KU News Release

LAWRENCE — Three graduate students at the University of Kansas have received awards from the Kansas Biological Survey to conduct research on leaf beetles, spiders and water movement within soil at the KU Field Station, a 3,492-acre reserve located near Lawrence.

Dennis V. Eck, a master’s student in geography from Colwich, will study water movement into and within soil. His work is mentored by Daniel R. Hirmas, assistant professor of geography. Eck has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Dayton.

Mari F. Pesek, a doctoral student in ecology and evolutionary biology from Brainard, Neb., will study spider communities in grassland ecosystems. Her research is mentored by Bryan Foster, assistant professor of ecology and evolutionary biology. She completed a bachelor’s degree in 2009 at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Chulwoo Shin, a doctoral student in entomology from Pyeongtaek, South Korea, will study leaf beetles. His research is mentored by Caroline Chaboo, assistant professor of ecology and evolutionary biology. Shin has a 2002 bachelor’s degree from Chungnam National University in Daejeon.

The 2011 KU Field Station Small Grants Fund annually supports research projects by KU graduate students. Awards are based on the merit of the projects and the funds available. Past recipients of awards have made presentations at national meetings and published papers in scientific journals based on their research at the KU Field Station.