Alexis Landers
Departmental Scholar of Biology: Cum Laude
The Root of the Problem
Thesis Advisor: Lucas Delazene
Madison Martinez
Departmental Scholar of Biology: Magna Cum Laude
Understanding the role of SufBC in biogenesis of iron-sulfur clusters in Methanosarcina acetivorans
Thesis Advisor: Daniel Lessner
Fulbright Honors offers so many fun opportunities to learn and make friends. Attend as many events as possible, because time flies and you don’t want to look back and miss out.
Shanta Mazumder
College Scholar of Biology: Magna Cum Laude
The Comparability and Presence of Protosteloid Amoebae in Different Habitats
Thesis Advisor: Fredrick Spiegel
Paige McGuire
Departmental Scholar of Biology: Magna Cum Laude
Studying the Lysine Acetylation of Type II Citrate Synthase in E. coli
Thesis Advisor: Chenguang Fan
Earl Neel
Departmental Scholar of Biology: Summa Cum Laude
Regulation of electron transfer from cytochrome-c to cytochrome-c oxidase by phosphorylation of cc T28
Thesis Advisor: Francis Millett
“It is difficult to say what is impossible, for the dream of yesterday is the hope of today and the reality of tomorrow.”
Robert H. GoddardI think about how things will be impossible for me to complete all of the time, and this quote was inspiring to me that the mindset I had was limiting.
Abigail Nowell
College Scholar of Biology: Cum Laude
Modified Stent Design for a Coronary Bifurcation Lesion
Thesis Advisor: Hanna Jensen
My project was focused on creating a bench-top model of a stent design to fix a problem called a bifurcation lesion. I joined the Jensens’ Cardiovascular Biomechanics Lab in the spring of my sophomore year after hearing Dr. Hanna Jensen speak at an AED (Pre-Medical Society) event. What I didn’t realize until almost 2 years into college was that my project didn’t necessarily have to be in collaboration with a biology professor as long as I had approval. Although research in Biomedical Engineering was challenging, I was able to combine the research skills I learned in my biology courses with new engineering skills. Also, don’t get discouraged if your thesis project doesn’t seem to produce results quickly. My research took place over two and a half years, and at some points it seemed like I wasn’t accomplishing much, but it was cool at the end to see all the results together. For science majors, I would recommend reaching out to potential thesis mentors late during your sophomore year.
My honors classes were always the most interesting and thought-provoking. They were always a great opportunity to explore special topics!
Meredith Ott
College Scholar of Biology: Magna Cum Laude
Characterizational Studies of Cell Division Cycle Protein (Cdc42) in the Presence of the Small Molecule A2A197
Thesis Advisor: Paul Adams
One of my favorite things was living in Hotz Hall. I made the best of friends that stuck for four years! It was really cool at the Senior of Significance banquet to see everyone I had been neighbors with freshman year grow up to excel in their field. My thesis researched how the protein Cdc42 is affected by the small molecule inhibitor AZA197. This is important research, because AZA197 has been found to reduce the oncogenic effects of Cdc42 and could possibly be a therapeutic agent for cancer patients. Writing and defending my thesis was one of the most rewarding experiences, even if I did it in quarantine. My advice is to start early, communicate with your mentor, and enjoy showcasing your work. The hard part is over, and now you get to show off to the professors who have supported you!
Jordan Pilkington
Departmental Scholar of Biology: Cum Laude
Benthic Macroinvertebrate Bioassessment of the Mulberry River in Arkansas and Its Tributaries
Thesis Advisor: Michelle Evans-White
Ryan Pohlkamp
Departmental Scholar of Biology: Summa Cum Laude
A Biological Explanation for the Presence of Methane on Mars: Methanogens and their Ability to Grow on Montmorillonite Clay
Thesis Advisor: Timothy Kral
“If you cannot explain something simply, then you do not understand it well enough.” -Albert Einstein
Genna Potter
Departmental Scholar of Biology: Magna Cum Laude
Structure Determination of Acidothermus cellulolyticus Xyloglucanase
Thesis Advisor: Josh Sakon
Mackenzie Reed
Departmental Scholar of Biology: Cum Laude
Phylogeography of Campostoma anomalum, C. oligolepis, and Notropis boops in the White River Drainage System
Thesis Advisor: Marlis Douglas
Katie Schupbach
Departmental Scholar of Biology: Cum Laude
Investigation into Intestinal Helminth Infections of Chickens
Thesis Advisor: Jiangchao Zhao
Braden Shipman
Departmental Scholar of Biology: Cum Laude
Differential Gene Expression in an Invasive Ascidian as a Response to Temperature
Thesis Advisor: Erica Westerman
Sangeetha Sonney
College Scholar of Biology: Summa Cum Laude
Expression of CD73 and Pancreatic Cancer Cell Invasiveness
Thesis Advisor: Yuchun Du
Blake Spilker
Departmental Scholar of Biology: Cum Laude
Acute Citrulline-Malate Supplementation During Strength and Endurance Exercise: The Effects of Gender and Menstrual Status
Thesis Advisor: Michelle Gray
Madison Stoudt
Departmental Scholar of Biology: Cum Laude
Generation of Lipin Phosphosite Mutants Using CRISPR/Cas9 Methodology
Thesis Advisor: Michael Lehmann
Hudson Surber
Departmental Scholar of Biology: Summa Cum Laude
High Resolution Imaging of the Mitral Valve in vitro: Optimization of Micro-CT Scanning Procedure
Thesis Advisor: Hanna Jensen
Terah Trail
Departmental Scholar of Biology: Cum Laude
The Growth of Methanogens in a Mars Soil Simulant
Thesis Advisor: Timothy Kral
My thesis work was in the field of Astrobiology under the guidance of Dr. Kral! His lab works on studying methanogens and the possibility of life existing on Mars. Specifically, my topic was on watching and recording the growth of Methanogens on a Mars Soil Simulant. I love that the Honors Program has allowed me to explore fields of study outside those of which I hope to one day hold a career. As a Pre-Health Biology major, I was not only able to step outside the field of health by completing my research work in Astrobiology but also through taking Honors Colloquia Courses in Art History, Astronomical Physics, and Buddhism. Overall, the Honors College has created an environment that cultivates interdisciplinary learning and has allowed me to grow as a person through many facets of learning. This was made evident to me when I signed up to take H2P as a Freshman. As someone who is planning on attending higher education after graduation, it was important for me to explore the breadth of knowledge I had available to me while it was still at my fingertips! I encourage anyone in the Honors program to take advantage of this time to broaden your scope of learning by branching out in your studies!
“Trust and wait for what is still unseen” Romans 8:24
Sara Venier
Departmental Scholar of Biology: Magna Cum Laude
An in vivo Study of the Effects of Multiple Closed-Head Traumatic Brain Injuries in Mice
Thesis Advisor: Kartik Balachandran
Patric Waymire
College Scholar of Biology: Magna Cum Laude
Physiological and Perceptual Stress Compared Between Hydration Beverages During and Following Work in the Heat
Thesis Advisor: Brendon P. McDermot
Katjana Wiederkehr
College Scholar of Biology: Magna Cum Laude
Phylogenomic analysis of carbon concentration genes across diatoms
Thesis Advisor: Andrew Alverson
Matthew Wieters
Departmental Scholar of Biology: Magna Cum Laude
Exploring the Effects of Referral Source on Anxiety in Concussion Patients
Thesis Advisor: Robert Elbin
My honors thesis explored patient anxiety when receiving care at a specialty concussion clinic. Under the direction of Dr. Robert Elbin, my thesis compared anxiety scores from concussion patients referred by primary care physicians/pediatricians, emergency departments or athletic trainers to the specialty clinic. We were not able to identify significant differences in anxiety scores between patients from these three referral sources. However, our research laid the foundation for future studies.
“What lies behind us, and what lies before us, are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson
To current honors students: Do not give up when it seems like an honors thesis is just extra work! Don’t be lazy – push yourself to be the best student you can be. The doors you open, people you meet and the feeling of accomplishment when it is all over are worth it!
Blake Wojciechowski
College Scholar of Biology: Magna Cum Laude
Understanding Cytochrome c Maturation in Anaerobic Archaea
Thesis Advisor: Dan Lessner
Remington Zella
Departmental Scholar of Biology: Cum Laude
Consequences of fish predator density on damselfly activity rates
Thesis Advisor: Adam Siepielski
“If you can imagine it, you can achieve it; if you can dream it, you can become it.” -William Arthur Ward
