2024 Chlapaty Fellows to Conduct Research
By Stacey Ortman
DUBUQUE, Iowa - Sixteen University of Dubuque students selected to participate in the Joseph and Linda Chlapaty Summer Research Fellowship will research a variety of topics this summer including an exploration of the mental health stigma among pilots and flight students, a look at the prevalence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in Dubuque County, an assessment of the connections between surface water and well water in the Driftless Region, and more.
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 during the following academic year at a local, regional, or national conference.
"The Joseph and Linda Chlapaty Summer Research Fellowship has had a profound impact on our students in its 12 years of existence," said Mark Sinton, PhD, director of the Chlapaty and Butler fellowship programs and associate professor of chemistry. "I've witnessed this first-hand both as a research advisor and as the program director. I've lost count of the number of students that started their fellowship with a firm career path in mind, only to completely change that path based on the research work and experiences they gained during their fellowships. This is truly a transformative program."
The following students were named 2024 Chlapaty Fellows:
Abdelakim Baba Traore, a junior biology major from East Moline, Illinois
Project: Assessing the Prevalence of Leptospirosis Among Numerous Wild Small Mammal Species
Advisors: Adam Kleinschmit, PhD, professor of biology, and Gerald Zuercher, PhD, director of Wolter Woods and Prairies and professor of biology
"On the scientific side of things, I'm hoping my project will prove whether Leptospirosis is prevalent or not in the Dubuque area and generally just bring a bit of awareness to the disease. On the personal side of things, I'm hoping to gain more laboratory and field knowledge and to continuously better my knowledge in the sciences."
Chetna Bhusari, a junior biology major from San Leandro, California
Project: From Purple to Red: Investigating the Enzyme Competition Among Anthocyanin Biosynthetic Genes in a Petunia Model System
Advisor: Rasika Mudalige-Jayawickrama, PhD, professor of plant biology
"I hope that my project will allow me to determine if enzymatic competition is responsible for the prevalence of purple-colored orchids. For personal goals, I hope that this project will allow me to gain research experience and become more comfortable using certain laboratory techniques."
Zachary Donath, a senior environmental science major from Dubuque, Iowa
Project: Measuring the Growth and Influence of S. canadensis Under Increased Nitrogen Levels
Advisor: David Koch, PhD, associate professor of environmental science
"I hope my research will aid in developing a different way of managing Canada Goldenrod in the future."
Lilly Duff, a senior biology and chemistry double major from Marshalltown, Iowa
Project: A Survey of Mushroom Dispensary Products for the Presence of Bioactive and Toxic Compounds
Advisor: Mark Sinton, PhD, director of the Chlapaty and Butler fellowship programs and associate professor of chemistry
"In my project, I hope to gain a better understanding of the bioactive and toxin composition of mushroom dispensary products that are readily available in the Dubuque community."
Katy Hess, a senior environmental science major from Polo, Illinois
Project: Investigating Crayfish Distribution and Parasite Prevalence
Advisor: Adam Hoffman, PhD, head of the Department of Natural and Applied Sciences and professor of environmental chemistry
"There is little research done on the pathogen paragonimus being found in crayfish - only a few known cases of Paragonimus were known in the Midwest. I hope this research will give a baseline of the lung fluke's presence in crayfish in the area."
Brinley Jones, a senior biology major from Waukon, Iowa
Project: Babesiosis-causing Bacteria, Babesia microti, in Rodents and Ticks of Dubuque County
Advisor: Kelly Grussendorf, PhD, associate professor of biology
"I hope my project will help advise Iowans about Babesia microti rates and when to take most precautions when outdoors."
Elise Kehoe, a senior chemistry major from Monticello, Iowa
Project: Weeding Out the Bad: Chemical Compounds Present in Cannabis Dispensary Products
Advisor: Mark Sinton, PhD, director of the Chlapaty and Butler fellowship programs and associate professor of chemistry
"I hope to identify what compounds are in cannabis dispensary products within the Dubuque area, specifically focusing on CBD, THC, and any potential toxins."
Ryan Knudsen, a senior flight operations and aviation management double major from East Troy, Wisconsin
Project: Exploring the Mental Health Stigma Among Pilots and Flight Students
Advisor: Rajee Olaganathan, PhD, associate professor of aviation
"With this project, I aim to grasp the perspective on mental health within the campus community, particularly among aspiring pilots. I plan to share the results with the Department of Aviation along with the Smeltzer-Kelly Student Health Center to better create initiatives for education surrounding the stigma involving mental health not only within aviation but for UD as a whole."
Paige Manning, a junior biology major from Mendota, Illinois
Project: Prevalence of the Bacteria, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, in Dubuque County
Advisor: Kelly Grussendorf, PhD, associate professor of biology
"My project is finding the prevalence of the bacterium, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, in a temporal study in ticks in the Dubuque area."
Ben Micheau, a senior chemistry major from Naperville, Illinois
Project: A Docking and Molecular Dynamic Study of Pyrimidine Ligand Interactions with Bluetongue VP7 Protein
Advisor: Mark Sinton, PhD, director of the Chlapaty and Butler fellowship programs and associate professor of chemistry
"I'm hoping my project will shed light into how the Bluetongue virus infects hosts. My project will also serve as a learning experience as I will be utilizing software that is new to me but relevant in the chemical fields."
Drake Polley, a junior biology major from Marshalltown, Iowa
Project: Comparing the Prevalence of Leptospirosis in Urban Versus Rural Small Mammals
Advisors: Adam Kleinschmit, PhD, professor of biology, and Gerald Zuercher, PhD, director of Wolter Woods and Prairies and professor of biology
"I am hoping that my project will give both veterinarians and the public some general knowledge about the prevalence of leptospirosis in urban and rural areas of Dubuque."
Braydin Preston, a senior computer information technology and environmental science double major from Lanark, Illinois
Project: The Influence of Age and Diet on the Composition and Diversity of the Gut Microbiome of Elephants in Sri Lanka
Advisors: Lalith Jayawickrama, MS, assistant professor of health sciences, and Rasika Mudalige-Jayawickrama, PhD, professor of plant biology
"This summer I am planning on traveling to Sri Lanka to participate in elephant research. The goal of my project is to characterize the microbes present in the guts of Sri Lankan Asian Elephants based off their age and diet composition."
Colin Schmit, a senior biology major from Marshalltown, Iowa
Project: Comparing the Detection of Leptospirosis Through LAMP Testing of Multiple Environmental Sample Types in Dubuque County, Iowa
Advisors: Adam Kleinschmit, PhD, professor of biology, and Gerald Zuercher, PhD, director of Wolter Woods and Prairies and professor of biology
"I hope to be able to understand the prevalence of leptospirosis in Dubuque and determine just how many animals have the disease. Also, I hope the research helps in determining whether you should get your household pet the Leptospirosis vaccine."
Shaye Smith, a junior biology major from Oswego, Illinois
Project: Bacterial Presence of Borrelia miyamotoi in the Dubuque Area
Advisor: Kelly Grussendorf, PhD, associate professor of biology
"I hope my project will identify a distinguishable susceptibility pattern amongst tick infection as this identification could provide more information on both how and when to properly protect yourself against tick-borne pathogens. By researching the rate of Borrelia miyamotoi through a temporal study, I hope to provide information to our community to ensure and educate safety precautions during the summer when ticks are active."
Taylor Sperfslage, a senior chemistry major from Ackley, Iowa
Project: Assessing Connections Between Surface Water and Well Water in the Driftless Region
Advisor: Adam Hoffman, PhD, head of the Department of Natural and Applied Sciences and professor of environmental chemistry
"From my research, I hope to enhance the knowledge of threats to Dubuque's water sources and drinking water. By researching water contamination and comparing it to human health, we will be able to see correlations between the two. Reporting these findings will hopefully lead to funding for improving water quality issues."
Taylor Woods, a senior chemistry and criminal justice double major from Dubuque, Iowa
Project: The Affect of Prescribed Burns on Soil Arsenic Composition Within the Wolter Woods and Prairies
Advisors: Mark Sinton, PhD, director of the Chlapaty and Butler fellowship programs and associate professor of chemistry, and Adam Hoffman, PhD, head of the Department of Natural and Applied Sciences and professor of environmental chemistry
"In my research, I aim to explore the behavior of heavy metals in nature when humans interact with agricultural practices, such as prescribed burns. I am particularly interested in understanding how these metals can benefit agriculture and exploring new techniques to enhance plant growth."
