KU News Release

April 15, 2008
Contact: Ann Marie Foster, Division of Biological Sciences, (785) 830-2762.

KU, Haskell students to present research projects April 29

LAWRENCE — The 500 Nations Bridges to the Future Program will sponsor the eighth annual University of Kansas-Haskell Indian Nations University Undergraduate Research Symposium on Tuesday, April 29.

The symposium will take place from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at Tecumseh Hall on Haskell’s campus. Awards will be presented at 4:30 p.m.

Students will present research on topics such as biochemistry, cell biology, chemical engineering, civil engineering, environmental studies, microbiology and psychology.

The 500 Nations Bridges to the Future Program is funded by the National Institutes of Health and encourages minority students at both universities to pursue careers in biomedical science by supporting undergraduate research activities. KU and Haskell faculty administer more than $11 million in four NIH science training programs: Initiative for Maximizing Student Diversity and Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program at KU, and the Bridges to the Future Program and the Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement Program at Haskell.

To learn more about these programs, visit the Office for Diversity in Science Training Web site, www2.ku.edu/~odst/.

Symposium participants are listed below by hometown, level in school, major, parents’ names, tribal heritage, high school and other degrees, program, research adviser and research project title.

DOUGLAS COUNTY
From Lawrence 66044
Jason Alexander Koontz, master’s degree student in environmental science; Comanche Nation; bachelor’s degree from Haskell Indian Nations University; Ada (Okla.) Senior High School; PREP; Donald Huggins, courtesy assistant professor in biological sciences and senior scientist for Kansas Biological Survey; Initial assessment of nutrient concentrations in the Missouri River.

From Lawrence 66046
Katrina Chervart McClure, senior in environmental studies; Muskogee (Creek) and Seminole nations; Lutheran High School, Rockford, Ill.; IMSD; Bryan Foster, associate professor of ecology and evolutionary biology; Effects of a nurse crop, annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) on establishment of four switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) ecotypes.

From Lawrence 66047
Pemecewan Fleuker, Haskell student in natural sciences; Menominee Nation; RISE; Thomas Armstrong, professor emeritus of physics and astronomy; Solar Variability and the Effects on Climate Change.

Johnie J. Gallagher, nondegree-seeking student at KU; bachelor’s degree from KU; Manhattan High School; PREP; Brian Ackley, assistant professor of molecular biosciences; A Structure/Function Analysis of the Extracellular Domain of the LAR receptor in synaptogenesis.

ELLSWORTH COUNTY
From Kanopolis 67454
Rebecca A. Orozco, senior in biology; daughter of Peter and Bonnie Orozco; Ellsworth High School; IMSD; Joy Ward, assistant professor of ecology and evolutionary biology; Identifying Quantitative Trait Loci That Affect Flowering Time of Arabidopsis thaliana Grown at Elevated [CO2].

JOHNSON COUNTY
From Mission 66202
Zane Ali Jaafar, junior in microbiology; son of Laurie and Mahmoud Jaafar; Shawnee Mission North High School; IMSD; Scott Hefty, assistant professor of molecular biosciences; Type three dependent translocation of a Chlamydia trachomatis candidate effector molecule, CT665.

From Olathe 66061
Jonathan D. Ashley, senior in chemical engineering; son of Darryl and Diane Ashley; Saint Thomas Aquinas High School; IMSD; Kyle Camarda, associate professor of chemical and petroleum engineering; Simulation Studies of Stabilizing Polymers Within Peptide Drug Formulations.

From Olathe 66062
Yvonne Nyakio Kamau, junior in biochemistry; daughter of Godfrey Kamau; Olathe North High School; IMSD; Russ Middaugh, the Takeru and Aya Higuchi Distinguished Professor of Pharmaceutical Chemistry; Biophysical characterization of proteins.

From Overland Park 66210
Ashrita Anna Abraham, senior in microbiology; daughter of Vincy Abraham and Abraham Verghese; Olathe East High School; IMSD; Kristi Neufeld, assistant professor of molecular biosciences; Musashi regulation of APC: implications in colon cancer

NEMAHA COUNTY
From Bern 66408
Karanda Jean Hildebrand, junior in biology; daughter of Kenneth and Karla Hildebrand; Bern High School; IMSD; Brian Ackley, assistant professor of molecular biosciences; Using gene conversion to GFP-tag the cytoplasmic domain of the C. elegans LAR receptor tyrosine phosphatase.

RICE COUNTY
From Little River 67457
Rebecca J. Deeds, senior in chemical engineering; daughter of Doug and Rita Deeds; McPherson High School; IMSD; Cory Berkland, assistant professor of chemical and petroleum engineering; Engineering Drug Delivery Nanoparticles.

SEDGWICK COUNTY
From Wichita 67226
Eric U. Iheme, junior in human biology; son of Doug and Franca Iheme; Wichita Heights High School; IMSD; Joseph Steinmetz, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and professor of psychology and molecular biosciences; An Analysis of Delay and Trace Classical Eyeblink Conditioning in Adult Rats Exposed to Ethanol as Neonates.

From Wichita 67230
Preston L. Alltizer, senior in microbiology, son of Richard Alltizer; Andover Central High School; IMSD; Kristi Neufeld, assistant professor of molecular biosciences; Characterizing the APC^mNLS Mouse Mode.

SHAWNEE
From Topeka 66616
Richard Aaron Martinez, senior in American studies and psychology; son of Kirsten Martinez; Topeka High School; IMSD; Omri Gillath, assistant professor of psychology; The Effects of Sexual (but not Friendly) Prime on Conflict Resolution Strategies in Romantic Relationships.

From Topeka 66604
Katherine A. Waugh, junior in microbiology and Spanish; daughter of C. West Jr. and Shirley Waugh; Chikasaw and Cherokee nations; Topeka West High School; IMSD; Audrey Lamb, assistant professor of molecular biosciences; Structural Characterization of the Isochorismate Synthase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

WOODSON COUNTY
From Yates Center 66783
William Gilbert, Haskell student in natural sciences; Muskogee Creek Nation; RISE, James Orr, professor of molecular biosciences; Expression of Thromboxane A2 Receptor Gene Transcript in Rabbit Cardiac Myocytes.

WYANDOTTE COUNTY
From Kansas City 66109
Daniel J. Barrera, senior in biochemistry and biology; son of Henry and Teresa Couchman; Piper High School; IMSD; Paul Hanson, professor of chemistry; Synthesis of anthranillic acid derived beta-keto sultams.

ARIZONA
From Tuba City 86045
Tennille Bertha Begay, junior in environmental studies; daughter of Woody and Phyllis Begay; Dine (Navajo) Nation; Tuba City High School; IMSD; Stephen Hudman, post-doctoral researcher in biological sciences, and John Kelly, associate professor of ecology and evolutionary biology; Microsatellite development for the stream fish Etheostoma spectabile (orangethroat darter).

IOWA
From Iowa City 52245
Corey Jay Mims, junior in civil engineering and economics; son of Fred and Susan Mims; City High School; IMSD; Matt Schrager, assistant professor of health, sport and exercise sciences; Validity and Reliability of the GaitRite System Across Modes of Locomotion.

ILLINOIS
From Carlinville 62626
Cassandra Delores Lamar, junior in biology; daughter of Edward and Cynthia La Mar; Cherokee Nation; Carlinville High School; IMSD; William Picking, professor of molecular biosciences; Shigella Responses to Deoxycholate.

MISSOURI
From Gravois Mills 65037 and Seguin, Texas
Jennifer Dianne Hood. SEE TEXAS

From Oak Grove 64075
Faith Ighoyivwi, junior in cell biology; IMSD; Jennifer Gleason, assistant professor of ecology and evolutionary biology; Genetics of Sexual Selection in Drosophila simulans and Drosophila sechellia.

NEW MEXICO
From Albuquerque
Melinda Adams, Haskell student in natural sciences; San Carlos Apache Nation; research conducted at the University of Notre Dame Environmental Research Center field station on the National Bison Range in Moiese, Mont.; Habitat selection between grassland edges using two grasshopper species (Chorthippus curtipennis and Pseudopomala brachyptera) on the National Bison Range (Moiese, MT 59824).

From Fruitland 87416
Becky A. Begay, nondegree-seeking student in biology; Comanche Nation; bachelor’s degree from Haskell Indian Nations University; PREP; Helen Alexander, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology; Effect of mid-summer haying on early and late flowering prairie plants.

NORTH DAKOTA
From Fort Yates 58538
Ronnette Marie Chase Alone, senior in environmental studies; daughter of Ronald and Jeanette Chase Alone; Standing Rock Sioux Nation; Standing Rock Grant School; IMSD; John Kelly, associate professor of ecology and evolutionary biology; Induced Defences of Mimulus gutatus.

TEXAS
From Seguin 78155 and Gravois Mills, Mo.
Jennifer Dianne Hood, nondegree-seeking student in biology; daughter of Ronnie and Kathy Pullin of Seguin and James Hood of Gravois Mills, Mo.; Cherokee Nation; Shawnee Mission South High School; bachelor’s degree from KU; PREP; Sunil David, assistant professor of medicinal chemistry; Comparison of the Effects of a TLR-2 and a TLR-4 Agonist on T Cells and Natural Killer T Cells.

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