Undergraduate research showcased, honored at MSU symposium

STARKVILLE, Miss.—Nearly two dozen students recently were recognized at ��Ƶ for successful faculty-guided research efforts during the Undergraduate Research Symposium at the university’s Judy and Bobby Shackouls Honors College.

Projects submitted for the annual competition were assigned to one of four categories, including arts and humanities, biological sciences and engineering, physical sciences and engineering, and social sciences. In recognition of the university’s Carnegie Community Engagement Classification, a community engagement and service learning track also was included for the fourth year.

A team of 42 campus faculty members representing a cross-section of academic areas served as judges for the competition.

Residents of Mississippi, Cameroon, Canada, Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee and Texas, this year’s winners include (by project type and category):

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ORAL PRESENTATIONS

ARTS AND HUMANITIES:

FIRST—Emily E. Turner of Starkville, a junior architecture major advised by Alexis Gregory, assistant professor of architecture.

SECOND—Olivier Peloquin of Canada, a freshman history major advised by Anne Marshall, associate professor of history.

BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND ENGINEERING, SESSION I:

FIRST—Ruth E. Fowler of Madison, a senior physics major advised by Todd Mlsna, associate professor of chemistry.

BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND ENGINEERING, SESSION II:

FIRST—Malcolm E. Brooks of Pensacola, Florida, a senior food science, nutrition and health promotion major advised by Tae Jo Kim, assistant research professor in the food science, nutrition and health promotion department.

BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND ENGINEERING, SESSION III:

FIRST—Kellie A. Mitchell of Chelsea, Alabama, a senior biochemistry/pre-medicine major advised by Yuhua Farnell, assistant professor in the biochemistry, molecular biology, entomology and plant pathology department.

PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND ENGINEERING:

FIRST—Eric W. Stallcup of Huntsville, Alabama, a senior aerospace engineering/astronautics major advised by Keith Koenig, professor of aerospace engineering.

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VISUAL DISPLAYS

ARTS AND HUMANITIES:

FIRST—Fleshia D. Gillon of Amory, a junior human sciences/fashion design and merchandising major advised by Charles Freeman, assistant professor of human sciences; Todd French, associate professor of chemical engineering; Jason Ward, assistant extension professor in the agricultural and biological engineering department; and Stephen Meyers, assistant extension professor at the North Mississippi Research and Extension Center.

SECOND—Michael G. Reinert of Raleigh, North Carolina, a senior human sciences/fashion design and merchandising major advised by Charles Freeman, assistant professor of human sciences.

THIRD—Lauren L. Peterson of Terrell, Texas, a sophomore biochemistry major advised by Lori Neuenfeldt, art instructor and coordinator of the art department’s gallery and outreach programs.

BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND ENGINEERING:

FIRST—Jackson B. Coole of Picayune, a sophomore biological engineering major advised by James A. Stewart Jr., assistant professor of biological sciences.

SECOND—Daniel M. McClung of Brandon, a biological engineering major advised by Janet Donaldson, associate professor of biological sciences.

THIRD—Jaslyn B. Langford of Calhoun City, a senior biological sciences/pre-medicine and microbiology double-major advised by James A. Stewart Jr., assistant professor of biological sciences.

PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND ENGINEERING:

FIRST—Igor Kevin Mkam Tsengam of Cameroon, a senior chemical engineering major advised by Santanu Kundu, assistant professor of chemical engineering.

SECOND—Tu “Tom” Zhang of Starkville, a junior mechanical engineering major advised by Nima Shamsaei, assistant professor of mechanical engineering.

THIRD—Nicholas A. Ezzell of Laurel, a junior physics major advised by Nick Fitzkee, assistant professor of chemistry.

SOCIAL SCIENCES:

FIRST—Meredith D. Pearson of Starkville, a senior psychology major advised by Michael Nadorff, assistant professor of psychology.

SECOND—Seth A. Thomas of Brentwood, Tennessee, a sophomore psychology major advised by Jarrod Moss, associate professor of psychology.

THIRD—Audrey B. Sanderson of Birmingham, Alabama, a senior elementary education major advised by Kathleen Alley, assistant professor in the curriculum, instruction and special education department.

HONORABLE MENTION—Anna C. Wooten of Florence, a junior human sciences/fashion design and merchandising major advised by JuYoung Lee, assistant professor of human sciences.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND SERVICE LEARNING:

FIRST—Audrey B. Sanderson of Birmingham, Alabama, a senior elementary education major advised by Kathleen Alley, assistant professor in the curriculum, instruction and special education department.

SECOND—Anna K. Barr of Madison, Alabama, a senior architecture major advised by Alexis Gregory, assistant professor of architecture.

THIRD—Christine M. Dunn of Niceville, Florida, a senior secondary education/English education major advised by Judith Ridner, associate professor of history.

Featured speaker for the symposium was Erdogan Memili, associate professor in the animal and dairy sciences department, specializing in reproduction and development and functional genomics.

In addition to the honors college, the symposium is sponsored by the offices of the Provost and Executive President, and Research and Economic Development, along with the Center for the Advancement of Service-Learning Excellence, MSU Extension Service, National Strategic Planning and Analysis Research Center, and Phi Kappa Phi honor society.

Learn more about the Shackouls Honors College at and .

MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at .

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