A partnership between the Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station and the Oklahoma State University College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources Undergraduate Research Scholar program is enabling 31 CASNR students the opportunity to perform undergraduate research for a full year.

“This program is an opportunity for research scientists to include undergraduates in their research,” said Steve Damron, CASNR assistant dean of academic programs. “This also allows undergraduates the opportunity to generate new knowledge about a topic or topics.”

Participating in undergraduate research allows students the opportunity to better understand areas they are interested in and decide if it is something they will pursue as a career, Damron said. It also can provide students a taste of what graduate school would be like.

“The great value of it from our perspective is that it is a way for young people who are involved in an undergraduate educational experience to see quite specifically what it’s like to be part of the discovery of new knowledge.”

To qualify, students must be enrolled in CASNR and included on the research proposals submitted by a faculty mentor with a detailed outline of their role in the research.

Participants began working with their faculty mentors this past fall semester. Students chosen for the URP for the 2015-16 academic year include:

CASNR Undergraduate Research Scholars

OKLAHOMA

Afton
Dillon Johnson, Plant and Soil Sciences junior
Project: “Using agricultural value-chains for economic development: a case study in southeastern Oklahoma.”

Collinsville
Faithful Williams, Entomology senior
Project: “Research on sex-based phototactic behavior in insects.”

Dewey
Katy Layman, Horticulture senior
Project: “Evaluating a no-dig method of planting ornamental flower bulbs in Oklahoma.”

Freedom
Hammons Hepner, Agribusiness senior
Project: “Consumer preferences for goat meat.”

Hobart
Thomas Hess, Entomology junior
Project: “Electrical penetration graph studies of mosquito feeding activities.”

Jenks
Yiling Ke, Food Science senior
Project: “Characterizing the antioxidant properties of pomegranate extract in a liposome system.”

Konawa
Riley Jones, Biosystems Engineering senior
Project: “Predicting runoff color based on organic carbon source and concentration.”

McAlester
Madison Slawson, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology junior
Project: “Expression and purification of INI-1 and its biologically significant truncations.”

Oklahoma City
Anna O’Hare, Natural Resource Ecology and Management senior
Project: “Grassland restoration following removal of non-native invasive grasses.”

Suzi Barboza-Pacheco, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology junior
Project: “Characterization of the mechanism of action of natural product inhibitors of Hsp90.”

Stillwater
Abigail Parnell, Biosystems Engineering senior
Project: “Impact of in-stream structures on hyporheic flows in streams: potential for enhanced nutrient processing.”

Iain Kirscke, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology sophomore
Project: “Intracellular localization of sumoylation deficient Stu2p mutants.”

Yukon
Kaylen Baker, Animal Science and Agricultural Communications senior
Project: “Oklahoma’s broadband infrastructure: ranking by State Senate and House Districts.”

ARKANSAS

Searcy
Ashley Harris, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology senior
Project: “Selection of bacillus spp. strains with specific enzyme activity.”

CONNECTICUT

West Suffield
Molly Drakeley, Animal Science sophomore
Project: “Selection preferences of grazing livestock species.”

Oxford
David Bradt III, Entomology senior
Project: “A test of cold tolerance of native and introduced cockroach species.”

DELEWARE

Middletown
Courtney Lester, Animal Science junior
Project: “Identification of performance-associated intestinal microbes.”

GEORGIA

Bainbridge
Charley Rayfield, Food Science freshman
Project: “A novel antimicrobial ice based cleaning-in-place meat grinder sanitization process development.”

IOWA

Keota
Sage Becker, Animal Science freshman
Project: “Efficacy of butyrate-based products in host defense peptide induction, growth promotion and intestinal health.”

KANSAS

McPherson
Elizabeth Farney, Animal Science senior
Project: “Increasing the shelf life of ground beef using bacteriocin antimicrobials on beef trim to suppress the growth of spoilage organisms in ground beef.”

MARYLAND

Manchester
Brittany Lippy, Animal Science freshman
Project: “Molecular evolution of osmoregulation genes in desert and temperate-adapted animals.”

MASSACHUSSETS

Corinna
Hannah Paradis, Entomology junior
Project: “Immune boosting compounds as alternatives to antibiotics.”

MISSOURI

Carthage
Will Shaffer, Animal Science junior
Project: “Aquaporin gene expression in kidney for low vs. high water intake beef steers.”

Marthasville
Cassidy Ward, Plant and Soil Sciences sophomore
Project: “Testing of candidate gene function for developmental process in winter wheat.”

Rogersville
Carlee Luttrell, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology junior
Project: “The phosphorylation of INI-1 and its role in DNA and chromatin binding.”

TEXAS

Cedar Hill
Sydney Stewart, Animal Science senior
Project: “An antibiotic-free approach to disease control and prevention.”

Fort Worth
Jordan Fansler, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology senior
Project: “Spiroplasmas: evolution of a family of pan-pathogens.”

Plano
Cooper Morris, Biosystems Engineering freshman
Project: “Weather impacts on UAV flight availability for agricultural purposes in Oklahoma.”

White Deer
Zachary Bradley, Biosystems Engineering senior
Project: “Investigating layering effects on bioretention source and concentration.”

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REPORTER: Lindsay V. King

MEDIA CONTACT:
Melissa Mourer
Communications Coordinator
Agricultural Communications Services
144 Agriculture North
Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, OK 74078
Phone: 405-744-3737
Fax: 405-744-5739
Email: melissa.mourer@okstate.edu

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