Applications are now being taken for the 2012 summer research. Please read the following carefully.

Project Descriptions
SNU students are invited to apply for the 2012 Summer Research Program, which runs from May 14 to
June 22 (six weeks). A description of the research topics in each area is given below along with the respective research advisor(s).

Biochemistry – Drs. Carrie Bentley and Lisa Crow
Project Title: Designing an Enzyme Catalysis Lab using Problem-Based Learning Methods
Enzymes are biological catalysts that increase the rate of a reaction by lowering its activation energy. Several factors can affect the activity of an enzyme including temperature, pH, and enzyme or substrate concentration. In this project, researchers will design a Problem-Based Learning laboratory activity for a freshman biology class to investigate the relationship between these factors and enzyme activity. The activity will present the problem and allow students in the class to design their own experiment with the reagents and equipment provided. Therefore, the researchers will need to optimize the experiment so that students can successfully investigate the problem using the scientific method. Various enzymes, substrates, and methods will be investigated for the laboratory activity.

Mathematics – Dr. Nick Zoller
Project Title: Studying the Properties of a Board Game Using Markov Chains
The mathematics research group will study the children's board game Hi-Ho! Cherry O using probability and computer simulations. Hi-Ho! Cherry O is a relatively simple game in which players compete to see who will be the first to pick 10 cherries off of a cherry tree. On each turn, a player spins a spinner. As a result, the player may pick some cherries or lose some cherries. This board game has characteristics that make it possible to simulate game play using Markov chains, a mathematical tool from probability. Markov chains have been used to study Hi-Ho! Cherry O and similar board games. The mathematics research group will use Markov chains to study what happens to the average length of a game if the rules of Hi-Ho! Cherry O are altered in order to change the average length of a game. In addition, the research group will attempt to confirm these theoretical results using computer simulations of many completed games.

Biology/Environmental Science - Dr. Jeff Griffitts
Project Title: Soil Microbial Community Assessment Utilizing Lipid Biomarkers
My research involves the collection and analysis of soil samples to determine the microbial community composition of the soil. The microbial communities within the soil are important for nutrient cycling processes (nitrogen, carbon, etc.), which provide the necessary environment for a sustainable and healthy ecosystem. This information is highly valuable in areas of widespread deforestation and land remodeling. The research conducted at SNU during the summer of 2012 will be utilized in conjunction with projects ongoing at the Quetzal Education Research Center in Costa Rica. The issue being addressed in Costa Rica is what effect the widespread deforestation practices are having on the soil characteristics. Even if replanting and remediation is implemented by the Costa Rican government or the logging industry itself, often times the soil is either slow to respond to rehabilitation or it may never respond. As such, it is vital to begin characterizing the microbial communities present, which are responsible in large part for nutrient production, in the unique ecosystems found in Costa Rica.

Specifically, the methods utilized in the research conducted at SNU will be directly applicable for implementation in Costa Rica. This project is relatively new and thus procedures must be fine-tuned before use in the field. We will be removing soil samples from various field sites in the Bethany area for laboratory testing. The tests utilized will include basic soil characterization (type, pH, nitrate and potassium levels, etc.) in addition to lipid extraction and fatty acid analysis using gas chromatography and/or nuclear magnetic resonance. These techniques will allow the student to cultivate some basic research methodology and provide them with a unique research experience outside of the normal laboratory setting.

Physics/Astronomy – Dr. Mark Winslow
Project Title: All Things Astronomy
The physics groups will immerse themselves in astronomy this summer – both in learning, practice, and educational application. Student researchers will complete the online astronomy course (in an accelerated pace) and then apply their new learning to astrophotography and pedagogy. The group will take a five-day road/camping trip to experience the annular eclipse in near the Grand Canyon on May 20, 2012. Using a solar telescope to produce video footage and photographs, researchers will create tutorial videos for the SNU online astronomy course. Additionally, researchers will use photographs (supplied by Dr. Winslow in Hawaii) of the rare transit of Venus across the disc of the Sun on June 6 to create similar educational videos. There will be numerous opportunities to observe and photograph the night sky. Student researchers will also assist Dr. Winslow in creating additional tutorial videos and expanding the number of Stellarium (planetarium software) exercises for online astronomy. At the end of six weeks, student researchers will have developed a passion for astronomy that at the very least will engender a life-long enthusiasm and personal hobby.

Computer Science – Dr. Brent Eskridge
Project Title: Emergent Hierarchies of Leaders in Multi-Robot Systems
Note: Dr. Eskridge's project is funded by the NSF and he will be working with two students over the summer.  If there is additional interest from applicants, another student may be funded through the NASA Space Grant.

Research in the biological sciences has shown that groups of individuals with leaders that emerge by way of internal motivation, and not explicit communication, are able to adapt to changes in team membership in complex and dynamic environments. In these systems, leaders are thought of more as "initiators of action" rather than "managers" that direct other individuals. In this NSF-funded project, we will use these insights to design robots to promote emergent leadership with an end goal of improving cooperation and coordination in a team of robots. The research is highly disciplinary and already involves students with backgrounds in Computer Science and Biology.

For more information on the Dr. Eskridge's project, see the NSF website:
http://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward.do?AwardNumber=1124837

Summer Support and Stipend
Participants are eligible for free room in a SNU dorm facility. Each participant will receive $3,000 as a stipend for research. Payments will be made throughout the summer program and with final installment paid at the conclusion of the program. Participants are expected to commit to 40 hours of research a week as scheduled by the research adviser generally from 8 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday. If participants anticipate being gone for any reason during the program, they should make alternate arrangements with their research adviser for making up research. Participants are required to present the results of their research at a symposium at the end of the summer program. Additionally, participants must present to their peers and faculty during the regular Monday (or Friday) afternoon Math and Science research colloquia during the fall semester.

Application Requirements
Applicants must be SNU majors in math and science who are ready to complete their freshman or sophomore year in Spring 2012. Research participants must be U.S. citizens as stipulated by the NASA Oklahoma Space Grant Consortium. Participants are expected to be available Monday through Friday, 8 am – 5 pm for the entire six-week period from May 14 to noon of June 22. If applicants anticipate being absent for any reason – they should report the duration and reason for absence on the application form.

Each applicant must have three recommendations submitted – two of which come from SNU professors. Applicants should email those persons making the recommendations and provide the URL link (see below) for the online recommendation form. If a paper recommendation (rather than the online form) is needed, please contact Sherri Stipes, administrative assistant for the Math and Science Division, at sstipes@snu.edu.

Deadlines
Applicants must complete their online application forms and have all required documentation (recommendations, etc.) completed by Wednesday, March 28 (the Wednesday after spring break). If anything needs to be physically turned in, please give materials to Sherri Stipes, (office location provided below). Successful applicants will be notified by Friday, April 6 of their acceptance into the program. If you have questions, please contact Dr. Mark Winslow. Also, feel free to discuss your interests with any of the research advisors listed above.

Links

• Application: Please log in to your SNU Gmail account and apply online at this GoogleDocs application form.
• Recommendations: Recommendations can be completed two ways:
• If the person providing your recommendation is on campus and has a SNU Gmail account, go to the GoogleDocs recommendation form, and copy and paste the URL address into your email requests to professors, staff persons, etc.
• If the person providing your recommendation is off campus, please click here to download the recommendation form (pdf), and email the form to that person.

Sherri Stipes can be found in the Chemistry Office MWF mornings and TTh afternoons and is in the Biology Office on MWF afternoons and TTh mornings. Contact her at sstipes@snu.edu.