Moraine Foundation, Professor of Earth Sciences Ben Edwards
  • Natura Sant Foster '20 (art & art history, Italian studies), "Re-riding the Rails: From the Southern Plains to the Matanzas Bay," Presidential Discretionary Fund, Trout Gallery Curator of Education Heather Flaherty
  • Lissy Gold '20 (undeclared), "Assist with Design, Build and Run of 'A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine,' " Dana Research Assistantship, Professor of Theatre Sherry Harper-McCombs
  • Ilana Gruber '20 (political science, Spanish), "Citizenship Rights and Democracy in Latin America," Dana Research Assistantship, Assistant Professor of Political Science and Latin American Studies Santiago Anria
  • Pentti Hanlon '19 (philosophy), "Dharma Rain, Second Edition," Center for Sustainability Education, Professor of Religion Dan Cozort
  • Noah Hunt-Isaak '20 (computer science, mathematics), "A Computational Study of Solution Techniques for 0-1 Quadratic Programs,"  Student-Faculty Research Endowment Award, Professor of Mathematics Richard Forrester
  • Candice Ionescu '19 (international studies), "Terminology and Nomenclature Standards of Nanotechnologies," National Institute of Science & Technology
  • William Irving '19 (earth sciences, Russian), "Arctic and Alpine Climate Changes Research Experience (AACCRE): Field Research Methods to Document Modern and Ancient Climate Change in Iceland," The Moraine Foundation, Professor of Earth Sciences Ben Edwards
  • Bianca Kapur '20 (earth sciences), "Arctic and Alpine Climate Changes Research Experience (AACCRE): Field Research Methods to Document Modern and Ancient Climate Change in Iceland," The Moraine Foundation, Professor of Earth Sciences Ben Edwards
  • Madigan Kay '18 (Italian studies), "Gender/Sexuality/Italy—Online Open-Access, Peer-Reviewed International Journal," Dana Research Assistantship, Associate Professor of Italian and Film Studies Nicoletta Marini-Maio
  • Sophie Kirkman '19 (physics), "Investigation of the Absorber Efficiency of a Gridded Single-Pass Solar Air Heater," Student-Faculty Research Endowment Award, Professor of Physics Hans Pfister
  • Francis Kline '19 (history), "House Divided Project," Digital Dana via Dickinson Humanities, Professor of History Matt Pinsker
  • Rachel Krewson '20 (physics, environmental science), "Thermal Controls on Methane Dynamics in Icelandic Lakes," National Geographic Society, Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies Kristin Strock
  • Maxwell Lee '19 (environmental science, biology), "Improving Utilization of Biogas and Digester Effluent for Sustainability," Center for Sustainability Education, Assistant Manager of Dickinson Farm Matt Steiman
  • Seth Levin '19 (classical studies, political science), "Critical Edition of Maffei's Historiarum Indicarum Libri XVI (1588)," Roberts Classical Studies Endowment, Professor of Classical Studies Christopher Francese
  • Cecilie Macpherson '20 (environmental studies), "Incubations Across a Geothermal Temperature Gradient," Northeast Sustainable Agriculture & Education, Assistant Manager of Dickinson Farm Matt Steiman and Dr. Jason Smith
  • Trung Quang Nguyen '19 (international business & management), "The Tale of Two Crises: Technology Spillovers as Sources of Risk Spillovers Among U.S. Innovative Firms," Student-Faculty Research Endowment Award, Assistant Professor of International Business & Management Qing Bai
  • Jack Olsson '20 (earth sciences), "Arctic and Alpine Climate Changes Research Experience (AACCRE): Field Research Methods to Document Modern and Ancient Climate Change in Iceland," The Moraine Foundation, Professor of Earth Sciences Ben Edwards
  • Katherine Overstrum '20 (environmental science), "Arctic and Alpine Climate Changes Research Experience (AACCRE): Field Research Methods to Document Modern and Ancient Climate Change in Iceland," The Moraine Foundation, Professor of Earth Sciences Ben Edwards
  • Tucker Quinn '21 (undeclared), "Bounded Rationality in Elinor Ostrom's Work," Dana Research Assistantship, Assistant Professor of Economics Vlad Tarko
  • Madie Ritter '19 (environmental science, religion), "Reconstructing the Effects of 'Browning' on Algal Communities in Lakes," Student-Faculty Research Endowment Award, Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies Kristin Strock
  • Madie Ritter '19 (environmental science, religion), "Arctic and Alpine Climate Changes Research Experience (AACCRE): Field Research Methods to Document Modern and Ancient Climate Change in Alexandria Fiord, Ellesmere Island, Nunavut, Canada," The Moraine Foundation, Professor of Earth Sciences Ben Edwards
  • Karuna Sah '19 (earth sciences), "Arctic and Alpine Climate Changes Research Experience (AACCRE): Field Research Methods to Document Modern and Ancient Climate Change in Iceland," The Moraine Foundation, Professor of Earth Sciences Ben Edwards
  • Bakary Samasa '19 (biology), "G Protein Regulation of the Actin Cytoskeleton in the Cleavage Stage Embryo," National Science Foundation, Charles A. Dana Professor of Biology John Henson
  • Amber Sands '18 (Italian studies), "Gender/Sexuality/Italy - Online Open-Access, Peer-Reviewed International Journal," Dana Research Assistantship, Associate Professor of Italian and Film Studies Nicoletta Marini-Maio
  • Zayed Shahjahan '20 (economics, mathematics), "The Impacts of the Great Recession on People's Health and Fertility Outcomes," Student-Faculty Research Endowment Award, Assistant Professor of International Studies Shamma Alam
  • Karan Shakya '20 (economics, environmental studies), "Location, Location, Location: Developing Tools for Selection and Management of Landscapes to Promote Healthy Bee Populations," Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research, Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies Maggie Douglas
  • Karan Shakya '20 (economics, environmental studies), "Arctic and Alpine Climate Changes Research Experience (AACCRE): Field Research Methods to Document Modern and Ancient Climate Change in Iceland," The Moraine Foundation, Professor of Earth Sciences Ben Edwards
  • Sara Soba '21 (environmental science), "Context is Key: Tools for Adapting Beekeeping Practices to Diverse Landscapes," U.S. Department of Agriculture, Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies Maggie Douglas
  • Molly Sternick '20 (biochemistry & molecular biology), "Mutation, Expression and Purification of Heat Shock Protein 70 (HSP70)," National Science Foundation, Associate Professor of Chemistry Rebecca Connor
  • Rebecca Stout '19 (English, history), "House Divided Project," Digital Dana via Dickinson Humanities, Professor of History Matt Pinsker
  • Lizzie Trost '21 (chemistry), "Mutation, Expression and Purification of Heat Shock Protein 70 (HSP70)," National Science Foundation, Associate Professor of Chemistry Rebecca Connor
  • Josie Verter '19 (biology), "Thermal Controls on Methane Dynamics in Icelandic Lakes," Dana Research Assistantship, Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies Kristin Strock
  • Cooper Wingert '20 (history), "House Divided Project," Dana Research Assistantship, Professor of History Matt Pinsker
  • Anna Zaremba '20 (environmental studies), "Arctic and Alpine Climate Changes Research Experience (AACCRE): Field Research Methods to Document Modern and Ancient Climate Change in Iceland," The Moraine Foundation, Professor of Earth Sciences Ben Edwards
  • Yanqing Zhao '19 (economics), "Natural Disasters, Household Debt, and Inequality: County-Level Evidence from the United States," Student-Faculty Research Endowment Award, Assistant Professor of Economics Anthony Underwood
  • Solomon Zisser '20 (theatre arts, Judaic studies), "Creation and Performance of Puppet Theatre Piece," Student-Faculty Research Endowment Award, Professor of Theatre Sherry Harper-McCombs

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Published July 3, 2018