Research isn’t all test tubes and laboratories. This summer at Augsburg, students will create music, study Medieval history, compare Minnesota theatres, and even attempt to determine if a BMI can be established for dogs. For the 2010 URGO summer research projects, students will spend 200 or 400 hours conducting research with faculty from Augsburg and other institutions. Many will present their findings in May 2011 at Zyzzogeton, Augsburg’s year-end festival of academic and artistic achievement.
Saido Abdirashid, David Crowe
Test the hypothesis that the ability of neural networks to encode information in a sequence of states is a general property of randomly-associating neural networks
Jeremy Anthony, John Zobitz
Short and long-term responses of ecosystem carbon uptake to environmental effects
Steve Bergquist, Dave Hansen
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the air and Nostoc growth and metabolism
Alex Bischoff, Mary Horozaniecki
Create three caprices for string quartet that develop essential skill sets for learning musicians
Brandon Bukowski, Jennifer-Bankers-Fulbright
Human airway biology pertaining to asthma, allergies, and the inflammatory response
Kimberly Carlson, Arlin Gyberg and Vivian Feng
Effect of electromagnetic stimulation (a novel biostimulation technique) on the growth trend of an algae species in a home-designed photobioreactor with optimal energy efficiency
Matthew Charboneau, Michael Lansing
Explore and compare Catholic and Protestant temperance movements in the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century in Minnesota
Leah Childers, Henry Yoon
Explore the brain correlates associated with a class of disorders called externalizing (EXT)
Alycia Dahlen, Christina Erickson
The impact of the Ramsey County-St. Paul Public Health Wakanheza project on family home day care providers in Ramsey County
Andrew Fox, Phil Adamo
Create an on-line companion volume of primary sources to Joseph Lynch and Phillip Adamo, The Medieval Church: A Brief History, 2nd edition (forthcoming)
Lucia Gayoso, Robert Cowgill
Write a full script adapting Argentinean writer Adolfo Bioy Casare’s short story El Perurio de La Nieve (The Perjury of the Snow)
Samantha Gerhardson, Dr. Paul Mueller and Abi Ottenberg (Mayo Clinic, Rochester)
Identify the sources for patients’ hesitation and resistance for using Latitude to improve care plan and overall implant effectiveness and report noncompliance data for patients diagnosed with heart failure
Walker Glasoe, Dave Hansen
Examine rate of nucleation of sulfuric acid particles and find more reliable data on the nucleation of ammonium sulfate particles and what role they play in atmospheric nucleation
Jacob Grothjan, Ralph Butkowski
Assess the “Biological Condition” of a restored section of Rice Creek in Anoka County, Minnesota
Justin Ingebretson, Matt Beckman
Determine if dopaminergic neurons control motor behavior in Daphnia magna
Rebekah Iverson, Jacqui deVries and Dal Liddle
Investigate the lives, careers, and work of female contributors (such as Ella D’arcy, Evelyn Sharp, and George Egerton) to the influential late-Victorian publication The Yellow Book
Walker Krepps, Henry Yoon
Investigate the ongoing brain activity in participants at rest (i.e., resting EEG)
Marcos Lester McSweeney, Ralph Butkowski
Characterize the physical habitat along Rice Creek in a mile-long, restored section and collect insects as they emerge from the water to enter their flying, adult life stage
Katrina Lutze, Sarah Myers
Compare numerous Minnesota theatres in order to establish their equivalence (in terms of certain artistic elements) and to investigate points of nonequivalence
Erica Malloy, Susan Boecher
Research and produce three wearable art pieces that examine the intersection between two-dimensional and three-dimensional artwork and the confluence of craft, couture, and costume in regards to fashion and fiber
Camille McAloney, Dr. Jamie Modiano and Dr. Anindya Bagchi
Determine if polymorphisms in the introns of the TERT gene vary by breed in dogs
Aidan Nancarrow, Phil Adamo
Research the environmental history of medieval Siena and the relationship between medieval Sienese society and its natural environment
Alexander Pinaire, Matt Beckman
Model the movement of individual Daphnia magna (water flea)
Maggie Pint, Bill Capman
Determine possibility of creating a body mass index (BMI) for dogs
Katie Radford, Pete Ralston
Understand how relational aggression influences the members of Girl Scout troops
Ali Rapp, Kristen Chamberlain
Examine the disconnect between acceptable sexuality represented in popular media in the U.S. as opposed to acceptable sexuality for Japanese individuals
Becky Shaheen, Sonja Thompson
Study traditions of classical Art Song composition and identify specific techniques used in composition
Jacob Slattery, Merilee Klemp
Compare the Baroque oboe to the modern oboe with respect to construction, performance, and reed-making and to learn to play the instrument
Whitney Walter, Anthony Clapp
Examine aspects of accountability of activity and hanges in body composition
Kathleen Watson, Sarah Myers
Explore questions of Jewish American identify and its potential extinction through playwriting and dramaturgy
Kate Woolever, Tara Sweeney
Investigate how the incorporation of the nonverbal language of art in English Language Learner classrooms affects students and student-teacher relationships
Inside Augsburg showcases the experiences of Augsburg College students, alumni, staff, and faculty. Send your story idea to marcomm@augsburg.edu.