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Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics Talent Expansion Program
The Next STEP
Research Projects Available for Summer 2006

Over twenty research projects are available on the Truman campus for students to select from for summer 2006. The projects and faculty mentors are summarized in the table below in disciplinary and interdisciplinary categories. For detailed descriptions about the projects along with information about the mentor, please click on the project title or mentor name.

Agricultural Science

Title Mentor(s)
Evaluation of low carbohydrate/resistance starch maize genotypes for specialty food applications Dr. Mark Campbell
Use of near-infrared spectra in monitoring the presence of low phytate, high lysine synthetic maize populations Dr. Mark Campbell
Utilization of molecular markers to identify quantitative trait loci conditioning high starch amylose Dr. Mark Campbell
Utilization of crop biodiversity to alter structural and functional properties of maize starch Dr. Mark Campbell
Exploration of Differential Response to Methylphenidate (Ritalin): Nature or Nurture? Dr. John Rutter
Lactation and growth in grazing cow/calf pairs fed Diamond V yeast Dr. Glenn Wehner

Biology

Title Mentor(s)
Synthesis of Porphyrins and Phthalocyanins Dr. Dawood Afzal
Home Range Size of the Bobcat (Lynx rufus) in Missouri Dr. Scott Burt
Spatial scale and diversity in small mammals and their ectoparasites Dr. Scott Burt
Evaluation of low carbohydrate/resistance starch maize genotypes for specialty food applications Dr. Mark Campbell
Use of near-infrared spectra in monitoring the presence of low phytate, high lysine synthetic maize populations Dr. Mark Campbell
Utilization of molecular markers to identify quantitative trait loci conditioning high starch amylose Dr. Mark Campbell
Utilization of crop biodiversity to alter structural and functional properties of maize starch Dr. Mark Campbell
Surviving the flood : Plastron respiration in ticks Dr. Laura Fielden, Dr. Phil Ryan
The effects of antibiotics on the feeding efficiency of ticks Dr. Laura Fielden
Spatial scale and diversity in host-parasite systems Dr. Laura Fielden
Spatial scale and diversity in host parasite systems Dr. Stephanie Fore
The maternal effects on seeds and seedlings of forest trees Dr. Stephanie Fore
Patterns of speciation in the katydid (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) genera Scudderia and Microcentrum: A phylogenetic approach Dr. Jon Gering
Floristics surveys in northern Missouri Dr. Elisabeth Hooper
Preparing a Field Guide to a Local State Parks and/or Conservation areas Dr. Elisabeth Hooper
Taxonomic Investigation into the Flora of Missouri Dr. Elisabeth Hooper
The use of liquid crystal based devices in orbital spaceships Dr. Liubov Kreminska
E. coli bacteriophages Dr. Michael Lockhart
Fecal contamination of local bodies of water Dr. Michael Lockhart
Image Analytic and graph theoretic analysis of vascular networks formed in vitro Dr. Jason Miller
Quantitative Identification of Missouri Bat via Acoustic Surveys Dr. Jason Miller, Dr. Scott Burt
Aerodynamic Features of Saccate Pollen: Evolutionary Implications for Wind-pollinated Plants Dr. Jeffrey Osborn, Dr. Scott Thatcher
Pollen Development in Ancient Flowering Plants, the Water Lilies Dr. Jeffrey Osborn
Historical Examples in Science Education Dr. Peter Ramberg
Independent Research in History of Science Dr. Peter Ramberg
Exploration of Differential Response to Methylphenidate (Ritalin): Nature or Nurture? Dr. John Rutter
Lactation and growth in grazing cow/calf pairs fed Diamond V yeast Dr. Glenn Wehner
Researching, Developing, and Assessing Curriculum Materials for Active Learning in Introductory Biology Dr. Anton Weisstein
Phylogenetic Trees Dr. Anton Weisstein, Dr. Pam Ryan

Chemistry

Title Mentor(s)
Nano Synthesis and Nano Technology Dr. Dawood Afzal
Synthesis of Porphyrins and Phthalocyanins Dr. Dawood Afzal
Solid State Layered Materials Dr. Dawood Afzal
The Crystal and 3-Dimensional Molecular Structures of Compounds as Determined by X-Ray Diffraction Dr. Russell Baughman
Utilization of crop biodiversity to alter structural and functional properties of maize starch Dr. Mark Campbell
Evaluation of low carbohydrate/resistance starch maize genotypes for specialty food applications Dr. Mark Campbell
Use of near-infrared spectra in monitoring the presence of low phytate, high lysine synthetic maize populations Dr. Mark Campbell
Utilization of molecular markers to identify quantitative trait loci conditioning high starch amylose Dr. Mark Campbell
Lead Distribution and Speciation in Plants Dr. Barbara Kramer, Dr. James McCormick
Developing analytical methods to determine the fate of organic contaminants in soil Dr. Barbara Kramer
Soil Phytoremediation Dr. Barbara Kramer
The use of liquid crystal based devices in orbital spaceships Dr. Liubov Kreminska
Identification and Quantification of Sugars in Complex Biological Matrices Dr. Brian Lamp
Thinking Small: Building Sensor Interfaces by Controlling Chemistry in Small Dimensions Dr. Brian Lamp
Effect of Ligand Topology on the Structure of Lead Coordination Complexes Dr. James McCormick
The Reactivity of Transition Metal Complexes with Ozone Dr. James McCormick
Lead Biochemistry Dr. James McCormick
Computational Simulations of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Rev-RRE Complex Dr. Maria Nagan
Synthesis of Oxygen Carriers Dr. John O'Brien
Neutralization of Chemical Warfare Agents and Related Compounds Dr. Eric Patterson
Historical Examples in Science Education Dr. Peter Ramberg
Independent Research in History of Science Dr. Peter Ramberg
Exploration of Differential Response to Methylphenidate (Ritalin): Nature or Nurture? Dr. John Rutter
Techniques and Tools to Enhance Blind and Visually Impaired Students’ Participation in High School Level and General Chemistry Laboratory Classes Dr. David Wohlers

Computer Science

Title Mentor(s)
The Cutting Edge: Models of Mowing Dr. Jon Beck
Testing of the limits of application of the Fourier analysis to the laser beam propagation in optical systems. Dr. Liubov Kreminska
Quantitative Identification of Missouri Bat via Acoustic Surveys Dr. Jason Miller, Dr. Scott Burt
Image Analytic and graph theoretic analysis of vascular networks formed in vitro Dr. Jason Miller
Phylogenetic Trees Dr. Anton Weisstein, Dr. Pam Ryan

Interdisciplinary

Title Mentor(s)
Nano Synthesis and Nano Technology Dr. Dawood Afzal
Synthesis of Porphyrins and Phthalocyanins Dr. Dawood Afzal
Solid State Layered Materials Dr. Dawood Afzal
How Mathematics Anxiety Affects Mathematics Performance Dr. Scott Alberts
Surviving the flood : Plastron respiration in ticks Dr. Laura Fielden, Dr. Phil Ryan
Testing of the limits of application of the Fourier analysis to the laser beam propagation in optical systems. Dr. Liubov Kreminska
The use of liquid crystal based devices in orbital spaceships Dr. Liubov Kreminska
Quantitative Identification of Missouri Bat via Acoustic Surveys Dr. Jason Miller, Dr. Scott Burt
Image Analytic and graph theoretic analysis of vascular networks formed in vitro Dr. Jason Miller
Aerodynamic Features of Saccate Pollen: Evolutionary Implications for Wind-pollinated Plants Dr. Jeffrey Osborn, Dr. Scott Thatcher
Historical Examples in Science Education Dr. Peter Ramberg
Independent Research in History of Science Dr. Peter Ramberg
Phylogenetic Trees Dr. Anton Weisstein, Dr. Pam Ryan

Mathematics

Title Mentor(s)
How Mathematics Anxiety Affects Mathematics Performance Dr. Scott Alberts
Surviving the flood : Plastron respiration in ticks Dr. Laura Fielden, Dr. Phil Ryan
Integer Sequences Dr. David Garth
Image Analytic and graph theoretic analysis of vascular networks formed in vitro Dr. Jason Miller
Quantitative Identification of Missouri Bat via Acoustic Surveys Dr. Jason Miller, Dr. Scott Burt
Aerodynamic Features of Saccate Pollen: Evolutionary Implications for Wind-pollinated Plants Dr. Jeffrey Osborn, Dr. Scott Thatcher
Boolean Algebras with Operators Dr. Pam Ryan
Phylogenetic Trees Dr. Anton Weisstein, Dr. Pam Ryan

Physics

Title Mentor(s)
Nano Synthesis and Nano Technology Dr. Dawood Afzal
Variable Temperature Pressure Broadening of Molecules Dr. Matthew Beaky
A New Technique for Determining Molecular Energy Transfer Rate Coefficients Dr. Matthew Beaky
Waveguide Photonic Crystals Dr. Matthew Beaky
Photoelectric Photometry of Variable Stars Dr. Matthew Beaky
Testing of the limits of application of the Fourier analysis to the laser beam propagation in optical systems. Dr. Liubov Kreminska
The use of liquid crystal based devices in orbital spaceships Dr. Liubov Kreminska
Historical Examples in Science Education Dr. Peter Ramberg
Independent Research in History of Science Dr. Peter Ramberg





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