Research – The Gatton Academy News

Gatton Academy Adventure Week: Research Fair

August 20, 2014 | News, Research, Student Life | No Comments

Julia Gensheimer and Kelly McKenna

One of the many benefits of coming to the Gatton Academy is the abundance of research opportunities. Academy students are offered the chance to participate in undergraduate research with WKU professors starting as early as their first semester. To introduce the juniors to these opportunities, a research fair was held Monday afternoon. Over 25 faculty and student representatives from a variety of departments came to the Academy to speak with students about their projects. These departments included Chemistry, Architecture and Manufacturing Sciences, Computer Science, Mathematics, Psychology, Physics and Astronomy, Geography and Geology, and Engineering. Both juniors and seniors were excited to learn about current and past studies at WKU. An app for Google Glass, knot theory, graphene synthesis, pollution analysis, mathematical modeling for cancer research, and viewing emotional trends in student growth were just a few of the topics discussed. This was a wonderful chance for the juniors to meet potential research mentors and learn the basics of how to start a project.

Because this was just a sample of the many research opportunities on campus, some students may not have found exactly what they were looking for. Junior Nolan Calhoun was hoping to speak with a biology staff member, but still enjoyed the fair overall: “It was an amazing experience and I think it will really jump start my Gatton career.” Other students previously decided that they were going to wait to participate in research, but still felt the fair was very interesting and informative. By speaking with faculty members and fellow classmates, the juniors are now better prepared to find research mentors if interested with the help of Derick.

Before moving into the Academy, some juniors already committed to a research program known as the Genome Discovery and Exploration Program. This program allows incoming juniors to gain hands-on biology research experience with bacteriophages and become biotechnology certified. Over the summer, students were asked to apply for the program which doubles as a class and a research experience. It is a convenient way to dive into research for those interested. Other students chose to participate in the STEM + Critical Languages program which combines Science, Technology, Engineering and Math subjects with critical language courses such as Arabic and Chinese. STEM + fulfills a research requirement needed to graduate with Honors or Honors with Distinction. It is a great alternative to typical lab work.

Overall, students felt the research fair was a great way to see the variety of opportunities available at WKU. We are very thankful for all of the faculty and student representatives that took the time to share their research with us.

By Gatton Academy

Gatton Academy students participating in summer projects

June 2, 2014 | News, Research | No Comments

Students from the Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky are off to an active summer.

From research internships to community service projects in their home communities, recent graduates and rising high school seniors from the school are engaging across the Commonwealth, nation and world.

Fifty-nine Gatton Academy students will travel internationally for language acquisition, culture study, research and credit-based study abroad. Students will be in China, England, Ireland and Russia.

The Gatton Academy summer internship program started last November as students were introduced to various opportunities. Gatton Academy staff members and the Office of Scholar Development at WKU worked with students as they prepared applications for programs through the winter and spring.

This summer, 91 students are involved in some form of summer learning. Students’ plans are listed below.

National Science Foundation
Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REUs)

The following three students have been selected for prestigious REUs:

• Nitin Krishna (’14) of Corbin will be a part of the National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis REU at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville.
• Connor VanMeter (’14) of Lexington will be a part of the Ohio State University Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry REU.
• Gretchen Walch (’14) of Alexandria will be a part of the Biological Discovery in Woods Hole REU at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute.

Gatton Research Internship Grant recipients

In its fifth year, the Gatton Research Internship Grant program provides support funding for rising seniors to conduct summer research. Twenty-one students were chosen for summer 2014:

• Dana Biechele-Speziale (’15) of Grayson will be working at the WKU Institute for Combustion Science (ICSET) with Dr. Yan Cao. She will study graphene as a material for energy storage.
• Morgan Blair (’15) of Morehead will be doing research at the Morehead State University Department of Biology and Chemistry. He will be performing water tests to identify sources of contamination.
• Samuel Booth (’15) of Owensboro will be researching with the WKU Department of Mathematics with mentorship from Dr. Claus Ernst. He will study knot theory and program development for theoretical mathematics.
• Andrew Brown (’15) of Central City will work in the Theoretical Division at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico with Dr. Xianzhu Tang studying plasma physics for magnetic fusion energy.
• Justin Bunch (’15) of Elizabethtown will perform research at the University of Kentucky’s Markey Cancer Center with mentorship from Dr. Theresa Fan. He will study lung cancer metabolism.
• Erin Burba (’15) of Paducah will be conducting research at the University of Louisville’s Department of Biology with Dr. Sarah Emery. She will study cellulosic biofuel stock crops on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.
• Lydia Buzzard (’15) of Hopkinsville will be using Google Glass to develop an app for WKU with a team of researchers under the mentorship of Dr. Uta Ziegler at the WKU Department of Computer Science.
• Brian Carlson (’15) of Stanford will be programming to develop a model intermolecular Fluorescence with Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) under Dr. Wieb Vandermeer of the WKU Department of Physics and Astronomy.
• Benjamin Guthrie (’15) of Bowling Green will be working at WKU’s Applied Physics Institute with Dr. Phillip Womble to study micro-sized nuclear power sources.
• Logan Houchens (’15) of Crestwood will work with a team of researchers led by Dr. Uta Ziegler in the WKU Department of Computer Science to develop an app for WKU using Google Glass.
• Brad Hull (’15) of Crestwood will research at the University of Louisville’s Department of Microbiology and Immunology under the mentorship of Dr. Donghoon Chung. He will study molecular interactions of virus replicase proteins.
• Peter Kaminski (’15) of Owensboro will use Google Glass to develop an app for WKU with a team of researchers led by the WKU Department of Computer Science’s Dr. Uta Ziegler.
• Elizaveta Khenner (’15) of Bowling Green will conduct research at Russia’s Perm State National Research University with Dr. Maria Kuyukina. Khenner will study the biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons in a fluidized-bed bioreactor using immobilized Rhodococcus actinobacteria.
• Paige Kington (’15) of Manitou will research with Dr. Ajay Srivastava in WKU’s Department of Biology. She will study the ability of Lunasin to suppress tumor migration/growth in the model organism Drosophila.
• Dimitri Leggas (’15) of Lexington will continue research calculations of stationary scattering states in 1D problems. His work is mentored by Dr. Jeremy Maddox of the WKU Department of Chemistry.
• Augustus Madsen (’15) of Cynthiana will be working at the WKU Institute for Combustion Science (ICSET) with Dr. Yan Cao.
• Vir Patel (’15) of Hopkinsville will do research at Vanderbilt University’s Center for Human Genetics Research. He will use computational biology to trace evolutionary origins of different classes of human disease genes.
• Valerie Richmond (’15) of Bowling Green will continue research with the WKU Department of Chemistry’s Dr. Matthew Nee. Her research uses infrared spectroscopy to study the effect of ionic strength on the structure of nitrate ion.
• Ananya Sharma (’15) of Bowling Green will be studying how silver nanoparticles are taken up by various tissues in the model organism Drosophila in Dr. Ajay Srivastava’s lab at WKU’s Department of Biology.
• William Walters (’15) of Lexington will continue research with Dr. Lance Hahn in the WKU Department of Psychological Sciences. He in mining Twitter data to study neurological actions of informal internet lexicon.
• Jack Wassom (’15) of Bowling Green will be working with Dr. Muhammad Jahan in the WKU Department of Architectural and Manufacturing Sciences using the micro-EDM to study aerospace materials.

NCSSSMST Student Research Conference

Six Gatton Academy students are presenting research this summer at the National Consortium for Specialized Secondary Schools of Math, Science, and Technology (NCSSSMST) Student Research Conference at the University of Louisville. From July 13-16, these students will join approximately 100 other students from across the country to share their research work through oral and poster presentations. Gatton Academy representatives and their presentation titles are:

• Justin Bunch (’15) of Elizabethtown will give a presentation titled “Discovery and Genomic Comparison of Bacteriophages BustinJunch and Kimya”
• Rachel Cook (’15) of Perryville will present “Discovery and Analysis of Mycobacteriophages Cookland and Enyo”
• Julia Gensheimer (’15) of Bowling Green will present “Scalable Production of Reduced Graphene Oxide (rGO) from Graphite Oxide (GO)”
• Dimitri Leggas (’15) of Lexington will present “Principles of Bipolar Superposition”
• Rena Ryumae (’15) of Union will present a research poster titled “The association of a variant in IRF7 and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)”
• Ananya Sharma (’15) of Bowling green will present “Characterization of Novel Mycobacteriophages Isolated from Different Locations in Kentucky”

Experiences Abroad

This summer, 59 Gatton Academy students will be traveling abroad for study.

National Security Language Initiative-for Youth (NSLI-Y)

Sarah Angelle (’14) of Monticello has received an NSLI-Y scholarship for six weeks of intensive Chinese study in China. The scholarship covers all program costs, travel to China, tuition, housing with a host family, activities, and more. These merit-based scholarships are for high school students studying less commonly taught languages.

Confucius Institute’s High School China Summer Bridge Program 2014

For two weeks in July, five students will travel to China visiting cultural sites and participating in language courses and learning traditional activities thanks to funding from the Confucius Institute’s Confucius Classroom program.

• Dana Biechele-Speziale (’15) of Grayson
• Annabeth Burke (’14) of Mt. Washington
• Kain Kotoucek (’15) of Franklin
• Logan Mitchell (’14) of Hebron
• Joshua “Blake” Sutton (’15) of Franklin

England

Now in its fourth year, the Gatton Academy is once again partnering with Harlaxton College in Grantham, England, to offer a study abroad course. The following students will study Honors: Introduction to Literature with Professor Walker Rutledge of the WKU Department of English:

• Katherine Allen (’15) of Kevil
• Melissa Anderson (’15) of Frankfort
• Meredith Bickett (’15) of Owensboro
• Morgan Blair (’15) of Morehead
• Michael Blankenship (’15) of Stopover
• India Blasser (’15) of Henderson
• Sam Booth (’15) of Owensboro
• Anna Braun (’15) of Union
• Shelbi Broeking (’15) of Winchester
• Andrew Brown (’15) of Central City
• Ian Canedo-Muzevic (’15) of Guthrie
• Brian Carlson (’15) of Stanford
• David Chamberlain (’15) of Winchester
• Rachel Cook (’15) of Perryville
• Jackeline Orozco Cruz (‘15) of Scottsville
• Milan Doan (’15) of Paducah
• Michael Evans (’15) of Beattyville
• Courtney George (’15) of Maysville
• Benjamin Guthrie (’15) of Bowling Green
• Sarah Herricks (’15) of Paducah
• Logan Houchens (’15) of Crestwood
• Cameron Hubbard (’15) of Louisville
• Bradford Hull (’15) of Crestwood
• Taha Husain (’15) of Lexington
• Peter Kaminski (’15) of Owensboro
• Allyson King (’15) of Florence
• Paige Kington (’15) of Manitou
• Dimitri Leggas (’15) of Lexington
• Kelly Lynch (’15) of Glasgow
• Noah Maikranz (’15) of Beaver Dam
• Anna Mayo (’15) of Henderson
• Kelly McKenna (’15) of Crestwood
• Tyler Meeks (’15) of Custer
• John Meyers (’15) of Lexington
• Melissa Murphy (’15) of Owensboro
• Hailey O’Hair (’15) of Jackson
• NaKeya Owens (’15) of London
• Jonathan Patterson (’15) of Georgetown
• Mollie Pope (’15) of Barbourville
• Rachel Price (’15) of Annville
• Benjamin Riley (’15) of Louisville
• Luke Samuel (’15) of Sparta
• Joshua Stewart (’15) of Crestwood
• William Walters (’15) of Lexington
• Lindsay Walton (’15) of Goshen
• Jack Wassom (’15) of Bowling Green
• Jenna Willet (’15) of Fancy Farm
• Noah Williamson (’15) of Taylorsville
• Sarah Yount (’15) of Jackson
• Phoebe Zimmerer (’15) of Dexter

Ireland

Two students will study with the WKU faculty-led study abroad Landscapes of the Supernatural course with Erin Greunke and Jacob Buechler.

• Abigail Boone (’15) of Simpsonville
• Cameron Hubbard (’15) of Louisville

Other Notable Individual Summer Experiences

• Corbin Allender (’14) of Bardstown is planning a “workaway” summer in Europe.
• Grace Babbs (’14) of Paducah will be completing an internship with the Kentucky Biomedical Research Infrastructure Network (KBRIN) with Dr. Brian Rymond.
• Meredith Bickett (’15) of Owensboro will work as a pharmacy technician. She will also attend the Sam Fox School of Architecture Discovery Program at Washington University in St. Louis.
• Aaron Brzowski (’14) of Owensboro will travel to Nepal for nonprofit research, volunteerism, and distribution of water filters through the Project Purus organization that he founded.
• Tori Buckley (’14) of Glasgow will participate in the University of Kentucky’s PEPP Step II Medical/Dental School Preparation Program.
• Nathaniel Clause (’14) of Murray will be participating in the American Regions Mathematics League.
• Samantha Dinga (’14) of La Grange will be completing an internship with the Kentucky Biomedical Research Infrastructure Network (KBRIN) with Dr. Vincent Cassone.
• Ethan Gill (’14) of Bowling Green will be attending the Google I/O annual technology conference in San Francisco.
• Hannah Graff (’14) of Alexandria will be completing a research internship at the Wood Hudson Cancer Research Laboratory in Newport studying breast cancer.
• Harry Heyworth (’14) of Prospect will be working with the Northwest Youth Corps.
• James “Marcus” Hughes (’14) of Marion will intern with the Space Telescope Science Institute 2014 Space Astronomy Summer Program in Baltimore with Dr. Ron Allen.
• Naomi Kellogg (’14) of Elizabethtown will be a counselor with WKU’s Center for Gifted Studies SCATS and VAMPY camps.
• Kelly Lynch (’15) of Glasgow will present research work from the WKU Genome Discovery and Exploration Program at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science Education Alliance PHAGES Symposium at the HHMI Janelia Farm campus in Ashburn, Virginia.
• Muhammad “Suhaib” Mahmood (’14) of Crestwood is planning a “workaway” summer in Europe.
• Jon “Alex” Malone (’14) of Pikeville will be competing in the National Academic Quiz Tournament High School National Championship and in the High School Academic Pyramid Question’s National All-Star Academic Tournament.
• Logan Mitchell (’14) of Hebron will be a research intern with WKU’s Hoffman Environmental Research Institute.
• Patrick Osterhaus (’14) of Paducah has been chosen as an intern with The Jackson Laboratory’s Summer Student Program in Bar Harbor, ME.
• Hannah Rodgers (’14) of Verona will shadow a general practitioner.
• Austin Smith (’14) of La Grange will be completing an internship with the Kentucky Biomedical Research Infrastructure Network (KBRIN).
• Vishnu Tirumala (’14) of Corbin will be volunteering at Baptist Regional Medical Center.
• Kevin Ziegler (’14) of Bowling Green will be doing research with Dr. Jarrett Johnson in the WKU Department of Biology.
• Melissa Anderson (’15) of Frankfort will be interning at Lockheed Martin.
• Michael Blankenship (’15) of Stopover will intern in Savannah State University’s Bridge to Marine Science program in Savannah, Ga.
• India Blasser (’15) of Henderson will be volunteering at Methodist Hospital in Henderson and at St. Mary’s Health System in Evansville, Ind.
• Abigail Boone (’15) of Simpsonville will be completing coursework through WKU.
• Anna Braun (’15) of Union will be a participant in Operation Catapult at the Rose Hulman Institute of Technology.
• Michael Evans (’15) of Beattyville will be completing coursework through WKU.
• Julia Gensheimer (’15) of Bowling Green will be doing a research internship at WKU’s Institute for Combustion Science (ICSET). She will also be presenting research at the 248th American Chemical Society’s National Meeting and Exposition in San Francisco.
• Courtney George (’15) of Maysville will be completing coursework through the Maysville Community and Technical College.
• Benjamin Guthrie (’15) of Bowling Green will be completing coursework through WKU.
• Sarah Herricks (’15) of Paducah will be completing coursework online.
• Peter Kaminski (’15) of Owensboro will participate in the Air Force Academy’s Summer Seminar in Colorado Springs, Colo.
• Allyson King (’15) of Florence will intern with the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center’s Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) with Dr. David Moore.
• Kelly McKenna (’15) of Crestwood will be a counselor with the Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana camp.
• Melissa Murphy (’15) of Owensboro will be interning with dermatologist Dr. Nicole Brey.
• Kathryn “Rachel” Price (’15) of Annville will be completing a service project at the McCreary County Park and will be doing online coursework.
• Cameron Richards (’15) of Bowling Green will be participating in the Summer College Audition Program at the Jacob’s School of Music at the Indiana University-Bloomington. He will also be doing coursework through WKU.
• Valerie Richmond (’15) of Bowling Green will be participating in the Women’s Technology Program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
• Benjamin Riley (’15) of Louisville will continue research with Dr. Ting-Hui Lee of the WKU Department of Physics and Astronomy.
• Rena Ryumae (’15) of Union will be doing a research internship at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center with Dr. Leah Kottyan. She will also be volunteering in the nursing unit at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Florence and completing coursework through WKU.
• Saralinda Schell (’15) of Bowling Green will participate in the Arabic Summer Institute at the University of Texas at Austin.
• Christian Simms (’15) of Bardstown will participate in the United States Naval Academy Summer Seminar in Annapolis, Md., the United States Air Force Summer Seminar in Colorado Springs, Colo., and the United States Military Academy’s Summer Seminar in West Point, N.Y. He will also complete an internship at Unus LLC in Birmingham, Ala.
• Joshua Stewart (’15) of Crestwood will participate in the University of Kentucky’s Health Researchers Youth Academy.He will also present research work from the WKU Genome Discovery and Exploration Program at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science Education Alliance PHAGES Symposium at the HHMI Janelia Farm campus in Ashburn, Virginia.
• Sarah Yount (’15) of Jackson will be conducting research in the Robinson Forest with the University of Kentucky.

About the Gatton Academy: Established in 2007, the Gatton Academy is Kentucky’s high school for gifted and talented junior and seniors. Gatton Academy students enroll early as full-time WKU students to pursue their interests in advanced science, technology, engineering and mathematics careers. Newsweek named the Gatton Academy the number one public high school in the United States in 2012 and 2013.

Contact: Derick Strode, (270) 745-6565.

By Gatton Academy

Gatton Academy Adventure Week: Research Fair

August 20, 2013 | News, Research | No Comments

[fblike] Samantha Dinga

At the Gatton Academy, one of the unique opportunities given to students is the ability to participate in and to present research. Yesterday, over twenty professors from WKU came and presented their past and current research to the incoming junior class. This was a great opportunity for the students to get to know some of their future professors and to see if they wanted to join their research labs.

The 72 new juniors spent the afternoon learning about the subjects they are passionate about and discovering research projects they hadn’t previously thought of. The booths ranged from mathematics research to psychology-based research, from astrophysics to evolution of the earth itself. Needless to say, there were definitely opportunities for everyone to find something that interested them.

While not everyone found a specific project that piqued their interest, the research professors (and Derick) attempted to connect students to a colleagues who did or were willing to start a new project. This fair was a great way to both get the incoming class into the swing of things here at the Academy.

By Gatton Academy

Gretchen Walch receives recognition at Howard Hughes Medical Institute Symposium

June 18, 2013 | Research, Students, Summer | No Comments

Gretchen Walch, a rising Gatton Academy senior from Alexandria, represented the 2012-13 WKU Genome Discovery and Exploration class at the 5th Annual SEA-PHAGES (Science Education Alliance – Phage Hunters Advancing Genomics and Evolutionary Science) scientific symposium, sponsored by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

Walch received an honorable mention for her presentation entitled “Isolation, Characterization and Genomic Analysis of Mycobacteriophages Achebe, MooMoo, Simpliphy and Updawg.”

The meeting took place June 7-9, 2013 at the Janelia Farm Research campus in Ashburn, VA. At this year’s symposium, there were over 75 undergraduate poster presentations.

Dr. Rodney King and Dr. Claire Rinehart, Professors in WKU’s Department of Biology, have co-mentored Walch over the past year and attended the symposium with her.

“Gretchen was chosen to represent the WKU Genome Discovery and Exploration class because she demonstrated enthusiasm, maturity, perseverance and genuine curiosity,” Dr. King said. “She spent many extra hours in the lab learning as much as she could about her phage and ensuring her lab notebook was complete and up-to-date. Gretchen also embraced the collaborative nature of the scientific process and willingly helped her classmates with laboratory protocols.”

The WKU Biology Department has participated in the SEA-PHAGES program since the fall of 2009. The Genome Discovery and Exploration Program at WKU is designed to engage freshman students in meaningful and authentic research that produces publishable results.

Course participants isolate and sequence novel viruses from the soil, contribute the genomic sequences to a public database and address scientific questions of viral diversity and evolution.

Walch came away from the SEA-PHAGES symposium with a renewed interest in continuing research.

Speaking after the conference, she said, “The SEA-PHAGES Symposium was inspiring. The environment and guest speakers expanded my imagination in research. Every part of the program from the presentations and poster sessions to the meals and coffee breaks fostered the wonderful concept of scientific dialog. My mind has been racing with excitement since I heard the first talk.”

A number of additional Gatton Academy students contributed to the work presented on Walch’s poster. Gatton students who are co-authors on the presentation include: Corbin M. Allender, Grace E. Babbs, Barry C. Blair, Carolyn M. Clark, Joseph E. Crafton, Ajit R. Deshpande, Samantha M. Dinga, Hannah N. Graff, Alex W. Kearns, Azlin L. Lewis, Mary-Grace E. Luscher, Patrick G. Osterhaus, Lindsey R. Porter, Lindsey M. Shain, Domnique C. Thayer, Vishnuteja Tirumala, and Connor M. VanMeter.

For more information about WKU’s SEA-PHAGES research class, contact Dr. Rodney King at rodney.king@wku.edu or Dr. Claire Rinehart at claire.rinehart@wku.edu.

By Gatton Academy

Gatton Academy Students Begin Vast Summer Experiences

June 3, 2013 | Research, Student Life | No Comments

Students from the Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky are prepared for a busy summer. From research internships to shadowing professionals in their home communities, recent graduates and rising high school seniors from the school are following their passions in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) this summer.
Additionally, 35 Gatton Academy students will travel internationally for language acquisition, culture study, and credit-based study abroad. Students will be in China, England, and Jordan.
The Gatton Academy’s summer research and internship program has become a perennial staple within the school’s culture. This year 71 students are involved in some form of summer learning.
Students’ experiences are listed below.

Gatton Research Internship Grant recipients:
Now in its fourth year, the Gatton Research Internship Grant program provides support funding for rising seniors to conduct summer research. Twenty students were chosen for summer 2013:
• Corbin Allender (’14) of Bardstown is researching with Dr. Keith Davis and others at the James Graham Brown Cancer Center at the University of Louisville. Allender will be studying protein changes that occur when lung cancer and melanoma cells are exposed to the anticancer peptide, lunasin.
• Tucker Baker (’14) of Lawrenceburg is continuing research with Dr. Aaron Celestian in the WKU Department of Geography and Geology. The study focuses on nanoporous Earth and engineered materials, with application potentials in energy and petroleum sciences, radioactive waste sepulcration and environmental sciences.
• Aaron Brzowski (’14) of Owensboro is continuing research with Dr. Keith Andrew in the WKU Department of Physics and Astronomy. Brzowski is researching in the field of abstract cosmology, studying the Alcubierre Warp Drive and its possible future use in space exploration.
• Tori Buckley (’14) of Glasgow is continuing her research with Dr. Rajalingam Dakshinamurthy of the WKU Department of Chemistry this summer. Buckley’s work is in developing an efficient purification method for human fibroblast growth factor.
• Fenil Chavda (’14) of Hopkinsville will continue his research work with Dr. Rajalingam Dakshinamurthy in the WKU Department of Chemistry. His project is on the development of a reliable, clean, and eco-friendly chemical process for the synthesis of gold nanoparticles.
• Nathaniel Clause (’14) of Murray is continuing research work with Dr. Richard Schugart of WKU’s Department of Mathematics. Clause is involved in mathematically modeling wound healing.
• John Andrew Cliburn (’14) of Cloverport is continuing research with Dr. Lan Nguyen of WKU’s Department of Mathematics. Cliburn’s study seeks to study a new approach to solve ordinary differential equations, when they appear in bigger spaces such as Banach spaces, and to apply the results to partial differential equations that come from physics, biology, or mechanics.
• Ajit Deshpande (’14) of LaGrange is researching with Dr. Shivendra Sahi of the WKU Department of Biology. He is studying the synthesis of nanoparticles from plant extract.
• Samantha Dinga (’14) of LaGrange is on a research internship at the University of Louisville’s Infant Cognition under the mentorship of Dr. Cara Cashon. Dinga will be studying how adults disengage from faces in a study that may ultimately contribute to knowledge on autism or Williams syndrome.
• Ethan Gill (’14) of Bowling Green is studying under the mentorship of Dr. James Gary in the WKU Department of Computer Science. Gill’s project involves the development of an application for mobile devices that will help users interact and display three-dimensional objects.
• Hannah Graff (’14) of Alexandria is researching at Wood Hudson Cancer Research Laboratory in Newport under the direction of Dr. Heather Christensen. Graff will be working on a project that involves the growth of human breast cancer cells in vitro.
• Isaac Kresse (’14) of Louisville is continuing research with Dr. Matthew Nee in the WKU Department of Chemistry. Kresse’s project involves the development of a reactor in which to study photocatalytic degradation experiments using Raman spectrometry.
• Nitin Krishna (’14) of Corbin is continuing research with Dr. Richard Schugart in the WKU Department of Mathematics. His work involves formulating a mathematical model describing interactions of cells and proteins in a wound.
• Suhaib Mahmood (’14) of Crestwood is continuing research with Dr. Kevin Williams in the WKU Department of Chemistry. His study focuses on a platinum (II) compound that has potential uses with anticancer drugs.
• Logan Mitchell (’14) of Hebron is conducting a research project with Dr. Christopher Groves at WKU’s Hoffman Environmental Research Institute. His project involves developing a year-long hydrologic budget for Crump’s Cave in northern Warren County.
• Hannah Rodgers (’14) of Verona is continuing her research with Dr. Rajalingam Dakshinamurthy of WKU’s Department of Chemistry. Her research focuses on the development of reliable, clean, and eco-friendly synthesis of antibiotic capped gold nanoparticles that could provide an environmentally-friendly way to introduce drugs into biological systems.
• Vishnu Tirumala (’14) of Corbin is researching under the guidance of Dr. Guo-Min Li at the University of Kentucky’s Markey Cancer Center. His study focuses on how post-translational modifications of DNA mismatch repair proteins impact genome integrity and cancer development.
• Connor VanMeter (’14) of Lexington is continuing research under Dr. Rodney King’s mentorship in the WKU Department of Biology. His research is centered on cloning and analyzing newly discovered antiterminator RNA candidates.
• Gretchen Walch (’14) of Alexandria is conducting research with Dr. Clare Bates Congdon at the University of Southern Maine’s Department of Computer Science. Her focus is on gene research that could be a possible prevention of arsenic induced health problems.
• Kevin Ziegler (’14) of Bowling Green is continuing research with Dr. Jarrett Johnson of WKU’s Department of Biology. His summer study will evaluate the prevalence of a novel amphibian pathogen in local populations of pond-breeding amphibians.

NCSSSMST Student Research Conference:
Six Gatton Academy students are presenting research this summer at the National Consortium for Specialized Secondary Schools of Math, Science, and Technology (NCSSSMST) Student Research Conference at Grinnell College in Grinnell, IA. From June 9-12, these students will join approximately 100 other students from across the country to share their research work through oral and poster presentations. Gatton Academy representatives and their presentation titles are:
• John Andrew Cliburn (’14) of Cloverport will give a presentation titled “Exponential Functions on Bigger Spaces”
• Hannah Graff (’14) of Alexandria will present “Discovery and Analysis of Mycobacteriophage CapnHook”
• Isaac Kresse (’14) of Louisville will present “An Analysis of Raman Spectroscopy on Photocatalytic Reactions”
• Lindsey Porter (’14) of Hillsboro will present “The Isolation and Characterization of Mycobacteriophage Pigpen”
• D.J. Richardson (’14) of Winchester will present a research poster titled “Reaction Coordinate Calculations for Simple Chemical Reaction”
• Connor VanMeter (’14) of Lexington will present “MyOTP, a Newly Discovered Mycobacteriophage from Bowling Green, Kentucky”

Experiences Abroad:
National Security Language Initiative-for Youth (NSLI-Y):
Grace Babbs (’14) of Paducah has received an NSLI-Y scholarship for six weeks of intensive Arabic study in Amman, Jordan. The scholarship covers all program costs, travel to Jordan, tuition, housing with a host family, activities, and more. These merit-based scholarships are for high school students studying less commonly taught languages.

Confucius Institute’s Bridge to China Summer Program 2013
For two weeks in July, three students will travel to China visiting cultural sites and participating in language courses and learning traditional activities.
Sarah Angelle (’14) of Monticello
Linda Cruz (’13) of Carrollton
Leslie Wilson (’13) of Munfordville

England
Now in its third year, the Gatton Academy is once again partnering with Harlaxton College in Grantham, England to offer a study abroad course. The following students will study Honors: Introduction to Literature with Professor Walker Rutledge of the WKU Department of English. Students will study literature ranging from Roald Dahl in Great Missenden, the Brontës on the moors near Haworth, and Shakespeare in Stratford-upon-Avon, just to name a few of many stops:

Corbin Allender (’14) of Bardstown
Tori Buckley (’14) of Glasgow
Fenil Chavda (’14) of Hopkinsville
Carolyn Clark (’14) of Lexington
Nathaniel Clause (’14) of Murray
John Andrew Cliburn (’14) of Cloverport
Joseph Crafton (’14) of Spottsville
Elizabeth Dade (’14) of Hopkinsville
Ajit Deshpande (’14) of LaGrange
Samantha Dinga (’14) of LaGrange
Ethan Gill (’14) of Bowling Green
Blake Hardison (’14) of Sebree
Kassandra Harris (’14) of Cadiz
Harry Heyworth (’14) of Prospect
Marcus Hughes (’14) of Marion
Alex Kearns (’14) of Sanders
Naomi Kellogg (’14) of Elizabethtown
Benjamin Koehler (’14) of Union
Isaac Kresse (’14) of Louisville
Mary-Grace Luscher (’14) of Stanford
Logan Mitchell (’14) of Hebron
Shania Polson (’14) of Bowling Green
Lindsey Porter (’14) of Hillsboro
D.J. Richardson (’14) of Winchester
Hannah Rodgers (’14) of Verona
Lindsey Shain (’14) of Cox’s Creek
Mariah Tiller (’14) of Hazard
Vishnu Tirumala (’14) of Corbin
Connor VanMeter (’14) of Lexington
Gretchen Walch (’14) of Alexandria
Hannah Weber (’14) of Alexandria

Other Notable Individual Summer Experiences:

• Cecily Allen (’13) of Danville will work at the Commonwealth Cancer Center.
• John Biechele-Speziale (’13) of Grayson will continue research work with Dr. Eric Conte in the WKU Department of Chemistry.
• Leah Cannady (’13) of Brandenburg is working at the Meade Activity Center Summer Camp.
• Miranda Cruse (’13) of Independence has accepted a psychology internship position through the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital High School Senior Summer Internship Program to work under Dr. Elana Harris.
• Eileen Doan (’13) of Paducah is volunteering at the Sunburst Shakespeare Summer Day Camp at the Public Theatre of Kentucky in Bowling Green.
• Meredith Doughty (’13) of Bowling Green is traveling with the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls Kentucky.
• Elizabeth Gatten (’13) of Sturgis is shadowing University of Louisville geriatrician Dr. Christian Furman.
• Ryan Gott (’13) of Bowling Green is volunteering with the Kentucky YMCA Youth Association’s Y-Corps Service to the South trip. Additionally, he will work as a counselor at the All Saints Summer Camp in Leitchfield.
• Ellen Green (’13) of Henderson will work as a counselor at the All Saints Summer Camp in Leitchfield.
• Adrian Gregory (’13) of Taylorsville recently presented a research poster titled Increasing pre-service teachers’ self-regulation of learning: An intervention study at the 6th Annual Meeting of the Society for the Study of Motivation in Washington, DC.
• Meghan Hall (’13) of Hustonville is continuing research work with Dr. Michael Collyer of the WKU Department of Biology.
• Erica Johnson (’13) of Louisville is working at Camp Invention at Shepherdsville Elementary.
• William Johnson (’13) of Elkton has been selected for a National Conservation Crew with the Student Conservation Association and will volunteer at Isle Royale National Park on the USA/Canada border. Additionally, Johnson is continuing research with Dr. Joel Lenoir in the WKU Department of Engineering.
• Shane Masuda (’13) of Hebron will be starting coursework at the University of California Santa Barbara.
• Dixa Patel (’13) of Owensboro will be working as a counselor for the WKU Center for Gifted Studies’ Summer Camp for Academically Talented Middle School Students (SCATS) and the Summer Program for Verbally and Mathematically Precocious Youth (VAMPY). Additionally, she will be shadowing neurosurgeon Dr. David Eggers in Owensboro.
• Hannah Pennington (’13) of Union is interning with Dr. Darla Cahill at Pediatric Partners of Northern Kentucky. Additionally, she is continuing research work with Dr. Richard Schugart of the WKU Department of Mathematics.
• Madison Preece (’13) of Owensboro is working as an Emergency Room Technician at the Owensboro Health Regional Hospital.
• William Roach-Barrette (’13) of Wellington is conducting systems research at Morehead State University’s Space Science Center.
• Samuel Saarinen (’13) of Shelbyville is continuing research with Dr. Claus Ernst of the WKU Department of Mathematics. Additionally, Saarinen is traveling with the Boy Scouts of America’s High Adventure trips.
• Wayne Schmitt (’13) of Jeffersonville recently presented a research poster titled Stable Isotopic Signatures of Corbicula Flumnea In Riverine Reaches With Differing Cladophora Levels: A Comparative Transplant Study at the Society for Freshwater Science’s 61st Annual Meeting in Jacksonville, FL.
• Thomas Seibold (’13) of Crestwood is completing coursework through WKU.

• Nathaniel Serpico (’13) of Elizabethtown will be volunteering at the Warm Blessings, Inc. in his hometown.
• Ethan Smith (’13) of Lexington is interning at Awesome, Inc., a tech company in his hometown.
• Melissa Smith (’13) of Guthrie is teaching English in Mongolia through the English Language Institute/China.
• Mary Spraggs (’13) of Danville is continuing research with Dr. Steven Gibson in the WKU Department of Physics and Astronomy.
• Aaron Tagliaboschi (’13) of Bowling Green will continue his research with Dr. Jeremy Maddox in the WKU Department of Chemistry.
• Duncan Wood (’13) of Maysville will intern at Carlson Software in his hometown.
• Tori Buckley (’14) of Glasgow will be volunteering at the Medical Center in Bowling Green.
• Carolyn Clark (’14) of Lexington will be researching at the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy with Dr. David J. Feola.
• John Andrew Cliburn (’14) of Cloverport will be volunteering with the WKU Center for Gifted Studies’ Summer Camp for Academically Talented Middle School Students (SCATS) and will complete coursework through WKU.
• Joseph Crafton (’14) of Spottsville will be observing various doctors, surgeons, technicians, nurses, and practitioners at Methodist Hospital in Henderson.
• Collie Crawford (’14) of Elizabethtown is working at Air Hydro Power in Elizabethtown.
• Ethan Gill (’14) of Bowling Green will be attending the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco, CA. Additionally, he will complete an Eagle Scout service project in landscaping on the WKU campus.
• Hannah Graff (’14) of Alexandria will be teaching dance at Manyet Dance in Highland Heights. She will complete coursework through WKU.
• Harry Heyworth (’14) of Prospect will be volunteering at Walden Theatre in Louisville.
• Marcus Hughes (’14) of Marion is interning at the United States Naval Observatory in Flagstaff, AZ through a Department of Navy Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program position.
• Aline Irihamye (’14) of Lexington is participating in the six-week Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Minority Introduction to Engineering and Science program.
• Alex Kearns (’14) of Sanders will work as a counselor at a 4-H Camp in Carlisle.
• Naomi Kellogg (’14) of Elizabethtown will be attending the Youth Governors Conference in Washington, DC, the YMCA Youth Conference on National Affairs in Black Mountain, NC, and the Leadership Training Conference in Columbia, KY.
• Shania Polson (’14) of Bowling Green is job shadowing at All Creatures Animal Hospital.
• Lindsey Shain (’14) of Cox’s Creek is working as a counselor at a 4-H Camp at Lake Cumberland.
• Domnique Thayer (’14) of Foster will be shadowing pediatrician Dr. Michael Coleman in Maysville. Additionally, she will be volunteering at the Robertson County Animal Shelter in Mt. Olivet.
• Mariah Tiller (’14) of Hazard is volunteering at the Hazard/Perry County Senior Center.
• Matthew Turner (’14) of Lewisport is completing coursework through WKU and the Owensboro Community and Technical College.
• Gretchen Walch (’14) of Alexandria will present research work from the WKU Genome Discovery and Exploration Program at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science Education Alliance PHAGES Symposium at the HHMI Janelia Farm campus in Ashburn, Virginia.

By Gatton Academy

Eight Seniors Enter the Siemens Competition

October 3, 2012 | Research | No Comments

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Eight Gatton Academy students recently completed the application process for the Siemens Competition.

Often called the Super Bowl of Science, the Siemens Competition in Math, Science & Technology recognizes remarkable talent early on, fostering individual growth for high school students who are willing to challenge themselves through science research. Through this competition, students have an opportunity to achieve national recognition for science research projects that they complete in high school.

Derick Strode, Assistant Director of Academic Services, discussed the commitment needed to complete a Siemens application.

“The Siemens Competition is so much more than a scholarship contest. The entrants’ applications are the outcomes of a year’s work, the results from a summer spent not at the pool, but in 40-hour-weeks spent researching. In the Gatton Academy, entering this competition is as much like writing a thesis or dissertation as we have,” said Strode.

While completing the application can seem like a daunting process, Sibi Rajendran began working on his application that focused on his neuroscience research during the summer so that he would only have minor revisions to make when his fall coursework began.

“It was a long process with a lengthy application. I was continually working with my mentor. However, working on the project during the summer gave me a head start on the application so I only had small revisions to make during the first weeks of school,” said Rajendran.

Though the Siemens application focuses on a single research project, Sam Saarinen discussed how he learned more about the research process by completing the application.

“The Siemens Competition reinforced the practical aspects of conducting research. When doing research, attention to detail is important even though it takes time,” said Saarinen.

The Siemens Competition Semifinalists and Regional Finalist will be announced on October 19. The following student submitted an application for the Siemens Competition:

David Brown (Central City, KY 42330)
Nick Fedorka (Danville, KY 40422)
Matt Gonzalez (Brodhead, KY 40409)
Emily Gordon (Paducah, KY 42003)
Ryan Gott (Bowling Green, KY 42104)
Sibi Rajendran (Frankfort, KY 40601)
William Roach-Barrette (Wellington, KY 40387)
Samuel Saarinen (Shelbyville, KY 40065)

By Gatton Academy

Summer 5Q: Lexi Sunnenberg spends summer researching with the University of Kentucky Department of Biology

August 6, 2012 | 5Q, Research, Summer | No Comments

Since 2010, the Gatton Academy has offered students the ability to pursue summer research experiences through the Gatton Research Internships Grants (RIG) program. Made possible through the generous support of Mr. Carol Martin “Bill” Gatton, the program offers competitive grants to Gatton Academy students between their junior and senior years to support summertime research internships across the Commonwealth and the world. By providing a funding mechanism, the program directly creates new avenues for growth and exploration. Throughout the summer, we have shared insights from the twelve recipients of the 2012 grants. Today, the series concludes with our final check in with Lexi Sunnenberg.

Lexi Sunnenberg of Lexington spent her summer as a researcher at the University of Kentucky Department of Biology under the mentorship of Dr. Jeffrey Osborn. Lexi researched how varying concentrations of NaCl solutions perfused through the gastrointestinal tract effected Na⁺ absorption and excretion in freshwater-acclimated crayfish.

1. How is this different from the way you think most high school students spend their summers?

I think that most high school students spend their summers just hanging out with friends and going to the pool, but what I’m doing is so much different than that. My summer is all about learning. When I go to work I don’t go to a fast food place, I go to a research lab.

2. How does this research experience or internship fit into your educational and professional goals?

Research is something that I’m really interested in and I plan on doing throughout the rest of my time in school. This research experience has helped me to better understand specifically what I want to do.

3. What are you looking forward to the most about your second year at the Academy?

My second year at Gatton I’m really looking forward to getting to know all of the new juniors, as well as deciding where to go to college!

4. What do you aspire to achieve in the next ten years?

In the next ten years I hope to complete my undergrad in Biology and then later graduate from medical school. Hopefully I will be in the middle of residency.

5. What do you love most about the Gatton Academy?

The thing I love most about Gatton is the feeling like everyone belongs. No one is left out because there a little bit quirky. Everyone is a little quirky and we just accept each other for who we are.

By Gatton Academy

Summer 5Q: Nicholas Fedorka studies water as potential energy through metal organic framework research

August 6, 2012 | 5Q, Research, Summer, Uncategorized | No Comments

Since 2010, the Gatton Academy has offered students the ability to pursue summer research experiences through the Gatton Research Internships Grants (RIG) program. Made possible through the generous support of Mr. Carol Martin “Bill” Gatton, the program offers competitive grants to Gatton Academy students between their junior and senior years to support summertime research internships across the Commonwealth and the world. By providing a funding mechanism, the program directly creates new avenues for growth and exploration. Throughout the summer, we are sharing insights from students who are the recipients of our 2012 grants.

Rising senior Nicholas Fedorka of Danville has spent his summer working in the WKU Department of Chemistry under the mentorship of Dr. Bangbo Yan. Nicholas is studying water as a potential energy source through his research on the synthesis and structure of a metal organic framework.
1. What does research mean to you as a young person interested in STEM?

As a young person interested in STEM this research experience means a lot to me. It’s a taste of what I could be doing for the rest of my life. In STEM there are many options for possible careers. Chemistry and research are two very promising ones for me. I am doing both. Through this research I get more experience, and through that experience I grow in my understanding of myself and what I want to do.

2. How is this different from the way you think most high school students spend their summers?

This is quite different from most high-schoolers’ summer. While many such people may have a summer job, it probably has nothing to do with what they aspire to be or how they hope to contribute to society. I’m doing exactly what I want to do through my work: I’m doing science.

3. What are you looking forward to the most about your second year at the Academy?

By far I am looking forward to taking university classes again. I look forward to once again having a rigorous and rewarding education.
4. What do you aspire to achieve in the next ten years?

I hope to discover what I want to do with my life, as in what sort of science I want to do. This means getting degrees, doing research, publishing papers, and making myself more than competent at my chosen profession.
5. How does this research experience or internship fit into your educational and professional goals?

This research experience fits quite nicely into my educational goals. I want to get as much education as possible in what interests me. I find chemistry interesting, and by getting hands-on, actual, “real life” experience, I am getting an excellent background in it.

By Gatton Academy

Summer 5Q: Madison Preece studies potential cancer treatments at the Owensboro Cancer Research Program

August 4, 2012 | 5Q, Research, Summer, Uncategorized | No Comments

Since 2010, the Gatton Academy has offered students the ability to pursue summer research experiences through the Gatton Research Internships Grants (RIG) program. Made possible through the generous support of Mr. Carol Martin “Bill” Gatton, the program offers competitive grants to Gatton Academy students between their junior and senior years to support summertime research internships across the Commonwealth and the world. By providing a funding mechanism, the program directly creates new avenues for growth and exploration. This summer, we’re sharing first-hand student experiences in a series we call Summer 5Q.

Rising senior Madison Preece of Owensboro spent her summer at the Owensboro Cancer Research Program working under the mentorship of Dr. Keith Davis. Her project studied cell death after possible cancer treatment. We had a chance to catch up with Madison earlier this summer.

1. How is your summer different than other high school students’ summers?

My summer experience is different than other high school students because with my research position I am not just working to make money, I am investing in my education and in my future. Specifically, my research will help me stand out among other applicants to top universities.

2. Will you be using your research experience as a launching point for any particular applications, competitions, or scholarships?

I will be using this research experience as a launching point to enter the Siemens Competition this fall. It will also help me stand out during the college application process.

3. What do you aspire to achieve in the next ten years?

In the next ten years, I aspire to complete my education and become a physician. My passion is for helping others. My goal is to open free clinics in Myanmar for the civilians who are being attacked because of their religious affiliations.

4. How does the Gatton Academy help Kentucky from your point of view?

From my perspective, the Gatton Academy helps improve Kentucky’s educational image. By recently being selected as Newsweek’s #1 public high school in America, it illustrates that when our bright students are combined with excellent leadership, teaching, resources, and opportunities that great educational milestones can be reached. With such an outstanding education, students from Kentucky can truly impact the world.

5. What do you love most about the Gatton Academy?

What I love most about the Gatton Academy is the opportunity to live in a learning-oriented environment with other high school students who share my passion for science and mathematics. We all strive to do our best and push others to do the same. At my old high school, I never had the chance to make friends who are so much like me.

By Gatton Academy

Summer 5Q: Samuel Saarinen Takes on Knot Theory Research

August 2, 2012 | 5Q, Research, Summer, Uncategorized | No Comments

Since 2010, the Gatton Academy has offered students the ability to pursue summer research experiences through the Gatton Research Internships Grants (RIG) program. Made possible through the generous support of Mr. Carol Martin “Bill” Gatton, the program offers competitive grants to Gatton Academy students between their junior and senior years to support summertime research internships across the Commonwealth and the world. By providing a funding mechanism, the program directly creates new avenues for growth and exploration. Throughout the summer, we are sharing insights from students who are the recipients of our 2012 grants.

Samuel Saarinen of Shelbyville spent his summer investigating knot theory and polygons as they pertain to modeling viral DNA. His research was conducted in the WKU Department of Mathematics and Computer Science under the guidance of Dr. Claus Ernst. We had a chance to catch up with Sam earlier this summer.

1. How is your summer of research different from most high school students’ summers?

On the surface, this really is like what most high school students do with their summers. I have a job which I show up to every morning, I read in the afternoons, and I pursue my hobbies on the weekends. Except that my job is thinking of things that nobody has ever thought of before, the books I read are mostly on knot theory or computer programming, and my hobbies include designing fonts, creating videogames, and studying great works of art.

What does research mean to you as a young person interested in STEM?

This research is an opportunity to begin to understand the machinations of science. I get experience working with real issues in this field of study, and I get a feel for the nature of the work involved. Additionally, this research has proved invaluable to my continuing education; I have learned a huge amount both about the specific work surrounding my research, and tangential areas that have a strong application to this work.

What do you aspire to achieve in the next ten years?

In the next ten years, I want to get a Ph.D., publish a game that I developed, and visit a country whose primary language is not English.

What do you most look forward to about your second year at the Gatton Academy?

I am looking forward to everything that I loved about the first year. I’m looking forward to hard classes, new ideas, smart professors, and genius friends.

What do you love most about the Gatton Academy?

How can I sum up in just a few words something that really has to be experienced? The Gatton Academy is a school, a family, a lifestyle, and a playground. If I had to say exactly what it is that I loved most, I would say that I loved the freedom. Freedom to try things, like making movies, or writing music. Freedom to be who I am, without retribution for being abnormal. But most of all, freedom to excel; the freedom to become more than I am.

By Gatton Academy

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