UW-Whitewater: Promising summer research program kicks off

Contact: Seth Meisel

(262) 472-5150

meisels@uww.edu

WHITEWATER ­ Students and University of Wisconsin-Whitewater faculty members will spend the summer researching and collaborating through the summer undergraduate research fellowship program.

“This program gives students applied experiences while giving them the opportunity to work closely with professionals,” said Seth Meisel, UW-Whitewater Undergraduate Research Program director.

Faculty mentors are an essential part of the research program. They help design the projects, work with the students to setup interviews and present the research with the students.

“Student researchers in this program care about their research and take initiative,” said Linda Reid, an assistant professor of finance and business law. “As a mentor I get the chance to work with them one-on-one and help them along the way.”

Often rated as one of the most valuable undergraduate student experiences, the research program benefits students throughout their academic and professional careers. The five projects chosen for this summer are diverse and will challenge the minds of the student researchers.

·Senior Mackenzie Clark of Hartland, junior Jennah Hackbarth of Eagle, junior Ingrid Stensvaag of Palatine, Ill. and their mentor Steven Albrechtsen, a health, physical education, recreation and coaching professor, are studying the effect of over-the-counter supplements on physical performance.

·Senior Kimberly Cunningham of Green Bay, junior Preston Knapp of Appleton and their mentor Choton Basu, an associate professor of information technology and business education, are assessing the need for micro-finance in the Midwest.

·Senior Margaret Roesser of Springfield and sophomore Jonathan Koshir of Elkhorn along with their mentors Catherine Chan, an assistant professor of chemistry and biological sciences; John Ejnik, an assistant professor of chemistry; and Hephzibah Kumpaty, an associate professor of chemistry, are working on an interdisciplinary research project.

·Senior Monica Los of Delavan, junior Ian Vaver of La Crosse and their mentor Anne Hamilton, a political science lecturer, are doing a comparative study of South American foreign policy.

·Senior Katie Rohm of Seymour and her mentor Linda Reid, are researching the competition Irish producers represent to the Wisconsin dairy industry.

The results of the research projects will be presented at this summer¹s undergraduate research day on Friday, Aug. 7.