The Center for Undergraduate Excellence prides itself on the capacity to help fund student lead undergraduate academic and artistic inquiry via grant awards each semester here at Chapman University. These grant awards are intended to provide support for faculty-mentored but student conducted projects, by supplying necessary funds to purchase equipment or materials, cover rental or copyright fees, participant renumeration or license fees, potential travel expenses to conduct research (see Travel Grants for conference-related travel), and other research-related costs. Because scholarly work often comes at a financial cost, the Center for Undergraduate Excellence is here to help Chapman students pursue the projects of their dreams.

The Center for Undergraduate Excellence is thrilled to announce the Grant Recipients for Fall 2017!

Jason Groegler

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Schmid College of Science and Technology

Project: “Investigating the interaction of individual calmodulin domains with the HIV-1 matrix protein”

Faculty Mentor: Jerry LaRue

 

Kelsey Leavy

Psychology and Biochemistry, Crean College of Health and Behavioral Sciences

Project: “The Relationship Between Physical Exercise, DHEA, and Memory”

Faculty Mentor: Connie Shears

 

Kathleen Thornsberry

Health Sciences, Crean College of Health and Behavioral Sciences

Project: “Building and modifying an open-source 3D printer to extrude viable 3D cell cultures”

Faculty Mentors: Justin Dressel and Iris Dorn

 

Thimanthi Withana

Health Sciences, Crean College of Health and Behavioral Sciences

 

Project: “Effects of nano-curcumin on iron-induced cellular toxicity”

Faculty Mentor: Sun Yang

 

Haley Hopkins

Studio Art, Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences

Project: “Object Oriented Ontology and Sculptural, Emotional Bodies”

Faculty Mentor: Dave Kiddie

 

Joanna Dare

Psychology, Crean College of Health and Behavioral Sciences

Project: “Signaling Identity While Avoiding Stigma: Functional Uses of Cultural Markers of Sexual Orientation”

Faculty Mentor: David Frederick

 

Timothy Kristedja

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Schmid College of Science and Technology

Project: “Hydrolysis Studies of Prostate Targeted Peptide Conjugates”

Faculty Mentor: Rakesh Tiwari

 

Alison Pirie

Studio Art, Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences

Project: “Senior Exhibition: Theatre of Hysteria”

Faculty Mentor: Micol Hebron

 

Alexandra Galvin

Psychology, Crean College of Health and Behavioral Sciences

Project: “Patriotism and Protests: Understanding the Diversity of Responses to the NFL Player Protests During the National Anthem”

Faculty Mentor: David Frederick

 

Madeline Chew

Biological Sciences, Schmid College of Science and Technology

 

Project: “The Effects of Drying on Iron Oxyhydroxide Nanoparticle Aggregate Size and Metal Retention”

Faculty Mentor: Christopher Kim

 

Shayla Tonge

Film Production, Dodge College of Film and Media Arts

Project: East Africa Poverty and Sustainability- Research and Documentary Project

Faculty Mentor: Sally Rubin

 

Dylan McGale

Film Production, Dodge College of Film and Media Arts

Project: “TIKTAALIK”

Faculty Mentor: Gil Bettman

 

Amy Lam

Physics, Schmid College of Science and Technology

Project: “Designing a Sample Holder to Investigate Raman Spectra for Fischer Tropsch CO Hydrogenation and Gold Nanoparticle Catalysis”

Faculty Mentor: Jerry LaRue

 

Edwin Wadors

Biochemistry, Schmid College of Science and Technology

Project: “Cloning, expression, and purification of MBP-NifA”

Faculty Mentor: Cedric Owens

 

William Simmons

Dodge College of Film and Media Arts

Project: “Sonora”

Faculty Mentor: Madeline Warren

 

Brenda Ruvalcaba

Mathematics & Civil Engineering, Schmid College of Science and Technology

 

Project: “Determining the effects of weathering on arsenic speciation and bioaccessibility”

Faculty Mentor: Christopher Kim

 

Fiona Tang

Kinesiology, Crean College of Health and Behavioral Sciences

Project: “The Effects of Health-Promoting Signs Encouraging Stair Use in Parking Structures”

Faculty Mentors: Vincent Berardi and Benjamin Rosenberg

 

Thang Nguyen

Chemistry, Schmid College of Science and Technology

Project: “Catalysis Research”

Faculty Mentor: Jerry LaRue

 

Emiko Kaneoka

Public Relations and Advertising, Dodge College of Film and Media Arts

 

Project: “Circle Advertising Campaign 2017-2018”

Faculty Mentor: John Most

Congratulations to all Fall 2017 Grant Recipients!

Don’t miss OURCA’s application deadline for grants this coming spring, Friday April 13th at 4 PM! Attend the Grant Proposal Workshop in March to get a leg up on the competition. Follow and like OURCA on Facebook so you never miss an update!