Grant Recipients
College of Life Sciences and Agriculture (COLSA)
2011 Undergraduate Research Award (URA)
Kelly Boisvert, Biology: Ecology, Evolution & Behavior
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Michelle Scott, Biological Sciences
Topic: Social Learning and Problem Solving in the Common Raccoon (Procyon lotor)
Christopher Bottom, Wildlife Ecology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. John A. Litvaitis, Natural Resources
Topic: Using Remotely Triggered Cameras to Identify Habitat Use Patterns by Bobcats (Lynx rufus) in New Hampshire
Andrew Butler, Zoology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Adrienne Kovach, Natural Resources
Topic: Hybridization between Rare New England Cottontails and Common Eastern Cottontails: Genetic Results Using Microsatellite DNA and Implications for Conservation of a Declining Species
Gina Chaput, Genetics
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Estelle Hrabak, Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences
Topic: Isolating and Cloning the Chlorella accD Gene for Use in Increasing Lipid Production
Rachel Donner, Microbiology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Cheryl Whistler, Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences
Topic: 20,000 Leagues Under tadC: The Adaptive Benefits of tadC in the Squid-Vibrio Symbiosis Experimental Evolution
Morgan Dube, Biology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Donald Chandler, Zoology
Topic: Distribution and Abundance of Odonata from a Longitudinal Transect of the Lamprey River
Elizabeth Dwinell, Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Richard Cote, Molecular, Cellular, & Biomedical Sciences
Topic: Recombinant Expression of Phosphodiesterase (PDE) for Studying Differences between the Photoreceptor (PDE6) and Smooth-Muscle (PDE5) Enzyme Families
Ryan Finethy, Biochemistry
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Feixia Chu, Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences
Topic: Quantitative Analysis of Histone Modifications Resulting from the DNA Damage Response
Bridget Foley, Zoology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Adrienne Kovach, Natural Resources
Topic: Mitochondrial DNA Variation in the New England Cottontail
Haeleigh Hyatt, Zoology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Michelle Scott, Biological Sciences
Topic: Can Dogs Understand Human Cues Even with Distractions?
Suzanne Johnson, Zoology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Winsor Watson, Biological Sciences
Topic: The Effect of Burying on Horseshoe Crab Heart and Respiration Rate
Christina Loporcaro, Biochemistry/Pre-Med
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Richard Cote, Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences
Topic: The Molecular Basis of Differences in Light Responsiveness of Rods and Cones: Role of the PDE6 Inhibitory Subunit
Ashley Matthews, Nutritional Sciences
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Subhash Minocha, Biological Sciences
Topic: Optimizing the Production of a Taste-Bud Modifying Protein (Miraculin)
Reed Mitchell, Zoology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Winsor Watson, Biological Sciences
Topic: Detecting the Presence and Location of Circadian Neurons in the Marine Gastropod Melibe leonina
Alyssa Mixon, Biology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Anita Klein, Biological Sciences
Topic: An Investigation of Zostera marina (Eelgrass) Resilience through Genetic Diversity in the New England and New York Coastal Areas
Katrina Papanastassiou, Zoology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Adrienne Kovach, Natural Resources
Topic: Investigating Fine-Scale Genetic Structure within Populations of Saltmarsh Sparrows
Hannah Rankin, Biochemistry
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Anthony Tagliaferro, Molecular, Cellular, & Biomedical Sciences
Topic: Research Study to Characterize Phagocytosis Behavior of 3D4/31 Porcine Alveolar Macrophages In Vitro
Michael Sellarole, Biology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Subhash Minocha, Biological Sciences
Topic: Sticky Tomatoes: Production of Barnacle Glue in Tomato Fruit
Brittany Welch, ANSC: PreVet
Faculty Mentor: Prof. David Townson, Molecular, Cellular, & Biomedical Sciences
Topic: Comparison of Effectiveness of Daily Deworming with Pyrantel Tartrate to Rotational Deworming with Pyrantel Pamoate
William Wyman, Biomedical Sciences: Medical Microbiology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Kevin Culligan, Molecular, Cellular, & Biomedical Sciences
Topic: Identification of Novel atr “Suppressor” Mutants in Arabidopsis thaliana
2011 Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Abroad
Alyssa Mixon, Biology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Anita Klein, Biological Sciences
Research Site: Groningen, Netherlands
Topic: An Investigation of Zostera marina (Seagrass) Resilience through Genetic Diversity in the Northern Hemisphere
2011 Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) USA
Andrew Blake, Neuroscience and Behavior
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Robert Mair, Psychology
Topic: The Effects of Subiculum on Pre-Frontal Cortex in Spatial Memory Tasks
Amanda Cavanaugh, Zoology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Brett Gibson, Psychology
Topic: Long-Distance Travelling Salesperson Problem in Pigeons
Jessica R. Child, Biochemistry
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Jill McGaughy, Psychology
Topic: The Effects of Enrichment on Sustained Attention
Elora Demers, Biochemistry
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Estelle Hrabak, Plant Biology and Genetics
Topic: Arabidopsis thaliana Mutant Screen to Identify Mutations in the PP2A Pathway
Stephen Dunn, Genetics
Faculty Mentor: Prof. John Collins, Genetics
Topic: A Study of Src: Tracing the Evolution of a Cancer Gene
Umija Durakovic, Biochemistry
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Louis Tisa, Molecular, Cellular, & Biomedical Sciences
Topic: Identification of Putative Genes Involved in Antimicrobial Production of Photorhabdus temperata
Hannah Eldred, Microbiology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Charles Walker, Molecular, Cellular, & Biomedical Sciences
Topic: Does Cytoplasmic Sequestration of p53 Occur in Patient Derived Neuroblastoma Cells and is the Mitochondrial Hsp70 Protein Mortalin Involved?
Ryan Finethy, Biochemistry
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Feixia Chu, Molecular, Cellular, & Biomedical Sciences
Topic: Investigating the Role of H2AX Serine 121 phosphorylation in the DNA Damage Response
Matthew Gerding, Microbiology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Cheryl Whistler, Genetics
Topic: Can a Direct Method for Characterizing the Virulence of Vibrio parahaemolyticus Be Found within Fruit Fly Infections?
Taylor Hickman, Biochemistry
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Feixia Chu, Molecular, Cellular, & Biomedical Sciences
Topic: Epigenetic Regulation in Rett Syndrome
Katherine Lantz, Medical Laboratory Science
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Subhash Minocha, Molecular, Cellular, & Biomedical Sciences
Topic: Production of Human Alpha-Galactosidase A in Plants: Do I Have the Right Thing?
Adam Marquis, Wildlife and Conservation Biology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Kimberly Babbitt, Natural Resources
Topic: Landscape and Local-Scale Effects on Stream Salamanders in Southeastern New Hampshire
Elizabeth Orlowicz, Biology: Marine & Freshwater
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Marion Girard-Dorsey, History
Topic: Total War and the Masters of Surviving: Propaganda and Advertising of World War II Companies
Jonathan K. Trudeau, Wildlife and Conservation Biology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Peter Pekins, Natural Resources
Topic: Ecology and Social Structure of Black Bears in Central New Hampshire
Lindsey Wright, Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Richard Smith, Natural Resources and the Environment
Topic: Do Forest Edges Mediate Community Invisibility in Pastures?
2011 International Research Opportunities Program (IROP)
Jacqueline Amante, Environmental Science: Ecosystems
Research Site: Abisko, Sweden
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Ruth Varner, Complex Systems Research Center
Foreign Faculty Mentor: Prof. Patrick Crill, Stockholm University
Topic: QuantifyingMethane Ebullitive Flux from Subarctic Ecosystems
Tyler Burks, Biology: Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology
Research Site: Wageningen, Holland
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Robert Taylor, Biological Sciences
Foreign Faculty Mentor: Prof. Henk Parmentier, Wageningen University
Topic: Identifying Immune Spectratypes in Lines Selected for Differential Antibody Response
2011 Research Experience and Apprenticeship Program (REAP)
Emily Spognardi, Wildlife Ecology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Peter Pekins, Natural Resources
Topic: Field Research in Wildlife Management: Habitat Use of American Martens and Movements of Translocated Nuisance Black Bears
2011 Research Presentation Grant
Alyssa Birt, Animal Science
Project Title: Genetic Expression of Fas in the Bovine Corpus
Conference: National Conference on Undergraduate Research
Gina Chaput, Genetics
Project Title: Utilization of Waste Water for Microalgae Oil Feedstock
Conference: Energy, Utility, & Environment
Elise Koob, Biology: Marine & Freshwater
Project Title: Age, Growth and Maturity of Golden Trevally (Gnathanodon specieosus) in Australian Waters
Conference: National Conference on Undergraduate Research
Stephen McKernan, Biology: Molecular, Cellular and Developmental
Project Title: A Comparison of Tide Pool Populations of Codim fragile ssp. fragile within the Brave Boat Harbor Estuary, York-Kittery, ME
Conference: Northeast Algal Symposium
2011 Honors Thesis Grant
Andraya Ehrlich, Biology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Thomas Laue, Molecular, Cellular & Biomedical Sciences
Thesis: Measurement of Ribonuclease Sa Charge Variants with Membrane-Confined Electrophoresis
2010 Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship
(SURF) USA
Kimberly Archambault, Molecular, Cellular, & Developmental Biology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Charles Walker, Molecular, Cellular, & Biomedical Sciences
Project: The Role of the Deubiquinase, HAUSP in the Induction of Apoptosis in Human Colorectal Cancer Cells and Cancerous Clam Hemocytes
Alyssa Birt, Animal Science: Bioscience & Technology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. David Townson, Molecular, Cellular, & Biomedical Sciences
Project: Genetic Expression of Fas in the Bovine Corpus Luteum
Kirsten Bruell, Molecular, Cellular, & Developmental Biology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Estelle Hrabak, Molecular, Cellular, & Biomedical Sciences
Project: Examining the Distribution of Auxin in the Root Tips of the Arabidopsis thaliana a1 Mutant in Response to Gravity Stimulation
Tyler Burks, Molecular, Cellular, & Developmental Biology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Robert Taylor, Biological Sciences
Project: Differential Gene Expression in Developing Immune Tissue from High and Low Antibody Response Chicken Lines
Jeremy Dobbins-Bucklad, Biochemistry
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Clyde Denis, Molecular, Cellular, & Biomedical Sciences
Project: The Effects of Stress Conditions on Protein Translation: Observing Effect through Analysis of 48S Complex Formation and Steady-State Levels
Mitchell Granoff, Biochemistry
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Clyde Denis, Molecular, Cellular, & Biomedical Sciences Project: Evaluating Identification of Novel Protein in the Translation Initiation Complex
Kristen Greene, Animal Science: Pre-Vet
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Andre Brito, Biological Sciences
Project: Molasses as an Alternative Energy Feed Source for Organic Dairies
Suzanne LaChance, Zoology
Research Site: Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, FL
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Michelle Scott, Biological Sciences
Onsite Faculty Mentor: Ms. Holly West, Mote Marine Laboratory
Project: Environmental Enrichment of Blind (Chelonia mydas) and Fully-Sighted (Caretta caretta) Sea Turtles
Katherine Lantz, Medical Laboratory Science
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Subhash Minocha, Biological Sciences
Project: Analysis of Plant-Produced Enzymes for Use in Enzyme Replacement Therapy
Stephen McKernan, Molecular, Cellular, & Developmental Biology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Anita Klein, Biological Sciences
Project: An Investigation of the Invasion Pattern and Reproductive Strategy of the Invasive Species Codium fragile in the Northwest Atlantic Based on Molecular and Ecological Data
Allison McQueen, Biology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Gale Carey, Molecular, Cellular, & Biomedical Sciences
Project: Brominated Flame Retardants: Do They Affect Liver Glucose Metabolism?
Ashley Miranda, Animal Science: Pre-Vet
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Andre Brito, Biological Sciences
Project: In Vitro Gas Profile of High- and Low-Sugar Alfalfa Supplemented with Molasses or Corn Meal
Daniel Mulhern, Biochemistry
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Charles Walker, Molecular, Cellular, & Biomedical Sciences Project: Is the Mitochondrial Heat Shock Protein Mortalin Involved in Cytoplasmic Sequestration of p53 in Human Neuroblastoma Cells?
Katrina Papanastassiou, Zoology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Adrienne Kovach, Natural Resources & The Environment
Project: The Effects of Researcher Activity on the Nesting Success of Saltmarsh Sparrows
Ciara Dimou, Biology
Dana Daukss, Biochemistry
Kristen Gazda, Biology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Stacia Sower, Molecular, Cellular, & Biomedical Sciences
Project: The Effects of Novel Lamprey Rfamide Peptides in Petromyzon marinus (Sea Lamprey) Neuroendocrine System
Kristin Duclos, Biology: Marine & Freshwater
Daniel Merselis, Molecular, Cellular, & Developmental Biology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. David Berlinsky, Biological Sciences
Project: The Effect of Salinity on Growth and Relative Expression of Na/K ATPase in Rainbow Smelt (Osmerus mordax)
2010 Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship
(SURF) Abroad
Elise Koob, Biology: Marine & Freshwater
Research Site: Brisbane, Australia
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Molly Lutcavage, Biological Sciences
Foreign Mentor: Dr. Shane Griffiths, Marine & Atmospheric Research
Project: Biology and Feeding Ecology of Golden Trevally (Gnathanodon speciosous) in Australian Waters
2010 International Research Opportunities Program (IROP)
Abigail Boduch, Biochemistry/ International Affairs
Research Site: Madrid, Spain
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Kevin Culligan, Molecular, Cellular, & Biomedical Sciences
Foreign Faculty Mentor: Prof. Cristano Gutierrez, University Autonoma of Madrid
Project:Exploration of GL2-Expression Modulator (GEM)
Henry Jones, Wildlife Ecology
Research Site: Evenstad, Norway
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Peter Pekins, Natural Resources
Foreign Faculty Mentor: Dr. Torstein Storass, Hedmark University
Project: Predation on Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) Nests – Losses to Different Predators
Katherine Lawrence, Biochemistry
Research Site: Madrid, Spain
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Thomas Laue,
Molecular, Cellular, & Biomedical Sciences
Foreign Faculty Mentor: Dr. German Rivas, University of Madrid
Project: Determining Physical Properties of Macromolecules in Crowded Solutions
Natallia Leuchanka, Environmental Science/International Affairs
Research Site: Quintana Roo, Mexico
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Barrett Rock, Natural Resources
Foreign Faculty Mentor: Mr. Sam Meacham, CINDAQ
Project: Remote Sensing of Forest Types in the Maya Mountains of Belize
Althea Marks, Environmental Science
Research Site: Nanjing, China
Faculty Mentor: Prof. William McDowell, Natural Resources
Foreign Faculty Mentor: Dr. Honghua Ruan, Nanjing Forestry University
Project: Relationships between Soil C:N and Stream DOC, Stream Nitrate, and Elevation in the Wuyi Mountains, Fujian and Jiangxi Provinces, China
2010 Undergraduate Research Award
Audra Chaput, Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Michelle Scott, Biological Sciences
Project: Courtship or Combat? How Male Siamese Fighting Fish Communicate in Mixed-Sex Social Environments and the Effect of Nest Possession on Their Display Behavior
Lindsay Chase, Animal Science, Pre-Vet
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Andre Brito, Organic Dairy Management
Project: Effect of Kelp on Growth of Dairy Calves
Alexander Cubberley, Biochemistry
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Charles Walker, Molecular, Cellular, & Biomedical Sciences
Project: Transport of p53 to the Mitochondria
Natalie Delfosse, Nutritional Sciences
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Jesse Morrell, Molecular, Cellular, & Biomedical Sciences
Project: Chronic Disease Risk Factors in College-Aged Adults
Kiely Feldman, Environmental Conservation
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Erik Hobbie, Complex Systems Research Center
Project: Comparing Carbon and Nitrogen Cycling in Conventional and Organic Dairies at UNH
Norman H. Hassell, Microbiology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Cheryl Whistler, Molecular, Cellular, & Biomedical Sciences
Project: Determining the Role of Siderophore in Vibrio-Euprymna Symbiosis: Iron Acquisition versus Protection from Oxidative Stress
Haeleigh Hyatt, Zoology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Estelle Hrabak, Molecular, Cellular, & Biomedical Sciences
Project: Orchid Propagation: Keiki Inducement in Phalaenopsis and Seed Germination
Ciara Kazakis, Molecular, Cellular, & Developmental Biology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Stacia Sower, Molecular, Cellular, & Biomedical Sciences
Project: Specificity Determination and Characterization of a Specific Polyclonal Lamprey GnRH-II Antibody
Katherine Lantz, Medical Laboratory Science
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Subhash Minocha, Biological Sciences
Project: Inexpensive Production of Enzymes for Use in Enzyme Replacement Therapy: Using Tobacco as a Bioreactor
Andrew McDermott, Biochemistry
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Michael Lesser, Molecular, Cellular, & Biomedical Sciences
Project: Sequencing of Superoxide Dismutase Genes in the Symbiotic Algae (Symbidinium sp.) of Tropical Anemones and Their Response to Oxidative Stress
Anna Tyzik, Medical Laboratory Science
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Cheryl Whistler, Molecular, Cellular, & Biomedical Sciences
Project: A Killer in the Water: Environmental Vibrio cholerae Confirmed in the Great Bay Estuary
Evelyn Yuen, Nutritional Sciences
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Jesse Morrell, Molecular, Cellular, & Biomedical Sciences
Project: Physical Activity and Bone Health of College Students
Amy Dickson, Zoology
Katie Jennings, Biology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Wayne Fagerberg, Molecular, Cellular, & Biomedical Sciences
Project: Tissue Dynamics of the Capture Phase of the Venus Flytrap Closure
Melanie D’Andrea, Biology
Jordan Morelli, Biology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Estelle Hrabak, Molecular, Cellular, & Biomedical Sciences
Project: Identifying Palmitoyltransferase Mutants in Arabidopsis thaliana
2010 Research Presentation Grant
Caryn MacDonald, Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology
Project Title: Identification of Two Novel Type-II GnRH Receptors in the Sea Lamprey, a Basal Vertebrate
Conference: Society of Comparative and Integrative Biology, Seattle, WA
Margret Mansfield, Microbiology
Project Title: Using Confocal Microscopy to Study the Infection of Mentha longifolia by a GFP Strain of the Verticillium Wilt Pathogen
Conference: American Phytopathological Society 2010 Meeting, Nashville, TN
Riley Nolan, General Biology
Project Title: Potential of the Invasive Colonial Ascidian, Didemnum vexillum, to Limit Swimming Behavior of the Sea Scallop, Placopecten magellanicus
Conference: International Invasive Sea Squirt Conference, Woods Hole, MA
Rebecca Riding, Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology
Project Title: Detecting Interactions between PP2A C Subunit Genes and PP2A-Interacting Proteins in Arabidopsis thaliana
Conference: American Society of Plant Biologists, Garden City, NY
Kaylene Szeto, Zoology
Project Title: Assessing Rapid Evolution of the Chemical Recognition of an Invasive Crab Species in Tasmania
Conference: International Conference on Marine Bioinvasions, Portland, OR
2010 Honors Thesis Grant
Amy Beliveau, Nutritional Sciences
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Joanne Curran-Celentano, Molecular, Cellular & Biomedical Sciences
Thesis: Phytonutrients in Microgreens
