2020 Chlapaty Fellows to Conduct Research
Jun 10, 2020 | University Relations staff
DUBUQUE, Iowa – Fifteen University of Dubuque students will spend their summer researching topics ranging from surveying how habitat and landscape can impact snake populations to analyzing heavy metal impurities present in cosmetics as part of the Joseph and Linda Chlapaty Summer Research Fellowship.
In its ninth year, the competitive fellowship helps prepare talented undergraduate students across all disciplines for graduate or professional school.
"The Joseph and Linda Chlapaty Summer Research Fellowship provides students with the opportunity to engage in one-on-one research with University faculty members and enhance their professional competence through a variety of group activities such as post-graduate school examination preparation, communication skill-building, and professional networking to position themselves for success in post-graduate studies and careers,” said Mark Sinton, PhD, director of the Joseph and Linda Chlapaty Summer Research Fellowship.
Fellows will commit 400 hours of work on their research over a 10 week period during the summer. They will each receive a stipend of $4,500 and an additional $500 for research-associated supplies or travel costs. Fellows are required to present their research results during the following academic year at a local, regional, or national conference.
“The Joseph and Linda Chlapaty Summer Fellowship creates an incredible opportunity for talented undergraduate students to conduct scholarly research with a faculty scholar-mentor, to prepare for graduate entrance exams, and to build a network of professional contacts. We are grateful to Joe and Linda Chlapaty for their investment in these undergraduate students,” said Jeffrey F. Bullock, president of the University.
The following students were named 2020 Chlapaty Fellows:
Madison Bowers, a junior biology major from Mineral Point, Wisconsin
Project: Analyzing Health Effects of Microplastics by Isolating from Freshwater Systems to Caenorhabditis elegans
Advisors: Kelly Grussendorf, PhD, assistant professor of biology, and Adam Hoffman, PhD, associate professor of environmental chemistry and head of the Department of Natural and Applied Sciences
Quotable: “To be named a Chlapaty Fellow is truly an honor and means so much to me. Through this program, I will learn skills in a lab and field setting that I normally would not get to learn. I also get to earn a deeper knowledge on a topic that truly interests me, and I care about a lot. I am very excited to see how I grow as a learner through this fellowship. Not only will this be an amazing experience, it will also help me to be more competitive when applying for physician assistant schools after my undergraduate. By the end of this project, I hope I have gained a true knowledge about exactly what microplastics are and how they have damaged the earth and many organisms’ bodies. I also hope that by the end of this, I become a better learner and become skilled at public speaking. Most importantly, I hope that my project inspires many other future fellows to continue to research and spread more knowledge to others about what microplastics are doing to this world and organisms living in it.”
Levi Buchholtz, a senior environmental science major from Belmond, Iowa
Project: Surveying How Habitat and Landscape Affects Snake Populations
Advisor: Gerald Zuercher, PhD, professor of biology and vertebrate ecology
Quotable: “I am honored to have received the Joseph and Linda Chlapaty Summer Research Fellowship. Being a fellow gives me the opportunity to explore different areas of research that I am interested in. I hope that my research will provide insight into the role of habitat in the distribution of snakes in Dubuque County.”
Josie Coglianese, a senior chemistry and biology double major from Savanna, Illinois
Project: Identification of the Catalytic Amino Acid Residues in Potato and Mushroom Tyrosinase
Advisor: Mark Sinton, PhD, assistant professor of natural and applied sciences
Quotable: “To me, being a fellow means leaving a legacy on the UD science program and being able to be part of something that people after me will be able to look at. I hope my project will give a little more clarity on the strange behavior of tyrosinase.”
Zach Elias, a junior biology major from Bettendorf, Iowa
Project: Base Editing Outcomes on GBA-Park Mutation L444p in Parkinson’s Disease
Advisor: Kelly Grussendorf, PhD, assistant professor of biology
Quotable: “Not only does this fellowship show that the University cares about my future, but it also displays that the University has faith and confidence in me as a person. I hope to demonstrate the efficacy and feasibility of CRISPR-based gene therapy on a single point mutation within the human genome.”
Megan Gille, a senior human health science major from Stockton, Illinois
Project: Anaplasmosis Causing Bacteria, Anaplasma phogocytophilum, in Ticks
Advisor: Kelly Grussendorf, PhD, assistant professor of biology
Quotable: “It is truly an honor to be named a fellow. Not every single student gets to have an opportunity to do fieldwork with their professors. You also get to do what you enjoy every day. I hope my project will show the increasing numbers of Anaplasmosis in ticks and rodents around our area, and then I would love to further my research to see how Anaplasmosis affects people long term.”
Lyndy Holdt, a senior biology and environmental science double major from Davenport, Iowa
Project: Impacts of Hydrologic Change and Flooding of the Mississippi River on Riverine Turtle Nesting and Population
Advisor: David Koch, PhD, associate professor environmental science
Quotable: “To be named a Chlapaty Fellow gives me a great opportunity to conduct research in an area I am passionate about. It’s an honor to be accepted into this program, and it gives me a chance to prepare myself for life post-graduation. I’m truly excited to hone my skills and explore what I want to pursue in a career. In conducting this research, on an individual level, I hope to learn important skills to prepare me for a future program and career in environmental sciences. What I hope to accomplish with my research is to learn how flooding and weather patterns are affecting riverine turtles and nesting habitats. I also hope to learn overall how climate change is affecting our local turtle populations and, hopefully, what we could possibly do to remediate the situation.”
Katelyn Howe, a junior biology major from Clinton, Iowa
Project: Analyzing Heavy Metal Impurities Present in Cosmetics: Foundations and Eye Products
Advisors: Amandeep Arora, PhD, assistant professor of chemistry, and Lalith Jayawickrama, teaching specialist
Quotable: “It is an honor to be named a Chlapaty Fellow. I know all of us have worked hard to get here, and I think of it as a responsibility to hold myself accountable to complete my project with integrity. I am hoping that my project will bring awareness to those in the community who wear cosmetics. My findings will tell us which makeup products have an abundance of metal ions that can potentially be harmful to our bodies. We absorb the cosmetics we place on our skin, so it is critical to know what we are absorbing.”
Megan Kennedy, a senior biology major from Asbury, Iowa
Project: Characterization of Two Freezing-Induced Genes From Aplectrum hyemale by Heterologous Expression
Advisor: Rasika Mudalige-Jayawickrama, PhD, associate professor of natural and applied sciences
Quotable: “It is an honor to be named a Chlapaty Fellow. I am so grateful for the opportunity to conduct independent research that will allow me to gain valuable research skills and help me reach my goal of attending doctorate school. From this project, I hope to establish a greater understanding of freezing induced genes in orchids and if they are able to help other crops and plants grow in harsh seasons. I am excited to develop my lab techniques and expand my knowledge in molecular biology and genetics.”
Sally Lambie, a senior chemistry and biology double major from Yokota Air Base, Japan
Project: Building an Inexpensive Tensile Strength Testing Instrument
Advisor: Mark Sinton, PhD, assistant professor of natural and applied sciences
Quotable: “I am honored to be given an opportunity to do research at UD. Being a Chlapaty Fellow will prepare me for my future research and career. Hopefully, my research will help expand UD’s science department with a new instrument and possibly a new project for future students interested in analytical and material sciences.”
Kathleen Messino, a junior biology major from McHenry, Illinois
Project: Fast Track Gene Evaluation Method for Functional Characterization of Orchid Genes
Advisor: Rasika Mudalige-Jayawickrama, PhD, associate professor of natural and applied sciences
Quotable: “Having the opportunity to be named a fellow for the Joseph and Linda Chlapaty Summer Research Fellowship is a privilege. To research a topic I am truly interested in is something I am very grateful for. I hope to accomplish isolating the gene and then placing it into the orchid and having the growth of the gene be successful.”
Joshua Nsenga, a senior biology major from Oshkosh, Wisconsin
Project: Investigating the Expression of the Lipogenesis Gene Adipose Acyl-CoA Synthetase in the Parasitoid Wasp Leptopilina boulardi
Advisor: Adam Kleinschmit, PhD, associate professor of biology
Quotable: “It’s a privilege and a blessing to unravel the mysteries of education. The research journey I am embarking on will pave the way for my graduate school and will put my skills on a different level. In doing so, I hope to become a better researcher and think more critically. I hope this project captures the interests of many people to reevaluate the importance of model organisms and what role they play in understanding our conserved biochemical pathways. Through his project, I hope to improve my science research methods and be able to present my material in a way that makes sense.”
Livi Schutz, a senior chemistry major from Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin
Project: A Survey of Antibiotic Bioaccumulation in Worms
Advisor: Mark Sinton, PhD, assistant professor of natural and applied sciences
Quotable: “It’s an honor to be named a fellow. I am very excited to see what I can accomplish. What I’m hoping to accomplish is to find out if worms are bioaccumulated with antibiotics in the area and the reason why these worms are being infected with antibiotics.”
Zachary Simanski, a senior biology major from Brambleton, Virginia
Project: Prevalence of Antibiotic Resistant Genes in Dubuque’s Catfish Creek Watershed
Advisor: Adam Kleinschmit, PhD, associate professor of biology
Quotable: “I am very excited to be named a fellow. I think very highly of this opportunity to contribute to the scientific community of the University as well as the region. My project will bring awareness to the issue of antibiotic resistance. We have seen that a pandemic has completely altered normal life as we know it. Antibiotic resistance is yet another health issue that may cause similar impacts in the future if not anticipated. Hopefully, my findings will encourage further research and a commitment to preparedness.”
Reegan Sturgeon, a senior biology major from Molalla, Oregon
Project: Determining the Prevalence of Tick-borne Relapsing Fever (TBRF) Causing Bacteria, Borrelia miyamotoi
Advisor: Kelly Grussendorf, PhD, assistant professor of biology
Quotable: “Being a Chlapaty Fellow means a lot to me because it is my chance to expand my horizons as a student in addition to expanding my skills as a professional individual. I greatly appreciate the chance to give back to the community with my research. It is an important topic, and I’m glad to be able to research and share it to help the public. I dream of helping the public in my future vocation, and that is why I appreciate Mr. Chlapaty for allowing me to do that now. My project is to research tick-borne diseases to better protect the public. The more we know about diseases, the more we are able to combat them. My goal is to figure out the prevalence of the tick-borne relapsing fever bacteria in order to be able to better understand it and other related tick-borne diseases.”
Isaiah Williams, senior environmental science major from Bowie, Maryland
Project: Monitoring the Impact of Land Use and Water Quality
Advisor: Adam Hoffman, PhD, associate professor of environmental chemistry and head of the Department of Natural and Applied Sciences
Quotable: “I am thrilled to have the responsibility to show what I can do as a Chlapaty Fellow. Finally, I get to apply years of learning into hands-on research. I hope to gather various skills with hands-on experience. This research will allow me to advertise my skills during future networking opportunities.”
