One element of the UNH focus on experiential learning is faculty-mentored undergraduate research. Research is any serious, significant inquiry or investigation that makes an original, intellectual, or creative contribution to a branch of learning. This can include scientific, scholarly, or artistic activities. Research performed under this program is expected to be a major undertaking of time and effort by both student and faculty mentor, with a commitment of several semesters.

Principles into Practice

Students work with a selected faculty mentor through courses on independent study, laboratory research, and/or thesis. The research program concludes with an undergraduate thesis or major presentation as approved by the student’s research department. Undergraduate research provides an excellent structure for the interaction of a mentor with a student and an important opportunity to put into practice the principles of experiential education.

Testimonials

“Research is an opportunity to boldly go where no one has gone before. I have found that researching with students provides an opportunity to increase awareness of the importance of their classroom endeavors. Once students have participated in research in their area of interest, they appreciate what they are learning in the classroom all the more.”
Dr. Pauline Schwartz, Associate Professor, Chemistry

“Why are cooperative education and internship experience important? Simply put, they are a super value, adding experience to any major. Co-op education and internship experience help to solidify the academics by connecting theory to practice while broadening the student’s knowledge and sharpening his or her decision-making skills.”
Dr. Ali Montazer, Professor, Industrial Engineering

Jeremy Esposito and Kimberly Perrelli, Marine Biology. Faculty: Carmela Cuomo
“Aquaculture of Limulus polyphemus, a biomedically important organism: Captive Spawning and Larval Grow-Out”
The research project plans to develop a consistent and efficient system for inducing year-round successful spawning of Limulus adults in captivity. Secondly, the study focuses to develop key techniques and new technology to encourage the success of Limulus breeding . These techniques can then be published and made available for scientific and industry use to aid in the preservation and restoration of horseshoe crab populations world-wide. Thirdly, the study can develop a consistent and efficient system for grow-out of juvenile horseshoe crabs through the sixth instar.

Jessica Emerson, Visual Arts, and Brian Vogel, Graphic Design and Fine Arts. Faculty: Joe Smolinski
“From Virtual to Real: Exploration in Computer Aided Sculpture”
Following the Tree Turbine project (previously conducted) I would like to continue the research of computer-aided sculptural processes. Many processes currently exist that include CNC routing, laser cutting and stereo lithography. Most of these technologies of artists are currently working with this technology. The project aims to create a virtual sculpture and animation. Through this process I will teach them the methods of digitizing a hand drawing as the framework for a 3D model. They will lean different SD modeling techniques in software such as Cinema SD, Sketchup, and Auto CAD. They will also learn how to animate the model and add light, atmosphere and an environment to the scene.

Jaime Miller, Biotechnology. Faculty: Eva Sapi
“Microfilarial nematodes as potential tick-borne pathogens.”
The purpose of this study is to identify microfilarial nematodes (worms) as potential tick-borne human pathogens in the US. Tick-borne co-infection in Lyme disease patients are of mounting concern because they have been found to increase the severity and duration of acute illness. In the last decade, there were a number of efforts to identify potential co-infection in Lyme disease patients, with the goal of providing a rational for more specific treatments. Most investigators focused on identifying novel tick-borne bacteria, viruses and even fungi in ticks or patients with tick-borne human pathogens.

Katherine Carpenter, Nutrition/Dietics and Pre-Medical Studies. Faculty: Eva Sapi
“Establishment of an in vitro system of study Borrelia bugdorferi biofilm formation.”
The purpose of this study is to establish and study Borrelia burgdorferi biofilm formation and antimicrobial sensitivity in vitro. If one can prove that Borrelia bugdorferi is capable of forming biofilm, it will change the way we think about Lyme disease, especially in patients where it seems to be a persistent disease despite long term antibiotics treatment. The elucidation of the molecular mechanisms responsible for the switch from planctonic, free-living growth to a biofilm phenotype, and the development of antibiotic resistance, should provide novel therapeutic targets in chronic Lyme disease.

Brian Francisco, Mechanical Engineering. Faculty: Saion Sinha
“Unlocking the material sensing abilities of the Atomic Force Microscope at UNH”
The goal of this summer research fellowship is to achieve calibration of the material sensing ability of the Atomic Force Microscope in use at the University of New Haven. The purpose of this project will be to use the AFM to determine certain physical properties of a material being analyzed. Physical and material properties to be tested include Young’s Modulus of Elasticity, Bulk Modulus, surface hardness and surface roughness. When known materials are analyzed, the results of the testing can be saved and added to a database of recorded material properties. After enough of this ‘calibration’ with several different materials, the AFM should be able to tell the user what material is being analyzed.

Mike Cicero, Forensic Science and Biology Program. Faculty: Roman Zajac
“Development of Genetic Markers for Polydora cornuta (Annelida: Polychaeta) for Population Ecology Studies”
The objective of this research is to perform mitochondrial and nuclear DNA analyses to develop genetic markers for the Polydora cornuta that can be used to investigate patterns of genetic variations among and within populations in the New England region. This work will add to the little information that is available on the population genetics of polychaete annelids which are major components of coastal ecosystems. The work will provide tools to allow genetic differences among populations that are responsible for varying responses to disturbances and environmental conditions.

Courtney Jones, Biochemistry and Chemistry. Faculty: Charles Vigue
“Mutation detection: Pantothenate Kinase Associated Neurodegeneration.”
Pantothenate Kinase-associated neurodegeneration (PKAN) is a rare, neurological movement disorder that is characterized by the progressive degeneration of the nervous system. Symptoms vary and include distorting muscle spasms, progressive confusion and dementia. PKAN is an autosomal recessive disease that can result from a number of different mutations including missense, nonsense and deletion mutatino. PKAN is caused by mutation in the pantothenate kinase gene 2 (PANK2). Classical PKAN develops during childhood, usually within the first decade of life. Atypical PKAN develops during the second decade of life and these patients usually have an amino acid change associated with missense mutation. This study is conducted to identify the mutation in the student investigator’s family line and to sequence the DNA, which will be determined using ABI310capillary electrophoresis gene analyzer. If the mutation is identified, a test for the mutation in PKAN2 can be developed.

Julie Hull, Forensic Science and Biology Pre-Medical Studies. Faculty: Virginia Maxwell
“You are what and where you eat: An investigation of the link between environment and mineral composition in bone tissue.”
The proposed research involves the use of x-ray diffraction to analyze the mineral content of human bones. Previous studies have shown that a correlation exists between the geological mineral found in an individual’s bones and those found in the individual’s environment. The goal of this research is to establish a baseline of the typical mineral content found in the bones of humans recently residing in the state of Connecticut. Initial experimentation will include determining the best location from which to draw the bone sample along with the best sample conformation, intact or pulverized bone, to use for the study. Successful results would warrant further studies of bone samples from locations throughout the United States. A nation-wide, searchable database with bone mineral composition characteristics of distinct regions can then be built.

Pauline Schwartz, Alice Coppock, Computer Science. Faculty: Pauline Schwartz
“Computational chemistry of parrondo’s paradox.”
Parrondo’s paradox is a mathematical construction stating that alternation of two different losing games can produce a winning result not possible under steady-state or fixed conditions. Real-world applications of Parrondo’s paradox can be found in areas as diverse as economics and quantum physics. UNH students have already determined a set of specific chemical reactions that can produce about twice as much as either reaction alone. Simulating reaction conditions using an Excel program and a chemical modeling program called Kintecus can reduce hours of lab work in mere minutes. This study will utilize Kintecus, Excel and new mathematical and computer programming experience to determine the reaction rates, quantities and conditions needed to maximize a product’s accumulation. After ideal theoretical reaction conditions are determined, students will test the chemical reaction in the laboratory. Computer modeling of such reactions may lead to the development of new stochastic and deterministic chemical methods.

Daniel Osipovitch, Chemistry and Forensic Science. Faculty: Pauline Schwartz
“Optimization and validation of a computational model of two-temperature PCR.”
The computational models of chemical reactions inspired by Parrondo’s paradox suggest that for some reaction systems cycling reaction conditions might yield unexpected results. Thermal cycling, in particular may have useful but as yet generally unexplored applications in chemistry. In biochemical systems, thermal cycling is already commonly employed in the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). PCR is a procedure that replicates DNA. The purpose of the research is to optimize the model parameters and validate the model. PCR is one of the most valuable tools for cellular and molecular biology of DNA with applications in forensic science, biochemistry and genetics. A new and useful variation of the standard three-temperature PCR is two-temperature PCR which combines sensitivity with rapid thermal cycling. A better understanding of the characteristics of two-temperature PCR from a chemical kinetic approach is likely to make this procedure even more useful. A validated, quantitative model of two-temperature PCR will undoubtedly assist in design of laboratory procedures and assist in analysis of data.

Lea Pandiscia, Chemistry and Forensic Science. Faculty: Nancy Savage
“Electrochromic behavior of layered WO3-polypyrrole films.”
Electrochromic materials are compounds that change color upon application of a voltage. Smart windows are a popular application of electrochromic materials. Smart windows yse a type of glass that changes the amount of light and heat allowed to pass through when a voltage is applied. Studies of the electrochromic behavior of these material when they are combined is limited. The focus of this summer project is to prepare and characterize a new method of preparing WO3-polypyrrole electrochromic devices. Measurement of the electrochromic behavior of the composites will be conducted using spectroelectrochemistry. The project will take independent measures of the electrochromic behavior of WO3 and polypyrrole, measure the electrochromic behavior of WO3-polypyrrole composite films, characterize the composite films by X-Ray Diffreactions, Infrared Spectroscopy and UV-Vis Spectroscopy and compare the effects of three different polypyrrole analogs.

Kelli Sladdick, Forensic Science and Biochemistry. Faculty: Howard Harris
“Examination of cocaine base/cocaine hydrochloride mixtures”
Federal and most state drug laws provide for significant differences in length of sentences for sale or possession on “Crack” (cocaine base) and cocaine (cocaine hydrochloride). Because the most widely used methods of analyzing drugs, gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy is not useful for differentiating the two forms of cocaine, other techniques must be used to determine if a sample contains cocaine base, cocaine hydrochloride or a mixture of the two. This project proposes to use pure cocaine base and hydrochlodride to make mixtures of cocaine base and cocaine hydrochloride varying in percentage from only trace to about 50:50. These mixtures will be examined by both solvent extraction and Infrared spectroscopy to determine how effective each technique is at detecting relatively small amounts of each form in the other.

Western Zickefoose, Chemical Engineering. Faculty: David Harding
“Initiating bioengineering at UNH: The bioreactor demonstration project”
A bioreactor is a device for propagating living cells including bacteria, yeast and eukaryotic cells. A bioreactor is a bioengineering tool to study optimal conditions for cell growth and to obtain a large quantity of cells that may produce products useful to their biopharmaceutical or biotechnology properties. The BioFlo 110 unit is capable of growing bacteria, yeast or mammalian cells. For this demonstration project, oleaginous yeast will be grown following procedures outlined in the literature. This project will demonstrate our commitment to educating chemical engineers in the fundamentals of bioengineering by providing a prototype project using a bioreactor. Lipid production by the yeast could potentially be an important feedstock for biofuel production.

Brandon Bujnowski, Music and Sound Recording and Music Studies. Faculty: Bradley Woodworth
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Music on its own stimulates the brain, but how does it differ when presented in a film? Music sets the emotional tone of a film, and reciprocally, films provide the music with concrete content. Specifically, the rise of the music video as an element of pop culture is a perfect example of the association between perceptual content and emotion-related content. The aesthetic response or emotional connection to the combination of video and accompanying music is influence by many factors, including childhood memories, positive/negative stimuli, etc. This study is conducted to examine whether personal preference or memory triggering weighs more in determining human aural response to differing forms of film music. This issue has been studied my musicologists since the 1960s, but little is known about the neurological correlation between film and music.