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2023 Chlapaty Fellows to Conduct Research

By University Relations Staff

DUBUQUE, Iowa - Sixteen University of Dubuque students and recent graduates will research topics from cellular metal contamination and tolerance in crayfish to Iowa's fair cross section guarantee in jury pools through the Joseph and Linda Chlapaty Summer Research Fellowship.

Fellows will engage in one-on-one research with faculty, prepare for post-graduate school examination, build upon their communication skills, and participate in networking opportunities. They will commit to 400 hours of work over a 10-week period this summer. Fellows will each receive a stipend of $5,500 with an additional $600 for research associated supplies and/or travel costs.

Fellows are required to present the results of their research or internship during the following academic year at a local, regional, or national conference.

These students were named 2023 Chlapaty Fellows:

Jenna Bidlingmaier (C'23), a biology major from Winslow, Illinois

Project: The Molecular and Cellular Role of Muscle Proteins, FER-1 and CAV-3, and Their Implications in Muscular Dystrophy

Advisor: Kelly Grussendorf, PhD, associate professor of biology

"Being named a Chlapaty Fellow for a second year is an honor. I am very grateful for the opportunity to develop and complete my own research project with the help of some of the best professors on campus!

"Through my project, I hope to learn new laboratory techniques and simply grow as a scientist. Furthermore, I am looking forward to the opportunity to collaborate with fellow peers and mentors, while continuously learning from them! As for my project itself, I am hoping to find a correlation between the two proteins I am researching with muscular dystrophy. However, whatever the results may be, I hope to learn and grow from the experience!"


Kylee Cashman, a sophomore criminal justice major from Fort Madison, Iowa

Project: Iowa's Fair Cross Section Guarantee in Jury Pools

Advisors: Shea Chapin, JD, head of the Department of Criminal Justice and assistant professor of law, and Alice Oleson, PhD, associate professor of sociology

"This fellowship means a lot as it provides so many different opportunities for me. It gives me a chance to study jury pool diversity and representation, which is something I'm passionate about. It also opens so many doors for me post-UD where I plan to attend law school. The experience gained from this fellowship mean so much and I'm extremely grateful for it.

"I'll be working with Drake Law School professors along with my advisors through exploratory research. I hope this project will not only allow me to learn and grow, but for a larger amount of people to become educated."


Kaylee Coquyt, a junior communication and English double major from Ely, Iowa

Project: Understanding How Religion, Politics, and Mass Media Sexualize Birth Control

Advisor: Michelle Grace, EdD, associate professor of communication

"Being named a Chlapaty Fellow means I get to explore something that is really important to me and that I feel should be talked about. I'm very grateful for the opportunity and the other opportunities it will open up for me in the future through something I'm so invested in.

"I'm hoping this project will be able to educate people and open up the conversation surrounding birth control. Right now, it's a hot topic and I want to be able to take steps and let others, including myself, learn more and understand what's at stake and who's affected."


Jessicca Dix, a junior environmental science major from Dubuque, Iowa

Project: Forest Tree Density and Age Structure in Wolter Woods and Prairies

Advisor: David Koch, PhD, associate professor of environmental science

"I am excited and beyond grateful to be named a 2023 Chlapaty Fellow! This opportunity will allow me to enhance my field skills that will prepare me for graduate school as well as create professional connections.

"With my project, I hope to determine tree species diversity, age structure, and canopy density at the University of Dubuque's Wolter Woods and Prairies. This research will allow the land managers to create a sustainable forest management plan and to determine the prevalence of maple tree saplings."


Ryan Kiddle, a junior biology and chemistry double major from Lindenhurst, Illinois

Project: Analyzing the Neurological and Physical Effects of Caenorhabditis elegans Exposed to Specific Carcinogens

Advisor: Kelly Grussendorf, PhD, associate professor of biology

"It means the world to me to be in the footsteps of other wonderful and amazing researchers who were a part of this tremendous program. That pushes me to want to distinguish myself with every opportunity I get.

"I hope that my project accomplishes fundamental groundwork that can be further studied in the professional field to make profound discoveries."


Makenzie Knapp, a senior biology major from Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin

Project: The Influence of Diet on the Composition and Diversity of the Sri Lankan Asian Elephant Gut Microbiome

Advisor: Adam Kleinschmit, PhD, professor of biology

"Being named a Chlapaty Fellow means a great deal to me, because I get to be a part of a program that is gearing students towards being very successful in their future endeavors. The Joseph and Linda Chlapaty Summer Research Fellowship allows students to develop skills and have experiences that they would not get elsewhere. I am very excited to be a Chlapaty Fellow because it gives me the opportunity to work firsthand with professor advisors on a project that I would not have otherwise been able to research.

"With my project, I hope to discover a difference between the diversity and abundance of microbes between elephants with various diets. I want to accomplish this because it will give other researchers background information needed to further understand the relationship between diet and gut microbiome of organisms. This project will allow me to learn new skills through working with online programs to identify microbial DNA. I know this project will enhance my research skills that I can apply towards being successful in my future career."


Azariah Martin, a senior human health science major from Janesville, Wisconsin

Project: Relationship Between Amantadine and Concussion Symptoms in Caenorhabditis elegans

Advisor: Adam Hoffman, PhD, head of the Department of Natural and Applied Sciences and professor of environmental chemistry

"It is an honor to have the opportunity to be a Chlapaty Fellow. It is something that I have wanted to do since coming to UD. I am excited to get started on my project for the summer and very thankful for this opportunity!

"I hope through my project, I am able to get a better understanding of concussions and the affects an anesthetic has on concussions. This topic hits home for me, because I had an injury that resulted in surgery and later found out that I had a concussion. My concussion lasted around 11 months, and I have always wondered if being put under anesthesia created longer symptoms for my concussion."


Ben Micheau, a junior chemistry major from Naperville, Illinois

Project: In Silico (Molecular Docking) Studies on Several Quinoline Derivatives Against SARS-Cov-2 Main Protease

Advisor: Amandeep Arora, PhD, assistant professor of chemistry

"It means a lot to know that my professors trust my ability to complete this project. It's truly an honor to be selected, and I look forward to the work I can complete this summer.

"I am optimistic my project will contribute to the scientific community's knowledge of COVID-19 and the different ways to treat it. Additionally, I hope to learn more about the docking process and better both my presentation and research abilities."


Sara Nerad, a senior biology major from Janesville, Wisconsin

Project: Investigating an Electrostatic Method for Separating Microplastics of Different Densities

Advisors: Kelly Grussendorf, PhD, associate professor of biology, and Adam Hoffman, PhD, head of the Department of Natural and Applied Sciences and professor of environmental chemistry

"This research opportunity means a lot to me. This fellowship will help me further my skills for graduate school, but it will also help me decide what I want to go to graduate school for.

"My research consists of using physics to determine a useful way to remove microplastics. This opportunity will help me see if biophysics is the right fit for me and my future. I hope that my research project will help determine an environmentally safe way to remove microplastics from the Mississippi River."


Ahrend Raab (C'22), a biology major from Warren, Illinois

Project: CRISPR-dCas9-Targeted Transcriptional Activation of the Timp-1 Gene in HEK-293 Cells

Advisor: Adam Kleinschmit, PhD, professor of biology

"Being a Chlapaty Fellow represents, to myself, that I am a lifelong learner who is fortunate enough to be given an opportunity to attempt to find unanswered questions that could benefit all individuals associated with the University of Dubuque, as well as others around the world.

"My hope is that my project uncovers unanswered questions associated with cancerous traits, within human cells, with the goal of learning and spreading knowledge that could benefit all individuals at the University of Dubuque and around the world."


Samantha Scodeller, a senior biology major from Davenport, Iowa

Project: Determining the Presence and Prevalence of Coccidia in Songbirds of Dubuque County

Advisor: Kelly Grussendorf, PhD, associate professor of biology

"I am both humbled and proud to be recognized as a Chlapaty Fellow. This opportunity provides not only valued guidance of my brilliant and dedicated professors, but also beneficial collaboration with fellow student scientists.

"Through this research project, I hope to establish the current health status of the songbirds of Dubuque County. This way we can evaluate the health of the community."


Lindsey Smith, a senior human health science major from Davenport, Iowa

Project: Evaluating the Antibacterial Properties of Four Native Iowa Plants Against Staphylococcus epidermidis and Escherichia coli

Advisor: Rasika Mudalige-Jayawickrama, PhD, professor of plant biology

"I am very honored and thankful for the opportunity to be a Chlapaty Fellow. I know that the work I will do through this research will teach me important tools within my field as well as prepare me for challenges in the future.

"I hope my project will be able to show antibacterial properties in native plants and provide opportunities to explore how this research can be applied to other areas of science."


Sean Wahlin, a senior biology major from Mineral Point, Wisconsin

Project: Determining the Prevalence of Antibiotics in Wisconsin and Illinois Stream Waters

Advisor: Mark Sinton, PhD, director of the Joseph and Linda Chlapaty Summer Research Fellowship and associate professor of chemistry

"What it means to be a Chlapaty Fellow from my point of view is various things. First, I feel extremely honored that the Chlapaty Family is willing to fund my second research project. Also, it means so much to me because this will assist in the education that will help me achieve my dreams of becoming a medical doctor.

"Through my research project, I hope to accomplish the determination of the concentrations of antibiotics in soil samples collected from streams that lead into the Mississippi River from the eastern portion. Also, with this information I can determine how it could affect public health in the future if the antibiotic concentrations are quite high."


Emerson Wilson, a senior biology and chemistry major from Grand Junction, Colorado

Project: Cellular Metal Contamination and Tolerance in Crayfish

Advisor: Adam Hoffman, PhD, head of the Department of Natural and Applied Sciences and professor of environmental chemistry, and Mark Sinton, PhD, director of the Joseph and Linda Chlapaty Summer Research Fellowship and associate professor of chemistry

"I am so excited to carry on the legacy of research and innovation of past Chlapaty Fellows and be a part of a program such as this one. I feel so grateful to Joe and Linda Chlapaty for an opportunity to grow as a student and gain invaluable experience in the lab. Programs like this one are vital when applying for graduate schools and expand my opportunities after my time at the University of Dubuque.

"My project will attempt to use crayfish as bioindicators of Cadmium in Dubuque's waterways, streams, and creeks."


Maryn Winders (C'23), a biology major from Dubuque, Iowa

Project: Determining the Prevalence of Antibiotics in Wisconsin and Illinois Stream Soils

Advisor: Mark Sinton, PhD, director of the Joseph and Linda Chlapaty Summer Research Fellowship and associate professor of chemistry

"I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to do a second Chlapaty project this summer. I will be able to sharpen all the skills that I learned during my previous fellowship, while learning about a topic that is relevant to the health of the local population.

"I'm very excited to work on my project, which will determine if there are antibiotics present in stream soil samples in Wisconsin and Illinois. I hope to bring awareness to the problem of antibiotic overuse in livestock and spark discussions about what we can do to combat this issue as a community."


Evan Wolter, a senior environmental science major from Dubuque, Iowa

Project: Forest and Canopy Density Phenology at Wolter Woods and Prairies

Advisor: David Koch, PhD, associate professor of environmental science

"I am excited to be named a Chlapaty Fellow and gain some research experience this summer.

"My project will focus on the phenology and canopy density of the plants at Wolter Woods and Prairies. I hope to record the growing season, which can be used as a reference point for future projects and management of the woods."