Spotlights

Mallory McMahon

Undergraduate Spotlight

OU Major: 
Economics, Pre-Med
Research Mentor: 
Dr. JP Masley
Describe your undergraduate research or creative project:

In internally-fertilizing animals, genitalia often evolve rapidly and may cause reproductive isolation that can give rise to new species. Female damselflies have plates at the top of their thoraxes that male damselflies latch on to in order to copulate. Males use on the ends of their abdomen to connect to the female's plates, forming a tandem. Once the tandem is created, and accepted by the female, copulation can begin. Male and female reproductive structures are species-specific, and fit together in a certain way that prevents most interbreeding among different species. However, two species, E. anna and E. carunculatum, occasionally interbreed in nature. Hybrid females' plates vary in both shape and the location of hair-like mechanoreceptors. The goal of this research is to examine the role of female plate morphology in the mating interactions of Enallagma damselflies. The first step is to quantitatively distinguish between purebred and hybrid species based on their plate morphology. To do so, cross-sectional data from micro-computed tomography scans is transformed into 3D models using the computer program Avizo. The plates are highlighted and segmented from a volume rendering of the entire thorax. Universal landmarks are then manually assigned to the computer-generated models, indicating unique regions of plate morphology and allowing for comparison of their 3-D shapes.

Awards and/or presentations:

McMahon, M. (2016, April). Enallagma Plate Morphology and Mating Interactions. Poster session presented at the University of Oklahoma's Undergraduate Research Day, Norman, OK.

Published Work:

n/a

Elizabeth Knapp

Undergraduate Spotlight

OU Major: 
Classical Languages and Letters
Research Mentor: 
Dr. Kyle Harper
Describe your undergraduate research or creative project:

As a Classics student, I have had the opportunity to work on ancient manuscripts with Dr. Kyle Harper. I have studied published ancient papyri, particularly magical papyri, to understand ancient beliefs about magic and religion in Greek-speaking Egypt, and I am working on transcribing and translating an unpublished Greek papyrus that I hope to publish within the next year.I am also a Research Assistant for the Digital Latin Library (DLL) in the Department of Classics and Letters, which has given me the opportunity to work with manuscripts from another perspective, considering all of the variations in manuscripts and the work that goes into creating a published edition, as well as coding for the future DLL website and contributing to the growing field of Digital Humanities.

Explain what you learned or give advice to fellow students:

I would like to be a professor of Classics, and my research experiences in Classics have given me confidence that I will enjoy and succeed in this field. I have learned that interesting research that contributes new information to my field requires a lot of dedication, but there is nothing more rewarding than completing this process, and I would like to devote my life to Classics research. Be confident! I believe that any university student with passion for their subject area and dedication to their work can successfully perform research that will contribute to their field. Research is, in my opinion, the most rewarding thing that an undergraduate student can do. If you see a need for research in your field, find a professor who can mentor you, and devote a significant amount of time to your project. Even working with a professor on a project that he or she is already working on is rewarding and can be a great way to begin to get involved in your field's research.

Awards and/or presentations:

I presented my work at the 2015 OU Undergraduate Research Day.I received a fellowship to study at Oxford University for two weeks this summer as a Logos Fellow.

Published Work:

[In press]

Shelby Ranger

Undergraduate Spotlight

OU Major: 
International Area Studies
Research Mentor: 
D. Gershon Lewental
Describe your undergraduate research or creative project:

I did my research for a final paper for the Arab Israeli Conflict class. I spent many hours and weeks looking for various book and article sources in the OU library and on the library website and reading them for relevant information. It was very hard work but I felt accomplished afterward.

Explain what you learned or give advice to fellow students:

It is important to give oneself time to do the best work possible, rather than waiting until the last minute to look for materials. Time management is key. Make use of the library and read as much as possible, because you might find yourself interested in a subject you hadn't known existed before!

Awards and/or presentations:

I presented my paper at the 66th Annual Conference of Oklahoma Association of Professional Historians and Regional Conference of Phi Alpha Theta Oklahoma in March 2014.

Published Work:

Ranger, Shelby. "Sephardi Identity in Greater Syria in the Late Ottoman Period." OU Historical Journal, 4 (2015).

Jesse Coker

Undergraduate Spotlight

OU Major: 
Biochemistry and Economics
Research Mentor: 
Adam Duerfeldt
Describe your undergraduate research or creative project:

I am an Undergraduate Research Assistant with the Duerfeldt Lab, a member of the Institute for Natural Products Applications and Research Technologies (INPART) and the OU Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. The Duerfeldt Lab focuses on designing, by synthetic methodology, and discovering, by natural product screening, novel therapeutic compounds against both human and bacterial targets. My project consisted of screening a diverse library of natural compounds derived from soil samples from all over the world (collected by the Cichewicz Lab, also a member of INPART at OU) in an effort to discover new antibiotics. Bacterial resistance to current therapies has grown into a major concern, making the development of unique and potent antibiotics extremely important. I worked on targeting a bacterial protease, a type of protein that eats other proteins. By over-activating this protease with an antibiotic compound, the protease becomes permanently switched on and consumes the bacteria from the inside out. I used multiple screening assays to uncover a never before reported natural product activator of this protease which has exciting antibiotic potential. Our lab continues to optimize this compound, alongside many others, and is optimistic about the potential of this new style of antibiotic.

Explain what you learned or give advice to fellow students:

When taken as a challenge rather than a defeat, failures are actually critical to propelling yourself forward. Science is slow; sometimes painfully, frustratingly so, and setbacks are ever-present. However, I’ve learned that overcoming these challenges defines the heart of science. Research takes time, energy, and a lot of determination, but the struggle of science, while sometimes demoralizing, has challenged and redefined my attitude about failure. And, when a daunting obstacle is finally defeated, the victory tastes that much sweeter. Do it. Research is exciting and extremely rewarding—there is something fundamentally incredible about making a discovery. I would strongly encourage every undergraduate, in every discipline, to undertake research. Find a professor whose work sounds interesting and reach out to them; the faculty at OU is extremely enthusiastic about undergraduate research. Send an email, make a phone call, stop into someone’s office—be bothersome and persistent, and very soon you’ll find an amazing opportunity. Research is something you need to do at OU. As Nike would say, just do it.

Awards and/or presentations:

I gave an oral presentation detailing my antibiotic research at the 2015 OU Undergraduate Research Day and received, along with my partner Cici Zhou, an Honors Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) grant.

Published Work:

n/a

Martin Koch

Undergraduate Spotlight

OU Major: 
Environmental Sustainability
Research Mentor: 
Travis Gliedt
Describe your undergraduate research or creative project:

I currently work as a research assistant in the Department of Geography and Environmental Sustainability. My position is funded by the Honors College’s Honors Research Assistant Program, and additional project funding is provided by the Southern Climate Impacts Planning Program. I began in the fall of 2014 by assisting a graduate student, Preston Hartman, with his research project. I developed a contact database of Oklahoma water utility managers, and booked appointments for Preston to interview them and gather data. After gaining experience working on Preston’s project, I had the opportunity to conduct my own. During the spring semester, with the help of mentorship from Dr. Gliedt, I created a research project from the ground up. I developed a research question, wrote an abstract, and surveyed water utility managers in three states. My project examines the perception of statewide water conservation goals among local utility managers. It uses both qualitative and quantitative data to study how utilities are working to conserve water, and measure the degree to which conservation efforts are motivated by statewide goals. Additionally, a matrix will be generated that compares water conservation strategies based upon their cost-effectiveness, popularity, and ease of implementation. Climate change is projected to create additional challenges for water utilities in the years to come.

Explain what you learned or give advice to fellow students:

In prior undergraduate courses, I read and cited journal articles. However, during my research experience, I went beyond simply reading research to discover what steps are required to produce it. I learned how to write abstracts, proposals, and literature reviews. I also learned about conducting an effective survey, and identifying a useful question that will advance the field one is working in. Research is no longer something I idly consume; rather, it is now something I have the capacity to contribute to. Through my research, I aim to learn from the expertise of utility managers to determine how statewide policies can most effectively protect vital water resources by spurring community conservation. I would advise aspiring undergraduate researchers to be persistent about seeking out sources of mentorship and funding. Staying in contact with professors who inspire you is helpful, as they are good sources of information regarding conferences and journals. It is also helpful to research Honors College programs (such as HRAP, UROP, and FYRE) that support undergraduate research. Learning about current challenges in your field is useful for creating a relevant project. Finally, it is important to be dedicated to answering your research question. Conducting a research project requires effort, but provides a feeling of accomplishment not just in advancing your career, but in generating knowledge that can help solve real-world challenges.

Awards and/or presentations:

In April 2015, I will present my project at the Texas State Geography Student Research Symposium. Later that month, I will present at the Association of American Geographers Annual Meeting in Chicago. Funding for both presentations will be provided by the Department of Geography and Environmental Sustainability.

Published Work:

n/a

Marisa Brumfield

Undergraduate Spotlight

OU Major: 
Environmental Sustainability, Science & Natural Resources
Research Mentor: 
Mark Shafer
Describe your undergraduate research or creative project:

During the summer of 2014, I was chosen as a research intern through the Southern Climate Impacts Planning Program under Oklahoma meteorologist Mark Shafer. My internship took place in Lafayette, Louisiana at the USGS National Wetland's Research Center where I worked closely with Michael Osland and Richard Day. I assisted them with their research by locating, analyzing, and interpreting historical climate data that could help explain the evident expansion of black mangrove into native salt marsh along the gulf coast of Louisiana and neighboring states. I utilized three different organizations to attain climate data. I looked solely at daily minimum temperature records for multiple cities, forts, and co-op stations along the coast of Louisiana, primarily along a 25 KM gradient running from Port Fourchon inland. Over time, there have been periods of expansion and contraction of the mangrove, and my research on the local major freeze events over the last 200 years was conducted in an attempt to express the growth/dieback of mangroves as an effect of climate change. By pinpointing specific freeze events dating back to the 1820s, I was able to create tables and graphs that can now be used alongside aerial imagery from the same time periods. Doing so will allow Michael and others to visually analyze the expansion and contraction as it reacts to extreme weather events.

Explain what you learned or give advice to fellow students:

Perhaps the most important thing I learned while interning at the National Wetland's Research Center is how incredibly diverse the field of environmental studies is and how much it has to offer. Thanks to my supervisors and co-interns, I was introduced to a wide variety of career fields within the NWRC alone. It was extremely refreshing to witness a large group of individuals in one building, most of whom research extremely different topics but all truly enjoy their professions. In addition, I acquired better analyzation, communication, and writing skills through my research.My advice would be to always apply for any and all educational opportunities that interest you no matter how confident you feel regarding your credentials/experience. Everybody has to start somewhere, and you will never know unless you go for it!

Awards and/or presentations:

I traveled to Phoenix, Arizona in January 2015 to present a poster of my research at the American Meteorological Society Annual Meeting. The trip was funded through SCIPP.

Published Work:

n/a

Michelle Penrod

Undergraduate Spotlight

OU Major: 
Biology
Research Mentor: 
Dr. Cameron Siler
Describe your undergraduate research or creative project:

Microsatellites are regions of DNA with multiple repeats of base pairs. Because these are noncoding regions of DNA, mutations are common and the number of repeats at a locus is variable within a population. Individuals with similar numbers of repeats are more closely related than individuals with dissimilar numbers of repeats. This quality of microsatellites makes them useful for population genetics studies. Microsatalite data can be used to analyze how geographic barriers and isolation affect genetic diversity. Our goal for this project is to determine how ecological factors are driving divergence in populations from varying ecoregions of Oklahoma. Oklahoma is an extremely diverse state with varying temperature, rainfall, and terrain. Throughout this study, we hope to observe how populations living in different ecoregions differ genetically.

Awards and/or presentations:

Penrod, M. (2016, April). Microsatellite study of Acris Blanchardi throughout Oklahoma. Poster session presented at the University of Oklahoma's Undergraduate Research Day, Norman, OK.

Published Work:

n/a

Maxine Weiss

Undergraduate Spotlight

OU Major: 
Petroleum Engineering
Research Mentor: 
Dr. Mashhad Fahs
Describe your undergraduate research or creative project:

The research proposed is unique in that we plan to create a practical experiment in order to confirm the conclusions that have only been drawn from theoretical models and computer simulations. I will be examining a binary system of ethane and heptane in a PVT (pressurevolume-temperature) cell with and without volumetric confinement and I will compare my findings to both previous studies of phase behavior in nano-porous media and the results I obtain from a simulation program called SOPE (Simulation of Phase Equilibrium). These funds would allow me to etch the nano-channels that simulate nano-pores and obtain some of the experimental cell components, safety supplies and chemicals I need to begin experimenting. I expect to finish constructing the apparatus this semester and conclude the experiment during the fall of2015. I believe that the results of this experiment will support previous findings in terms of bubble point and in-situ density suppression because the additional variables such as mineral composition, wettability, adsorption and structural heterogeneity will be eliminated with the use of an artificial pore system. Further studies must be conducted to understand the role that each of these parameters plays individually in phase behavior.

Awards and/or presentations:

Weiss, M. (2016, April). Phase Behavior in Nano-pores. Poster session presented at the University of Oklahoma's Undergraduate Research Day, Norman, OK.

Published Work:

n/a

Elliott Vanderford

Undergraduate Spotlight

OU Major: 
Biochemistry
Research Mentor: 
Dr. Ulrich Hansmann
Describe your undergraduate research or creative project:

Proteins are a fundamental building block on which life as we know it is based. Through proper folding and structural assembly, a protein is able to function selectively in many biochemical reactions. However, improper folding can lead to a plethora of illnesses, resulting from the inactivation of proteins and possible deleterious effects of the improperly folded state. One such effect is amyloid aggregation, the process by which proteins are induced to misfold and then aggregate into highly structured systems, which then seed further healthy proteins to aggregate in the misfolded state. This has been associated with multiple neurodegenerative illnesses, including Alzheimer's Disease, which is caused through the aggregation of peptide Amyloid beta (A~). Until recently, the structure of these aggregates could only be inferred through the use of dyes attracted to highly ordered systems. However, advances in spectroscopic techniques allow for the resolution of the aggregates' structural data to be gathered as an ensemble of potential states. This can be used computationally to create dynamic data on the structure of an aggregate that can then be used to guide further experimental work using the lowest energy state of an ensemble as a basis. A computational approach, in contrast to other methods, allows for modelling and prediction beyond the fidelity available to more conventional means.

Awards and/or presentations:

Vanderford, E. (2016, April). Effects of Ensemble Structures on the Computational Stability of Amyloid Beta. Poster session presented at the University of Oklahoma's Undergraduate Research Day, Norman, OK.

Published Work:

n/a

Ariel Thomasson

Undergraduate Spotlight

OU Major: 
Bachelor's Musical Arts
Research Mentor: 
Valerie Watts
Describe your undergraduate research or creative project:

Many infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, or NICU, are premature and consequently suffer from chronic pain, increased heart rate, and typically develop slower than an at term infant. An infant is considered premature if gestation age is at or less than 3 7 weeks. Active music therapy programs are already present in 72% of hospitals. Music Therapists are board certified rehabilitation specialists who use musical components to achieve non-musical goals. In the NICU, music therapists use specific techniques to help premature infants with pain management, oxygen saturation levels, observed stress behaviors, and feeding. The three specific techniques are: PAL, MMS, and Developmental Music. PAL, or Pacifier Activated Lullaby, uses biofeedback from the infants sucking reflexes to record data. Only when the infant is sucking does the pacifier play the lullaby. This helps develop non-nutritive sucking by positive reinforcement which can transfer to nutritive sucking. This helps infants to build stamina with their sucking reflex to be able to improve feeding and receive the nutrients they need. The second technique is MMS, or Multimodal Stimulation. This works by layering different stimuli together to help an infant reach lower stress levels and eventually learn to self-soothe. The therapists starts a short melody "ooing," then humming, then adding real words. After that, the therapist incorporates touch, and finally rocking.

Awards and/or presentations:

Thomasson, A. (2016, April). Music Therapy in the NICU. Poster session presented at the University of Oklahoma's Undergraduate Research Day, Norman, OK.

Published Work:

n/a

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