College of Life Sciences and Agriculture (COLSA)

2012 Undergraduate Research Award (URA)

Peter Abdu, Wildlife Ecology

Faculty Mentor: Prof. Peter Pekins, Natural Resources

Topic: Standardizing a Non-Invasive Survey Method to Estimate Population Density of American Martens in Northern New Hampshire

 

Gina Chaput, Genetics

Faculty Mentor: Prof. Estelle Hrabak, Molecular, Cellular & Biomedical Sciences

Topic: Transforming Chlorella accD Gene into Tobacco to Increase Lipid Production

 

Jonathan Fogel, General Biology

Faculty Mentor: Prof. Subhash Minocha, Biological Sciences

Topic: Expression of Non-Native Lipases in Plants for Biodiesel Production

 

Alyssa Mixon, General Biology

Faculty Mentor: Prof. Anita Klein, Biological Sciences

Topic: An Investigation of Zostera marina (Eelgrass) Resilience through Genetic Diversity

 

Scott Morin, Biology

Faculty Mentor: Prof. Stacia Sower, Molecular, Cellular & Biomedical Sciences

Topic: Cloning cDNA of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH) Isoforms from Brains of Black Sea Bass, Centropristis striata

 

Elizabeth Natola, Wildlife Ecology

Faculty Mentor: Prof. Adrienne Kovach, Natural Resources

Topic: Phylogeography of New England Cottontails

 

Jennifer Roloff, Nutritional Sciences

Faculty Mentor: Prof. Gale Carey, Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences

Topic: BAI vs. BMI as Predictors of Body Fat in College Students 

Jillian Smith, Nutrition, Dietetics

Faculty Mentor: Prof. Joanne Curran-Celentano, Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences

Topic: Studying the Relationship Between Plasma and Milk Carotenoid Concentrations in Jersey Cows at the Two UNH Dairy Research Facilities

 

Taylor Warren, Biochemistry, Molecular & Cellular Biology

Faculty Mentor: Prof. Vaughn Cooper, Molecular, Cellular & Biomedical Sciences

Topic: The Effects of New Beneficial Mutations in Multiple Environments

 

Samantha Werner, Animal Science: Pre-Vet

Faculty Mentor: Prof. Andre Brito, Biological Sciences

Topic: Enhancing Milk Components and Reducing Methane Emissions of Organic Dairy Cattle with Winter Supplementation of Ground Flaxseed

 

Cody White, Neuroscience: Integrative

Faculty Mentor: Prof. Winsor Watson, Biological Sciences

Topic: Toward Understanding Circadian Rhythm Entrainment in Juvenile American Lobsters (Homarus americanus)

 

Caroline Wuest, General Biology

Faculty Mentor: Prof. Subhash Minocha, Biological Sciences

Topic: Gene and Promoter Cloning and Gene Transfer in Porphyra

 

Sarah Yunes, Biochemistry, Molecular & Cellular Biology

Faculty Mentor: Prof. Charles Walker, Molecular, Cellular & Biomedical Sciences

Topic: Cytoplasmic Sequestration of p53 in Human SKBR3 Breast Cancer Cells: Is Mortalin Involved?

 

2012 Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Abroad

Sean Santos, Biology

Faculty Mentor: Prof. Thomas Davis, Biological Sciences

Research Site: Lyon, France

Topic: A Genome Wide Association Study of Ewing Sarcoma: Looking for Susceptibility to a Disease

 

2012 Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) USA

Keith Breau, Medical Microbiology

Faculty Mentor: Prof. Louis Tisa, Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences

Topic: Correlation of Heavy Metal Resistance Activity to Frankia gene P1B-type ATPase

 

Elizabeth Burgess, Genetics

Faculty Mentor: Prof. Dennis Mathews, Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences

Topic: The Interaction of Auxin and Cytokinin during Root Growth in Arabidopsis thaliana

 

Sophia Burke, Environmental Science: Ecosystems

Faculty Mentor: Prof. Ruth Varner, Earth Systems Research Center

Topic: How Does Thawing Permafrost Affect Methane Flux to the Atmosphere? Measuring Ebullitive Flux from Intermediate Thaw Ponds

 

Tyler Burks, Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology

Faculty Mentor: Prof. Leah Woods, Art & Art History

Topic: Technological Trade-off

 

Benjamin Claxton, Biochemistry

Faculty Mentor: Prof. Charles Walker, Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences

Topic: Is Cytoplasmic Sequestration of p53 Characteristic of Patient-Derived Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML) Cells and is the Mitochondrial Hsp70 Protein Mortalin Involved?

 

Logan Cline, Biology

Faculty Mentor: Prof. Matthew Tarr, Natural Resources

Topic: Effects of the Exotic Shrub Glossy Buckthorn (Frangula alnus) on the Diet Composition of Nestling Common Yellowthroats

 

Sarah Dudek, Wildlife Ecology

Faculty Mentor: Prof. Matthew Tarr, Natural Resources

Topic: Does Facial Mask Size Indicate Territory Quality of Male Common Yellowthroats?

 

Evan Ehrlich, Wildlife Ecology

Molly Hunt, Wildlife Ecology

Faculty Mentor: Prof. Adrienne Kovach, Natural Resources

Topic: Analysis of Behavior and Song in Hybrid Male Saltmarsh x Nelson's Sparrows

 

Sara Fechner, Nutrition

Faculty Mentor: Prof. Gale Carey, Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences

Topic: Development of an Obesity Prevention Program using Participatory Action Research

 

Katie Kozacka, Biochemistry

Faculty Mentor: Prof. Richard Cote, Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences

Topic: Proteomic Analysis of Binding Interactions between PDE6 and its Inhibitory Subunit

 

Kaitlyn LaCourse, Biochemistry

Faculty Mentor: Prof. Louis Tisa, Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences

Topic: Identification of the Genetic Loci Involved in Serratia sp. SCBI Production of Antimicrobial Agents

 

Feier Liu, Biomedical Sciences (MVS)

Faculty Mentor: Prof. Cheryl Whistler, Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences

Topic: If at First You Don't Succeed, Evolve: An Experimental Evolution Approach to Elucidating the Basis of Dark Symbiont Exclusion in the Squid-Vibrio Symbiosis

 

Caitlin McCarthy, Medical and Veterinary Sciences

Faculty Mentor: Prof. David Townson, Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences

Topic: Characterization of Cellular FLICE Inhibitory Protein (c-FLIP) in Cells of Human Cervical Cancer (HeLa cells)

 

Cameron Vergato, Medical Laboratory Science

Faculty Mentor: Prof. Charles Walker, Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences

Topic: Does DNA Damage from Etoposide Stress Lead to Increased Expression of p53 and BAX in IMR-32 Neuroblastoma Cells?

 

Taylor Warren, Biochemistry

Faculty Mentor: Prof. Vaughn Cooper, Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences

Topic: The Effects of Prior Adaptation on Ecological Niche Breadth

 

2012 Research Experience and Apprenticeship Program (REAP)

Elsa Lindgren, Neuroscience

Faculty Mentor: Prof. Winsor Watson, Biological Sciences

Topic: How do Lobsters Hear?

 

Timothy Marquis, Biomedical Sciences (MVS)

Faculty Mentor: Prof. Stacia Sower, Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences

Topic: Training and Learning Research in Molecular, Biochemical and Neuroendocrinological Studies of Brain and Pituitary Hormones of Fish

 

Avery Normandin, Biochemistry

Faculty Mentor: Prof. Cheryl Whistler, Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences

Topic: Genomics Analysis of Symbiosis Traits

 

Abigail Van Note, Genetics

Faculty Mentor: Prof. William Kelley Thomas, Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences

Topic: Exploring the Role of Epigenetic Modifications in the Transition from Simple Bacterial Genomes to Complex Eukaryotic Genomes

 

2012 Research Presentation Grant

Gina Chaput, Genetics

Project Title: Biodiesel: Utilization of Waste Water to Cultivate Microalgae Oil Feedstock with CO2 Sesquestration and Nitrate Deprivation

Conference: Energy & Environment Conference/Expo

 

Elora Demers, Biochemistry

Project Title: A Screen to Identify Mutants with a Sodium-Induced Root Skewing Phenotype

Conference: Northeast Section of the American Society of Plant Biology

 

Jenny Jing, Biomedical Science

Project Title: Assaying Antioxidant Capacity in Strawberry Fruit

Conference: National Conference on Undergraduate Research

 

Alyssa Mixon, General Biology

Project Title: An Investigation of Zostera marina (Eelgrass) Resilience through Genetic Diversity

Conference: Northeast Undergraduate Research Development Symposium

 

Scott Morin, Biology

Project Title: Cloning cDNA of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH) Isoforms from Brains of Black Seas Bass, Centropristis striata

Conference: National Conference on Undergraduate Research

 

Isabella Oleksy, Environmental Science

Project Title: A Spatial Analysis of Didymosphenia geminate (Rock Snot) in the New York City Watershed

Conference: Ecological Society of America Conference

 

2012 Honors Thesis Grant

Michaela Barhite, Nutritional Sciences

Faculty Mentor: Prof. Gale Carey, Molecular, Cellular, & Biomedical Sciences

Thesis: Do Environmental Chemicals Predict Weight Gain in College Students?

 

2011 Undergraduate Research Award (URA)

Kelly Boisvert, Biology: Ecology, Evolution & Behavior
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Michelle Scott, Biological Sciences
Topic: Social Learning and Problem Solving in the Common Raccoon (Procyon lotor)

Christopher Bottom, Wildlife Ecology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. John A. Litvaitis, Natural Resources
Topic: Using Remotely Triggered Cameras to Identify Habitat Use Patterns by Bobcats (Lynx rufus) in New Hampshire

Andrew Butler, Zoology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Adrienne Kovach, Natural Resources
Topic: Hybridization between Rare New England Cottontails and Common Eastern Cottontails: Genetic Results Using Microsatellite DNA and Implications for Conservation of a Declining Species

Gina Chaput, Genetics
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Estelle Hrabak, Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences
Topic: Isolating and Cloning the Chlorella accD Gene for Use in Increasing Lipid Production

Rachel Donner, Microbiology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Cheryl Whistler, Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences
Topic: 20,000 Leagues Under tadC: The Adaptive Benefits of tadC in the Squid-Vibrio Symbiosis Experimental Evolution

Morgan Dube, Biology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Donald Chandler, Zoology
Topic: Distribution and Abundance of Odonata from a Longitudinal Transect of the Lamprey River

Elizabeth Dwinell, Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Richard Cote, Molecular, Cellular, & Biomedical Sciences
Topic: Recombinant Expression of Phosphodiesterase (PDE) for Studying Differences between the Photoreceptor (PDE6) and Smooth-Muscle (PDE5) Enzyme Families

Ryan Finethy, Biochemistry
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Feixia Chu, Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences
Topic: Quantitative Analysis of Histone Modifications Resulting from the DNA Damage Response

Bridget Foley, Zoology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Adrienne Kovach, Natural Resources
Topic: Mitochondrial DNA Variation in the New England Cottontail

Haeleigh Hyatt, Zoology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Michelle Scott, Biological Sciences
Topic: Can Dogs Understand Human Cues Even with Distractions?

Suzanne Johnson, Zoology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Winsor Watson, Biological Sciences
Topic: The Effect of Burying on Horseshoe Crab Heart and Respiration Rate

Christina Loporcaro, Biochemistry/Pre-Med
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Richard Cote, Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences
Topic: The Molecular Basis of Differences in Light Responsiveness of Rods and Cones: Role of the PDE6 Inhibitory Subunit

Ashley Matthews, Nutritional Sciences
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Subhash Minocha, Biological Sciences
Topic: Optimizing the Production of a Taste-Bud Modifying Protein (Miraculin)

Reed Mitchell, Zoology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Winsor Watson, Biological Sciences
Topic: Detecting the Presence and Location of Circadian Neurons in the Marine Gastropod Melibe leonina

Alyssa Mixon, Biology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Anita Klein, Biological Sciences
Topic: An Investigation of Zostera marina (Eelgrass) Resilience through Genetic Diversity in the New England and New York Coastal Areas

Katrina Papanastassiou, Zoology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Adrienne Kovach, Natural Resources
Topic: Investigating Fine-Scale Genetic Structure within Populations of Saltmarsh Sparrows

Hannah Rankin, Biochemistry
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Anthony Tagliaferro, Molecular, Cellular, & Biomedical Sciences
Topic: Research Study to Characterize Phagocytosis Behavior of 3D4/31 Porcine Alveolar Macrophages In Vitro

Michael Sellarole, Biology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Subhash Minocha, Biological Sciences
Topic: Sticky Tomatoes: Production of Barnacle Glue in Tomato Fruit

Brittany Welch, ANSC: PreVet
Faculty Mentor: Prof. David Townson, Molecular, Cellular, & Biomedical Sciences
Topic: Comparison of Effectiveness of Daily Deworming with Pyrantel Tartrate to Rotational Deworming with Pyrantel Pamoate

William Wyman, Biomedical Sciences: Medical Microbiology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Kevin Culligan, Molecular, Cellular, & Biomedical Sciences
Topic: Identification of Novel atr “Suppressor” Mutants in Arabidopsis thaliana

2011 Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Abroad

Alyssa Mixon, Biology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Anita Klein, Biological Sciences
Research Site: Groningen, Netherlands
Topic: An Investigation of Zostera marina (Seagrass) Resilience through Genetic Diversity in the Northern Hemisphere

2011 Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) USA

Andrew Blake, Neuroscience and Behavior
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Robert Mair, Psychology
Topic: The Effects of Subiculum on Pre-Frontal Cortex in Spatial Memory Tasks

Amanda Cavanaugh, Zoology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Brett Gibson, Psychology
Topic: Long-Distance Travelling Salesperson Problem in Pigeons 

Jessica R. Child, Biochemistry
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Jill McGaughy, Psychology
Topic: The Effects of Enrichment on Sustained Attention

Elora Demers, Biochemistry
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Estelle Hrabak, Plant Biology and Genetics
Topic: Arabidopsis thaliana Mutant Screen to Identify Mutations in the PP2A Pathway

Stephen Dunn, Genetics
Faculty Mentor: Prof. John Collins, Genetics
Topic: A Study of Src: Tracing the Evolution of a Cancer Gene

Umija Durakovic, Biochemistry
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Louis Tisa, Molecular, Cellular, & Biomedical Sciences
Topic: Identification of Putative Genes Involved in Antimicrobial Production of Photorhabdus temperata

Hannah Eldred, Microbiology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Charles Walker, Molecular, Cellular, & Biomedical Sciences
Topic: Does Cytoplasmic Sequestration of p53 Occur in Patient Derived Neuroblastoma Cells and is the Mitochondrial Hsp70 Protein Mortalin Involved?

Ryan Finethy, Biochemistry
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Feixia Chu, Molecular, Cellular, & Biomedical Sciences
Topic: Investigating the Role of H2AX Serine 121 phosphorylation in the DNA Damage Response

Matthew Gerding, Microbiology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Cheryl Whistler, Genetics
Topic: Can a Direct Method for Characterizing the Virulence of Vibrio parahaemolyticus Be Found within Fruit Fly Infections?

Taylor Hickman, Biochemistry
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Feixia Chu, Molecular, Cellular, & Biomedical Sciences
Topic: Epigenetic Regulation in Rett Syndrome

Katherine Lantz, Medical Laboratory Science
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Subhash Minocha, Molecular, Cellular, & Biomedical Sciences
Topic: Production of Human Alpha-Galactosidase A in Plants: Do I Have the Right Thing?

Adam Marquis, Wildlife and Conservation Biology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Kimberly Babbitt, Natural Resources
Topic: Landscape and Local-Scale Effects on Stream Salamanders in Southeastern New Hampshire

Elizabeth Orlowicz, Biology: Marine & Freshwater
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Marion Girard-Dorsey, History
Topic: Total War and the Masters of Surviving: Propaganda and Advertising of World War II Companies

Jonathan K. Trudeau, Wildlife and Conservation Biology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Peter Pekins, Natural Resources
Topic: Ecology and Social Structure of Black Bears in Central New Hampshire

Lindsey Wright, Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Richard Smith, Natural Resources and the Environment
Topic: Do Forest Edges Mediate Community Invisibility in Pastures?

2011 International Research Opportunities Program (IROP)

Jacqueline Amante, Environmental Science: Ecosystems
Research Site: Abisko, Sweden 
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Ruth Varner, Complex Systems Research Center
Foreign Faculty Mentor: Prof. Patrick Crill, Stockholm University
Topic: Quantifying Methane Ebullitive Flux from Subarctic Ecosystems

Tyler Burks, Biology: Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology
Research Site: Wageningen, Holland
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Robert Taylor, Biological Sciences
Foreign Faculty Mentor: Prof. Henk Parmentier, Wageningen University
Topic: Identifying Immune Spectratypes in Lines Selected for Differential Antibody Response

2011 Research Experience and Apprenticeship Program (REAP)

Emily Spognardi, Wildlife Ecology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Peter Pekins, Natural Resources
Topic: Field Research in Wildlife Management: Habitat Use of American Martens and Movements of Translocated Nuisance Black Bears

2011 Research Presentation Grant

Alyssa Birt, Animal Science
Project Title: Genetic Expression of Fas in the Bovine Corpus
Conference: National Conference on Undergraduate Research

Gina Chaput, Genetics
Project Title: Utilization of Waste Water for Microalgae Oil Feedstock
Conference: Energy, Utility, & Environment

Elise Koob, Biology: Marine & Freshwater
Project Title: Age, Growth and Maturity of Golden Trevally (Gnathanodon specieosus) in Australian Waters
Conference: National Conference on Undergraduate Research

Stephen McKernan, Biology: Molecular, Cellular and Developmental
Project Title: A Comparison of Tide Pool Populations of Codim fragile ssp. fragile within the Brave Boat Harbor Estuary, York-Kittery, ME
Conference: Northeast Algal Symposium

2011 Honors Thesis Grant

Andraya Ehrlich, Biology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Thomas Laue, Molecular, Cellular & Biomedical Sciences
Thesis: Measurement of Ribonuclease Sa Charge Variants with Membrane-Confined Electrophoresis

2010 Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship

(SURF) USA

Kimberly Archambault, Molecular, Cellular, & Developmental Biology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Charles Walker, Molecular, Cellular, & Biomedical Sciences
Project: The Role of the Deubiquinase, HAUSP in the Induction of Apoptosis in Human Colorectal Cancer Cells and Cancerous Clam Hemocytes

Alyssa Birt, Animal Science: Bioscience & Technology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. David Townson, Molecular, Cellular, & Biomedical Sciences
Project: Genetic Expression of Fas in the Bovine Corpus Luteum

Kirsten Bruell, Molecular, Cellular, & Developmental Biology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Estelle Hrabak, Molecular, Cellular, & Biomedical Sciences
Project: Examining the Distribution of Auxin in the Root Tips of the Arabidopsis thaliana a1 Mutant in Response to Gravity Stimulation

Tyler Burks, Molecular, Cellular, & Developmental Biology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Robert Taylor, Biological Sciences
Project: Differential Gene Expression in Developing Immune Tissue from High and Low Antibody Response Chicken Lines

Jeremy Dobbins-Bucklad, Biochemistry
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Clyde Denis, Molecular, Cellular, & Biomedical Sciences
Project: The Effects of Stress Conditions on Protein Translation: Observing Effect through Analysis of 48S Complex Formation and Steady-State Levels

Mitchell Granoff, Biochemistry
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Clyde Denis, Molecular, Cellular, & Biomedical Sciences Project: Evaluating Identification of Novel Protein in the Translation Initiation Complex

Kristen Greene, Animal Science: Pre-Vet
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Andre Brito, Biological Sciences
Project: Molasses as an Alternative Energy Feed Source for Organic Dairies

Suzanne LaChance, Zoology
Research Site: Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, FL
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Michelle Scott, Biological Sciences
Onsite Faculty Mentor: Ms. Holly West, Mote Marine Laboratory
Project: Environmental Enrichment of Blind (Chelonia mydas) and Fully-Sighted (Caretta caretta) Sea Turtles

Katherine Lantz, Medical Laboratory Science
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Subhash Minocha, Biological Sciences
Project: Analysis of Plant-Produced Enzymes for Use in Enzyme Replacement Therapy

Stephen McKernan, Molecular, Cellular, & Developmental Biology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Anita Klein, Biological Sciences
Project: An Investigation of the Invasion Pattern and Reproductive Strategy of the Invasive Species Codium fragile in the Northwest Atlantic Based on Molecular and Ecological Data

Allison McQueen, Biology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Gale Carey, Molecular, Cellular, & Biomedical Sciences
Project: Brominated Flame Retardants: Do They Affect Liver Glucose Metabolism?

Ashley Miranda, Animal Science: Pre-Vet
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Andre Brito, Biological Sciences
Project: In Vitro Gas Profile of High- and Low-Sugar Alfalfa Supplemented with Molasses or Corn Meal

Daniel Mulhern, Biochemistry
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Charles Walker, Molecular, Cellular, & Biomedical Sciences Project: Is the Mitochondrial Heat Shock Protein Mortalin Involved in Cytoplasmic Sequestration of p53 in Human Neuroblastoma Cells?

Katrina Papanastassiou, Zoology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Adrienne Kovach, Natural Resources & The Environment
Project: The Effects of Researcher Activity on the Nesting Success of Saltmarsh Sparrows

Ciara Dimou, Biology
Dana Daukss, Biochemistry
Kristen Gazda, Biology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Stacia Sower, Molecular, Cellular, & Biomedical Sciences
Project: The Effects of Novel Lamprey Rfamide Peptides in Petromyzon marinus (Sea Lamprey) Neuroendocrine System

Kristin Duclos, Biology: Marine & Freshwater
Daniel Merselis, Molecular, Cellular, & Developmental Biology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. David Berlinsky, Biological Sciences
Project: The Effect of Salinity on Growth and Relative Expression of Na/K ATPase in Rainbow Smelt (Osmerus mordax)

2010 Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship

(SURF) Abroad

Elise Koob, Biology: Marine & Freshwater
Research Site: Brisbane, Australia
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Molly Lutcavage, Biological Sciences
Foreign Mentor: Dr. Shane Griffiths, Marine & Atmospheric Research
Project: Biology and Feeding Ecology of Golden Trevally (Gnathanodon speciosous) in Australian Waters

2010 International Research Opportunities Program (IROP)

Abigail Boduch, Biochemistry/ International Affairs
Research Site: Madrid, Spain
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Kevin Culligan, Molecular, Cellular, & Biomedical Sciences
Foreign Faculty Mentor:  Prof. Cristano Gutierrez, University Autonoma of Madrid
Project:Exploration of GL2-Expression Modulator (GEM)

Henry Jones, Wildlife Ecology
Research Site: Evenstad, Norway
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Peter Pekins, Natural Resources
Foreign Faculty Mentor: Dr. Torstein Storass, Hedmark University
Project: Predation on Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) Nests – Losses to Different Predators

Katherine Lawrence, Biochemistry
Research Site: Madrid, Spain
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Thomas Laue,
Molecular, Cellular, & Biomedical Sciences
Foreign Faculty Mentor: Dr. German Rivas, University of Madrid
Project: Determining Physical Properties of Macromolecules in Crowded Solutions

Natallia Leuchanka, Environmental Science/International Affairs
Research Site: Quintana Roo, Mexico
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Barrett Rock, Natural Resources
Foreign Faculty Mentor: Mr. Sam Meacham, CINDAQ
Project: Remote Sensing of Forest Types in the Maya Mountains of Belize

Althea Marks, Environmental Science
Research Site: Nanjing, China
Faculty Mentor: Prof. William McDowell, Natural Resources
Foreign Faculty Mentor: Dr. Honghua Ruan, Nanjing Forestry University
Project: Relationships between Soil C:N and Stream DOC, Stream Nitrate, and Elevation in the Wuyi Mountains, Fujian and Jiangxi Provinces, China

2010 Undergraduate Research Award

Audra Chaput, Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Michelle Scott, Biological Sciences
Project: Courtship or Combat? How Male Siamese Fighting Fish Communicate in Mixed-Sex Social Environments and the Effect of Nest Possession on Their Display Behavior

Lindsay Chase, Animal Science, Pre-Vet
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Andre Brito, Organic Dairy Management
Project: Effect of Kelp on Growth of Dairy Calves

Alexander Cubberley, Biochemistry
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Charles Walker, Molecular, Cellular, & Biomedical Sciences
Project: Transport of p53 to the Mitochondria

Natalie Delfosse, Nutritional Sciences
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Jesse Morrell, Molecular, Cellular, & Biomedical Sciences
Project: Chronic Disease Risk Factors in College-Aged Adults

Kiely Feldman, Environmental Conservation
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Erik Hobbie, Complex Systems Research Center
Project: Comparing Carbon and Nitrogen Cycling in Conventional and Organic Dairies at UNH

Norman H. Hassell, Microbiology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Cheryl Whistler, Molecular, Cellular, & Biomedical Sciences
Project: Determining the Role of Siderophore in Vibrio-Euprymna Symbiosis: Iron Acquisition versus Protection from Oxidative Stress

Haeleigh Hyatt, Zoology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Estelle Hrabak, Molecular, Cellular, & Biomedical Sciences
Project: Orchid Propagation: Keiki Inducement in Phalaenopsis and Seed Germination

Ciara Kazakis, Molecular, Cellular, & Developmental Biology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Stacia Sower, Molecular, Cellular, & Biomedical Sciences
Project: Specificity Determination and Characterization of a Specific Polyclonal Lamprey GnRH-II Antibody

Katherine Lantz, Medical Laboratory Science
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Subhash Minocha, Biological Sciences
Project: Inexpensive Production of Enzymes for Use in Enzyme Replacement Therapy: Using Tobacco as a Bioreactor

Andrew McDermott, Biochemistry
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Michael Lesser, Molecular, Cellular, & Biomedical Sciences
Project: Sequencing of Superoxide Dismutase Genes in the Symbiotic Algae (Symbidinium sp.) of Tropical Anemones and Their Response to Oxidative Stress

Anna Tyzik, Medical Laboratory Science
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Cheryl Whistler, Molecular, Cellular, & Biomedical Sciences
Project: A Killer in the Water: Environmental Vibrio cholerae Confirmed in the Great Bay Estuary

Evelyn Yuen, Nutritional Sciences
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Jesse Morrell, Molecular, Cellular, & Biomedical Sciences
Project: Physical Activity and Bone Health of College Students

Amy Dickson, Zoology
Katie Jennings, Biology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Wayne Fagerberg, Molecular, Cellular, & Biomedical Sciences
Project: Tissue Dynamics of the Capture Phase of the Venus Flytrap Closure

Melanie D’Andrea, Biology
Jordan Morelli, Biology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Estelle Hrabak, Molecular, Cellular, & Biomedical Sciences
Project: Identifying Palmitoyltransferase Mutants in Arabidopsis thaliana

2010 Research Presentation Grant

Caryn MacDonald, Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology
Project Title: Identification of Two Novel Type-II GnRH Receptors in the Sea Lamprey, a Basal Vertebrate
Conference: Society of Comparative and Integrative Biology, Seattle, WA

Margret Mansfield, Microbiology
Project Title: Using Confocal Microscopy to Study the Infection of Mentha longifolia by a GFP Strain of the Verticillium Wilt Pathogen
Conference: American Phytopathological Society 2010 Meeting, Nashville, TN

Riley Nolan, General Biology
Project Title: Potential of the Invasive Colonial Ascidian, Didemnum vexillum, to Limit Swimming Behavior of the Sea Scallop, Placopecten magellanicus
Conference: International Invasive Sea Squirt Conference, Woods Hole, MA

Rebecca Riding, Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology
Project Title: Detecting Interactions between PP2A C Subunit Genes and PP2A-Interacting Proteins in Arabidopsis thaliana
Conference: American Society of Plant Biologists, Garden City, NY

Kaylene Szeto, Zoology
Project Title: Assessing Rapid Evolution of the Chemical Recognition of an Invasive Crab Species in Tasmania
Conference: International Conference on Marine Bioinvasions, Portland, OR

2010 Honors Thesis Grant

Amy Beliveau, Nutritional Sciences
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Joanne Curran-Celentano, Molecular, Cellular & Biomedical Sciences
Thesis: Phytonutrients in Microgreens