Six Undergrads Receive OK EPSCoR Summer 2013 REU Awards

Six undergraduate students from across the state have been selected to participate in the Oklahoma EPSCoR Summer 2013 Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program.  Award recipients and their lab sponsors will perform research during the collaborative summer program in labs at Oklahoma institutions of higher education, including University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, Northwestern Oklahoma State University and Southwestern Oklahoma State University.

The EPSCoR REU program strengthens and encourages undergraduate students' early participation in the university and scientific communities.  Students experience hands-on STEM research and one-on-one guidance from faculty mentors at Oklahoma’s comprehensive research institutions through the program.

Summer 2013 REU Recipients: 

• Research Title
  Hierarchical Bayesian Models of Infrastructure Network Reliablility and Sustainment
  Student Researcher
  Molly Stam, University of Oklahoma
  Faculty Mentor & Lab Site
  Kash Barker, University of Oklahoma
  Award Amount:  $3,000

• Research Title
  Mimicry in Allopatry: The Longnose Snake as a Coral Snake Mimic
  Student Researcher
  Anjeela Shrestha, Northwestern Oklahoma State University
  Faculty Mentor & Lab Site
  Aaron J. Place, Northwestern Oklahoma State University
  Award Amount:  $2,272

• Research Title
  Identification and Manipulation of Lignin-Degrading Genes in Switchgrass
  Student Researcher
  Rajah Singh, Langston University
  Faculty Mentor & Lab Site
  Ramamurthy Mahalingam, Oklahoma State University
  Award Amount:  $4,200

• Research Title
  Identification and Manipulation of Lignin-Degrading Genes in Switchgrass
  Student Researcher
  Jazekka Brewer, Langston University
  Faculty Mentor & Lab Site
  Ramamurthy Mahalingam, Oklahoma State University
  Award Amount:  $4,200

• Research Title
  Development of a Tree Survey Software for the Weatherford Urban Forestry Inventory:  A Cross-Disciplinary Biology and Computer Science Undergraduate Research Experience
  Student Researcher
  Patrick Spears, Southwestern Oklahoma State University
  Faculty Mentor & Lab Site
  Lisa Castle and Jeff Walker, Southwestern Oklahoma State University
  Award Amount:  $4,500

• Research Title
  Development of Non-Precious Metal Heterogeneous Catalysts for the Conversion of Biomass Polyols to Olefins
  Student Researcher
  Austin Larue, University of Oklahoma
  Faculty Mentor & Lab Site
  Kenneth Nicholas and Friederike Jentoft, University of Oklahoma
  Award Amount:  $4,000

Pictured (above):  A former OK EPSCoR REU student works on his summer research project with faculty mentor Dr. Andrew Fagg at the University of Oklahoma.