2019 Chlapaty Fellows to Conduct Research
May 29, 2019 | University Relations staff
DUBUQUE, Iowa – Sixteen University of Dubuque students will spend their summer researching topics ranging from epidemiological studies of Lyme disease within Eastern Iowa to the local Micronesian population as part of the Joseph and Linda Chlapaty Summer Fellowship.
In its eighth year, the competitive fellowship helps prepare talented undergraduate students across all disciplines for graduate or professional school.
“The Joseph and Linda Chlapaty Fellowship continues to provide students the opportunity to engage in tailored scholarly activities to position them to succeed in graduate and professional schools. Modeled after a cohort graduate school model, the students will work collectively to prepare for entrance exams, build professional connections, and conduct research projects in conjunction with dedicated faculty advisors,” said Adam Hoffman, PhD, director of the Chlapaty Summer Fellowship.
Fellows will commit 40 hours a week for 10 weeks this summer on their projects. They will receive a stipend of $4,500 and an additional $500 for research supplies or travel costs associated with the project.
“The Chlapaty Summer Fellowship creates an incredible opportunity for talented undergraduate students to conduct scholarly research with a faculty scholar-mentor, to prepare for graduate entrance exams, and to build a network of professional contacts,” said UD President Jeffrey F. Bullock. “We are grateful to Joe and Linda Chlapaty for their investment in these undergraduate students.”
The following students were named 2019 Chlapaty Fellows:
Paige Brown, a senior biology major from Durant, Iowa
Project: Histological Evidence of the Lyme Disease Causing Bacteria, Borrelia burgdorferi, and Other Co-Infection Pathogens
Advisor: Kelly Grussendorf, PhD, assistant professor of biology
Quotable: “Being named a Chlapaty Fellow allows the opportunity for many doors to open for my future education. I have access to MCAT study materials and networking opportunities I would not have without the Chlapaty Summer Fellowship. With my project, I hope to not only raise awareness about Lyme disease, but also raise awareness about the co-infections associated with it.”
Jacob Day, a senior biology major from Heyworth, Illinois
Project: Effect of Workout Programs (CrossFit and Kickboxing) on Heart Rate Variability
Advisor: Bindu Balakrishnan, PhD, assistant professor of neurophysiology
Quotable: “Being accepted into the Chlapaty Fellowship was a true honor. I am fortunate enough to be part of a very elite academic program. It has opened my eyes to the possibilities that can be accomplished when you have dreams, work hard, and take academics seriously. I hope to find a difference between heart rate variabilities between CrossFit and kickboxing athletes which may give insight on what types of exercising programs may be beneficial for our nervous system and heart.”
Hope Enck, a junior pre-nursing major from McConnell, Illinois
Project: 100 Years: The Evolution of Women's Rights Since the 19th Amendment
Advisors: Becky Canovan, assistant director of public services in the Charles C. Myers Library, and Christine Darr, PhD, head of the Department of Philosophy, Politics, and History and assistant professor of Christian ethics
Quotable: “It is a high honor to be named a Chlapaty Fellow. Working within the program will help me to hone my research skills and establish professional connections, which are amazing opportunities. I hope to give Iowa women of the past and present a voice and to tell their story as authentically and truthfully as possible.”
Vanessa Fortney, a junior chemistry major from Janesville, Wisconsin
Project: The Activity and Kinetic Properties of Red Potato Tyrosinase
Advisor: Mark Sinton, PhD, assistant professor of natural and applied sciences
Quotable: “To be named a Chlapaty Fellow is a huge honor. I am grateful for this opportunity to do research on something I am passionate about. I hope my research about the enzyme Tyrosinase will help us have a better understanding of the unique properties it has. I also hope this will give me guidance as to what I want to research in the future.”
Tyler Glenski, a senior nursing major from Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Project: The Local Micronesian Population
Advisor: Neil MacNaughton, PhD, assistant head and associate professor of the Department of Nursing
Quotable: “Being named a Chlapaty Fellow is an incredible honor. I have the privilege of being the very first named fellow in nursing history here at UD. I never thought that I would be able to participate in such an incredible research program. To me, having been named a fellow proves that I am succeeding in my attempt to participate in as many areas of the UD campus as possible, as well as make the most out of my college nursing career. Out of this project, I hope to not only better develop my research skills and multicultural collaborative ability, but also to learn more about the Micronesian population living in Iowa. There has been a limited amount of information gathered about these people, and it is my hope that I, along with my professor, Neil MacNaughton, can provide a better insight on the essential information regarding their health.”
Emily Griggs, a junior biology major from Wheaton, Illinois
Project: Proximate Analysis of Crude Fiber Content in Wild and Domesticated Elephant Manure
Advisors: Amandeep Arora, PhD, assistant professor of chemistry, and Lalith Jayawickrama, teaching specialist in health sciences
Quotable: “To me, being a Chlapaty Fellow means that I have an amazing opportunity to pursue my interests in ways that can further open doors for my future. I hope to accomplish quantifying undigested fiber in elephant dung because it’s a good indicator of elephant nutrition and health of the cecum. With that being said, we can further help predict a balanced diet for healthy domestic elephants.”
Samantha Hayes, a senior biology major from Dubuque
Project: Surveys of Large Carnivores in Northeast Iowa
Advisor: Danielle Yaklin, laboratory manager in the Department of Natural and Applied Sciences
Quotable: “It means that I worked hard and have a responsibility to provide good data. I hope my project will provide data of mammalian carnivore habitat preference to discover how to best repopulate the Midwest with the important predators.”
Gemma Keegan, a senior biology and environmental science double major from Oswego, Illinois
Project: Impact of Nocturnal Insect Light-Traps on Bats in Dubuque County, Iowa
Advisor: Gerald Zuercher, PhD, professor of vertebrate ecology
Quotable: “Being named a Chlapaty Fellow is a great honor. The opportunity to conduct independent research will allow me to grow as a student and help me achieve my dream of attending graduate school. I hope that my project allows me to find a way to attract bats to an area. Bats are an ecologically important species, and being able to increase their activity in an area will be beneficial in so many realms.”
Emily Less, a senior biology major from Dubuque
Project: Epidemioloigcal Studies of Lyme Disease Within Eastern Iowa
Advisor: Kelly Grussendorf, PhD, assistant professor of biology, and David Koch, PhD, head and associate professor of the Department of Natural and Applied Sciences
Quotable: “To me, being named a Chlapaty Fellow means being able to learn and gain experience in collecting my own data. It’s a huge honor, and I’m so excited to see my results. I hope my project will be able to educate the community about where Lyme disease is most prevalent in our area and help to reduce infection rates.”
Tiffany Limmex, a junior biology major from Spring Green, Wisconsin
Project: Abundance of Hard Tick-borne Relapsing Fever Causing Bacteria, Borrelia miyamotol, in Rodents and Ticks
Advisor: Kelly Grussendorf, PhD, assistant professor of biology
Quotable: “Being a Chlapaty Fellow allows me to not only enhance my knowledge in the world of science research, but also allow me to narrow down my career path as I decided whether to pursue a medical profession in a clinical atmosphere or research lab. I hope my project brings awareness of how ticks can cause various diseases as well as show the presence of the Borrelia miyamotoi bacteria in the Dubuque area.”
Isabella Metcalf, a junior environmental science and biology double major from Dubuque
Project: Abundance and Distribution of Native Lasioglossum Bees in Forest and Prairie Habitat in the Driftless Region of Northern Iowa
Advisors: Adam Hoffman, PhD, associate professor of environmental chemistry, and Rasika Mudalige-Jayawickrama, PhD, associate professor of natural and applied sciences
Quotable: “It is such an honor to be chosen as a Chlapaty Fellow. I am grateful for this wonderful opportunity to pursue my passion and to grow as a scientist and student alongside my incredible advisors and peers. I am looking forward to the experiences I will gain and where this will lead me in the future. I hope this project will help establish a greater understanding of native bees in our country, spread awareness about the rich diversity in our community and region, and document any changes or trends of the bee populations in response to climate or environmental factors.”
Julia Rodewald, a junior environmental science and chemistry double major from Dubuque
Project: Analyzing Methods to Remove Varying Microplastics from Soil and Sediment
Advisors: Amandeep Arora, PhD, assistant professor of chemistry, and Adam Hoffman, PhD, associate professor of environmental chemistry
Quotable: “It means so much to me to be a Chlapaty Fellow, and I am excited to be working alongside so many inspiring and enthusiastic faculty and students. I am hoping my research will help determine the best methods for isolating microplastics in soil and provide a better understanding of research methods.”
Addy Schober, a senior environmental science major from Dubuque
Project: Using Mussel Growth Curves to Determine Anthropogenic Impacts on Mussel Development
Advisor: Adam Hoffman, PhD, associate professor of environmental chemistry
Quotable: “I am beyond honored to have received the Chlapaty Summer Fellowship. This experience will allow me to pursue my research interests and gain valuable skills that I will carry into my future career. From this project I hope to gain a better understanding of the outside influences affecting a mussel’s annual growth and identify any potential disturbance lines found in a particular year. With this project I seek to identify any direct influences due to anthropogenic or significant ecological changes.”
Alyssa Skrove, a senior biology major from Delafield, Wisconsin
Project: Genetic Effects of Forest Loss and Fragmentation on Southern Flying Squirrels (Glancomys volans) in Eastern Iowa
Advisor: Gerald Zuercher, PhD, professor of vertebrate ecology
Quotable: “To be named a Chlapaty Fellow is an incredible honor and accomplishment. Not only will this research project allow me to enhance my knowledge regarding field and lab techniques, but it will also be a standout addition to aid in admission to the competitive world of veterinary school. I hope that my project will expand northeastern Iowa's data regarding the genetic makeup of fragmented southern flying squirrel populations and provide insight on humanity's impact on this species. I am also looking forward to furthering my abilities as a scientist and gaining confidence regarding research techniques both in the field and laboratory.”
Sydney Steivang, a sophomore biology and chemistry double major from Osceola, Wisconsin
Project: Characterization of Dendrobium Flavoniod 3'-hydroxylase in Petunia W80 Mutant
Advisor: Rasika Mudalige-Jayawickrama, PhD, associate professor of natural and applied sciences
Quotable: “To be named a Chlapaty Fellow is very exciting for me. I never expected to be part of something like this, and I am very grateful to have the opportunity to be a part of research here at UD. Within my project I hope to expand my knowledge on molecular biology and to learn more about how particular genes work and what paths they take.”
Hayli Wolf, a junior biology and environmental science double major from Galena, Illinois
Project: Surveying Spatially Separated Snake Species
Advisor: Gerald Zuercher, PhD, professor of vertebrate ecology
Quotable: “It’s truly an honor to be named a Chlapaty Fellow. I’m incredibly grateful to be given the opportunity to expand my hands-on research experience. I’m excited to work with my fellow fellows, our spectacular faculty, and other professionals in the field. By the end of summer, I’ll have a solid baseline of snake species richness and abundance in Dubuque County. Hopefully, this information can be used to monitor future changes in snake populations and their potential ecological effects.”
