CUGR Announces Summer MSGC Research Experience Awardees
The University of Maine’s Center for Undergraduate Research (CUGR)is pleased to announce Summer 2024 MSGC Research Experience Award winners.
The 2024 Summer MSGC Undergraduate Research Experience awards help provide research opportunities to undergraduate students in aerospace technology, space science, human exploration and space development, Earth science and other science- or engineering-related fields. The focus of proposed projects funded by the fellowships must be aligned with the research priorities of NASA’s Earth and space science strategic enterprises. Selected projects are awarded up to $4,000 each.
This year’s recipients are:
- Amelia Buxton, Biomedical Engineering, “Investigation of Silicone Oil Infusion Dynamics in Urinary Catheters for Developing Antibiotic-Free, Anti-Infection Strategies,” advised by Caitlin Howell
- Alexis Campbell, Chemistry, “Peptoid Nanosheets for Molecular Recognition,” advised by Tomas Marangoni
- Reg Clark, Forestry, “Quantifying Carbon Storage in Maine’s Coastal Spruce Forests,” advised by Shawn Fraver
- Adam Dugre, Engineering Physics, “Synthesis of Atomically Precise Graphene Nanoribbons Using a Custom Build Reactor,” advised by Tomas Marangoni
- Wyatt Fessler, Biomedical Engineering, “Design and Validation of a Reusable Microdroplet Generator for Low-Resource or Remote Settings,” advised by Caitlin Howell
- Kirin Guay, Microbiology, “Identification of Key Genes for the Activation of the Mitochondrial Unfolded Protein Response (UPRmt),” advised by Suzanne Angeli
- Niall Gushue, Chemistry and Physics, “Characterization of Photocatalysts By Analysis of Methanol Production,” advised by Brian Frederick
- Jensen Kroll, Ecology and Environmental Science, “Testing Calcium Levels and Skeletal Weight of Stylophora pistillata at Lowering pH Levels,” advised by Ian Bricknell
- Emma Kunesh, Biomedical Engineering, “Integrating 3D Printing and Bio-Inspired Materials for Advanced Ballistic Armor,” advised by Caitlin Howell
- Robert Landry, Finance and Accounting, “What Factors Determine the Returns of Futures Traders?,” advised by Sebastian Lobe
- Parker Landsbergen, Biochemistry, “Role of Wild Blueberry Phenolics on Wound Healing,” advised by Dorothy Klimis-Zacas
- Ariel Larrabee, Biomedical Engineering, “Organizing Diatoms on Surfaces to Improve Solar Panel Efficiency,” advised by Caitlin Howell
- Jack Mason, Biomedical Engineering, “Characterization of Diffusion Properties in Cellulose Based Hydrogels for Drug Delivery,” advised by Sarah Turner
- Graham McLaughlin, Chemistry, “A Novel Method for Field Determination of BTEX in Water Samples,” advised by Carl Tripp
- Brigid Mrenna, Ecology and Environmental Science, “How Drought Tolerance Traits Relate to Tree Growth and Survival in the Northeastern US,” advised by Jay Wason III
- Mimi Orio, English and Psychology, “Haptic Feedback Study,” advised by Babak Hejrati
- Sydney Sheehan, Biomedical Engineering, “Exploration of Audible Sound, Time-Delay Spectroscopy for Assessing Bone Health,” advised by Michael Mason
- Matthew Town, Physics, “Emergent Magnetic Behavior In Artificial Spin Ice Structures,” advised by Nicholas Bingham