Loyola University Chicago

2013-14 Provost Fellows

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    Amelia Auchstetter

    As a psychology major, I became interested in conducting research in developmental psychology. I now want to investigate differences in parent-child interactions during an engineering task and determine whether these differences impact the child’s learning.
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    Abdul Ahad Bagsarawala

    Seeing my parents treat patients with Malaria, I have always wanted to help them. This is what drew me to the Kanzok Malaria lab. Having spent a semester learning about the Malaria parasite, I have realized how essential research is in eradication of this disease that kills millions worldwide.
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    Hadeel Barrawi

    I am a junior double-majoring in Biology and Psychology with a minor in Neuroscience. Under Dr. Silton in the CAN Lab, we are researching depression and coping mechanisms. Outside the lab, I volunteer as an Arabic interpreter for refugees, helping with mental disorder diagnoses.
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    Juan Basadre

    I am a History and an Anthropology - Sociology major. I work with Dr. Dossey to see how culture affects sleep, and to reconstruct the daily life of the ancient Romans. When I am not reading, I spend much of my time playing club football for Loyola.
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    Cassondra Batz

    I was raised to believe I accomplish anything I put my mind to, and this mindset has given me direction and inspiration. It has lead me to seek opportunities like the Provost Fellowship, which allows me combine two loves: psychology and research. It also provided inspiration for my research.
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    William Beischel

    I love being in psychology because I’ve been able to do a wide range of research, including neurobiology, cognitive neuroscience, and public health. Studying the mind and brain reveals what truly makes us human, and those visceral discoveries are what drives me to do research.
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    Kristina Bemis

    My interest in foster children started when my brother became a foster parent. Seeing the foster care system from that perspective I realized how many obstacles these children face. Working with Doctor Pryce, I have learned about the cause and effect of these obstacles and how to help.
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    Nina Berman

    As a double major in Women's Studies Gender Studies and English, looking at feminist literary criticism and ways of reading Virginia Woolf seems like a perfect fit. When I am not sitting quietly reading Woolf criticism, I enjoy light snacking and good conversation.
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    Jonathan Brenner

    Bioinformatics presents the exciting challenge of using computational tools to develop creative and unique solutions to the many questions raised by our growing understanding in all areas of biology.
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    Maureen Burns

    Conducting community based research with youth and listening to their voice has been a rewarding learning experience. I am particularly excited about the mapping component of my research project and the visual representation of data.
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    Dana Dahhan

    The summer before my sophomore year, I began research in a biochemistry lab under Dr. Ken Olsen. My work here regularly reminds me why I chose my biochem major--it’s amazing how the chemical details can explain biological phenomena.
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    Ekamjeet Dhillon

    Conducting research in the field of neuroscience has been a fascinating and rewarding learning experience that has helped me attain a holistic undergraduate education. I am looking forward to continuing my research endeavors as a Provost Fellow.
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    Andrew Droste

    With a major in Biology I am also minoring in Spanish language. I am the Eminent Correspondent for the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, and a part of the all-male acapella singing group, The Aca’fellas. After undergrad I plan to attend medical school and pursue a degree in oncology.
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    Edward Englestad

    My most inspiring moment was when I was able to stand in a grotto on a Native American reservation in Washington State, that my research subject Pierre Jean De Smet, S.J., had once stood in and used as inspiration for his mission work.
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    Melissa Farmer

    In addition to researching surface chemistry in Dr. Killelea's Scanning Tunneling Microscopy lab, I am also pursuing a major in Forensic Science. I spend my spare time playing bass and organ at the MDS chapel and handcrafting denim and leather goods.
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    Kellen Fisher

    Fairy tales have always interested me since I was a little girl – being able to explore the significance fairy tales have had in their culmination through research is so interesting to me because of how immersed I have been in them growing up.
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    David Gabbert

    Conducting neuroscience research as a Provost fellow has been an invaluable learning experience and has given me the opportunity to apply knowledge I have gained in classes to hands-on situations. I look forward to continuing with lab work.
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    Anton Garazha

    My research project is an interdisciplinary compilation of the evolution, spread, and treatment of the Influenza virus and Staphylococcus bacteria within larger metropolitan centers, analyzed by the tenets of graph theory and a computer simulation.
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    Alex Gilman

    I am a junior at Loyola majoring in Mathematics and Physics. I am researching properties of granular systems with Dr. Jon Bougie. This Provost Fellowship has provided me with an enriching learning experience.
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    Thomas Hatzopoulos

    I began my research freshman year working with Dr. Putonti in her lab, where we have been exploring the effect of mutations within viral genomic regions targeted by CRISPRs on the resistance of bacterial species.
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    David Hullinger

    I'm a senior at Loyola Chicago with a major in Operations Management. Currently, I'm studying the heroic sonnet tradition (which includes poets like Milton and Wordsworth) with the awesome Dr. Kerkering.
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    Jennifer Johnson

    As a Mathematics major I became interested in statistical programs and how they can analyze data. I hope my project aids the university as a whole and helps students and professors with their own research endeavors.
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    Sara Khan

    As an education major, I believe it is extremely important that students complete their homework in order to succeed as learners. My research with Dr. Charles is a comparative study of homework completion in the Target New Transitions programs at Curie and Kelly High Schools
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    Sarah Khalil

    I am a Chemistry major, but I’m also minoring in Math, Biostatistics, and International Studies. When not doing research in Dr. Liu’s lab, I love to volunteer at one of the local hospitals, and I also enjoy crafting and rollerblading.
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    Monica Kulach

    I began my research experience as a sophomore with Dr. Tracy DeHart in the psychology department, and I recently joined Dr. Colleen Conley’s lab to acquire a diverse perspective on different fields of psychology.
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    Jonathan Kusner

    Working with Dr. Olsen has been awesome. We are trying to simulate a couple of reactions for another lab within the Chemistry department. I hope to continue with this project for the rest of my time here at Loyola.
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    Dylan M. LeBlanc

    My work studies the intersection of self, spirituality, and community. I’ve chosen to examine these perennial phenomena from a historical perspective, yet my broad vision is guided by an equally philosophical interest in understanding “modern” concepts of “self”.
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    Michelle Lis

    Being interested in oncology, physics and molecular biology, when I heard of medical physics, I knew it was the career for me. Radiation oncology allows me to apply these three areas to patient cancer treatment studies. When I'm not in the clinic, I train for ballroom dance competition.
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    Michelle Lozano

    I identify with the demographic of the girls in this study and was immediately drawn to learning as much as possible through this psychological research. It has been a new and thrilling learning experience under my extraordinary mentors, Dr. Bohnert and her grad assistant Kimberly.
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    Megan Meagher

    Majoring in History and minoring in Arabic and Islamic World Studies, I have become fascinated with the historical study of religion, particularly Abrahamic religions, in light of their foundational, authoritative texts.
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    Alexander McKeever

    Ever since I started taking photographs, I have been extremely interested and drawn to analog photography ("slow" photography), and wet plate collodion is yet another stepping stone in that vein of exploration.
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    Namrah Mirza

    My research is an interdisciplinary, comparative study of the U.S. and Canada that will use the economic principles of a cost benefit analysis to help uncover some of the underlying ethics that give rise to our healthcare systems.
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    Jack Norris

    I am going into my 4th year at Loyola and am a biology major with a molecular emphasis. I am doing research for Dr. Castignetti pertaining to microbiology and have worked with Dr. Naleway from the chemistry department as well.
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    Lauren Obermueller

    As a senior Social Work major, I have been working with Dr. Julia Pryce for the past year and a half on evaluating the process of aging out of care of orphaned youths in Ethiopia.
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    Abigail Otto

    I am majoring in French as well as minoring in Biology. I work in Dr. Olsen's biochemistry research lab, where we are working to produce a blood substitute. I love applying concepts from lecture to my research. When not in the lab, I enjoy running, knitting, and exploring Chicago.
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    Robert Palumbo

    As a freshman at Loyola I rapidly discovered my interest in the subject of Psychology and Neuroscience. Now a junior, I am eager to begin a project under Dr. Robert Morrison’s mentorship dealing with neural correlates and violent media.
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    Alexandria Peterson

    I came to Loyola as an Anthropology major and have been in love with anthropological research ever since. My main interests are in dental anthropology and osteology. In the future, I want to continue doing more research and pursue a graduate degree.
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    Michael Polowski

    My father, and older brother have history degrees, so you could say that History runs in the family. I have always had a keen interest in historical events, and being able to integrate that passion with my experience in computer science drives my research.
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    Katarzyna Pomian

    My ambitious attitude has led me be able to do research in physic after my first year at Loyola. I love physics, and I am blessed to be able to study stringed instruments and their function.
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    Tracey Riley

    A major in Psychology, I am also minoring in both Women & Gender Studies and Spanish. I am a Phi Beta Kappa member as well as the President of Loyola's Psi Chi chapter. I have always been interested in gender psychology research as well as LGBT studies.
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    Brianna Scharrer

    I have always been passionate about mental health research. The need for more effective treatment options for major depression has become painfully apparent to me as well as to many researchers including my compassionate and gifted mentor, Dr. Rebecca Silton.
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    Angela Serwin

    I am very passionate about social justice issues and their effect on people from different cultures and ethnic backgrounds, and am currently studying the effects of perceived discrimination on individuals and their relationships.
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    Sophia Smith

    Hearing my mother's stories about starting her career in a predominantly male field twenty-five years ago, I assumed sexism was a thing of the past. Through my work with Dr. Mallett and her research lab, I have realized how much further our society has left to go in overcoming this obstacle.
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    Leanne Stacey

    I became a Psychology major because I enjoy learning about people, but I also have other interests like video games. Research provides an opportunity to combine psychology with these interests and to learn more about them in the process.
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    Cydney Stein

    I am currently a senior with a double major in Psychology and Anthropology. For my Provost Fellowship, I am conducting research with a concentration in developmental psychology alongside Dr. Kathleen Kannass. This research will focus on distractibility in infancy.
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    Abigail Strong

    My research project focuses on parts of the genome that was not sequenced or understood by The Human Genome Project. Working with Dr. Doering has helped me understand science beyond what can be taught in the classroom.
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    David Upp

    I love chemistry because it is a part of everything around us. Getting to do research with Dr. Becker has been a great opportunity and it is definitely preparing me for a future in the field.
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    Ashley Wahnschaff

    There is a sense of frustration that many are familiar with. It is the feeling that arises when trying to understand, let alone change, another person’s viewpoint that you simply do not understand. This frustration is my project’s inspiration.
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    Jennifer Wong

    I am a biochemistry major and am minoring in psychology. I have been researching under Dr. Miguel Ballicora since second semester of sophomore year. When not in lab, I enjoy baking, crafting, and playing sports.
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    Jordyn Wright

    Exploring collagen development through Zebrafish in Dr. Dale's lab has enabled me to use the knowledge I gained as a Biochemistry major and apply it to answering biologically relevant questions. When not in the lab, I enjoy drawing and watching independent movies.
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    Taha Zaffar

    Driven by my passion in social work, I find myself with the opportunity to study the relationship between college seniors and their self-identified mentors and the effect that relationship has on the student’s career choice.