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University Honors Program

Research

A student presents her poster at the State Capitol

Research Opportunities

Freshman Honors Mentor Program
The Freshman Honors Mentor Program pairs a student in the Freshman Honors Program with an experienced researcher in the Spring semester. Read more about the Freshman Mentor Program.

Honors Projects
A requirement to graduate with the Honors designation, the Honors Project gives students a chance to showcase not only what they've learned, but also how they've applied what they've learned. Read more about Honors Projects.

Research in the Capitol
Twenty Iowa State University undergraduate students are selected each year to present research posters to lawmakers in a program called "Research in the Capitol". Held in the rotunda of the State Capitol building in Des Moines, the fifth annual Research in the Capitol will take place on March 25, 2010

Students present their posters in the State Capitol

ISU students, along with undergraduates selected from the University of Iowa and the University of Northern Iowa, display posters and describe their research to legislators, reporters and top university administrators. Dignitaries including David Miles, President of the Iowa Board of Regents present comments on the importance of research to the undergraduate experience. Research in the Capitol is designed to highlight the importance of undergraduate research to legislators and other state officials with students serving as ambassadors to convey the depth and variety of research being done at Iowa State.

Research presented at this event has ranged from psychology, chemistry and agriculture to aerospace engineering and political science (see the list of presenters from 2006-2009 below).

Students present their posters in the State Capitol

Although RIC is coordinated by the University Honors Program, all undergraduate students are eligible and encouraged to apply. Students who are Iowa natives are especially encouraged to participate.

If you are interested in presenting your research at Research in the Capitol, please complete the online RIC Abstract Submission form.  If we receive more than 20 submissions, participants will be selected on the basis of geographical representation and by topics of legislative interest.

ISU students or their mentors should contact Dana Schumacher, dschumac@iastate.edu, at the University Honors Program for more information.

2009 Research in the Capitol Event - ISU presenters
Rachel Scheurer: LaFayette, MN Temperature and Water-level Evidence for Flood Water Entering the Ames Aquifer Environmental Engineering Mentor: Dr. William Simpkins
Eric Kilburg: Maquoketa, IA Diurnal Resting Habitat Selection of the White-tailed Jackrabbit in an Intensive Agricultural Setting Animal Ecology Mentor: Dr. W. Sue Fairbanks
Michael Rausch: Ionia, IA Assessing Effects of Fire and Grazing on Prairie Insect Biodiversity Biology Mentor: Dr. Diane Debinski
Justin Schultz: Ollie, IA Correlation Between Updraft Strength and Tornado Intensity Using Gibson Ridge Level 2 Analyst Edition Software Meteorology Mentors: Dr. Mike Chen and Karl Jungbluth
Jennifer Byer: Marshalltown , IA The Mixed Glass Former Effect in the Na2O+B2O3+P2O5 Glass System Materials Engineering Mentor: Dr. Steve Martin
Erinn Rieser: Stillwater, MN Antimicrobial Effects of Common Flavonoids and Plant Extracts Nutritional Science Mentor: Dr. Suzanne Hendrich
Brittany Overstreet: Des Moines, IA Comparing the Cultural Competence of African American and Caucasian Foster Mothers Caring for African American Foster Children Communication Studies Mentors: Dr. Thomas Hill and Dr. Sedahlia Jasper Crase
Benjamin Blakely: Alleman, IA Internet-Scale Event and Attack Generation Environment (ISEAGE) Computer Engineering Mentor: Dr. Doug Jacobson
Stephanie Burbridge: Mt Vernon, IA Meeting the Needs of Children of Divorce Through Literature Elementary Education Mentor: Dr. Lori Norton-Meier
Rina Mbofung: Ames, IA Contribution of the Hsv operon to Leaf Colonization in Pseudomonas Syringae Microbiology Mentor: Dr. Gwyn Beattie
Keihly Moore: Two Harbors, MN 2008 Iowa Flooding: Disaster Mitigation, An Integrated Systems Approach Architecture and Environmental Studies Mentors: Nadia Anderson and Clare Cardinal-Pett
Jason Grimm: North English, IA Continuous Productive Urban Landscapes: A Sustainable Design Option to Growing Urban Communities in Iowa Landscape Architecture and Environmental Studies Mentor: Mimi Wagner
Matthew Perry: Chillicothe, MO Upper-air Flow Pattern of Floods in the Central Plains Meteorology Mentor: Ross Hays, Jr.
Joel Rindfleisch: Cedar Rapids, IA Developing Sustainable Seed Supply Chains in Africa: A Sensitivity Analysis of Factor Conditions Management Information Systems Mentor: Dr. Bobby Martens
Adam Deppe: Maquoketa, IA Dew Point Temperature Trends Associated with Synoptic Regime Changes in Iowa  Meteorology Mentor: Dave Flory
Charles Fisher: Mount Auburn, IA Statistical Analysis of Toolmark Striations Materials Engineering Mentor: Dr. Scott Chumbley
Logan Karsten: Des Moines, IA A Comparison of The Partial Thickness Technique and The Bourgouin Technique Through Bufkit Output Meteorology Mentors: Dr. Bill Gallus and Chris Karstens
William Law: Marion, IA
John Callahan: Dubuque, IA
Spontaneous Calcium Activity in Differentiating Adult Rat Hippocampal Progenitor Cells Genetics
Biology
Mentor: Dr. Don Sakaguchi
Gina Assmann: Omaha, NE
Becky Murphy: Central City, IA
Melissa Dilling: Rochester, MN
Studying Medical Decision Aids Interior Design
Graphic Design
Graphic Design
Mentor: Debra Satterfield

 

2008 Research in the Capitol Event - ISU presenters
Takiyah Abdulmalik,
Oxon Hill, MD
Parameters affecting levels of gallocatechins in oolong teas Food Science Mentors: Sean O'Keefe (Virginia Tech), Aubrey Mendonca
Kristy Bellinger, Omaha, NE Genetic relationships of bobcats in Iowa and surrounding Midwestern states Biology Mentors: William Clark, Dawn Reding, Anne Bronikowski
Lori Neuman-Lee Biggs, Adel, IA Feeding behavior altered by short-term atrazine exposure during incubation in map turtles (Graptemys) English, Biology Mentor: Frederic Janzen
Rachel Butterworth, Apple Valley, MN A survey of the public understanding of Doppler radar Metereology Mentors: Cinzia Cervato, William Gallus Jr., Kevin Kloesel (Univ. Oklahoma)
Lucas Carlstrom, Eldridge, IA Identification of a novel genetic analysis for Factor VII deficiency in canines Animal Science, Microbiolgy Mentor: Matthew Ellinwood
Peter Choi, Ames IA Unable to focus: negative affect in proactive and reactive control Psychology Mentor: Robert West, Stephanie Travers (Luther College)
Courtney Cornick, Bolingbrook, IL Diversity and group counseling Psychology Mentors: Nathaniel Wade
Priscilla Delgado, Des Moines, IA Soybean Sudden Death Syndrome: Temperature effects on the fungal pathogen Microbiology Mentor: Leonor Leandro, Gladys Mbofung
Andrew Dust, Waterloo, IA Immigration in rural counties from 1950-2000: Waves or ripples?  Economics and Mathematics Mentor: Peter Orazem
Isaac Hinton, Coralville, IA Forces experienced on the hamstring  Biology Mentors: Tim Derrick
Brian Kaplinger, Omaha, NE Asteroid Deflection Research Initiative (ADRI): A comparison of low, medium, and high energy methods  Aerospace Engineering Mentors: Bong Wie, John Basart
Kok Keong Lim, Selayang Baru, Selangor, Malaysia Understanding root health to improve soybean productivity in Iowa  Microbiology Mentor: Leonor Leandro, Carlos Gongora-Canul
Rebecca Luchtel, Spirit Lake, IA Dietary egg white protein diets reduce cardiovascular disease biomarkers in rats  Nutritional Sciences Mentor: Kevin Schalinske
Katie Lutz, Ames, IA RecA targeted homologous recombination in zebrafish  Genetics Mentors: Jeff Essner, Hsin-Kai Liao
Matt Martin, Rochester, MN Imaging airflow over an airfoil near stall  Aerospace Engineering Mentor: Hui Hu, Hirofumi Igarashi
Mark Rosmann, Harlan, IA Improving soil quality in Iowa organic farming  Agronomy and History Mentor: Kathleen Delate, Cynthia Cambardella
Mileka Scurlock, Omaha, NE Perceptions and attitudes toward physical activity of postmenopausal African American women  Kinesiology and Health Mentor: Panteleimon Ekkekakis
Lindsay Thompson, Huxley, IA The effect of task complexity on walking in young adults Kinesiology and Health Mentors: Kristin Lowry, Ann Smiley-Oyen
Bethany Wilcoxon, Atlantic, IA The Corn Belt's ethanol plants: Do locational factors matter? Community & Regional Planning Mentors: Monica Haddad, Francis Owusu, Gary Taylor
Nathan Willis, Omaha, NE & Sam Wagner, Webster City, IA Student design of a satellite for lunar surface analysis and solar sailcraft demonstration Aerospace Engineering; Aerospace Engineering and Mathematics Mentors: Bong Wie, Matthew Nelson

2007 Research in the Capitol Event - ISU presenters
Aaron Andrews,
Center Point, IA
Does swine manure impact soil health? Agricultural Systems Technology Mentor: Matthew Helmers
Andrew Ansorge,
Storm Lake, IA
Coherence of rainfall propagation as simulated by Weather Research and Forecasting Model using two different convective schemes Meteorology Mentors: Adam Clark, James Correia Jr.
Karin Brandt,
Ute, IA
Sustainability through community participation in development projects: Education, health, and agriculture in northern Ghana Political Science, International Studies Mentor: Robert Mazur
Andrea Butson,
Hampton, IA
Illuminated manuscript Graphic Design Mentors: Cheri Ure, Paula Curran
Kelly Delmonico,
Lakeville, MN
Social programs and the needy: Is allocation equitable in Iowa? Community & Regional Planning Mentor: Monica Haddad
Bancha Doungratanaex-chai, Chumphon, Thailand Endoscopy Multimedia Information System Computer Science Mentors: Johnny Wong, Wallapak Tavanapong
Katherine Edwards,
Fountain Hills, AZ
Nutrient recycling in biorefinery systems Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering Mentors: Robert Anex, Albert Bennett
Eric Fritz,
Ackley, IA
Animal QTLdb, a computer database that helps researchers catalog genetic regions important to livestock production Animal Science Mentor: James Reecy
Jessica Maves,
Iowa City, IA
Radicalization of Muslims in the United Kingdom Political Science, International Studies Mentor: Jeffrey Schroeder
Matthew Morrill,
Des Moines, IA
Snake habitat use in an Iowan wetland community Zoology Mentors: Anne Bronikowski, Eugenia Farrar
Chad Niederhuth,
Stockport, IA
Subcellular targeting of Agrobacterium tumefaciens T-DNA in the plant cell Agronomy Mentors: Kan Wang, Francois Tourney
Joshua Parcel,
Washta, IA
Effectiveness of conservation practices on water quality: a state-level analysis at the watershed scale Accounting, Economics Mentor: Hongli Hennessy
Jessica Reese,
Des Moines, IA
Nitrate concentrations in ground water beneath riparian buffers in central Iowa Meteorology Mentor: William Simpkins
Stephen Robinson,
Story City, IA
Genetic relationships between Nicaraguan and North American freshwater mussels (Bivalvia: Unionidae) Biochemistry Mentors: Kevin Roe, Jeanne Serb
Mark Rosmann, Harlan, IA & Andrea McKern,
Ames, IA
Evaluation of organic pest management treatments for Bean Leaf Beetle Agronomy / Liberal Studies Mentor: Kathleen Delate
Grant Thompson,
Des Moines, IA
Digital Art on Campus project Horticulture, Landscape Architecture Mentor: Allison Sheridan
Lisa Wasko,
Urbandale, IA
Vineyard management practices influence grape berry properties among cultivars Biology, Horticulture Mentor: Gail Nonnecke
Lisa Willman,
Bluegrass, IA
Urban overflow: The gentrification of a prominent Denver neighborhood Architecture, Psychology, Spanish Mentor: Mikesch Muecke
Alyson Young,
Libertyville, IL
Identifying mismatches between software engineering artifacts using concern models Computer Engineering Mentor: Hridesh Rajan

2006 Research in the Capitol Event - ISU presenters
Drew Cookman,
Mason City, IA
Recovering proteins from plant hosts (high value products for corn) Chemical Engineering Mentor: Charles Glatz
Jason Haegele,
Davenport, IA
Pollen flow in an Iowa cornfield Agricultural Engineering Mentor: Peter Peterson
Mark Jacobson,
Ames, IA
Characterization of integrin receptors on adult neural stem cells Zoology Mentor: Donald Sakaguchi
Gayle Johnson,
Eddyville, IA
Effects of exogenous glucagons on blood metabolites in Holstein dairy cattle affected by fatty liver disease Chemistry Mentor: Donald Beitz
Stephanie Law,
Marion, IA
Investigation of deGennes scaling in (RR’)Ni2Ge2 compounds Physics Mentor: Paul Canfield
Andrea LeClere,
Cedar Rapids, IA
Genetic structure of increasingly isolated populations of the imperiled Blanding’s Turtle in the Midwest Genetics Mentor: Fredric Janzen
Jessica Russell,
Des Moines, IA
Stability of gait in persons with Parkinson’s Disease under normal conditions and with visual or verbal clues Exercise & Sports Science Mentor: Ann Smiley-Oyen
Jennifer Scaccianoce,
Hoffman Estates, IL
Relationship between the Escherichia Coli infecting poultry and the E. Coli causing human urinary tract infection Animal Science (Pre Vet) Mentor: Lisa Nolan
Sara Snyder,
Sibley, IA
Anti-inflammatory activity in hypericum (St. John’s Wort) Biochemistry Mentor: Diane Birt
Nathan Willis,
Omaha, NE
Using digital video analysis to monitor driver behavior at intersections Aerospace Engineering Mentor: Derrick Parkhurst
 

ISU Undergraduate Research Symposium
The Undergraduate Research Symposium will take place from 8 AM to 4:00 PM on Tuesday April 20, 2010 in the Memorial Union on the ISU campus. 

The Symposium provides undergraduates from all academic disciplines with the opportunity to share their research with the university community, families, and other guests through conference-style oral presentation sessions. The Symposium represents part of a larger effort  to enhance, support, and celebrate undergraduate research activity.  Though coordinated by the University Honors Program, all undergraduate students are eligible and encouraged to participate

More information about this celebration of undergraduate research can be found at
http://www.undergradresearch.iastate.edu/.