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. Goddard

I 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