UNK- Thirty University of Nebraska at Kearney students will present research projects at the 13th annual National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) April 27-29 at the University of Montana-Missoula.
“NCUR is the major conference on undergraduate research in the country,” said Dr. Ken Nikels, dean of Graduate Studies and Research. “It covers virtually all disciplines.”
Nikels also said that the students benefit in two major ways from the NCUR experience.
“The students are exposed to the research process and also preparing a presentation for the public. That’s a good developmental activity for all careers,” he said. “And the participants also get to meet students from other campuses to expand their knowledge of educational disciplines.”
UNK has sent students to NCUR since 1994, and the number of UNK attendees has steadily increased each year. In addition, UNK has had the largest contingent of participants from any Nebraska college or university for the past five years.
In addition, the second annual Student Research Day at UNK will take place from noon to 5 p.m. April 24 in the Nebraskan Student Union Ponderosa Room. A warm-up to the NCUR event, students will present posters outlining research projects to colleagues from regional universities. Those projects are judged and awards are presented in a ceremony following the event.
Students presenting papers at the NCUR conference, along with the title of the paper, faculty adviser and department, are listed alphabetically by hometown.
Ansley –Amy Margritz, “The Effects of Urban, Natural and Built Environments on Stress Reduction,” Dr. Richard Miller, psychology (joint project with Michael Heckenlively of Grand Island and Jennifer Kline of Papillion)
Axtell –Brian Phillips, “Resistance Training Plus Colostrum or Whey as Nutritional Supplements Increase Bone Mass in Humans,” Dr. Richard Seip, HPER/Exercise Science
Broken Bow –Carrie Taylor, “Charitable Donations Research,” Dr. Greg Broekemier, management/marketing (joint project with Christine Scott of Grand Island and Lonny Douthit of Newman Grove)
Cambridge –Brad Witte, “A Study of Combining Multiple Certainty Factors for Rules with the Same Consequence,” and, “An Effective Communication Tool Between Instructors and Their Advisees,” Dr. Ju An Wang, computer science and information systems (joint projects with Daniel Garvel of Kearney)
Dodge –Dara Wisnieski, “Agnostic Behavior in Two Subpopulations of Sandhill Cranes in the Platte River Valleys in Nebraska,” Dr. Joseph Benz, psychology (joint project with Allen Correll of North Platte)
Gordon –Andrea Walton, “Reconsidering a Juvenile Code from a Native American Perspective: A Message for Nebraska,” Dr. Peter Longo, political science
Grand Island –Michael Heckenlively, “The Effects of Urban, Natural and Built Environments on Stress Reduction,” Dr. Richard Miller, psychology (joint project with Amy Margritz of Ansley and Jennifer Kline of Papillion)
Justin Long, “The Individual Difference: A Case Study of a Foreign Policy Entrepreneur,” Dr. James Scott, political science (joint project with Melissa Wilcoxson of Shelton)
Christine Scott, “Charitable Donations Research,” Dr. Greg Broekemier, management/marketing (joint project with Carrie Taylor of Broken Bow and Lonny Douthit of Newman Grove)
Kearney –Eileen Boots, “The Complete Structure of the Medaka (Oryzias) Latipes Cyclin B1 Gene,” Dr. Brad Ericson, biology
Daniel Garvel, “A Study of Combining Multiple Certainty Factors for Rules with the Same Consequence,” and, “An Effective Communication Tool Between Instructors and Their Advisees, Dr. Ju An Wang, computer science and information systems (joint projects with Brad Witte of Cambridge)
Jinsung Hong, “An Interactive Learning Tool for Event-Handling in Java,” Dr. Ju An Wang, computer science and information systems (joint project with Jun Ha of Sunnyvale, Cal.)
Ryan Kroemer, “Analyzing Well Development in Phelps County, Nebraska,” Dr. A. Steele Becker, geography
Kelly Niemeyer, “Border Development of Maquiladoras: The Environmental Price for Industrialization,” Dr. Larry Becker, geography
Matthew Polk, “Solar Variability at 12-Hour Time Scales,” Dr. Jose Mena-Werth, physics
Nathan Turner, “Can Attachment Theory Account for Addictive Patterns of Internet Use?” Dr. Kevin Byrd, psychology
Litchfield –Timothy Slocum, “Effects of Molecular Modifications on the Pi-Donor Ligand of Pd Charge-Transfer Complexes Dealing with Varying Degrees of Solvatochromism,” Dr. Christopher Exstrom, chemistry
Merna –Gregory Weber, “Diimine Substituent Effects on the Solvatochromic Shifts of Palladium(II) Charge-Transfer-to-Diimine Complexes,” Dr. Christopher Exstrom, chemistry (joint project with Kristi Holmes of Minatare)
Minatare –Kristi Holmes, “Diimine Substituent Effects on the Solvatochromic Shifts of Palladium(II) Charge-Transfer-to-Diimine Complexes,” Dr. Christopher Exstrom, chemistry (joint project with Gregory Weber of Merna)
Newman Grove –Lonny Douthit, “Charitable Donations Research,” Dr. Greg Broekemier, management/marketing (joint project with Carrie Taylor of Broken Bow and Christine Scott of Grand Island)
North Bend –Charisse Hoops, “Effects of Depleted Uranium on Mouse Development,” Dr. Wayne Briner, psychology
North Platte –Allen Correll, “Agnostic Behavior in Two Subpopulations of Sandhill Cranes in the Platte River Valleys in Nebraska,” Dr. Joseph Benz, psychology (joint project with Dara Wisnieski of Dodge)
Overton –Heather Lucas, “To Stay or Not to Stay: Generation Xers in the Work Place and the Issue of Retention,” Dr. David Palmer, management
Papillion –Jennifer Kline, “”The Effects of Urban, Natural and Built Environments on Stress Reduction,” Dr. Richard Miller, psychology (joint project with Amy Margritz of Ansley and Michael Heckenlively of Grand Island)
Plattsmouth –Kristina Garnett, “Gonadotropins and Ovarian Steroids Regulate Ovarian Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) Expression,” Dr. Janet Steele, biology; Shyamal Roy, UNMC faculty adviser
Shelton –Melissa Wilcoxson, “The Individual Difference: A Case Study of a Foreign Policy Entrepreneur,” Dr. James Scott, political science (joint project with Justin Long of Grand Island)
Wahoo –Carla Manchester, “Strength in Unity: Individual Versus Community Interests in Toni Morrison’s Jazz,” Dr. Stephen Schneider, English
York –Benjamin Fagot, “Preparation and Solution Properties of Nickel Complexion Pairs,” Dr. Christopher Exstrom, chemistry
Sunnyvale, Cal. –Jun Ha, “An Interactive Learning Tool for Event-Handling in Java,” Dr. Ju An Wang, computer science and information systems (joint project with Jinsung Hong of Kearney)
Casper, Wyo.–Bradley Hiser, “Palladium-Mediated Preparation of Isoxazoles,” Dr. Michael Mosher, chemistry
