Undergraduate Academic Project Grants
Initiated by then-Chancellor John Bardo in 1996, the Undergraduate Academic Projects Grant Program funds a variety of student projects. Administered by the Office of the Provost, the Academic Project Grants Program awards students and faculty with materials, supplies, and travel support to conduct research and creative work during the academic year. Students and faculty construct proposals, which are reviewed by a formal faculty committee made up of representatives from across the colleges.
Student and faculty proposals were submitted for competitive review. We wish to acknowledge by project title and student name the awardees for the 2021 – 2022 academic year. Congratulations to these students and their faculty sponsors. Many thanks to the Academic Project Grant committee for their work, and to Suzanne Melton, the administrative support associate for this program in the Office of the Provost. Members of the committee include:
Meghan Gangel
College of Education and Allied Professions
Chuck Thomas
Hunter Library
Frankie West
College of Arts and Sciences
Robert Steffan
College of Engineering and Technology
Kim Hall
College of Health and Human Sciences
Steve Ha
College of Business
Leo Lei
College of Fine and Performing Arts
Suzanne Melton
The Office of the Provost
Kloo Hansen
The Office of the Provost
College of Arts & Sciences
Anthropology and Sociology
Applicability of Malocclusion Scoring Within the John A. Williams Human Skeletal Collection
Student Awardee: Sean Gallagher
Faculty Sponsor: Rebecca George
Biology
Investigation of the Structure of Olfactory receptors in HEK293 cells
Student Awardee: Gabrielle Moses
Faculty Sponsor: Robert Youker
Investigating Second-Site Mutations in the N1303K-CFTR Protein
Student Awardee: Jonathan Zirkel
Faculty Sponsor: Robert Youker
Exploring a potential interaction between α-amylase3 and the catalytically inactive β-amylase9 in Arabidopsis thaliana using BiFC.
Student Awardee: Lauren Rhodes
Faculty Sponsor: Amanda Storm
Chemistry and Physics
Investigation of modified nucleotides in actinobacteriophages
Student Awardee: Hannah Bonogafsky
Faculty Sponsor: Jamie Wallen
Analysis of human decomposition odor using Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry
Student Awardee: Emylee Pollock
Faculty Sponsor: Nuwan Perera
Investigation of Weathering on Automotive Clear-Coat Formulations Using Fourier Transformation Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) for Forensic Purposes
Student Awardee: Carrie Lee
Faculty Sponsor: Nuwan Perera
Chemical Analysis of Asian Rice Samples
Student Awardee: Zachary Huddleston
Faculty Sponsor: Channa De Silva
Evaluation of biocompatibility of surface-modified bovine serum albumin (BSA) nanoparticles towards red blood cells
Student Awardee: Riley Hatton
Faculty Sponsor: Rangika Hikkaduwa Koralege
Diffusion of Insecticides into Wax with and without Essential Oils
Student Awardee: Taylor Gregory
Faculty Sponsor: Scott Huffman
Criminology & Criminal Justice
Presentation of ACES Research Projects at ASC in Atlanta 2022
Student Awardees: Alexis Jordan; Olivia Konda
Faculty Sponsor: Tasha Youstin
The Background and Criminal Justice Outcomes of Lone Wolf Terrorists
Student Awardee: Matthew Lehman
Faculty Sponsors: Jamie Vaske & Peter Nieckarz
Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS) 2023 Presentation of Research Findings from ACEs Research
Student Awardees: Jennifer Fuentes Hernandez; Olivia Konda; Alexis Jordan
Faculty Sponsor: Tasha Youstin
Geosciences and Natural Resources
An Investigation Into Metal-Rich Topaz Crystals Within The Topaz Mountain Rhyolite Formation In Juab County, Utah
Student Awardees: Patrick Lahr
Faculty Sponsor: Shane Schoepfer & Amy Fagan
Evolution of Ocean Oxygenation around the Cambrian Explosion: Albemarle, NC
Student Awardees: Shawn Bast; Rachel Sipe; Kathryn Davis; Matthew Evans
Faculty Sponsor: Shane Schoepfer
Effects of Urbanization on Tardigrade Diversity
Student Awardee: Joshua Lyon
Faculty Sponsor: Diane Styers
College of Education & Allied Professions
Psychology
South Eastern Psychological Association (SEPA) conference
Student Awardees: Jessica Libman; Anna Sulzen; Madison Hardie; Trinity Leger; Cali Adams
Faculty Sponsor: Ellen Sigler
Examining Response Styles of Student-Athletes in Reporting Mental Health Concerns
Student Awardee: Rachel Faulkenberry
Faculty Sponsor: David McCord
College of Engineering & Technology
School of Engineering & Technology
Tau Beta Pi, National Engineering Honor Society, New Chapter Petition
Student Awardees: Allison Royer & Gabriel Kranenburg
Faculty Sponsor: Martin Tanaka
Filament Extruder for Composite Materials Research
Student Awardee: Alexander Borrelli
Faculty Sponsor: Nazmul Ahsan
College of Fine and Performing Arts
School of Art and Design
In Case of Emergency Brake Glass
Student Awardee: Amanda Clark
Faculty Sponsor: Morgan Kennedy
Nova Index Librorum Prohibitorum
Student Awardee: Kirsten Kaufman
Faculty Sposnor: Morgan Kennedy
Pride Pots: Creating a Safe Container for Authentic Self Expression
Student Awardee: Jenna Orbeck
Faculty Sposnor: Heather Mae Erickson
School of Stage and Screen
The A1 Conference
Student Awardees: Kasen Walker; Lyndell Finger
Faculty Sponsor: Peter Savage
Seeing Sound: Sound Design Presentation
Student Awardee: Zay Jarrett
Faculty Sponsor: Chris Flinchum
College of Health Sciences
School of Health Sciences
Prescribed Burns as a Significant Contributor of Fine Particulate Matter in Nantahala National Forest, North Carolina
Student Awardees: Mackenzie Campbell; Evan Joseph
Faculty Sponsor: Sara Duncan