Student Research Projects 2009-10

 

Fall 2009

Nur Suhada Abu Baakar
Introduction of Novel Disease Resistance in Maize
Faculty Adviser: Dr. Sureinder Chopra
Department:  Crop and Soil Sciences

 

Krystal Bealing
Effects of Temperature ad Wetting Frequency on Soil Microbial Processes
Faculty Adviser: Dr. Jason Kaye
Department:  Crop and Soil Sciences

 

Karen Bingham
Comparison of Asian Longhorned Beetle Gut Microbial Community Structure and Larval Development on Susceptible and Resistant Hosts
Faculty Adviser: Dr. Kelli Hoover
Department:  Entomology

 

Jennifer Blackman
Jatropha into an Oil Making Machine
Faculty Adviser: Dr. Mark Guiltinan
Department:  Horticulture

 

Ayla R. Detwiler
Perceptions of Characteristics of Effective Beginning Secondary Agricultural Teachers
Faculty Adviser: Dr. Daniel Foster and Dr. John Ewing
Department:  Agricultural and Extension Education

 

Elizabeth Ebert-Zavos
The Circadian Regulstion of Bone Physiology via Serotonergic Activity
Faculty Adviser: Dr. Paul Bartell
Department:  Poultry Science

 

Fred Gouker
Characterization of SSR Microsatellite Markers for Genotyping Jatropha curacas through Polyarcylamide Gel Electrophoresis
Faculty Adviser: Dr. Mark Guiltinan
Department:  Horticulture

 

Melissa Handler
Circadian Clock Regulation of Hormonal Effects on Bone Physiology
Faculty Adviser: Dr. Paul Bartell
Department:  Poultry Science

 

Marisa Kenzakoski
Development of Efficient Agrobacterium-Mediated Genetic Transformation Protocol for Jatropha curcas, a Potential Feedstock for Production of Biodiesel
Faculty Adviser: Dr. Mark Guiltinan
Department:  Horticulture

 

Jessica Verpeut
Regulation of Migratory Rhythms by Fat Reserves
Faculty Adviser: Dr. Paul Bartell
Department:  Poultry Science

 

Nur Sabrina Wahid
Regeneration of Somatic Embryos of Theobroma Cacao L. in Bioreactors and Effect of Tissue Explant Type and Age on Embryos Production
Faculty Adviser: Dr. Siela Maximova
Department:  Horticulture

 

STUDENT RESEARCH PROJECTS 2008-09

 

Elyze Amico
Role of GDF15 in Erythroid Short Term Radioprotection
Faculty Adviser: Dr. Robert Paulson
Department:  Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences 

 

Shoba Belegundu
Faculty Adviser: Dr. Anne Andrews
Department:  Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences

 

Patrick Buckley
Feedback of Ovulation-Related Hormones on Circadian Rhythms in Coturnix Japonica
Faculty Adviser: Dr. Paul Bartell
Department:  Poultry Science 

 

Justin Ferri
Analysis of GDF9 During Avian Follicular Development
Faculty Adviser: Dr. Francisco Diaz
Department:  Poultry Science 

 

Matthew Gardner
The Effects of Apoptosis During Baculovirus of Lymantria
Faculty Adviser:  Dr. Kelli Hoover
Department:  Entomology

 

Kim Gilmore
Hormonal Regulation of Anti-Viral Defenses in Gypsy Moth
Faculty Adviser:  Dr. Kelli Hoover
Department:  Entomology

 

Alexandra Lewis
Faculty Adviser:  Dr. Anne Andrews
Department:  Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences

 

John McGuigan
Assessing the Specificity of Mycorrhizal Colonization Among Co-Existing Forest Trees
Faculty Adviser:  Dr. Louis Comas
Department:  Horticulture

 

Melissa Nau
Veterinary Diagnostician
Faculty Adviser:  Dr. Jason Brooks
Department:  Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences

 

Kelly Over
State FFA Officer Research Project: Levels of Participation and Efficiency
Faculty Adviser:  Dr. John Ewing
Department:  Agricultural and Extension Education

 

Brooke Osbourne
Serotonin & Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor in Depression & Anxiety Disorders
Faculty Adviser:  Dr. Anne Andrews
Department:  Agricultural and Extension Education

 

Laura Penny
Role of GDF15 in Friend Virus Induced Erythroleukemia
Faculty Adviser:  Dr. Robert Paulson
Department:  Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences

 

Carol Petermann
Effects of Oocyte Factors on Preantral Granulosa Cells
Faculty Adviser:  Dr. Francisco Diaz
Department:  Environmental Soil Science

 

Nikki Ross
Effects of Optigen II on Milk Production & Components in High Producing Dairy Cows
Faculty Adviser:  Dr. Gabriella Varga
Department:  Dairy and Animal Sciences

 

Audrey Russin
Circadian Clocks & Migratory Orientation in the White-Throated Sparrow
Faculty Adviser:  Dr. Paul Bartell
Department:  Poultry Science

 

Kurt Smay
Mechanized Christmas Tree Harvester
Faculty Adviser:  Dr. James Hilson
Department:  Biological Engineering

 

Erica Stuber (Fall '08)
Identification & Quantification of Cocaine- & Amphetamine-Related Transcript (CART) in Chicken
Faculty Adviser:  Dr. Paul Bartell
Department:  Poultry Science

 

Erica Stuber (Spring '09)
Pineal Control of Migratory Behavior in White-throated Sparrows
Faculty Adviser:  Dr. Paul Bartell
Department:  Wildlife and Fisheries Science

 

Jimmy Truong
Production of Ethanol from Sugar Beets
Faculty Adviser:  Dr. Ali Demirci
Department:  Biological Engineering

 

 

 

STUDENT RESEARCH PROJECTS 2007-08

 
Alexa Bell
Characterization of ID4 expression in Spermatogenesis and Spermatogonial Stem Cells
Faculty Adviser: Dr. John Oatley
Department: Dairy and Animal Science  

 

Patrick Buckley
Circadian Control of Egg Laying Rhythms in Japanese Quail
Faculty Adviser: Dr. Paul A. Bartell
Department: Poultry Science

 

Bethany Carlisle
Plasticity of plant roots in response to the presence of ectomycorrhizal fungi
Faculty Adviser: Dr. Louise Comas
Department: Horticulture

 

Amanda Casper
Nutrient composition of milk and colostrum from different horse breeds
Faulty Adviser: Dr. Burt Staniar
Department: Dairy and Animal Science

 

Aaron Covalt
Grassland bird competition in a novel habitat
Faculty Adviser: Dr. Brian Olsen
Department: School of Forest Resources

 

Lauren Ellis
Apoptotic Resistance in Gypsy Moths
Faculty Adviser: Dr. Diana Cox-Foster
Department: Entomology

 

Matthew Gardner
Identifying the Behavioral Modifying Gene in Genetically Modified Baculovirus
Faculty Adviser: Dr. Kelli Hoover
Department: Entomology

 

Melissa May
An Enzymatic Assay of Algal Nutrient Status in PA Streams
Faculty Adviser: Dr. Hunter Carrick
Department: Limnology

 

Melissa Mazurkewicz
Using Plants to Reduce Indoor Air Pollution
Faculty Adviser: Dr. Dennis R. Decoteau
Department: Horticulture

 

Erin Nowelsky
Overexpression of recombinant MX2 protein in bacterial cells
Faculty Adviser: Dr. Troy Ott
Department: Dairy and Animal Sciences

 

Christine Olarte
Acoustic behavior of Asian small-clawed otters in response to noise
Faculty Adviser: Dr. Susan Parks
Department: School of Forest Resources/Applied Research Laboratory

 

Karen Pongrance
Investigation of the Constitutive Chemical Defense in the Chinese White Poplar on the Asian Longhorned Beetle
Faculty Adviser: Dr. Kelli Hoover
Department: Entomology

 

Isabel Ramos
Survey of Microbial Communities Associated with Wood Feeding Insects
Faculty Adviser: Dr. Kelli Hoover
Department: Entomology

 

Thomas Ruffing
MAPP in Isocyanate-Bonded Oriented Strand Board
Faculty Adviser: Dr. Nicole R. Brown
Department: School of Forest Resources

 

Audrey Russin
The Circadian Control of Migration in the White-throated Sparrow
Faculty Adviser: Dr. Paul A. Bartell
Department: Poultry Science

 

Heather Szalkowski
The effect of breeding female behavior on nest success
Faculty Adviser: Dr. Brian Olsen
Department: School of Forest Resources

 

Sarah Terrill
Effects of Prebiotic Supplement on Fecal IgA Levels in Neonatal Dairy Calves
Faculty Adviser: Dr. Jud Heinrichs
Department: Dairy and Animal Sciences

 

John Tsirigotis
Biodiesel from Waste Oil
Faculty Adviser: Dr. Nicole R. Brown
Department: School of Forest Resources

 

Saraswati Verma
Anatomy of Plant Roots and Its Relationship with Mycorrhizal Symbiosis
Faculty Adviser: Dr. Louise Comas
Department: Horticulture

 

Laura Weir
Evaluation of YES, a soy-based medium for enumeration of Bifidobacteria in yogurt
Faculty Adviser: Dr. Robert Roberts
Department: Food Science