2021 Student Summer Scholars
Colin Assenmacher
Biological Assessment of Ecosystem Integrity in the Grand River
Faculty Mentor: Eric Snyder, Biology
Colin Assenmacher is an undergraduate student at Grand Valley State University, majoring in Biology with an emphasis in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, along with a minor in Chemistry. In 2021, Colin was awarded the Student Summer Scholars grant, which provided funding for his summer research project to assess the ecological integrity of the Grand River in Michigan through biological sampling. After graduation, he plans to attend graduate school to pursue freshwater ecology, a path driven through his research experience. Outside of academics, Colin enjoys mountain biking, golfing, and volunteering with his student organization, the American Cancer Society at GVSU.
Gloria Baker, MS3
How Phytohormones Impact Protein Degradation Through RUBylation in Arabidopsis thaliana
Faculty Mentor: Matthew Christians, Cell and Molecular Biology
Ian Curtis (Stiner Scholar)
The Validity of Plagiarism Accusations Regarding Plates in the Encyclopédie (1751-72)
Faculty Mentor: David Eick, Modern Languages and Literatures
Ian Curtis is a junior majoring in statistics and French and minoring in mathematics and psychology. Ian was the recipient of the Les and Jackie (Ott) Stiner Fellowship in Historical and Humanistic Studies and researched an accusation of plagiarism made against the plates (supplemental images) of the French Encyclopédie (1751-1772), examining eighteenth-century definitions of plagiarism in an attempt to determine if it actually occurred. His research and the professional skills gained from it have encouraged him to initiate research in statistics and to formulate plans for graduate school to study data science and analytics. Beyond research, Ian is a violinist in the GVSU orchestra and in his spare time enjoys writing music, reading Jane Austen, and collecting CDs and baseball cards.
Rylie Dorman
The Impression of Water Quality Pre-Removal and Post-Removal from the Great Lakes Area of Concern List: A Study of Muskegon Lake and White Lake
Faculty Mentor: Amanda Buday, Sociology
Rylie Dorman is an undergraduate student pursuing a Natural Resources Management degree at Grand Valley State University. Rylie was a recipient of the Student Summer Scholars research grant funded by GVSU and researched the perception of water quality at a site that was once an Area of Concern. In her spare time, she enjoys biking, hiking, and traveling.
Gabrielle Garlicki
Do the Candida albicans Genes Whose Activity Changes During Spaceflight also Affect Biofilm Formation?
Faculty Mentors: Ian Cleary, Biomedical Sciences & Derek Thomas, Biomedical Sciences
Olivia Gordon
Development of a Method for Detection, Characterization, and Quantitation of Streptococcus mutans via Capillary Electrophoresis
Faculty Mentor: Andrew Lantz, Chemistry
Liam Hart
Do “Changes” in Past Beliefs Influence Current Beliefs?
Faculty Mentor: Michael Wolfe, Psychology
Liam Hart is an undergraduate student at Grand Valley State University majoring in psychology with a minor in applied statistics. Liam was the recipient of a Student Summer Scholars (S3) scholarship that researched the influence providing information about one’s past beliefs has on current beliefs. After graduating in December 2021, Liam aims to stay involved in psychological research and narrow his interests down during a gap year before applying to a PhD program in cognitive psychology. In his spare time, Liam enjoys golf, rock climbing, and spending time with family and friends.
Noah Holkeboer
DEVELOPMENT AND APPLICATION OF A NON-DESTRUCTIVE METHOD FOR STUDYING TREE EVOLUTION AND FOREST ECOLOGY
Faculty Mentor: Gary Greer, Biology
Kelsey Inman-Carter
The epiphytic diatom community of an invasive macroalga, starry stonewort (Charales: Nitellopsis obtusa) and its native relative, Chara contraria (Charales) from two drowned river mouth lakes
Faculty Mentor: Sarah Hamsher, Biology
Kelsey Inman-Carter is a student majoring in Biology at Grand Valley State University. Kelsey received the Student Summer Scholars research grant for the summer of 2021to do research on the epiphytic microalgae found on two types of macroalgae in two lakes in Michigan. Kelsey’s experience in her research has helped her find a field of focus moving forward into her graduate studies.
Lily Kedzuch (Stiner Scholar)
Examining self-perception, locus of control, and coping strategies among Machiavellians
Faculty Mentor: Todd Williams, Psychology
Lily Kedzuch is a student at Grand Valley State University majoring in psychology and double minoring in criminal justice and advertising & public relations. She was the recipient of the Stiner Fellowship in Scientific Skeptical Reasoning and Logic. Her S3 research surrounded the coping strategies Machiavellians use, and how that influences their satisfaction with life. Lily plans to purse graduate school to become a Forensic Psychologist. She also enjoys running and leading Young Life.
Elizabeth Kennard, MS3
Optimization of the bacterial production of tobacco etch virus(TEV) protease and enzymatic cleavage of a fusion protein for the treatment of snakebites.
Faculty Mentor: R. Marshall Werner, Chemistry
Elizabeth Kennard is a student at Grand Valley State University majoring in biochemistry with a minor in mathematics. Elizabeth was a recipient of the modified summer scholars grant and spent the summer of 2021 studying the N. American Opossum’s resistance to snake venom. Upon finishing her undergraduate studies, Elizabeth plans to attend medical school to become a pediatrician. In addition to her studies and research, Elizabeth loves to spend time on the Greatlakes boating and swimming.
Landon Klausing
Do Right to Work Laws Reduce Financial Constraints on Firms? Evidence based on Michigan and Indiana Right to Work Laws
Faculty Mentor: Vijay Gondhalekar, Finance
Landon is a Senior in the Seidman College of Business pursuing a degree in Finance and Economics with a concentration in Investments. Following graduation this fall, Landon will be heading to Nashville to work at Alliance Bernstein in their business development group. Prior internship experience includes working as an Investment Research analyst at Plante Moran, and as a Private Equity Analyst at Blackford Capital. Landon was the recipient of the I Am Grand Valley Leadership recognition award for his work with IPO, Seidman College of Business, and the Frederik Meijer Honors College. Landon has a passion for teaching others and through his research experience this summer he is planning on returning to school to obtain his MBA and PHD down the road to become a full time professor.
Madeleine Lang, MS3
2021 Grand River Water Quality Sampling
Faculty Mentor: Peter Wampler, Meijer Honors College
Madeleine Lang is a student at Grand Valley State University majoring in biochemistry on a pre-professional track. Madeleine was the recipient of the Modified Student Summer Scholars Program and spent time this summer researching the water quality of the Grand River with fellow research assistant Allison Romanski and Professor Peter Wampler. Madeleine’s research experience has inspired her to continue researching water quality impact. In her spare time, Madeleine enjoys running, reading, walking her dogs, and traveling.
Matthew Martin (Ott-Stiner Scholar)
Computational Analysis of BshC, an Enzyme Responsible for Antibiotic Resistance in Firmicute Bacteria
Faculty Mentor: Mary Karpen, Chemistry
Olivia Maurer (Ott-Stiner Scholar)
Structural and functional characterization of ADC-219: a new clinically relevant enzyme involved in antibiotic resistance
Faculty Mentor: Brad Wallar, Chemistry
Olivia Maurer is a student at Grand Valley State University majoring in biochemistry. Olivia participated in the Student Summer Scholars (S3) program and was recognized as an Ott-Stiner Scholar. She researched a novel ADC variant that contributes to antibiotic resistance in A. baumannii. Upon graduation, Olivia hopes to attend graduate school to continue research and obtain a Ph.D. in biochemistry. In her free time, Olivia loves to visit local coffee shops, spend time at Lake Michigan, and read new books.
Lillian Minnebo (Koeze Fellow)
Measuring Past Climate Change in Fossil Shells
Faculty Mentor: Ian Winkelstern, Geology
Lillian Minnebo is a student at Grand Valley State University majoring in geology with an environmental emphasis. She is the recipient of the Koeze Fellowship and researches past climate change with the reconstruction of temperatures using the chemistry of fossil shells. Her research experience has inspired her to pursue graduate school in the geoscience field. Beyond her enthusiasm for geology, Lillian enjoys reading, painting, and hiking.
Seth Ockerman
Detecting Face Mask Usage Trends in Social Media with Machine Learning
Faculty Mentor: Erin Carrier, Computing & Information Systems, School of
Madilynn Olenick, MS3
Studying the potential role of ERK1/2 against cell death in diabetes-induced heart disease
Faculty Mentor: Ruijie Liu, Biomedical Sciences
Allison Romanski, MS3
2021 Grand River Water Quality Sampling
Faculty Mentor: Peter Wampler, Meijer Honors College
Allison Romanski is a student at Grand Valley State University and is currently working towards her undergraduate degree while majoring in Biochemistry and minoring in Spanish. She is also a Modified Summer Student Scholar Researcher under the Office of Undergraduate Research. She was awarded this grant so that she could study the water quality of the Grand River to understand the overall health. She aspired to become a water scientist that focuses on environmental issues. In her spare time she likes to play on the Grand Valley Women's Club Lacrosse Team.
Maci Rozich
The influence of cancer on macrophages of the innate immune system
Faculty Mentor: Kristin Renkema, Biomedical Sciences
Maci Rozich is a student at Grand Valley State University majoring in Biomedical Sciences and minoring in Spanish. Maci was a recipient of the summer student scholars award and researches how cancer affects the immune system in mice with different immune system developments. Maci’s research experience is possibly changing her career path goal, to instead study immunology and pursue a life of research. Maci enjoys spending time with her research team, friends and family.
Georgia Sands
Preparation of four new compounds that make lanthanide metals glow
Faculty Mentor: Shannon Biros, Chemistry
Georgia Sands is a chemistry major at Grand Valley State University. Georgia was a Student Summer Scholar researching the impact of organic molecules on the ability of lanthanide metals to luminesce. After graduation, Georgia plans to earn a PhD in organic chemistry.
Allison Soffa
Art and Biochemistry Applied to Snakebite Treatment: Medical Illustration and Biochemical Investigations of the bacterial production of metalloproteinase inhibitors from the North American opossum D. virginiana.
Faculty Mentor: R. Marshall Werner, Chemistry
Derek Tonello (Schroeder Fellow)
Trace-amine associated receptor 1 and vulnerability to methamphetamine use disorders
Faculty Mentor: Shkelzen Shabani, Biomedical Sciences
If you'd like to see more about these scholars' projects, then check out the GVSU Summer Scholars Showcase Abstract Book.