2017 summer science research projects
During the summer of 2017, 95 students worked on 64 different research projects across the science division.
Students were involved in a wide variety of research projects both on and off campus. Projects ranged from creating 3-D models of fossils to studying invasive plant species to researching how to combat antibiotic resistance. One researcher studied the structure of lipids and another studied fossil wood specimens in Idaho. Research took place in campus labs and outdoors. Some students traveled to other states and countries as part of their research and some “traveled” to outer space.
Below is a sampling of 2017 projects:
Biology
Ezmeralda Gonzales and Mariah Krikke assisted in developing tools to teach children about cancer. They were supervised by Professor Amy Wilstermann.
Chemistry and biochemistry
32 students participated in summer research with 13 Chemistry faculty members. Anna Essenburg, Hyeong Gyu Jan, Michael Moentmann and Matthew Vander Wal all worked with Professor Michael Barbachyn on designing and synthesizing antibacterial agents that may be effective on multidrug-resistant bacteria.
Computer science
Jordan Doorlag worked with Professor Victor Norman testing a tool designed to help middle-school students transition to a computer science language used in high schools. See the poster he prepared for the Science Division Summer Research Poster Fair.
Engineering
Preston Ji studied the oxidation state of film layers in water pipes used to heat buildings. He was supervised by Steve Pohler, teaching staff in the Engineering Department.
Geology, geography and environmental studies
Matthew Wierenga worked with Professor Ralph Stearley. He travelled to Idaho for photography and analysis of wood fossil specimens. Read the summary Matthew wrote about his work.
Mathematics and statistics
High-resolution movement sensors can be attached to animals to observe their behavior, but there is a need for easy-to-use software tools to analyze and interpret the resulting, often complex, data. David Sweeney and Ye Joo Oh, supervised by Professor Stacy De Ruiter, helped develop and apply these tools. They were able to travel to St. Andrew's, Scotland to attend a workshop with participants representing 7 countries. See the poster they created for the Science Division Summer Research Poster Fair.
Physics and astronomy
Alex Van Kooten and Professor Jason Smolinski studied globular star clusters in the Milky Way to obtain data that may continue to shed light on the evolutionary history of individual clusters and the population of Milky Way globular clusters as a whole.
Calvin College Clean Water Institute
11 students, supervised by 8 professors from the Biology, Chemistry & Biochemistry, Engineering, Geology, Geography & Environmental Studies, Mathematics & Statistics and Psychology departments, worked on projects involving different aspects of supplying clean water in the countries of Liberia, Jordan and Ecuador. Students traveled to Jordan and Ecuador for on site research. Students on campus studied the use of sand filters in Liberia, as well as statistical analysis of data and geospatial investigation. Read their summaries and see the posters they created describing their projects.
2016 summer science research projects
During the summer of 2016, 88 students worked on 55 different research projects across the science division.
Students were involved in a wide variety of research projects both on and off campus. Projects ranged from cancer research to a water supply design for gardens to studying hind limb form and function in early cetaceans to studying the orbital eccentricity of a specific binary star. Research took place in campus labs and outdoors. Some students traveled to other states as part of their research and some “traveled” to outer space.
Below is a sampling of 2016 projects:
Biology
Matthew Schepers studied how ant gut bacteria contributed to ant evolution. He was supervised by Professor John Wertz.
Chemistry and Biochemistry
27 students participated in summer research with 12 Chemistry faculty members. Allie Bogner and Cambrynne Rietberg studied the ubiquitination of Ras, a protein in which small changes cause more than one third of all human cancers, and how it can lead to an understanding of ways to treat Ras-driven cancers. Professor Rachael Baker was their supervisor.
Computer Science
Chris Dilley and Patrick Crain worked with Professor Joel Adams to develop a graphics library that would help educators teach computer science students about parallel programming. See the poster he prepared for the Science Division Summer Research Poster Fair.
Engineering
Tube bundles are used in the chemical industry as either heat exchangers or flow strighteners. Matthew Boelens studied the effects that different types of tube bundles have on the flow of air through a section of pipe. He was supervised by Professor Aubrey Sykes. Read the summary of Matthew's work.
Geology, geography and environmental studies
Daniel Blakemore and Nathaniel Bos worked with Professor Renee Sparks to analyze 11 copper samples (some from Calvin's own Dice Mineralogical Museum) to identify metal relationships within them. See the poster they prepared for the Science Division Summer Research Poster Fair.
Mathematics and statistics
Joyce Park and Sarah Strikwerda worked with Professor Hyunyi Jung to analyze data collected from 5 universities to determine what methods were most helpful to preservice teachers to learn about algebra and algebra teaching. See the poster they prepared for the Science Division Summer Research Poster Fair.
Nursing
Josie Granner, Marianna Perez and Elise Veurink, supervised by Professor Adejoke Ayoola, participated in research begun 2 years ago concerning the promotion of preconception and reproductive knowledge. This program is now wrapping up and the students visited homes, conducted surveys and analyzed data as to birth control methods, pregnancy recognition and program drop out rate. Read the summary Josie wrote about her research.
Physics and astronomy
Jacob Hartman and Professor Ryan Balili conducted their research at the University of Pittsburgh. They conducted optical experiments at liquid helium temperature on semiconductor microcavities to measure the strong coupling of light with semiconductor excitations.
