Undergraduate Research Stories

From the University of Missouri, a student spotlight on Kathryn Vanden Hoek, who proves that it is never too early to dive into research if you have a passion for it.

VIU alum Misha Zvekic’s research investigated how exposure to sunlight changes the surface properties of plastics. In addition to causing them to break down into smaller pieces, Zvekic says when plastics are exposed to sunlight it changes their chemical structure which affects how they interact with other pollutants.

Penn State and Stuckemann School student, Devon Guyer, spent six weeks this summer studying representational landscapes and community-engaged design of two parks in his hometown of Philadelphia.

Montana State University graduate student Franklin Alongi is a conifer connoisseur when it comes to research. Specifically, his research has focused on how high-elevation, five-needle white pines and other pine species respond to stressors under predicted changing climate conditions.

The La Crosse-based company J.F. Brennan Company Inc. — a century-old, nationwide leader in marine environmental solutions — is partnering with UW-La Crosse to strengthen research, curriculum and the company's talent pipeline.

Funded by a series of grants from the National Science Foundation, the Freshman Research in Plants (FRIPS) Program at the University of Missouri allows first-year/first-time undergraduate students an opportunity to get a first-hand look at the exciting plant research taking place at MU. Not only do these students have the chance to experience cutting-edge plant biology research, they are also able to learn from esteemed Interdisciplinary Plant Group faculty.

Genetic diversity is crucial for the Vancouver Island marmot to survive threats such as disease outbreaks or adapt to climate change. A recent research paper led by Vancouver Island University alum Kimberley Barrett is giving conservationists a better understanding of the genetic diversity of the Vancouver Island marmot.

Teagan Kuzniar spends her time in the Environmental Microbiology laboratory at WVU where she works on her own independent research project that she developed in the summer of 2021 as part of the WVU Summer Undergraduate Research Experience program. The project utilizes quantitative stable isotope probing to explore microbial responses from wetlands to climate warming.

Years ago, a postdoc in the Ruohola-Baker Lab wrote a paper describing a biological mechanism in fruit flies that protects stem cells from apoptosis – in other words, that prevents cell death. The author suggested a systematic drug screen for molecules that might subvert this protective mechanism and induce cell death. Such a drug would be a powerful tool in the fight against cancer.

Instructor implements research-based approach to learning with support from Taylor Institute for Teaching and Learning.