13 BVU science students engaged in summer learning experiences

Summer is hardly a time of rest for 13 Buena Vista University (BVU) science students who are immersed in eye-opening and enriching internships and research experiences across the country and around the world

The students and their research and internship projects are:

Aaron Brewer, a senior biology major from Omaha, and Jennifer Heim, a sophomore biology and environmental science major from Watertown, S.D. are participating in the Buena Vista North Raccoon Headwater Project, which is supported by a $200,000 grant from the USDA's Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watershed Initiative (MRBI). Throughout the summer, the students will be evaluating the effects of agricultural runoff at three sites along Outlet Creek through biological, chemical, and physical assessments. The results will provide baseline data for comparison following the implementation of terracing in fall, 2011, which is the proposed conservation practice at this location of Outlet Creek. The Buena Vista North Raccoon Headwater Project will run April through September of each year 2011 through 2014, and will assess the effectiveness of agricultural conservation measures in controlling farm nutrient and chemical runoff in the Mississippi River watershed. The project is coordinated by Dr. Melinda Coogan, assistant professor of biology at BVU. Ashley Tabery is the project coordinator with the MRBI, and she is overseeing the students through the NRCS office in Storm Lake.

Arinda Abbuhl, a junior biology major from Red Oak, is working in a research lab at the Mayo Graduate School. She is spending 10 weeks researching in the field of virology and gene therapy as part of the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program, which includes a $5,000 stipend.

Caitlin Hof, a freshman biochemistry, biology and chemistry triple major from Yankton, S.D., was selected to participate in the University of Iowa's Carver College of Medicine FUTURE (Fostering Undergraduate Talent-Uniting Research and Education) in Biomedicine program. This summer, she is investigating the role of Drosophila zinc finger transcription factor in germline and neuronal development. Dr. Kristy McClellan, assistant professor of biology at BVU, and Caitlin are working in the laboratory of Dr. Pamela Geyer in the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Iowa.

Jacklyn Johnson, a junior biology major from Litchfield, Minn., traveled to Kenya. During her stay, she is working at a hospital five to six hours a day, shadowing doctors and performing basic tasks such as taking blood pressure. Jacklyn used funds associated with a Wendy Waugaman Women and Leadership Award to assist her with travel costs.

Cammy Matters, a sophomore biology major with a minor in chemistry from Humboldt, is volunteering with Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata, India. She is traveling with Dr. Swasti Bhattacharyya, associate professor of religion at BVU, who is overseeing Cammy's independent study.

Miguel Munoz-Gomez, a junior biology and Spanish major from Storm Lake, is in Cuba to compare its health care system to the American system. He is performing missionary work through Caribbean Medical Transport, delivering medical equipment to different facilities in need and exploring medical care in urban and rural settings. Miguel will have the opportunity to meet with two well-known Cuban physicians, Dr. Gilberto Fleites in Havana and Dr. Roger Garcia in Guantanamo. His trip is supported in part by a J. Leslie Rollins Fellowship from BVU.

Thomas Fitzgerald, a senior computer science major from Manson, is working with Rockwell Collins in Cedar Rapids to implement new software which will reduce bid time and cost. Thomas will participate in evaluating the efficiency of the software as well as designing a new interface that will be easier to use.

Joseph Pearson, a senior environmental science and business management double major from Marcus, and Shane Clune, a senior biology major from Pine City, Minn., are working on a Geographic Information System (GIS) project for the City of Storm Lake under the supervision of Kuehl & Payer. Each of the students is equipped with a handheld GPS to collect data, which will eventually be put in an overall map for Storm Lake and Buena Vista County for planning purposes. Joseph is mapping signs, playground equipment and docks, while Shane is mapping the various species of trees on public property.

Keith Johnson, a junior computational physics major from Hartley, was selected for a 10-week biophysics research program at Montana State University. His group is focusing on UV-Vis Spectroscopy and, more specifically, the effectiveness of Nitrosylated Protein labeling using UV-Vis and a dye containing a specific functional group. The current project involves working on a method for S-Nitrosylated protein identification to determine the mechanism of this reaction. Keith received a $4,500 stipend through the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Research Experience for Undergraduates Program.

Tara Van Surksum, a freshman chemistry major from Hull, and Tyler Rosengren, a freshman from Logan with a triple major in biology, chemistry and biochemistry, are working with Dr. Tim Ehler, associate professor of chemistry, on a research project. Ehler received funding through a competitive grant process from the Northern Plains Undergraduate Research Center through the NSF to engage two undergraduate science students in a chemistry research project for 10 weeks. Each student supported through the grant will receive a $3,500 stipend and on-campus housing. As part of the research project, Ehler and his students will also travel to the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colo., for two weeks in July to conduct research in the physics department.

Internship and research experiences are an integral part of the BVU educational opportunity. Valuable for networking and intellectual growth, they provide lessons students can carry back to the classroom and into their future careers.