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.

Level Zero
Author(s): Bethany Williams
Title: Let the Children Come to Me: Carbon Processing in Cephalotes Ant Larvae May Support Adults
Advisor(s): Professor John T. Wertz, Biology
Support: Calvin Research Fellows Program
Author(s): Kimberly Vreugdenhil
Title: The Hunt for Cryptic Oxygen-Consuming Bacteria in Termite Guts
Advisor(s): Professor John T. Wertz, Biology
Support: The William H. and Celia I. Dornbush DeVries Family Student Research Fellowship
Author(s): Carolyn Lindemulder and DeAnna Clum
Title: The Emma Cole Project: Reassessing Grand Rapids Flora 117 Years Later
Advisor(s): Professor David Warners, Biology; Dr. Garrett Crow, Visiting Scholar; and Jenna VanDonselaar, B.S.
Support: Calvin University Alumni Association, the Michigan Botanical Foundation and the Hanes Foundation
Author(s): Elysa Wolf
Title: Combatting Antibiotic Resistance with Novel Fluoroquinolone-Based Compounds
Advisor(s): Professor Amy Wilstermann, Biology and Professor Rachael Baker, Chemistry & Biochemistry
Support: U.S. Department of Defense
Author(s): Ryan German
Title: The Care and Maintenance of Zebrafish (Danio rerio)
Advisor(s): Professor Amy Wilstermann, Biology and Professor Rachael Baker, Chemistry & Biochemistry
Support: Calvin Student Research Fellowship
Author(s): Shannon Stewart and Kalina Reese
Title: Elucidating Genotype-Phenotype Connections in Bcs1L Mutations
Advisor(s): Professor Amy Wilstermann, Biology and Professor Rachael Baker, Chemistry & Biochemistry
Support: The Thedford P. Dirkse Summer Research Fellowship
Author(s): Ezmerelda Gonzalez
Title: CancerEd: Creating Tools for Teaching Kids About Cancer
Advisor(s): Professor Amy Wilsterman, Biology
Support: Calvin Alumni Association, Ruth & Gladys Wierenga
Author(s): Jonathan Walt
Title: Transpiration Rates of Various Native Forbs within Urban Curb Cut Rain Gardens
Advisor(s): Professors David Warners, Biology
Support: Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
Author(s): Skyler Fish and Benjamin Steenwyk
Title: Stormwater Capture via Green Infrastructure in the Plaster Creek Watershed
Advisor(s): Professor David Warners, Biology
Support: Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
Author(s): Olivia Harlow
Title: Hemolytic and non-Hemolytic Group B Streptococcus Strains’ Impact on Infection and Inflammation in Human Placental and Immune Cells
Advisor(s): Professor Erica Boldenow
Support: The Bernard Klamer Biology Research Fund
Author(s): Meghan Schilthuis, Brianna Busscher and Maria Emerson
Title: Lymphatic Endothelial Cell Stimulation Promotes CCRS-tropic HIV-1 Infection in Both Resting and Activated CD4+ T Cells
Advisor(s): Professor Anding Shen, Biology
Support: National Institutes of Health
Author(s): Madison Tissue and Rachel Gensamer
Title: Sex Differences in Bone Marrow Mast Cell ST2 Expression in Response to IL-33 Stimulation
Advisor(s): Professor Margaret Caulfield, Biology
Support: The Dr. Daniel J. Visser Student Research Fellowship in the Medical Sciences
Author(s): Rachel Gensamer and Madison Tissue
Title: Sex Differences in Multiple Sclerosis: Could it be Mast Cells?
Advisor(s): Professor Margaret Caulfield, Biology
Support: The Ken and Marcia Wierda Summer Research Fellowship
Author(s): James Eapen and Gabriela Pineda
Title: Floral Phenology at Flat Iron Lake
Advisor(s): Professor David Warners, Biology
Support: The Fritz and Carol Rottman Student Research Fellowship
Author(s): Gabriela Pineda and James Eapen
Title: Assessing the Effects of Anthropogenic Noise on Bluebird Reproductive Success, Health, and Survivorship
Advisor(s): Professor Darren Proppe, Biology
Support: The Fritz and Carol Rottman Student Research Fellowship
Author(s): Maria Emerson, Brianna Busscher, Meghan Schilthuis, Sarah Catlin, and Mary Rose Horner-Richardson
Title: Stimulation of Memory CD4= t Cells by Soluble Factors Released by Lymphatic Endothelial Cells Increases HIV-1 Infection Rates
Advisor(s): Professor Anding Shen, Biology
Support: The Clarence (Bud) Star and Arlene Talen Star Student Research Fellowship
Author(s): Alexandra Kamphuis, Jenna Atma, Olivia Lamberg, Chace Scholten, Connor Shea, Kristin Strydhorst and Kaitlyn Vredevoogd
Title: A Drone-Mounted Thermal Camera is as Effective as Traditional Methods for Locating Grassland Bird Nests
Advisor(s): Professor Darren Proppe, Biology
Support: The Willard G. Pierce and Jessie M. Pierce Foundation
Author(s): Jeremiah Shultz
Title: Chk1 Target Validation in Recurrent Mutant p53 Pediatric Tumors
Advisor(s): Dr. Karen Pollok
Support: U54 NIH/Eunice Kennedy Shriver NICHD and the Scientech Club Foundation of Indianapolis
Location: Indiana University School of Medicine
Author(s): Hattie Greydanus
Title: Microclimate Cooling of Green Infrastructures in Portland, Oregon
Advisor(s): Dr. Mary Santelmann, Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences; and Michelle Talal, Environmental Sciences
Support: National Science Foundation Urban Water Innovation Network
Location: Oregon State University
Stairwell Landing between Levels Zero and One
Author(s): Jonathan Sims
Title: Developing a High Throughput Assay for Nitric Oxide Detection in Adult Mouse Cardiomyocytes
Advisor(s): Professor Ryan Bebej, Biology and David E. Michele, Molecular and Integrative Physiology
Support: Calvin University Biology Department
Location: University of Michigan
Author(s): Laura Dykstra, Maria Bleitz, Gillian Gardner
Title: Great Lakes Colonial Waterbirds as Sentinels for Continuing Reproductive and Health Impairments at Contaminated Sites in Michigan during 2010-2018.
Advisor(s): Professor Keith Grasman, Biology
Support: Calvin Research Fellows Program
Author(s): Lauren Ebels
Title: Association Between Onion Growth Characteristics and Thrips Tabaci Densities
Advisor(s): Dr. Brian Nault, Ashley Leach
Support: U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Science Foundation; National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Location: Cornell University
Author(s): Lorrayya Williams
Title: Pilus-Expressing Acinetobacter baumannii mediated Enhanced Bacterial Clearance Involving Inflammasomes Signaling
Advisor(s): Dr. Michael J. Noto
Support: VI4
Location: Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Level One
Author(s): Natalie Knapp
Title: Comparative Occupancy and Breeding Success of Kirtland’s Warbler (Setophaga kirtlandii) in Jack Pine and Red Pine Habitat
Advisor(s): Dr. Fred Van Dyke
Support: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Location: Au Sable Institute
Author(s): Bradley Scholten
Title: New Techniques to Detect Swimmer’s Itch Parasites in Lakes
Advisor(s): Professor Randall DeJong, Biology
Support: Swimmer's Itch Solutions, LLC / Michigan Swimmer's Itch Partnership
Author(s): Elizabeth Peterson, Daniel Torrente
Title: An Immunofluorescent Characterization of Neuroserpin Expression in the Central Nervous System
Advisor(s): Dr. Daniel A. Lawrence
Support: American Heart Association
Location: University of Michigan Medical School
Author(s): Leah Thompson
Title: The Effects of Anti-Sumoylation Drugs in Inhibiting Osteosarcoma Cell Expansion
Advisor(s): Dr. Tao Yang and Di Lu
Support: Frederik and Lena Meijer Student Internship Program
Location: Van Andel Research Institute
Author(s): Abigail Stratton, Jared Deighton, Matthew Bone
Title: Clean Water for Liberia—Data Analysis
Advisor(s): Professors Stacy DeRuiter and Randall Pruim, Mathematics
Support: Calvin College Clean Water Institute
Author(s): Shion Fukuzawa
Title: The Correspondence Between 1-1 Knots and 2-Bridge Links
Advisor(s): Professor Nathan Sunukjian, Mathematics
Support: The Jack and Lois Kuipers Applied Mathematics Endowment
Author(s): Christina Bohnet
Title: Geographies of Brownfield Development in Michigan
Advisor(s): Professor Mark D. Bjelland, Geology and Geography
Support: The Kanis Summer Research Fellowship
Author(s): Daniel Norton
Title: Compost Heated Hoop House
Advisor(s): Professor Christ Hartemink, Engineering
Support: Program for Sustainable Engineering
Author(s): Jinsung Dho
Title: Roles of Anti-Inflammatory Drugs and Systemic Inflammation in Neurovascular Coupling on Rodents
Advisor(s): Professor Minah Suh, Mr. Dae Hwan Oh and Ms. Hye Jin Park
Support: Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research, IBS Summer Research Internship Program
Author(s): David Sweeney
Title: Short-Finned Pilot Whale (Globicephala Macrorhynchus) Near-Surface Behavioral States in Relation to Previous Dive Characteristics
Advisor(s): Dr. Andy Read and Dr. Nicola Quick
Support: REU National Science Foundation
Location: Duke University Marine Lab
Author(s): Sophia Lee
Title: Investigating the Effects of Antibiotic Perturbation on Lactobacillus Species Metabolomics Profiles
Advisor(s): Dr. Jiangjiang Zhu, Kundi Yang
Support: National Science Foundation—Research Experiences for Undergraduates
Location: Miami University, Oxford, Ohio
Author(s): Zachary Hartwig
Title: Expansion and Enhancement of Native Areas on Calvin’s Campus
Advisor(s): Professor David Warners, Biology
Support: Calvin University Biology Student Research Fund
Author(s): Rylan Shewmaker, Araceli Eikenberry, Hanna Jeong, and Rachel Warners
Title: Green Team—Urban Ecological Restoration
Advisor(s): Professor David Warners, Biology, and Gail Heffner, Director of Community Engagement
Support: Calvin University Science Division, MDEQ
Author(s): Tobechukwu Ndika, Katherine DeHeer, and Joseph Mellinger
Title: Microbial Responses to Green Infrastructure in the Plaster Creek Watershed
Advisor(s): Professor Kelly DuBois, Biology
Support: Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
Author(s): Katherine DeHeer, Tobechukwu Ndika, and Joseph Mellinger
Title: Microbial Responses to Green Infrastructure in the Plaster Creek Watershed
Advisor(s): Professor Kelly DuBois, Biology
Support: Calvin Research Fellows Program
Author(s): Joseph Mellinger, Katherine DeHeer, and Tobechukwu Ndika
Title: Microbial Responses to Green Infrastructure in the Plaster Creek Watershed
Advisor(s): Professor Kelly DuBois, Biology
Support: Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
Author(s): Roy Adams
Title: Monitoring Social Media Using Machine Learning
Advisor(s): Professor Keith VanderLinden, Computer Science
Support: The Jack and Lois Kuipers Applied Mathematics Endowment
Stairwell Landing between Levels One and Two
Author(s): Kelsey Brouwer
Title: Audializatoins: An Exploration in Sound
Advisor(s): Professor Joel Adams, Computer Science
Support: Calvin University Science Division
Author(s): Sarah Hendricksen
Title: Modelling Parallel Computing Concepts in AR
Advisor(s): Professor Joel Adams, Computer Science; Professor Nasser Giacaman, University of Auckland
Support: Calvin Research Fellows Program
Level Two
Author(s): Samuel Schellenberg, Lindsay Pederson, Jackson Ross, and Emma Schroer
Title: Comparing Fe- to Cu-Mediated Formation of a Tyrosine Cofactor
Advisor(s): Dr. David Benson, Chemistry/Biochemistry
Support: Calvin Research Fellows Program
Author(s): Katherine Kim
Title: The Expression and Purification of Acetylmimetic Cytochrome c
Advisor(s): Dr. Maik Hüttmann
Support: U.S. National Institutes for Health
Location: Wayne State University
Author(s): Hannah Peterson
Title: Understanding Genetic Disorders: A Case of 17-Hydroxylase Deficiency
Advisor(s): Dr. Richard J. Auchus
Support: Frankel Cardiovascular Center Fellowship
Location: University of Michigan Medical School
Author(s): Mary Horner-Richardson and Sarah Catlin
Title: Searching For Glut1 PDZ Interactions
Advisor(s): Professor Eric Arnoys, Chemistry/Biochemistry
Support: The Dr. Thomas J. Hoogeboom Memorial Research Fellowship in Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Kallemyn Summer Research Fellowship
Author(s): Patrick Jonker
Title: Characterization of NF2 Deficient Renal Tumor Cells
Advisor(s): Professor Brendan Looyenga, Chemistry/Biochemistry
Support: The Bernard Klamer Chemistry Research Fund
Author(s): Samuel Kuiper and Patrick Jonker
Title: Glutamine Availability Regulates Ligand–Independent Pseudo–Activation of MET
Advisor(s): Professor Brendan Looyenga, Chemistry/Biochemistry
Support: The Luke and Pauline Schaap Summer Research Fellowship / The Harvey Rozema Student Research Fellowship
Author(s): Rachael Bouwman
Title: Naturopathy: Fact or Fiction?
Advisor(s): Professor Rachael Baker, Chemistry/Biochemistry
Author(s): Rachael Bouwman
Title: G-Quadruplex Topology and Stability as a Function of DNA Length
Advisor(s): Professor Kumar Sinniah, Chemistry/Biochemistry
Support: The Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation Student Research Fellowship
Author(s): Jennifer Van Dalen
Title: Optimization of TXNIP purification for kinetic and structural analysis
Advisor(s): Dr. Ning Wu, PhD
Support: The Meijer Foundation
Location: Van Andel Institute
Author(s): Yukun Tu
Title: How Models Help with Understanding Flourescence
Advisor(s): Professor Mark Muyskens, Chemistry/Biochemistry
Support: Storteboom Summer Research Fellowship
Author(s): Daniel Harmon, Hunter Pham and Yukun Tu
Title: Effect of pH on 6-Hydroxy Coumarin Fluorescence
Advisor(s): Professor Mark Muyskens, Chemistry/Biochemistry
Support: Calvin Research Fellows Program
Author(s): Hunter Pham
Title: Scopoletin Excited-State Proton Transfer and Excited-State pKa
Advisor(s): Professor Mark Muyskens, Chemistry/Biochemistry
Support: The Thedford P. Dirkse Summer Research Fellowship
Author(s): Regan Farrell
Title: A Theoretical Foundation for the Slater-Zener Screening Constant Model
Advisor(s): Professor Roger DeKock, Chemistry/Biochemistry
Support: The Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation
Author(s): Joyce A. Chew and Nathanael P. Kazmierczak
Title: Defining the Relationship: Computer-Driven Characterization of the Binding of Host and Guest Molecules
Advisor(s): Professor Douglas A. Vander Griend, Chemistry/Biochemistry
Support: The Jack and Lois Kuipers Applied Mathematics Endowment
Author(s): Nathanael P. Kazmierczak and Joyce A. Chew
Title: The Tie That Binds: Optimal Design of Equilibrium Spectrophotometric Titrations
Advisor(s): Professor Douglas A. Vander Griend, Chemistry/Biochemistry
Support: National Science Foundation, Grant No. 1154472
Author(s): Miranda Bouwer and Katy Hamilton
Title: NMS-873 stimulates glucose uptake by inhibiting oxidative phosphorylation
Advisor(s): Professors Brendan Looyenga and Larry Louters, Chemistry/Biochemistry
Support: National Institutes of Health
Author(s): Katy Hamilton and Miranda Bouwer
Title: Evaluating fluorescent glucose analogs in GLUT1 function and localization
Advisor(s): Professor Brendan Looyenga and Professor Larry Louters
Support: National Institutes of Health
Author(s): Miles M. Mason, Leslie A. Nickerson, Emily E. Zerull
Title: Synthesis of Trisubstituted Indolizines:v Mechanistic Study
Advisor(s): Professor Carolyn E. Anderson, Chemistry/Biochemistry
Support: National Science Foundation
Author(s): Riley Scoville
Title: Progress Toward the Synthesis of Aminomethyl-Substituted QPT-1 Bacterial Topoisomerase Inhibitors
Advisor(s): Professor Michael Barbachyn,Chemistry/Biochemistry
Support: U.S. Department of Defense
Author(s): Sara Biel
Title: Progress Toward the Synthesis of Novel Bacterial Topoisomerase Inhibitors Derived from Fluoroquinolones. N-1 Alkyne Derivatives
Advisor(s): Professor Michael Barbachyn,Chemistry/Biochemistry
Support: U.S. Department of Defense
Location: Miami University in Oxford, Ohio
Author(s): Colin T. Hartgerink and Matthew D. Rossler
Title: Synthesis of Trisubstituted Indolizines: Optimization and Scope Studies
Advisor(s): Professor Carolyn E. Anderson, Chemistry/Biochemistry
Support: National Science Foundation
Author(s): Jaimie Van De Burg and Ben Boss
Title: Synthesis of Trisubstituted Indolizines: Pyridine Ring Substitution
Advisor(s): Professor Carolyn E. Anderson, Chemistry/Biochemistry
Support: National Science Foundation
Author(s): Luke Burroughs, Evamarie Medendorp and Joshua Kuperus
Title: Progress Toward the Synthesis of Novel Bacterial Topoisomerase Inhibitors Derived from Fluoroquinolones. N-1 Amine Derivatives
Advisor(s): Professor Michael Barbachyn, Chemistry/Biochemistry
Support: Walter Reed Army Institute of Research
Stairwell Landing between Levels Two and Three
Author(s): Alexandra Lyons
Title: A Review of Intervention Approaches for Reproductive Health Content
Advisor(s): Professor Adejoke Ayoola, Nursing
Support: The Jansma Family Research Fund in the Sciences and Business
Author(s): Jennifer Lee and Alexandra Lyons
Title: A Systematic Review of Group Intervention Benefits to Promote Pregnancy Prevention
Advisor(s): Professor Adejoke Ayoola, Nursing
Support: The Jansma Family Research Fund in the Sciences and Business
Level Three
Author(s): Daniel Kuiper
Title: Structural Parameters of MNd Measured by X-ray Diffraction
Advisor(s): Professor Paul Harper, Physics & Astronomy
Support: The John Van Zytveld Summer Student Research Fellowship
Author(s): Jason Pruim
Title: Lung Surfactant, Alkanes and Lipid Structures
Advisor(s): Professor Paul Harper, Physics & Astronomy
Support: Calvin College Science Division
Author(s): Elizabeth Schutt and Maame Adwoa Brantuo
Title: Validation of a Teaching Personality Survey
Advisor(s): Professor Herb Fynewever, Chemistry/Biochemistry
Support: The Enno Wolthuis Summer Student Research Fellowship
Author(s): Maame Adwoa Brantuo and Elizabeth Schutt
Title: Cultural Mismatches Between Students and Professors in the Classroom
Advisor(s): Professor Herb Fynewever, Chemistry/Biochemistry
Support: Chemistry Pfizer Fellowship
Author(s): Alex Cooper
Title: Balancing Dormitory Temperatures
Advisor(s): Professor Renard Tubergen, Engineering
Support: Program for Sustainability Engineering
Author(s): Haryana Thomas
Title: Software Integration of Control and Automation Lab
Advisor(s): Professor Jeremy VanAntwerp
Support: The Jansma Family Research Fund in the Sciences and Business
Author(s): Johan Sinniah
Title: Implementation of the FxLMS Algorithm for Active Noise Control
Advisor(s): Professors Rich DeJong and Yoon Kim, Engineering
Support: Mackinac Technology Company
Author(s): Noah VerBeek
Title: Societal Exergy Analysis: Energy History of Honduras
Advisor(s): Professor Matthew Heun, Engineering
Support: Program for Sustainability Engineering
Author(s): Samuel Lenz
Title: Micron Sand Filtration for the Ethiopian Context
Advisor(s): Professor David Wunder, Engineering
Support: Calvin Research Fellows Program
Author(s): Sarah Cok
Title: The Umm el-Jimal Water Project
Advisor(s): Professor Bert DeVries, History; and David Wunder, Engineering
Support: Calvin College Clean Water Institute
Author(s): Shenghui Chen
Title: Remote Sensing the Sun Box
Advisor(s): Professors Rich DeJong, Randy Brouwer and Yoon Kim, Engineering
Support: Program for Sustainability Engineering
Author(s): Ivan Lainez and Brian Seper
Title: Identification of Photo-Initializable Point Defects in Carbon Related Materials by Optically Detected Magnetic Resonance
Advisor(s): Professor Ryan Balili, Physics & Astronomy
Support: The Michael and Cheryl Brandsen Student Research Fellowship
Author(s): Ian Adams
Title: Red Nova Visualizations
Advisor(s): Professors Larry Molnar, Physics and Astronomy; and Joel Adams, Computer Science
Support: National Science Foundation
Author(s): Michaela Blain, Evan Cook and Sarah Whitten
Title: Stages in the Merger of a Contact Binary Star
Advisor(s): Professor Larry Molnar, Physics and Astronomy
Support: National Science Foundation
Author(s): Byounghchan (Chris) Jang, Joshua Gilmore, Conrad Kuz, and Kenton Greene
Title: Computational Modeling of Plasma Structures and Processes in Dielectric-Barrier Discharges
Advisor(s): Professor Matt Walhout, Physics and Astronomy
Support: Calvin University Science Division
Author(s): Alex VanKooten
Title: Distinguishing Stellar Populations within Milky Way Globular Star Clusters
Advisor(s): Professor Jason Smolinski, Physics and Astronomy
Support: Michigan Space Grant Consortium / Calvin University Science Division