Biology Department — Summer Research Students — 2011

 1.  Seth Adrian (’12), Marion, SD                                             

• Project:  DNA Functionalization of Core-Shell Quantum Dots
• Mentor:  Dr. Barry Eichler
• Funding source:  Augustana Viste Fellowship & Abbott Labs

2.  Matt Amundson (’13), Sioux Falls, SD

• Project:  Synthesis of deuterated analogs of butylmethyl pyrrolidinium based ionic liquids
• Mentor:  Drs. Gary Earl and Duane Weishaar
• Funding source:  Augustana Chemistry Dept. and Abbott Labs

3.  Elliot Bloom (’11), Rapid City, SD

• Project:  The role of a thioredoxin protein system in Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia via redox sensitive pathways
• Mentor:  Dr. Peter Vitiello, Sanford Research
• Funding source:  SPUR

4.  Rebecka Bogue (’12), Beresford, SD

• Project:  Correlates of protective immunity against poxvirus infection.
• Location:  Univ CA, San Diego
• Funding source:  UCSD Summer Res. Program/Amgen

5.  Gates Cook (’11), Fremont, NE

•  Project:  Isolation of lipid droplets from livers of rats:  effect of ethanol administration on fat content and protein distribution.
• Funding source:  Nebraska Medical Ctr, Internal Medicine, Summer Undergraduate Research Program

6.  Jared Goplen ('13), Canby, MN

• Project: Development of Prairie Cordgrass as Biomass Feedstock
• Mentor: Dr. Jose Gonzalez, SDSU, Brookings, SD
• Funding Source:  South Dakota State University, REU in Bioenergy: Feedstocks, Bioprocessing and Environmental Sustainability

7.  Chelsie Gransee (’10), Sanborn, MN

• Project:  Immunohistochemical characterization of cocaine-induced changes to the corticotropin releasing factor system
• Mentor:  Dr. Pat Ronan, USD, Sanford SOM /Avera Research Inst/VA
• Funding source:  NIH BRIN

8.  Justin Grassmeyer (’11), Fremont, NE

• Project:  Univ. of Iowa, Medical Scientist Training Program

9.  Mercedes Hodges (’12), Welcome, MN

• Project:  Examining the effects of exogenous omega-3 fatty acids on platelet membranes and platelet function
• Mentor:  Dr. Mark Larson, Augustana
• Funding source:  NIH BRIN

10.  John Hokanson (’11), Cottonwood, MN

• Project:  Effects of polyunsaturated fats on blood vessel health
• Mentor:  Dr. Greg Shearer, Sanford Research
• Funding source:  NIH BRIN

11.  Rachel Hurley (’11), Canton, SD

• Project:   PAX8/PPARy fusion protein demonstrates potential therapeutic efficacy in non-follicular thyroid cancers.
• Funding source:  Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, Mayo Clinic

12.  Brian Juber (’11), Worthington, MN

• Project: Characterizing the mechanisms used to repair ultraviolet light-induced DNA damage in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii
• Mentor:  Dr. Jason Petersen, USD, Sanford SOM/Avera Research Inst/VA
• Funding source:  NIH BRIN

13.  Marissa Kern (’11), Porter, MN

• Project:  Development of a mutagenesis system for human dental plaque bacteria.  
• Mentor:  Dr. John Cisar, NIH, Bethesda, MD, Natl. Inst. of Dental & Craniofacial Research

14.  Laura Leckband (’11), Ocheyedan, IA

• Project:  Identifying protein signaling processes causing development of the cerebral cortex with focus on the MARCKs protein and the Par3/Par6/aPKCz signaling complex
• Mentor:  Dr. Jill Weimer, Sanford Research
• Funding source:  SPUR

15.  Cody Lensing (’12), Mounds View, MN

• Project:  Synthesis and evaluation of electron-withdrawing aryl isothiocyanates.,
• Mentor:  Dr. Jared Mays, Augustana
• Funding source:  SPUR

16.  Luke Lynass (’12), Sturgis, SD 

• Project:  Prairie restoration and sumac control in Newton Hills State Park
• Mentor:  Dr. Craig Spencer, Augustana, Biol. Dept.

17.  Paul Mallory (’12), Fairmont, MN

• Project:  Characterization of oral bacterial communities
• Mentor:  Dr. Paul Egland, Augustana
• Funding source:  NIH BRIN

18.  Jackie Miles (’12), Tea, SD

• Project:  Examination of the functions of MUC16 and SUSD2 as metastatic proteins in epithelial ovarian cancer.
• Mentor:  Dr. Jennifer Gubbels, Augustana
• Funding source:  NIH BRIN

19.  Megan Overlander (’10), Circle Pines, MN

• Location:  Univ. of Minnesota, Research Associate

20.  Dane Rasmussen (’13), Aberdeen, SD

• Project:  Characterization of oral bacterial communities.
• Mentor:  Dr. Paul Egland, Augustana
• Funding source:  NIH BRIN

21.  Rachel Reynen (’11), Aberdeen, SD

• Project:  Characterizing the renal NMDA NR3 receptors in the developing kidneys of rats           
• Mentor:  Dr. Karen Munger, USD, Sanford SOM/Avera Research Inst/VA
• Funding source:  NIH BRIN

22.  Natalie Ronning (’11), Rapid City, SD

• Project:  Effect of stem flexing on xylem vessel size in two contrasting Phaseolus vulgaris cultivars
• Mentor:  Dr. Steven Matzner, Augustana
• Funding source:  USDA, ARAF

23.  Kristina Roth (’12), Sioux Falls, SD

• Project:  Examination of the functions of MUC16 and SUSD2 as metastatic proteins in epithelial ovarian cancer 
• Mentor:  Dr. Jennifer Gubbels, Augustana
• Funding source:  NIH BRIN

24.  Heidi Senst (’11), Aberdeen, SD

• Project:  Identifying whether transcription factor Rgg directly regulates expression of Emm49 and Sfbx49
• Mentor:  Dr. Michael Chaussee, USD, Sanford SOM, Vermillion
• Funding source:  NIH BRIN

25.  Jared Soundy (’12), Sioux Falls, SD

• Project:   Harvard-MIT, Div of Health Sci & Tech, BIG Summer Institute

26.  Kyle Tamminga (’11), Rochester, MN

• Project:  Characterization of the membrane protein, SUSD2, in breast tumorigenesis
• Mentor:  Dr. Kristi Egland, Sanford Research
• Funding source:  NIH BRIN

27.  Ashley Weber (’12), Cold Spring, MN

• Project:  Detection of autoantibodies against tumor proteins in the blood of patients as a means for early detection of breast cancer
• Mentor:  Dr. Kristi Egland, Sanford Research
• Funding source:  SPUR

 28.  Kelly Wong (’13), Custer, SD

• Project:  Developing cucurbitacins as a cure for type 2 diabetes
• Mentor:  Dr. Fathi Halaweish, SDSU, Brookings, SD
• Funding source:  NIH BRIN