- University News Archive - ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

Applications for Signature Experience Grants open until Oct. 31

Ajani Oyindamola — Tue, 01 Oct 2019 16:08:44 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock will accept applications for the university’s Signature Experience Program until Oct. 31 to encourage and support students in the development of high-impact research or creative projects mentored by a faculty member through the 2019-20 academic year. Applications must be submitted by midnight Oct. 31. The first round of grant applications will be reviewed beginning Oct. 15, so early applications are encouraged. The Signature Experience Grant program was created in 2017 to provide students up to $1,000 to fund a signature experience, such as a research project, creative activity, or community project to enrich students’ academic experience at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. Past projects have ranged across disciplines and included a review of tenant-landlord laws in Arkansas, a study of coral reef disease in the Bahamas, an analysis of gold nanoparticles for growing neural cells, an examination of cross-dressing on Shakespeare’s stage, and the entrepreneurial design and development of a transparent fishing box. “This year, there will be several important changes aimed at formalizing the Signature Experience Program to support high-level research and creative work, as well as retention and recruitment initiatives,” said Dr. Jeremy Ecke, director of the Signature Experience Program. “As the Signature Experience Program matures, we hope to offer more research and creative support to students through workshops, speakers, and luncheons that will build a culture of collaboration between faculty and students at various levels of their academic careers.”�� This year, a subset of awards will be set aside for freshmen, sophomores, and students who transferred to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock during the 2019-20 academic year. “The grant gives new ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students the opportunity to develop a research project with a mentor and gain a better understanding of a given discipline and its methodologies,” Ecke said. “If new students work with a mentor and conduct research early on in their college careers, they are more likely to stay in school. They are far more likely to be engaged as an active member of the academic community and to identify with their majors.”�� For the first time, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock will also offer a set amount of grants for graduate students.�� “This funding will prioritize graduate students whose research projects are unlikely to move forward without a source of funding,” Ecke said. “These grants open up more research opportunities for our graduate students and give them the chance to conduct more competitive research projects in areas that are not as highly grant funded.” To be eligible for application, students must have a minimum 2.5 grade point average and a ��Vlog��ý Little Rock faculty member to mentor their project. They also must present their project during the 2020 Student Research and Creative Works Showcase in April 2020. Applications can be filled out at this link. Examples of abstracts, budgets, biographies, and past Research Expo programs are also available on the Signature Experience website.�� For more information, contact Dr. Jeremy Ecke at jsecke@ualr.edu or 501-569-3475.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock accepting applications for expanded Student Research and Creative Works Expo

Ajani Oyindamola — Fri, 15 Feb 2019 18:03:13 +0000

Registration is open, and applications are being accepted for the expanded Student Research and Creative Works Showcase on Thursday, April 18.�� The 2019 Student Research and Creative Works Expo will be part of a campus-wide research event, “Research and Creativity in the Rock,” that will include the College of Social Sciences and Communication Research Showcase as well open houses at the College of Engineering and Information Technology, College of Arts, Letters, and Sciences, and College of Education and Health Professions. This year’s showcase will be in the Jack Stephens Center from noon to 3 p.m. All currently registered ��Vlog��ý Little Rock graduate and undergraduate students are eligible to present their research or creative work as posters, exhibits, installations, performances, or oral presentations individually or as a group. Students may register their project for inclusion in the 2019 showcase here. Priority registration is March 8.��Students who submit a finalized poster by this date will have their printing costs covered through the Office of the Vice Provost for Research. Once their proposal has been approved by the SRCW committee for presentation at the Expo, students will receive instructions for submission of the electronic copy of their poster. This event is an opportunity for students to showcase their research and creative efforts. Students can submit their project to one of 13 categories: computer science/information science, creative work, economics, education, engineering, health science, humanities, interdisciplinary, life science, physical science, service work/professional application, social science, and social work. Applicable submissions include, but are not limited to, theses and dissertations, honors and capstone projects, independent study projects, and course-related work. Questions or comments should be directed to the Student Research and Creative Works Committee Co-chairs Elizabeth Ann Lee at ealee@ualr.edu or Larry Smith at ldsmith11@ualr.edu. In the upper right photo, applied science doctoral students, from left, Diamond McGehee, Zoya Faruqui, Kamal Pandey and Sudha Shanmugam, with Dr. Mariya Khodakovskaya, right, are researching the heat tolerance of rice. Photo by Benjamin Krain.

Campus living provides home away from home for international student

Janea Snyder — Thu, 15 Nov 2018 12:52:28 +0000

Het Adhvaryu, a senior biology major and chemistry minor, is a long way from his native India, but over the past three years, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock has become his second home. For the past three years, he has been an International Student Services Ambassador, and he is president of the International Club, a student organization for international students. �� As a senior, he’s now focused on finishing his final year with a high GPA and getting his research published, both of which he needs for admission into a Ph.D. program. Having attended an international boarding school in India for much of his childhood, Adhvaryu was already fluent in English, Hindi, Gujarati and several other regional dialects spoken in India. The most difficult aspect of being an international student, he said, was understanding the culture. “I’ve tried to embrace the culture here and blend it with what I grew up with,” he said. Living on campus helped him meet other students. He also participates in International Friendship Outreach, a group that that meets regularly to have fun while practicing their English. The group has taken hiking and canoeing trips, enjoyed barbecues, and experienced Thanksgiving dinner with local families. “It is good for widening your social circle and meeting people,” he said. Adhvaryu wanted to attend college in the U.S., and he has family in Arkansas. After researching the state’s colleges and universities, he chose ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. The No. 1 selling point: the quality of the science faculty. Adhvaryu, who wants to be a researcher and immunologist, knew he wanted to be involved in research as soon as possible. “When you are a science major, what matters most are the people you work with,” he said. Dr. Nawab Ali, associate professor of biology, soon became his mentor. “When I came here, my first semester was a bit slow trying to figure things out and settling in,” he said. “By second semester, I went to all my biology professors in the department and showed them what I had done in high school. I asked if I could work in the lab, and Dr. Ali said, ‘Of course, you can work in my lab.’” Adhvaryu has worked on projects related to cellular apoptosis. ��He’s also figured out that his research interests lie primarily in the field of immunology. “That is the area where I have skills and knowledge through which I can most efficiently help the world and make a difference,” he said. Top right photo:��Het Adhvaryu, a��biology major and chemistry minor, is involved in research on campus and plans to work in the field of immunology. Above left: Het Adhvaryu, an international student from India, serves as president of the International Club and works to help other international students feel at home. Photos by Benjamin Krain��

��Vlog��ý Little Rock awards $100,000 to students for research, creative works

Janea Snyder — Wed, 14 Nov 2018 16:19:24 +0000

More than 100 undergraduates at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock will receive $1,000 grants to conduct original research, creative works, and community service projects this year as part of the university’s Signature Experience Award Program. Award winners will complete their signature experiences by the end of the 2019 spring semester and present their work at the 2019 Undergraduate Research and Creative Works Showcase on April 18. Students can use their grants to pay expenses related to their projects, which are designed to contribute to their academic development. This year, 144 students applied for the grants, representing an 82 percent increase in applications over last year, said Dr. Jeremy Ecke, chair of the Department of English and director of the Signature Experience program. Of the 144 applicants, 112 student projects received funding, and an additional 20 unfunded applications were recognized as Honorary Signature Experience projects and applicants were invited to present at the April showcase. To receive an award, undergraduate students must have a minimum 2.5 grade point average and have a faculty member to mentor the project. “The growth of the Signature Experience over the past two years reflects the serious engagement of our students and faculty in the support and development of undergraduate research and creative endeavors,” Ecke said. “The Signature Experience is a direct embodiment of the university’s five strategic goals: it directs resources toward student success, research, and creative endeavors while fostering community engagement and promoting projects that support diversity and global citizenship.” This year’s applicants come from all of the university’s colleges and reflect a diverse range of topics. Students are researching topics ranging from breast cancer and traumatic brain injury to soil composition in the Little Rock Zoo, bank erosion in Coleman Creek, adaptation of Micronesian immigrants, and culturally based responses to homelessness in French and U.S. cities. Chancellor Andrew Rogerson announced the program in 2017 to inspire students to conduct original research and creative projects with guidance of faculty mentors. Last year, 79 students received awards. Congratulations to the following students: College of Arts, Letters and Sciences

Luke Johnson, biology, mentored by John M. Bush. “Phages in different types of water and their effects”
Kimberly Maurer, English, mentored by Paul Crutcher. “Breaking “Single Story” Silence: Celebrating Positive, Diverse Girlhood”
Bonnie R. Young, dance, mentored by Stephanie Thibeault. “Fortune Favors the Bold: Confidence in Dance”
Thuy Le, chemistry, mentored by Noureen Siraj. “A portable nanosensor for nitroaromatic detection”
Katherine Ashley Hall, theatre arts, mentored by Yslan Hicks. “Cross-dressing: The Transformative Power of Costumes on Shakespeare’s Stage”
Robert Hill, chemistry, mentored by Noureen Siraj. “Tunable Porphyrin Nanoparticles As Combination Drug For Cancer Therapy.”
Emily Anderson, biology, mentored by Shanzhi Wang. “Enzymatic Characterization of Bgp from B. burgdorferi, the Main Causative Agent in Lyme Disease in the U.S.”
Reem Al-Shukri, biology, mentored by Alexandru Biris. “Plasmonic Nanovectors for Selective Targeting and Killing of Cancer Cells”
Humam Shahare, biology, mentored by Noureen Siraj and Tito Viswanathan. “Use of Ionic Liquid Electrolyte to Enhance the Supercapacitance of Doped Carbon Materials”
KateLin Carsrud, English, mentored by Jeffrey Condran. “Braddock Avenue Books Spring Catalogue at the Association of Writers and Writing Programs Conference, Portland, Ore., March 2019”
David Alan Cline, physics, mentored by John Nichols. “Development and Implementation of a Miniature Musical Tesla coil”
Chandrasimha Reddy Penthala, chemistry and biology, mentored by Wei Zhao. “Synthesis of NiFe-Based Metal-Organic Framework Nanosheets on Nickel Foams for Water-Splitting Electrocatalysis”
Sarah Harper, art education, mentored by Timothy Garth. “Curating Connections: Museum Skills and Pk-12 Learning Engagement”
Caleb Alexander-McKinzie, English/legal studies, mentored by Heather Hummel. “Blood Orange Review and Braddock Avenue Books Literary Reading at the Association of Writers and Writing Programs Conference, Portland, Ore., March 2019
Grayson Treat, English, mentored by Heather K. Hummel. “The Association of Writers and Writing Programs Conference Undergraduate Resource Guide”
Madeleine Logan, biology, mentored by Robert Sikes. “Minimizing Stress in Wild vs Domesticated Mammals: The Effects of Anesthesia and Handling Time”
Bonn Belingon, chemistry, mentored by Shanzhi Wang. “Potential Use of Enzyme Glucose Oxidase (GOx) as an Antimicrobial Agent”
Tyler Maxwell, biology and chemistry, mentored by Qingfang He. “De novo Biosynthesis of Resveratrol in Metabolically Engineered”
Madison Brown, English, mentored by Jeffrey Condran. “Presenting the 2019 Equinox Literary Magazine at the Association of Writers and Writing Programs Conference, Portland, Ore., March 2019”
Kathryn Bates, English, mentored by Jeffrey Condran. “Funding Undergraduate Literary Magazines: An Investigation at the Association of Writers and Writing Programs Conference, Portland, Ore., March 2019”
Noemi Garcia, biology/Spanish, mentored by Stephen Grace. “Gene Discovery for Health Promoting Phytochemicals in the Medicinal Plant Echinacea”
Jessica Yvonne Ley, theatre arts, mentored by Lawrence D. Smith. “The Default: An Exploration of Heteronormativity through Stage Performance”
Serena Mykenzie Gordon, theatre arts, mentored by Lawrence D. Smith. “A Theatre of Cruelty Experience”
Caroline Kornelsen, chemistry, mentored by Noureen Siraj and Tito Vishwanathan. “Synthesis of a Betaine Ester Surfactant via a Novel “Green” Method of Esterification”
Grace Young, biology, mentored by Robert Sikes. “Minimizing Stress in Wild vs Domesticated Mammals: The Effects of Anesthesia and Handling Time”
Jessica L. Morris, biology, mentored by Scott Woolbright. “Evaluating Variation in Soil Composition among Habitats at the Little Rock Zoo”
Carol Ann Bowerman, biology and chemistry, mentored by Nawab Ali. “The Investigation of Silver-coated Gold Nanorods as an Effective Nano-drug Vessel”.”
Maxwell Rollins Campbell, biology/music, mentored by Carl R. Stapleton. “Effects of Endocrine Disrupting Compounds on Ostracod Densities in Fourche Creek”
Arooba Ilyas, biology/chemistry, mentored by Noureen Siraj. “Tea Waste as an Adsorbent for Water Purification”
Ryan Mann, biology, mentored by Shanzhi Wang. “The Affects of Caspase-1 Cleavage on Alpha-Synuclein”
Travis Jumper, chemistry, mentored by Anindya Ghosh. “A Novel Synthetic Chemical Pathway for the Formation of Amides”
Lauren Humphrey, graphic design, mentored by Kevin Cates. “Children’s Bible for residents in Mongu, Zambia”
Aaron Prosser, graphic design, mentored by Kevin Cates. “Organo Guys Action Figures”
Tracy V. Cook, English, mentored by Jana McAuliffe. “Brief Thoughts of the 21st Century”
Tina Hesabizadeh, interdisciplinary studies, mentored by Gregory Guisbiers. “Synthesis of Selenium-based Nanostructures”
Vardah Asad Sheikh, physics, mentored by Tansel Karabacak. “Nanorod Arrays for Flexible Photodetector Applications”
Lyle P. Arnett, Physics, mentored by Tansel Karabacak. “Growth of Metal Oxide Nanostructures (MONSTRs) by Hot Water Treatment/Deposition”
William James Avery King, molecular biotechnology, mentored by Alexandru Biris. “Evaluation of Gold Nanoparticles with Various Aspect Ratios for Use as Artificial Extracellular Matrices for Growing Neural Cells”
Thomas Jackson, theatre arts, mentored by William Marshall. “Scenic design for Fringe Festival”
Conor Van Lierop, theatre arts, mentored by William Marshall. “Lighting design for the Fringe Festival”
Brandy Rochelle Mimms, dance performance, mentored by Stephanie Thibeault. “Deaf can Dance.”
Taylor S. Green, theatre arts and dance, mentored by Lawrence D. Smith, “The Elaine Twelve: Aftermath of the Massacre of 1919”
Emily Nichole Fendley, French / anthropology and nonprofit leadership studies, mentored by Rosalie M. Cheatham. “Homelessness: Causes, Culturally-based Responses and NGO Engagement in Mid-sized French and US Cities”

College of Education and Health Professions

Emilia Zsuzsanna Rak, social work, mentored by David J. Namir. “Change Your Days”
Wesley C. Smith, nursing, mentored by Jeffrey K. Carmack. “An Assessment of Time Spent Teaching Hearing and Non-hearing Patients”
Tamara J. Martin, communication sciences and disorders, mentored by Dr. Donna J. Kelly. “Investigation of Interdisciplinary Assessment Measures of Acute and Persistent Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI) Sequela in Adults”
Darleene Rua and Michelle Henderson, nursing, mentored by Leigh Snead. “Students’ Perceptions and Skills Performance in Two Student-led Emergency Simulated Scenarios”
Jessica Swatzel, communication sciences and disorders, mentored by Dana Moser. “Effects of Applying Brain Stimulation during Language Intervention?”
Darrien Adams, health education and promotion, mentored by Janea Snyder. “Growing Healthy Communities Projects (Wellness Fair & Garden to Grill Cooking Class)”
Emily Junkans, communication sciences and disorders/ Spanish, mentored by Jeremy Ecke. “Language and Identity: Academic English and International Students”

Stuti Chatterjee, biology, mentored by Philip H. Williams. “Island project – Automated water quality sensors/wildlife webcam”

College of Business

Emelie Blennow, marketing, mentored by Dr. Casey Rockwell. “Analysis of Ethical and Legal Implications of Autopilot vehicles. Is Tesla the new Pinto?”
Maximillian Holzmueller, economics and Finance, mentored by Moiz Bhai. “A Case Study in Agrowponics”
Alexander Reid Palmer, Human Resource Management, mentored by John Hendon, “Medical Marijuana and Federalism”

College of Social Sciences and Communication

Nicholas J. Popowich, journalism, mentored by John A. Kirk. “Documenting the Black Power Movement in Arkansas”
Rhonda Thomas, professional and technical writing, mentored by Heidi Skurat Harris. “Alexander’s Stray Mare: Tracing an Ancestor from Georgia to Pre-territorial Arkansas”

Julie O’Hara, political science, mentored by Joseph Giammo. “The Effect of Elite Discourses on Secessionist Movements”
Dylan Wright, political science/Spanish, mentored by Eric Wiebelhaus-Brahm. “The Language of Truth: Exploring the Discourse of Latin American Truth Commission Recommendations”
Jordan Wallis, political science, mentored by Rebecca Glazier. “God and Country: Veteran Services in the Little Rock Religious Community”
Mary Katelyn McBrayer, applied communication, mentored by April Chatham-Carpenter. “Disrupting the Cycle of Mental Illness: Building up Intergenerational Family Resilience through Positive Communication”
Robin A. Freeman, applied communication, mentored by Avinash Thombre. “Understanding Communication Strategies for Women without Children”
Octavious Harris, criminal justice/law enforcement, mentored by Trisha N. Rhodes. “Exploring Predictors of Sentencing for Male and Female Prisoners in Arkansas”
Michael Meziere, criminal justice, mentored by Molly Smith. “Examining the Relationship between Religiosity, Rape Myth Acceptance, and Sexual Misconduct”
Asiah Bradley, criminal justice and psychology, mentored by Molly Smith. “Correlates of Sexual Misconduct Victims’ Use of Campus Resources”
Morgan Paige Topping, political science, mentored by Rebecca Glazier. “How Social Media can Increase Participation in Community-based Research: The Case of the Little Rock Congregation Study”
Rosalinda Roper, political science/international studies, mentored by Eric Wiebelhaus-Brahm. “Exploring Variation in International Response to Refugee Crises”
Madeline Burke, international studies, mentored by Casey Rockwell. “The Unregulated Regulators”

CSSC & CALS

Nicole Ursin, anthropology/history, mentored by Juliana Flinn. “Adaptation of Micronesian Immigrants”
Katherine Roberts, philosophy/interdisciplinary, mentored by Jana McAuliffe. “Diversifying the Discipline: An analysis of the 2019 Arkansas High School Ethics Bowl”
Emma Beth Williams, professional and technical writing/legal studies, mentored by Jana McAuliffe. “An Axiology of Public Philosophy: A Study in Public Intellectualism”
Solomon Ra’phael Davis, international studies/philosophy, mentored by Eric Wiebelhaus-Brahm. “Making Human Lives Better: How Material and Symbolic Reparations Improve Post Civil War Peace”

Engineering & Information Technology

Andrew Mark Cherry, mechanical systems engineering, mentored by Jin Wook Lee. “A Quadcopter with Improved Lift Capabilities”
Rebecca L. Bishop, geology, mentored by Rene A. Shroat-Lewis. “Monitoring Coral Patch Reefs of San Salvador Island, Bahamas for Diversity and Disease”
Christopher Flocken, computer science, mentored by Steven Minsker. “Functional Programming Design”
Lamarcus Coleman, computer science/mathematics, mentored by Mariofanna Milanova. “Applying Deep Reinforcement Learning to Economic Event Prediction”

Ahmed Alazzawi, systems engineering, mentored by Kamran Iqbal. “Altered Muscle Synergies While Walking Under Higher Postural Constraints”
Josh Carlat, computer science game option, mentored by Sean Orme. “A Look into the Feasibility of Teaching Game Engine Design at the Undergraduate Level”
Nikki Mullen, mechanical systems engineering, mentored by Andrew Wright and Alex Biris. “Characterization of Nanoparticle Scaffolding Polymer”
Luke Tyhurst, information science, mentored by Eric Wiebelhaus-Brahm. “Developing an Online Platform: From Market Research to a Minimum Viable Product”
Zezhang Lin, computer science, mentored by Chia-Chu Chiang. “Automatic Customization of Web Pages to Enhance User Experience”
David M. Hough, environmental geology, mentored by Thomas Colby. “Investigating the Age and Significance of a Rare Occurrence of Metagabbro in the Ouachita Mountains, Central Arkansas, USA”
Jason Spencer, geology, mentored by Michael DeAngelis. “Mineralogical, Petrological and Geochronological Investigation of the Blue Ball Lamproite Dike near Waldron, Arkansas, USA”
Cody Smith, geology, mentored by Michael DeAngelis. “Reproducing and Improving the Sol-Gel Synthesis of Nanoscale Enstatite (Mg2Si2O6) and Diopside (CaMgSi2O6)”
Li Zhou Morrow, mechanical engineering technology, mentored by Ashokkumar M. Sharma. “Design and Development of a Unique Transparent Fishing Tackle Box”

Michael Tyler Kee, geology, mentored by Laura Ruhl. “Evolution of Contaminants in Weathered Coal Combustion Residuals: an Environmental Case Study”
Julian Reid Ervin, environmental geology, mentored by Laura Ruhl. “Microplastics in Fourche Creek Wetlands”
Derrick Fuell, mechanical engineering technology, mentored by Srikanth B. Pidugu. “A Novel Macro-mixer for Medical Applications”
Jacob H. Jackson, mechanical engineering technology, mentored by Ashokkumar M. Sharma. “Water Recycling System for a Hydraulic Ram Pump”
Denver Ellis, computer science, mentored by Jan P. Springer. “Improving Versatility of Smart Mirrors Through Facial Recognition and Rotational Measurements”
Joshua Ray, environmental engineering, mentored by Lashun Massey.“A Novel Collaborative Approach to Addressing Environmental Engineering”
Kajal Shukla, computer science, mentored by Mariofanna Milanova. “Boosting Deep Learning Risk Prediction for Electronic Health Records”
Zaire Idalis Husband, computer science/information assurance, mentored by Jan P. Springer. “Multi-Factor Authentication”
Taima Zidan Suid, computer science with mathematics minor, mentored by Jan P. Springer. “Multi-Factor Authentication”
Malik Shakur El-Amin, computer science, mentored by Jan P. Springer. “MockSOC – A prototype Special Operations Center”
Sam Willis, computer science, mentored by Mariofanna Milanova. “Computer Vision System to Identify and Quantify Waste”
Chance Melby, computer science, mentored by Jan P. Springer. “Analysis of Red Team Coordination: Finding the Correct Attack Methodology”
Adam Ness, systems engineering/mathematics, mentored by Marc D. Glidden. “Ramifications of Bank Deserts on Financial Literacy”
Christopher F. Bohner, mechanical engineering technology, mentored by Ashokkumar M. Sharma. “Design-for-manufacturing, construction, and testing of a thermochemical system to generate power from municipal solid waste”
Pablo J. Centeno, mechanical engineering technology, mentored by Ashokkumar M. Sharma and Srikanth B. Pidugu. “Pick and place robot”
Bryan S. Wilson, mechanical engineering technology, mentored by Ashokkumar M. Sharma. “Design, construction, and testing of a re-designed gasifier”
Jonathon M. Horn, geology, mentored by Margaret E. McMillan. “Analysis of short-term changes in bank erosion and sediment transport in Coleman Creek, Little Rock, AR, using ��Vlog��ýV aerial surveys”
Patrick W. Paladino, geology, mentored by Margaret E. McMillan. “Analysis of Short-term Changes in Bank Erosion and Sediment Transport in Coleman Creek, Little Rock, AR, Using Field Surveys”
Mandolin Harris, geology, mentored by Laura Ruhl. “Evolution of Karst Spring Water in the Ozark Mountains: Impacts on Water Quality”
Elias Perez Reyes, mechanical engineering technology, mentored by Srikanth B. Pidugu. “Effective Thermal Conductivity of Open Celled Copper Foam metals”
Alexandria L. Smith, electronic and computer engineering technology, mentored by Hirak Patangia. “An Evaporative Energy Harvester”
Sherif A. Selim, mechanical engineering technology, mentored by Kailash C. Jajam. “Additive Manufacturing of Multiphase Syntactic Foams Modified with Glass Microballoons and Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs)”
Alex Alvarez, mechanical engineering technology/Spanish, mentored by Sandra Leiterman. “BB-8 in STEM Ed”
Nigel Kelly, mechanical systems engineering/mathematics, mentored by Alexandru Biris. “Fabrication of Hafnium Thin Films for Optical Applications”
Ashley Strohmeyer, electrical and computer engineering technology, mentored by Alexandru Biris. “Fabrication of Titanium Disilicide Films Using Pulsed Laser Deposition”
Eric Nelson Sutherland Jr., mechanical systems engineering, mentored by Soheil Saedi. “An Investigation on the Effects of Heat Treatment Process on Phase Transformation of NiTi Shape Memory Alloys”
Evan Angle, computer science/physics, mentored by Albert Baker. “Can Enhanced VR Display Resolution Impact Application Effectiveness?”

Honorary Signature Experience Award winners

Gary Morries, biology, mentored by Scott Woolbright. “Survey of Climate Relict Populations of Varied Groundsnakes (Sonora semiannulatum) from Rare Arkansas Glade Ecosystems.”
Madison Victoria Rodgers, political science, mentored by Rebecca Glazier. “Engagement and Religion among Little Rock Congregations: ��The Reciprocal Relationship between Community Involvement and Political Involvement”
Christopher Tate, post-bac nursing, mentored by Leigh Snead. “Students’ Perceptions and Skills Performance in Two Student-led Emergency Simulated Scenarios”
Elizabeth Jarrott, nursing, mentored by Leigh Snead. “Students’ Perceptions and Skills Performance in Two Student-led Emergency Simulated Scenarios.”
Laura Ruiz Astorga, international studies and psychology, mentored by Eric Wiebelhaus-Brahm. “Women’s Empowerment in Conflict-Affected Societies”
Victoria Yvonne McHargue, biology/chemistry/ American sign language, mentored by John Bush. “Using Bacteriophages for Potential Bio-remediation for a Water Source”
Allie Woodville, political science and anthropology, mentored by Eric Wiebelhaus-Brahm. “The Syrian Refugee Crisis and Information Technology: From a Public Involvement Perspective”
Katie Matthews, biology, mentored by Scott Woolbright. “Soil Microbial Communities Associated with a Prairie Restoration in Northwest Arkansas.”
Taylor Hudson, mechanical engineering technology, mentored by Ashokkumar M. Sharma. “Design Modification, Construction and Testing of Ram Pump – A Performance Improvement Study”

��Vlog��ý Little Rock student Sylvia Szwedo talks about her chemistry project during the 2018 Student Research and Creative Works Showcase. Photo by Benjamin Krain

Student Research and Creative Works Showcase expands to Jack Stephens Center

Janea Snyder — Thu, 05 Apr 2018 16:13:39 +0000

More than 150 ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students will present work at this year’s expanded Student Research and Creative Works Showcase on Thursday, April 12, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Jack Stephens Center. The event, formerly the Student Research and Creative Works Expo has a new location and an expanded emphasis that includes creative and service work – as well as professional application. “Our major goal was to diversify the types of projects,” said Dr. Jeremy Ecke, chair of the Student Research and Creative Works Committee. “We have art installations, performances, and demonstrations, and we hope to continue to build and expand on the showcase.” The event will feature the work of Signature Experience and Arkansas Student Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) awardees. Participation in the showcase was open to all undergraduate and graduate students. Fourteen students will give oral presentations during the showcase, and four students who are currently studying abroad have recorded their research presentations which will be available for viewing at the event. The showcase also include a 10-minute theatrical performance, “Quinceañera” by student Rosalinda Roper. Performance times will be at 12:05 p.m. and 12:45 p.m. adjacent to ��the Legends Room. The showcase is free and open to the public. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for people to see how ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students are engaged in high-level research, some of which is directly benefiting our community,” Ecke said. “It’s a opportunity for students to get feedback from community and business leaders on how to apply their academic interests and skills to a variety of intern, volunteer, and career opportunities.” Some of the this year’s presentations include studies on the effects of urbanization on the Fourche Creek floodplain, the benefits of serving as a Spanish interpreter at the 12th Street Clinic, the development of a communications app for the Little Rock Air Force Base, the creation of self-cleaning solar panels, and the utilization of rain water for home cooling. At least 20 more faculty judges are still needed for some of the projects. The sign up-sheet is . Questions or comments should be directed to Dr. Jeremy Ecke, chair of the Student Research and Creative Works Committee at jsecke@ualr.edu.

Application deadline for Signature Experience Awards is Oct. 16

Ajani Oyindamola — Thu, 12 Oct 2017 20:26:02 +0000

Undergraduate students at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock are eligible to receive $1,000 to fund a signature experience during the spring 2018 semester.�� Applications for the Undergraduate Research Signature Experience Awards are due Monday, Oct. 16. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is providing 50 $1,000 grants so students can participate in a one-semester signature experience, such as a research project, creative activity, or community service project. Chancellor Andrew Rogerson announced the new program this fall to inspire ��Vlog��ý Little Rock undergraduate students to conduct research and creative projects to enrich their academic experience. In order to apply, students must have a minimum 2.5 grade point average and a tenure-track faculty member to oversee the project. Projects must be completed by the end of the 2018 spring semester. Student award recipients will present their findings from the projects at the 2018 spring . Applications can be submitted to the Office of the Provost, Room 415 in the Student Services Center, or by email as a single PDF file to Ross Bradley at rabradley@ualr.edu. For more information, contact Dr. Jeremy Ecke at jsecke@ualr.edu. In the upper right photo, Emerging Analytics Center Student Researcher Loki Rasmussen explores Pirate Island in the CAVE. Photo by Lonnie Timmons III/��Vlog��ý Little Rock Communications.

Indian students complete summer research program at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

Ajani Oyindamola — Tue, 10 Oct 2017 13:15:39 +0000

A group of nine students from India completed internships in cutting-edge research areas at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock this summer.�� Dr. Seshandri Mohan, professor of systems engineering, initiated the international exchange program between ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and Vishwaniketan, an institution affiliated with the in India. Participants included Rahul Sharma, Yash Dutt Sharma, Shubham Gupta, Tanya Gupta, Yanshshree Anil Patil, Mohan Patle, Varad Anil Deshpande, Vatsal Paresh Gala, and Rajeev Kishore Sugandhi. The partnership brought Vishwaniketan students who are pursuing undergraduate degrees in engineering, computer science, information technology, and mechanical engineering to Little Rock for a six-week research internship from June 19 to July 29. Upon completion of the internships, the students returned to their home universities to complete their degrees. ��Their completion of the international research internship will give them an advantage on their resumes. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock has previously conducted similar exchange programs with Pondicherry University, SRM University, and Don Boscoe University, all in India. Mohan said many of the students who participated in these internships returned to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock to pursue a graduate degree. “The students say they are enriched by this experience beyond what they expected out of it,” Mohan said. “They understand how to take responsibility and pursue research internships. Hopefully, some of them will return to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock.” The students conducted research and experiments in four areas: robotics mentored by Dr. Andrew Wright, associate professor of systems engineering, and graduate assistant Trigun Maroo; entity resolution mentored by Dr. John Talburt, professor of information science and Acxiom Chair of Information Quality, and graduate assistant Yumeng Ye; machine learning mentored by Dr. Mariofanna Milanova, professor of computer science; and Internet of Things mentored by Mohan and graduate assistant Hadi Salman. In the Internet of Things project, interns Mohan Patle, Yashshree Anil Patil, and Shubam Gupta built devices that can be used in smart homes. According to Mohan, Internet of Things refers to devices that are connected to the Internet. Currently, the world contains more than 12 billion internet-connected devices, a number which could increase to 50 billion by 2020. Students programmed smart sensors to perform a variety of smart home functions. They programmed pressure sensors that could be used to build a smart refrigerator, range sensors that can detect motion to know when to activate lights, and a rain sensor that could be used to control shutters. As part of the machine learning project, interns Vatsal Gala and Varad Deshpande helped build a system that can predict the sentiments for commercial products by analyzing images and reviews posted on an ecommerce website. “Thousands of websites are selling millions of products online showing their images and stating the description of the product,” Milanova said. “The opinion mining is done by extracting various features from text and images that depict various sentiments. The most important part of the project was to train the machine on this set of extracted features and calculated data so that the machine can predict the values of sentiment for a new product (entity).” In the entity and identity resolution project, interns Tanya Gupta and Rahul Sharma used an open source software package called OYSTER that was developed at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock to determine when records in an information system are about the same entity or different entity. Entities can be students, patients, customers, products, and locations. Entity and identity resolution is especially important in health care so patients can receive the proper treatment. “If you don’t bring together all of a patient’s records of diagnoses, tests, and previous treatments, it could easily lead the patient’s healthcare providers to make the wrong treatment decisions,” said Talburt, who mentored the interns. “Conversely, mixing the information together from two different patients could have many adverse consequences as well.” Gupta and Sharma took to OYSTER so well that they are considering using OYSTER to start a small business in India to help companies with entity resolution and data integration problems. In the upper right photo, nine college students from India completed six-week internships in cutting-edge research areas at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock this summer. The students also visited Gov. Asa Hutchinson at the Arkansas Governor’s Manson in Little Rock. Pictured, from left to right, are Yash Dutt Sharma, Yashshree Anil Patil, Tanya Gupta, Rajeev Sugandhi, Shubham Gupta, Sachin Sharma, Gov. Asa Hutchinson, Seshadri Mohan, Rahul More, Rahul Sharma, Vatsal Gala, Mohan Patle, and Varad Anil Deshpande.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock moves toward innovative presentations as future of student expo

Ajani Oyindamola — Wed, 26 Apr 2017 15:00:18 +0000

The Student Research and Creative Works Expo at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock is headed in a new direction.�� This year’s event featured the Digital Hub, which showcased innovative presentation styles that are becoming more popular as research presentations move away from traditional poster presentations, said Dr. Jeremy Ecke, chair of the expo committee. Live radio broadcasts, documentaries, podcasts, virtual presentations, installations, and artist demonstrations are all a part of the new presentations styles in the Digital Hub in the Innovation category. �� About 100 ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students submitted 80 entries for the April 3 expo. The winners were announced during an awards ceremony April 18 in the Student Services Center. Chancellor Andrew Rogerson praised the student research and creative work, adding that students who collaborate with a professor are more likely to complete their program of study and are more prepared for graduate school. “��Vlog��ý Little Rock is about setting students on a path to successful careers and presenting them with opportunities to make rich lives,” Rogerson said. “Central to this is our belief in the teacher-scholar model. The expo has encouraged collaboration and innovation between students and faculty.” The winners of the new Innovation category include Jasmine Blunt and Kendrick Dunn, who presented a live radio show broadcast of the Expo. Blunt and Dunn also showcased a documentary they created featuring three local artists. The students are hoping to launch a business called “The Influence,” which provides individuals with a platform to express their creative works in Little Rock. The other winners of the innovation category included civil and construction engineering students Blake Johnston and Sam Kincannon, who were part of a team of students who constructed a working canoe out of concrete materials. They raced the concrete canoe as part of the American Society of Civil Engineers competition. A list of expo winners and their projects include: Undergraduate Winners Art: Zachary Tallent, “The Broken Chain” Humanities: Kalan Horton, “Identifying the Key Social Infrastructural Factors in School Buildings That Affect 12th Grade Students’ Standardized Test Scores in 3 school districts” Engineering/Technology First Place: David Stinnett, Matthew Mitchell, Patrick Phillips, Jeff Choate, Jessica Vinson, Daniel Blaire, Dylan Singleton, Abdulaziz Alanazi, Norbert Rungano, Julian Castillo, Drew Potter, and Fidele Kabera; “Multi-Purpose Tornado Shelter” Second Place: Deepali Lai, Michelle Poroshine, and Logan Vickery; “Data Analysis of Consumer Complaints” Life Science/Human Science First Place: Marina Avram, Sakr Elsaidi, Tyler Maxwell, and Bonn Belingon; “Algal Oculata Biotemplated Water-Splitting Nanocatalysts Nickel/Iron Oxides” Second Place: Lelia Rosenkrans; “Physiological Relationships Between Salivary Expressed Metabolites and Dancer Fitness” Physical Sciences First Place: Tyler Maxwell, Marina Avram, Sakr Elsaidi, and Bonn Belingon; “Nannochloropsis Oculata Biotemplated Water-Splitting MoS2 Nanocatalysts for Hydrogen Production” Second Place: Autumn Jones; “Petrographic examination of the El Hammami H5 meteorite from the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Meteorite Collection” Social Sciences/Professional Studies First Place: Wesley Bland; “Determining a Champion: Economic Analysis of NFL Teams” Second Place: Suzanne Abou-Diab; “Evaluation of the Readability, Validity, and User-Friendliness of Aphasia Written Web-Based Patient Education Materials” Second Place: Kiana Manning; “An Investigation to Document Interjudge Reliability of Two Standardized Measures of Social Skills” Innovation Winner: Blake Johnston and Sam Kincannon; “Concrete Canoe” Winner: Jasmine Blunt and Kendrick Dunn; “Media Platform”��

Dr. Jeremy Ecke (right) awards a prize to winners of the Student Research and Creative Works Expo. Photo by Lonnie Timmons III/��Vlog��ý Little Rock Communications.

Graduate Winners Engineering/Technology First Place: Wei Dai; “Measuring Data Quality of Global Earthquakes” Second Place: Trigun Maroo; “Novel Mechanism for Object Manipulation and Grasping for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles” Third Place: William Parsley and Wei Dai; “Improving Data Quality Through Machine Learning” Health Sciences First Place: Yan Wang, Jing Jin, Susan Thapa, Leanna Delhey, and Qing Zhang; “SNP Imputation and Cardiovascular Health Study” Second Place: Asween Marco; “Oral Health Access in Arkansas” Third Place: Qudes AL-Anbaky, Zeiyad Al-karakooly, Ilham Kadhim, Mohd Zubair, and Richard Connor; “Dictyostelium discoideum Senses Inositol Polyphosphate-Mediated Programmed Cell Death Mechanism Following Exposure to Single Walled Carbon Nanotubes (SWCNTs)” Humanities/Social Sciences/Education First Place: Amy Cole; “Dorothea Lange and Ben Shahn: Separate Paths Lead to Similar Mother Figures in Farm Security Administration Photography” Second Place: Brenda Prochaska and Erin Pavioni; “Disproportionate Sanctions: A Comparison of Judicial Handling of Male and Female Southern Minority Youth” Life Science/Physical Science First Place: Matthew Carey; “Temporal and Spatial Changes in the Water Quality of the Arkansas River Through the Little Rock Metropolitan Area” Second Place: Amita Nakarmi and Rebecca Parker; “Removal and Recovery of Phosphate from Wastewater Using Novel Reusable Renewable Resource-based Nanocomposites” Second Place: Kamal Pandey; “Regulation of productivity of Ornamental crops by Carbon-based Nanotechnological Approach” Third Place: Ghusoon Al-Bazzar and Muatez Mohammed; “Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) for TiO2 nanorods with SWCNTs/Polyaniline” In the upper right photo,��Dr. Jeremy Ecke (right), chair of the expo committee, recognizes winners of the Student Research and Creative Works Expo during the April 18 awards ceremony in the Student Services Center. Photo by Lonnie Timmons III/��Vlog��ý Little Rock Communications.��

Tomatoes on Mars? Student’s genetic research could one day help space travelers

Shanna Fitzgerald — Wed, 05 Apr 2017 22:22:35 +0000

Genetic research by a University of Arkansas at Little Rock student that could one day aid Mars colonists was one of only 10 student projects highlighted during a national NASA Space Grant conference. Diamond McGehee, an applied bioscience Ph.D. student from Conway, represented Arkansas and the after she was selected by the National Space Grant Directors committee. On March 2, McGehee showcased her work in the first-ever Julius Dasch Student Poster Presentation at the 2017 National Space Grant Directors meeting in Washington, D.C. “It was an exciting, illuminating experience,” McGehee said. She particularly enjoyed the opportunity to learn more about research from other states that — as with her work — could eventually be used in a NASA mission to Mars. Her presentation was titled “Metabolomic Analysis with Focus on Anticancerous Metabolites in InsP 5-ptase Expressing Tomato Fruits via Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS).” Essentially, her research explores ways to modify the genes of tomatoes so that the fruit produces more nutritious cell-protecting compounds such as antioxidants. “What we’re trying to do is to make a food source that is more protective from radiation,” McGehee said. On Earth, the atmosphere offers a radiation buffer that’s largely absent in space — potentially leading to an increase in problems such as cataracts and cancer, McGehee said. McGehee hopes her tomato research not only leads to additional nutritional protection but also will help produce plants that are more hardy and able to adapt to foreign environments. Dr. Mariya Khodakovskaya, a ��Vlog��ý Little Rock professor and the graduate coordinator of the Department of Biology, is McGehee’s faculty mentor and the research principal investigator. The Arkansas Space Grant Consortium, which is based at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and includes 17 four-year colleges and universities, sponsored McGehee’s work. The is a program of the NASA Office of Education.

Student Research and Creative Expo deadline March 30

Ajani Oyindamola — Wed, 01 Mar 2017 14:31:08 +0000

University of Arkansas at Little Rock students will have the opportunity to showcase their research and creative efforts at the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock ��Student Research and Creative Works Expo April 3.�� The event, set to run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Donaghey Student Center Ledbetter Hall, is open to current ��Vlog��ý Little Rock undergraduate and graduate students. The registration deadline is March 30. This year, there are increased awards for the winning entries. Applicable research or creative works include, but are not limited to, theses and dissertations, honors and capstone projects, independent study projects, and course-related work. The work may be recently completed or ongoing, collaborative, or individual. All research by ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students involving human participants, biohazards agents, or animal subjects must be reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board, The Institutional Biosafety Committee, or the Institutional Animal Care and Use committees, respectively. At the expo, students will present their work in poster, digital, or artwork format. Alternative formats, such as performance or film clips, must be requested in advance. The undergraduate expo will take place in the morning, with judging and display from 10 a.m. to noon, and the graduate expo will be from 1 to 3 p.m. Winners will be announced at an award ceremony at 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 18, in Student Services Center Room 104. For more information and to register, visit the website or contact Dr. Jeremy Ecke, expo committee chair, at jsecke@ualr.edu, or Kristi Wright, committee assistant, at klwright1@ualr.edu.

- University News Archive - ����Vlog��ý Little Rock