2013 URSCI Summer Scholars

Geraldine Holmes. Geraldine, a double-major in biology and environmental science, analyzed  transcriptional changes associated with the long-term habituation of sea slugs to better determine which genes change as an animal forms long-term memory. She presented her research at the National Society for Neuroscience meeting in San Diego in the fall as well as prepared a peer-reviewed paper for publication. She was sponsored by Dr. Bob Calin-Jageman, associate professor in the psychology department.

Joanna Sasara. Joanna, a major in mathematics, used various mathematical models to study the theory of differential association as it can be applied to criminal behavior, suggesting that criminal behavior is “spread through direct contact between groups involved in a particular event.” She planned to use her research in a paper that will provide an approach to understanding the dynamics of crime as being similar to a mathematical biological model that looks at the spread or containment of disease. She was sponsored by Dr. Marion Weedermann, a professor in the mathematics department.

Tyehimba Turner. Tyehimba, a major in biology, conducted research to isolate environmental microbes that can utilize stevia to support metabolic functions, attempting to identify the gene systems responsible for this action. (Stevia is a South American plant currently used in artificial sweeteners.) Tyehimba hoped to use his research to develop a paper for publication. Tyehimba presented his research at the American Society of Microbiology’s 2013 General Meeting and at the National Conference for Undergraduate Research (NCUR), which took place April 11-13, 2013. Tyehimba was Dominican’s first student to be accepted to present at the highly competitive NCUR. He was sponsored by Dr. Margaret Jonah, a professor in the biology department.