Student summer research fellows at Calvin participate in the annual summer research poster fair, held in October. Students who did research off campus in other universities or programs are also invited to participate.
They also prepare a synopsis (a one page summary) of their research experience, providing relevant background as well as a statement of the problem, describing the research methods, giving any results to date and indicating how the research benefitted them personally.
To see students' posters and synopses (pdfs), click on the links below.
Biology
Chemistry and Biochemistry
Computer Science
Engineering
Geology, Geography and Environmental Studies
Mathematics and Statistics
Physics and Astronomy
Calvin College Clean Water Institute
Off-campus researchers
Biology
- Devani Antuma (Professor Dave Warners and Dr. Garrett Crow)
-Emma Cole Project: A 100-year Reassessment of Grand Rapids Flora (1901)
(poster / synopsis) - Natalie Anumolu (Professor Erica Boldenow)
-Cytokine Release from Extraplacental Membranes and Hemolysis for Five Group B
Streptococcus Strains
(synopsis)
- Chad Apol (Professor Darren Proppe)
-Impact of Ambient Noise on Acoustic Recording Devices
(poster / synopsis)
- Jenna Atma (Professor Randy Van Dragt) -Effects of Controlled Prairie Burning on Epigeal Arthropod Populations
(poster / synopsis) - Amber Bingle (Professor Dave Warners)
-A Decade of Floral Phenology at Flat Iron Lake
(poster / synopsis) - Maria Bleitz (Professor Keith Grasman)
-Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: Reassessment of Wildlife Reproduction and Health Impairments in the Saginaw Bay and River Raisin Areas of Concern and Grand Traverse Bay
(poster / synopsis) - Maxwell DeYoung (Professor Dave Warners)
-Plant Performance in Curb Cut Rain Gardens
(poster / synopsis) - Araceli Eikenberry (Professors Dave Warners and Gail Heffner)
- Green Team - Urban Ecological Restoration
(poster / synopsis) - Skyler Fish (Professor Dave Warners and Deanna Geelhoed)
- Stormwater Capture via Green Infrastructure in the Plaster Creek Watershed
(poster / synopsis) - Olivia Harlow (Professor Anding Shen)
- The Roles of Chemokine receptors and intracellular factors in HIV-1 Infection of Resting CD4+ T Cells Stimulated by Endothelial Cells
(poster / synopsis) - Sarah Hughes (Professor Keith Grasman)
-Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: Reassessment of Wildlife Reproduction and Health Impairments in the Saginaw Bay and River Raisin Areas of Concern and Grand Traverse Bay
(poster / synopsis)
- Ben Johnson (Professor Dave Warners and Deanna Geelhoed)
-Stormwater Capture via Green Infrastructure in the Plaster Creek Watershed
(poster / synopsis) - Jacob Kalkman (Professor David Dornbos)
-Physiological Study of Common and Glossy Buckthorn’s Ability to Outcompete Native Species
(poster / synopsis) - Derrick Kamp (Professor John Wertz)
-Exploring potential cross feeding and symbiosis factors necessary for growth of a novel Rhizobiales from Cephalotes ants
(poster / synopsis) - Gregory Manni (Professor Dave Warners)
-Plant Performance in Curb Cut Rain Gardens
(poster / synopsis)
- Aaron Pemberton (Professor Ryan Bebej)
-Creating High Quality Three-Dimensional Models through Photogrammetry
(poster / synopsis) - Andrew Philipose (Professor Anding Shen)
-IL6 and CD2 involvement in HIV infection of resting CD4+ T Cells stimulated by Lymphatic Endothelial Cells
(poster / synopsis) - Stephanie Praamsma (Professor Dave Warners)
-Mapping Mayapple Growth in Restored Forest
(poster / synopsis) - Megan Schilthuis (Professor Anding Shen)
-Lymphatic Endothelial Cells Interact Differently with Memory and Naive Resting CD4+T Cells to Promote HIV-1 Infection
(poster / synopsis) - Ethan Valentine (Professor Darren Proppe)
-Small Forest Openings Impact Nest Predation at the Forest Edges
(poster / synopsis)
- Jenna Van Donselaar (Professor Dave Warners and Dr. Garrett Crow)
-Emma Cole Project: A 100-year Reassessment of Grand Rapids Flora (1901)
(poster / synopsis) - Tanner Vincent (Professor Dave Warners)
-Mapping Mayapple Growth in Restored Forest
(poster / synopsis) - Kimberly Vreugdenhil (Professor John Wertz)
-Transposon mutagenesis to determine the basis for symbiosis-supported aerobic growth between termite gut bacteria
(poster / synopsis) - Jonathan Walt (Professor Dave Warners)
-Mapping Mayapple Growth in Restored Forest
(poster / synopsis)
- Rachel Warners(Professor Keith Grasman)
-Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: Reassessment of Wildlife Reproduction and Health Impairments in the Saginaw Bay and River Raisin Areas of Concern and Grand Traverse Bay
(poster / synopsis)
Chemistry and Biochemistry
- Megan Aardema (Professor Douglas Vander Griend)
-Assembly Process of the Supramolecular Nanojar
(poster / synopsis) - Thomas Althaus (Professors Eric Arnoys, Brendan Looyenga, Larry Louters)
- Protein-Protein Interactions at the Cell Surface, GLUT1 activity and Presence in Human Cell Lines
(poster / synopsis)
- Jonathan Boonstra (Professors Douglas Vander Griend and Chad Tatko)
-Folding Dynamics and Characterization of Beta-Hairpin Peptides
(poster / synopsis) - Rachael Bouwman (Professor Kumar Sinniah)
- A Study of the Interaction between Insulin and G-Quadruplex DNA
(poster / synopsis)
- Sarah David (Professor Rachael Baker)
-Combating Antibiotic Resistance with Novel Fluoroquinolone-based compounds
(poster / synopsis) - Anna Essenburg (Professor Michael Barbachyn)
-Progress Toward the Synthesis of Novel Bacterial Topoisomerase Inhibitors Derived from Fluoroquinolones. N-1 Aryl- and Heteroarylamine Derivatives
(poster / synopsis) - Regan Farrell (Professor Roger DeKock)
-The Chemical Reference Atom: The Role of Fictitious Atomic States in Regards to Electronegativity
(synopsis)
- Andrew Folkerts (Professor Brendan Looyenga)
-Vesicle and Protein Trafficking in Renal Cancer
(poster / synopsis) - Abigail Frndak (Professor Carolyn Anderson)
-Synthesis of Isoquinoline Alkaloid Derivatives
(poster / synopsis)
- Katy Hamilton (Professor Larry Louters)
-GLUT1 mediated Quercetin uptake
(poster / synopsis)
- Adam Hilbrands (Professor David Benson)
-Protein Oxidation Involved in Cys-Tyr Post-Translational Modification
(poster / synopsis) - Isaac Izaguirre (Professor Mark Muyskens)
-Investigation of a Second Fluorophore in Sycamores and Other Naturally Occurring Coumarins
(poster / synopsis) - Hyeong Gyu Jang (Professor Michael Barbachyn)
-Progress Toward the Synthesis of Novel Bacterial Topoisomerase Inhibitors Derived from Fluoroquinolones. Application of the Suzuki Cross-Coupling Reaction
(poster / synopsis) - Grace Johnecheck (Professor Larry Louters)
-Investigating Aggregation of GluT1 by Exclusion Chromatography
(poster / synopsis) - Patrick Jonker (Professor Brendan Looyenga)
-Understanding the Minimal Mutational Load for Transformation of Normal Kidney Cells into Renal Cancer Cells
(poster / synopsis) - Nathanael Kazmierczak (Professor Douglas Vander Griend)
-Uncertainty Estimation in Global Analysis of UV-Vis Titration
(poster / synopsis) - Ye Eun Kim (Professor Carolyn Anderson)
-Synthesis of Isoquinoline Alkaloid Derivatives
(poster / synopsis) - Miles Mason (Professor Carolyn Anderson)
-Propargyloxypyridines as Precursors to Trisubstituted Indolizines
(poster / synopsis) - Michael Moentmann (Professor Michael Barbachyn)
-Progress Toward the Synthesis of Novel Bacterial Topoisomerase Inhibitors Derived from Fluoroquinolones. Application of the Suzuki Cross-Coupling Reaction
(poster / synopsis) - Elizabeth Peterson (Professor Kumar Sinniah)
-A Force Spectroscopy Study of the Binding of Multivalent Dendrimer-Conjugated Vancomycin to a Model Bacterial Surface
(poster / synopsis)
- Hannah Peterson (Professor Kumar Sinniah)
-Are Mosquito Nets an Effective Substitute for Surgical Mesh in Hernia Repair Surgery?
(poster / synopsis) - Kalina Reese (Professor Rachael Baker)
- Elucidating Genotype-Phenotype Connnections in BCS1L Mutations
(poster / synopsis) - Emily Roloff (Professor Brendan Looyenga)
-GluT1 and Osteosarcoma
(poster / synopsis) - Jackson Ross (Professor David Benson)
-Protein Oxidation Involved in Cys-Tyr Post-Translational Modification
(poster / synopsis) - Matthew Rossler (Professor Carolyn Anderson)
-Propargyloxypyridines as Precursors to Trisubstituted Indolizines
(poster / synopsis) - Andrew Schumacher (Professor Chad Tatko)
-Iron Binding of β-hairpin dopa peptides
(poster / synopsis) - Matthew Vander Wal (Professor Michael Barbachyn)
-Progress Toward the Synthesis of Novel Bacterial Topoisomerase Inhibitors Derived from Fluoroquinolones. N-1 Aryl- and Heteroarylamine Derivatives
(poster / synopsis) - Janice Wharton (Professor Mark Muyskens)
-Natural Fluorescence of Planetree Extracts
(poster / synopsis) - Elysa Wolf (Professor David Benson)
-Protein Oxidation Involved in Cys-Tyr Post-Translational Modification
(poster / synopsis) - Emily Zerull (Professor Carolyn Anderson)
-Propargyloxypyridines as Precursors to Trisubstituted Indolizines
(poster / synopsis)
Computer Science
- Jordan Doorlag (Professor Victor Norman)
-ScratchFoot: Transitioning New Programmers from Blocks to Text
(poster / synopsis) - Christiaan Hazlett (Professor Joel Admas)
-Advancing the Thread Safe Graphics Library
(poster / synopsis) - Elizabeth Koning (Professor Joel Admas)
-Advancing the Thread Safe Graphics Library
(poster / synopsis)
Engineering
- Paul Bootsma (Professor Richard De Jong)
-Wind Noise and Mode Shape Analysis
- Lorena De Almeida (Professor Julie Wildschut)
-Evaluating the effectiveness of curb cut rain gardens in terms of storage volume and sediment removal
(poster / synopsis) - Kevin DeBruin (Professors Richard DeJong and Renard Tubergen)
-Window Testing Apparatus
(poster) - Kurtis DeVries (Professor Richard De Jong)
-Wind Noise and Mode Shape Analysis
(poster) - Chris Greaves (Professor Renard Tubergen)
-Energy-Saving Alternative for Office Heating
(poster / synopsis) - Pu Ji (Professor Steve Pohler)
-Characterization of Iron Oxide Formation Kinetics and Layer Thickness in Aqueous Nitrite Solution Feasibility Study
(synopsis) - Reuben Lewis (Professor Yoon Kim)
-Modeling and Simulation of a Solar Simulator with Multi-Wavelength High-power LEDs
(poster / synopsis)
- Jesurun Ramesh (Professor Yoon Kim)
-Reliability Analysis of Drivers for High-Power LEDs
(poster / synopsis) - Daniella Sugijanto (Professors Richard De Jong and Renard Tubergen)
-Cyclical Pressure Testing of Window Inserts
(poster) - Daniel Weber (Professors Richard De Jong and Yoon Kim)
-Active Noise Control with DLMS Algorithm
(poster)
Geology, Geography and Environmental Studies
- Matthew Wierenga (Professor Ralph Stearley)
-Paleoecology and Taphonomy of the Grassy Mountain Paleoflora (Miocene, Southeastern Oregon)
(poster / synopsis)
Mathematics and Statistics
- Joyce Chew (Professor James Turner)
-Characterizing the Gröbner Bases of Generic Ideals
(poster / synopsis) - Elizabeth Crow (Professor James Turner)
Characterizing the Gröbner Bases of Generic Ideals
(poster / synopsis) - Kelsey Norman (Professor Thomas Scofield)
-Educational Interactives in Sage
(poster / synopsis) - Ye Joo Oh (Professor Stacy De Ruiter)
-Software Tools for Analysis of Data from High-Resolution Animal-Borne Tags
(poster / synopsis) - David Sweeney (Professor Stacy De Ruiter)
-Software Tools for Analysis of Data from High-Resolution Animal-Borne Tags
(poster / synopsis)
Physics and Astronomy
- Evan Cook (Professor Larry Molnar)
-What Can Make a Contact Binary Star Explode?
(poster / synopsis) - Kenton Greene (Professor Larry Molnar)
-What Can Make a Contact Binary Star Explode?
(poster / synopsis) - Byoungchan Jang (Professor Ryan Balili)
-Zeeman Induced Ground State Crossing and Resulting Charge State dynamics
(poster / synopsis) - Brian Seper (Professor Paul Harper)
-Methylene volumes in monoglyceride bilayers are larger than in liquid alkanes
(poster / synopsis) - Alex Van Kooten (Professor Jason Smolinski)
-Distinguishing Multiple Populations in Galactic Clusters
(poster / synopsis)
Calvin College Clean Water Institute
- Lyall Blanche (Professor Jason VanHorn, Geology, Geography and Environmental Studies)
-Geospatial Investigation of Clean Water Indicators in Developing Countries: Liberia
(poster / synopsis) - Nathan Brookhouse (Professors Kelly DuBois, Biology and David Wunder, Engineering)
-Biological Testing of an Experimental Slow Sand Filter
(poster / synopsis) - Kurtis Duff (Professor Chad Tatko, Chemistry & Biochemistry)
-Clean Water in Ecuador
(poster / synopsis) - Seth Haase (Professor Jason VanHorn, Geology, Geography and Environmental Studies)
-Geospatial Investigation of Clean Water Indicators in Developing Countries: Liberia
(poster / synopsis) - KyuHyun Jeong (Professors Stacy De Ruiter and Randall Pruim, Mathematics & Statistics)
-Clean Water for Liberia: Statistical Analysis
(poster / synopsis) - Jiyoung Kim (Professor Robert Hoeksema, Engineering)
-Modeling for Umm el-Jimal and the Long Term Reuse Project of the Ancient Reservoirs
(poster) - Kate McLain (Professors Stacy De Ruiter and Randall Pruim, Mathematics & Statistics)
-Clean Water for Liberia: Statistical Analysis
(poster / synopsis) - Taek Soo Nam (Professor Jason VanHorn, Geology, Geography and Environmental Studies)
-Clean Water for Liberia: Statistical Analysis
(poster / synopsis) - Shiny Samuel (Professors Kelly DuBois, Biology and David Wunder, Engineering)
-Addition of Copper to Micron-size Sand Filter
(poster / synopsis) - Jacob Stout (Professors Donald Tellinghuisen, Psychology and David Wunder, Engineering)
-Taste Perceptions of Chlorinated Water
(poster / synopsis) - Noah Ver Beek (Professor David Wunder, Engineering)
-Chlorine Dosing for Rural Community Water Supplies
(poster / synopsis)
Off-campus researchers
- Gabrielle Barthel (Dr. Nupur Das, Dr. Yatrik Shah)
- Gut microbiota regulates systemic iron homeostasis in mice by modulating intestinal HIF-2a activity
-Shah Lab, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan - Harry Ervin (Dr. Sarah Evans, Tayler Chicoine)
-Hungry Hungry… Microbes? Effects of Plant Identity and Nitrogen Availability on Soil
Microbes Carbon Consumption
-W. K. Kellogg Biological Station, Michigan State University, Michigan
- Rachel House (Ning Wu, Ph.D.)
-Isolation of CPT1 from Pichia pastoris and murine liver for functional and structural
analysis
-Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Joseph Joel (Dr. Ayyalusamy Ramamoorthy, Dr. Kyle Korshavn)
-Ternary Interactions of Islet Beta Cell Constituents in Aggregation Kinetics
-University of Michigan Biophysics - Diana Lopez (Dr. Roland J. Thorpe, Jr.)
-The Association between Education and All-Cause Mortality among Non-Hispanic Black Men
-Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, Maryland - Maia Madrid (Dr. Julie Stopar)
-The Age of Volcanism North and East of the Aristarchus Crater
-Lunar and Planetary Institute, Houston, Texas - Montana Mason (Dr. Gus R. Rosania)
-Quantitative Raman Analysis of Drug Distribution in Tissue
-University of Michigan College of Pharmacy; Rosania Lab - Chace Scholten (Professor Darren Proppe, Biology)
-Are acoustic cues a driver of habitat selection in grassland birds?
-Pierce Cedar Creek Institute, Barry County, Michigan - Kristin Strydhorst (Professor Darren Proppe, Biology)
- Using drones and thermal sensors to locate nests of grassland songbirds
-Pierce Cedar Creek Institute, Barry County, Michigan - Lorrayya Williams (Dr. Jeff Greeley, Yu-Hsuan Lee (doctoral candidate))
-The Effect of Hydrogen Coverage on PtZn Alloy Catalyst
-Purdue University, Lafayette, IN - Mark Wolf (Dr. Jeffery MacKeigan, Professor at Michigan State College of Human Medicine)
-Integrating Data-Driven and Rule-Based Model to Understand Autophagy
-Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI