The Physics and Astronomy Division of the Council on Undergraduate Research announces the 2021 recipients of the Nadine Barlow Undergraduate Research Support Awards. The awards, named in memory of the late division Councilor Nadine Barlow, seek to assist undergraduate researchers in conducting faculty-mentored research, presenting their research at national conferences, or publishing their research in peer-reviewed journals. The awards are of a maximum of $500 each.
The 2021 recipients are the following:
- Mariah Goeks (Northern Michigan University; mentor: Rick “P. W.” Mengyan)
Project title: Building a Functional Van der Pauw Four-Point Probe. Goeks’s project creates the third version of a homebuilt four-point probe head, updating its support system and making electrical measurements of semiconducting samples.
- Joseph Hammill
(Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University; mentor: Jason Aufdenberg)
Project title: Modeling the Interstellar Medium and Ionized Hydrogen Around the Bright Star Spica. Hammill’s project presents a method for the computation of projected surface brightness profiles using Cloudy’s volume emissivity output, reassesses the annulus-averaged surface brightness estimates from the SHASSA data, and constrains nebular parameters.
- Shannon O’Connor (Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University; mentor: Foram Madiyar)
Project title: Investigation of Electrospray Applications. O’Connor’s project tests an electrospray platform that can deposit uniform coatings of carbon nanomaterials on large surfaces.
- Jarres Plummer (Austin Peay State University; mentor: Roman Golovchak—surname sometimes spelled Holovchak)
Project title: Photo-Response of Mixed Germanium-Antimony-Bismuth-Based Chalcogenide Thin Films at Different Temperatures. Plummer’s project presents the hypothesis that introducing heavy chemical elements into the structure of the films would lead to the shift of the phonon spectrum to lower frequencies (higher wavelengths).
- Ruilin You (University of San Diego; mentor: Ryan McGorty)
Project title: Light Sheet Microscopy for Fast Volumetric Imaging of Colloidal Fluids under Shear. You’s project shows that light sheet fluorescence microscopy can be used to image colloidal and other soft-matter samples as those samples are mechanically perturbed.
Founded in 1978, the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) focuses on providing high-quality and collaborative undergraduate research, scholarly, and creative activity. Among the many activities and networking opportunities that CUR provides, the organization also offers support for the professional growth of faculty and administrators through expert-designed institutes, conferences, and a wide-range of volunteer positions. The CUR community, made up of nearly 700 institutions and 13,000 individuals, continues to provide a platform for discussion and other resources related to mentoring, connecting, and creating relationships centered around undergraduate research. CUR’s advocacy efforts are also a large portion of its work as they strive to strengthen support for undergraduate research. Its continued growth in connections with representatives, private foundations, government agencies, and campuses world-wide provides value to its members and gives voice to undergraduate research. CUR is committed to inclusivity and diversity in all of its activities and our community.
CUR focuses on giving a voice to undergraduate research with learning through doing. It provides connections to a multitude of campuses and government agencies, all while promoting networking and professional growth to its community.