On March 12, Margie Sargent, Administrative Support Assistant for the Chancellor’s Office, and Ivor Knight, the Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies, distributed emails to several students informing them that their proposals for research funding had been approved.

 

Each year students submit summer research applications from each school of study. This year Knight says he and Sargent received 64 student applications, some of which represented groups or duos. In all there are 22 students doing summer research from the school of engineering, 23 students from the school of humanities and social sciences, 17 from the school of science and two from the school of business. These students applied for the grant online explaining their research. From there, the the school sends Knight and Sargent a “list of applications that are ranked based on their evaluation” and then grants are awarded based on the available funding. This year Behrend was able to fund its students with a budget of $75,000. Knight expressed his excitement for the growing summer research saying, “I am really excited to have 64 of our students funded to do research with faculty this summer.”

 

Some of the research being conducted this summer isn’t new. Vance Noah, a junior majoring in Chemistry, is working with Todd Eckroat, P.h.D., Assistant Professor of Chemistry, to modify the structure of piperine using organic synthesis. Eckroat has been studying acetylcholinesterase inhibitors for many years and started his current work in 2016. Vance, along with two other graduating seniors, Maryn Horn, a biology major, and Thalía Soto Torres, a chemistry major, also collaborated on the work. They hope that by completing their study that the enzyme may prove helpful in treating Alzheimer’s disease.

 

Another project being done this summer is by junior Biology major Constantine Van der Wegen. Van der Wegen will be working under James Warren, P.h.D., Associate Professor of Biology, in the developmental biology lab to discover the effects on the epigenetics of ethanol exposed to zebrafish embryos. This research hopes to serve as a model for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Van der Wegen explained, “Understanding the mechanisms behind this disorder is the crucial first step to finding a cure.”

 

There is a plethora of other research being done such as that of junior computer engineering student, Gavin Fawcett, whose research is, “attempting to transmit video over software defined radio.” This will allow users to own only one component allowing the to be, “able to feed video through one device, have it broadcast the video wirelessly, and receive the video with another device.” Fawcett explained that he was able to get involved with research by performing in a higher level class and being asked by his professors. He added that students seeking out research simply have to reach out to professors in their discipline.

 

Another engineering research project will be done by Scott Kerner, sophomore majoring in mechanical engineering. Kerner is working on cloud manufacturing “to integrate the consumer, provider, and supervisor together to create a fluid work environment.” This research involves investigation of the use of microphones with 32 elements and operations. The goal of the research is to work with the microphones turning operations.

 

The School of Business’s Samantha Bengel, a freshman studying supply chain management, will be working to discover the effects Trump’s policies will have on the supply chain. Bengel explained that Trumps Policies may affect supply chain since “some of the policies have to do with trade, taxes and...immigration.” Bengel was able to get involved in research early after attending a summer program that allowed her to gain 100 hours of work on campus. Personally, Bengel is hoping to walk away with a great experience and education.

 

The summer research program contributes to the strong focus Behrend has on research with undergraduate students. Many other universities do not have this opportunity, and students can also take advantage of grants for the school year. Those applications will be available in the fall.