Undergrad Fellows
Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program
The CUERP Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program is designed to bring innovative research opportunities to students at Loyola University Chicago. 
The focus of the program is for students to conduct interdisciplinary research on issues related to unsustainable natural resource uses in the greater Chicago land region. The Center encourages research projects to combine elements of ecosystem structure and function, impacts on human health, public policy, behaviors, and other environmental factors.
Photo: Mariya Demidovich, a 2007 CUERP Undergraduate Research Fellow presents her research at a CUERP meeting.
2009-2010 CUERP Undergraduate Research Fellowships
Fellow: Emily Brand
Mentor: George Thiruvathukal (Computer Science)
Project: The Ecological Footprint Diary
Fellow: Bradley Drury
Mentors: Dr. John Kelly (Biology) and Dr. Emma Rosi-Marshall (Biology)
Project: Effects of Triclosan on Microbial Communities in Illinois Rivers and Streams
Fellow: Vinicio Reynoso
Mentor: Dr. Catherine Putoni (Bioinformatics, Biology)
Project: Profiling Members of Microbial Communities Using New Computational Methods: An Examination of Diversity Between Lake Michigan Beaches
Fellow: Manpreet (Sonia) Singh
Mentor: Dr. Paul Chiarelli (Chemistry)
Project: Waste Water Analysis
Fellow: Malachy Sullivan
Mentor: Dr. John Kelly (Biology)
Project: Effects of Physical and Chemical Stream Characteristics on Periphytic Biofilm Composition and Function
2008-2009 CUERP Undergraduate Research Fellowships
Fellow: David Miceli
Mentors: Dr. Nancy Tuchman (Biology) and David Treering (CUERP GIS Specialist)
Project: Mapping of Invasive Wetland PLants at Spring Bluff Nature Preserve
Fellow: Julia Peters
Mentors: Dr. Martina Schmeling (Chemistry) and George Thiruvathukal (Computer Science) and Holly Kramer (Preventative Medicine) and Davide Shoham (Preventative Medicine) and David Treering (GIS Specialist)
Project: The Association between Pre-term Delivery and Air Pollution: A Novel Approach
Fellow: Katherine Policht
Mentor: Dr. John Kelly (Biology)
Project: Impacts of Biosolids Additions on Nitrifying Bacteria in Agricultural Soils
Fellow: John Samuel Saliba
Mentor: Dr. Christopher Peterson (Natural Science)
Project: Variation in Biomass Accrual and Establishment of Dentrification Activity in Stream Biofilms
Fellow: Yousuf Sayeed
Mentor: Dr. Emma Rosi-Marshall (Biology)
Project: The Effects of Antihistamine on Aquatic Gastropol Livelihood
2007-2008 CUERP Undergraduate Research Fellowships
Fellow: Dovile Baniulyte
Mentor: Dr. John Kelly (Biology)
Project: Assessment of Soil Microbial Communities in Surface Applied Illinois River Sediments
Fellow: Martin Bezener
Mentor: Dr. Martina Schmeling (Chemistry)
Project: Air Quality Studies Using the Loyola University Chicago Air Station
Fellow: Mariya Demidovich
Mentor: Dr. Martina Schmeling (Chemistry)
Project: Chemical Reactions Pathways of Air Pollutants in Chicago
Fellow: Sikandar H. Khan
Mentor: Dr. Emma Rosi-Marshall (Biology)
Project: Measuring the Ecological Effects of Triclosan on Microbial Communities in Aquatic Systems
Fellow: Drew Lee
Mentor: Dr. Emma Rosi-Marshall (Biology)
Project: The Effects of Antihistamine on Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Growth Rates
2006-2007 CUERP Undergraduate Research Fellowships
Fellow: Denis Agniel
Mentor: Dr. Timothy O'Brien (Mathematics and Statistics) and Dr. Martina Schmeling (Chemistry)
Project: The Relationship Between Local Meteorology and Atmospheric Constituents
Fellow: Amit Bansal
Mentor: Dr. John Kelly (Biology)
Project: Impacts of Elevated Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide on Fungi Colonizing Leaf Detritus in a Temperate Woodland Stream
Fellow: Lane Barham
Mentor: Dr. Nancy Tuchman (Biology)
Project: Does Invasive Typha x glauca Enhance Nitrogen Fixation Relative to Native Plant Communities?
Fellow: Drew Lee
Mentor: Dr. Emma Rosi-Marshall (Biology)
Project: The Ecological Impact of Urbanization on the Metropolitan Rivers of Chicago: The Proximal Effects of Wastewater Effluent on the Growth Rates of Gammarus fasciatus and Microbial Community Respiration
Fellow: Kyle Scott
Mentor: Dr. Martina Schmeling (Chemistry)
Project: The Collection and Organization of Data Concerning the Loyola University Chicago Air Station
Please contact Gina Lettiere for information on how to participate in the CUERP Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program.