Jan. 6, 2003

Contact: Barbara Schowen, Honors Program, (785) 864-4614.

KU names 19 Undergraduate Research Award winners for spring 2003

Hometowns: Lawrence, Lecompton, Lenexa, Olathe, Overland Park, Topeka, Wichita.

Dallas; Deerfield Beach, Fla.; Kansas City, Mo.; Slidell, La.; and Oklahoma City.

LAWRENCE -- Nineteen University of Kansas students have received Undergraduate Research Awards for spring 2003.

The awards, either $250 or $500, come from KU's general research fund. They support original independent research by Lawrence campus undergraduates. KU's University Honors Program administers the awards.

Selection criteria included the proposal's quality, the student's academic record and ability to complete the proposed research project, the project's potential contribution to knowledge and the educational value of the research to the student.

Applicants also provided recommendations from faculty sponsors and other faculty members familiar with the students' work and proposals.

During each academic year, KU's Honors Program awards more than 60 grants to undergraduates. Each spring, recipients of Undergraduate Research Awards are invited to present their research in KU's annual undergraduate research symposium.

Students receiving awards, their year and major, their parents' names, award amount, their research project titles, faculty advisers and high school alma maters (where available) are:

DOUGLAS COUNTY

From Lawrence

Shinying Chu, senior in psychology and speech-language-hearing, is the daughter of Bing Yong Chu; $500; "The Effect of Phonotactic Probability on Speech Production," sponsored by Michael Vitevitch, assistant professor of psychology.

Jesse Gruber, sophomore in history and English, is the son of Charles and Khabra Gruber; $250; "Modern Sexual Morality," sponsored by Ann Cudd, professor of philosophy and women's studies.

From Lecompton

Matthew Matheny, junior in mathematics and physics, is the son of Stephen and Janie Matheny; $500; "Subgap Leakage Current and 1/f Noise of Superconducting Josephson Junctions and Their Role in Quantum Computing," sponsored by Siyuan Han, associate professor of physics and astronomy. Matheny is a Free State High School graduate.

JOHNSON COUNTY

From Lenexa

Baiju Gandhi, senior in genetics and psychology, is the son of Sudhir Gandhi; $500; "Hyper-expression of Gene X Under Influence of Polyhedrin Promoter in AcMNPV," sponsored by Robert Weaver, professor of molecular biosciences. Gandhi is a Shawnee Mission Northwest High School graduate.

From Olathe

Megan Beard, senior in painting, is the daughter of Deborah Beard; $500; "On Guard: The Depiction of Women in Silent Film, Burlesque and Cabaret Culture," sponsored by Tanya Hartman, assistant professor of art. Beard is an Olathe South High School graduate.

Kelly Selders, senior in speech-language-hearing, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Mark Selders; $250; "Lexical and Phonological Representations in Children," sponsored by Holly Storkel, assistant professor of speech-language-hearing. Selders is an Olathe East High School graduate.

From Overland Park

Aaron Abramovitz, pre-medicine junior in biology, is the son of Morris and Sara Abramovitz; $250; "Female Preference Towards Males with Intermittent Acoustic Calls in Achroia Grisella (Lesser Wax Moth)," sponsored by Michael Greenfield, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology. Abramovitz is an Olathe East High School graduate.

Aisha Chaudhri, junior in philosophy, is the daughter of Javaid and Shamin Chaudhri; $250; "An Analytical View of Abortion Through Islam," sponsored by Don Marquis, professor of philosophy. Chaudhri is a Notre Dame de Sion High School graduate.

Kimberly Turner, senior in psychology and human development, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Turner; $500; "The Influence of Knowledge on Memory in Young Children: The Role of Leading Questioning," sponsored by Andrea Greenhoot, assistant professor of psychology. Turner is an Olathe East High School graduate.

Shau-Yu "Judy" Yu, senior in astronomy, computer engineering and physics, is the daughter of Elizabeth Y. F. Chu; $250; "Time-Dependent Evolution of Ion-Neutral Chemistry in Titan's Ionosphere," sponsored by Thomas Cravens, professor of physics and astronomy.

SEDGWICK COUNTY

From Wichita

Jacob Spence, junior in chemical engineering, is the son of Byron and Julie Spence; $500; "Hydroformylation in Carbon Dioxide-Expanded Solvents," sponsored by Bala Subramaniam, distinguished professor of chemical and petroleum engineering. Spence is a Goddard High School graduate.

SHAWNEE COUNTY

From Topeka

Daniel Hansen, pre-medicine senior in psychology and philosophy, is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hansen; $500; "Health Care: Privilege or Right?" sponsored by Don Marquis, professor of philosophy. Hansen is a Washburn Rural High School graduate.

Laura Waterson, senior in psychology, is the daughter of Charles and Jane Waterson; $250; "An ERP Study of Pseudohomophones," sponsored by Ruth Ann Atchley, assistant professor of psychology. Waterson is a Manhattan High School graduate.

FLORIDA

From Deerfield Beach

Stacy Greenbaum, pre-law senior in humanities and psychology, is the daughter of Jack and Karen Greenbaum; $500; "Competition Among Phonological Segments in Speech Perception," sponsored by Michael Vitevitch, assistant professor of psychology. Greenbaum is a Blue Valley High School graduate.

LOUISIANA

From Slidell

Daniel Najera, senior in ecology and cellular and evolutionary biology, is the son of Carlos and Diana Najera; $250; "The Developing Vision of a Formidable Predator," sponsored by Rudolf Jander, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology. Najera is a Kent Meridian Senior High School graduate.

MINNESOTA

From Eden Prairie

Maureen Perry, senior in linguistics, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Perry; $500; "Eurologue," sponsored by John Gronbeck-Tedesco, professor of theatre and film. Perry is a Benilde St. Margaret's High School graduate.

MISSOURI

From Kansas City

Shane McCall, senior in environmental studies and sociology, is the son of Mary Jean McCall; $500; "The Relation of Environmental Beliefs and Practices in Conventional and Non-Conventional Farmers Near Lawrence, KS," sponsored by Joey Sprague, associate professor of sociology. McCall is a Washburn Rural High School graduate.

OKLAHOMA

From Oklahoma City

Annie Palmer, senior in biology and philosophy, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Griffin Palmer; $500; "A Systematic Study Based on SEM Images of Seed Coat Morphology in Species of Villadia (Crassulaceae)," sponsored by Mark E. Mort, assistant professor of ecology and evolutionary biology. Palmer is a Classen High School graduate.

TEXAS

From Dallas

Kelly Briant, junior in mechanical engineering, is the daughter of Granville and Pauline Briant; $250; "Back Belts: Do They Really Work?" sponsored by Sara Wilson, assistant professor of mechanical engineering. Briant is a Greenhill High School graduate.