UCARE awards stipends to 58 engineering undergraduates

Engineering students have been chosen to receive 58 of the 325 stipends awarded by UNL to undergraduates to allow those students to participate in research with a faculty mentor during the 2016-17 school year. The stipends are given through UNL's Undergraduate Creative Activities and Research Experience (UCARE) Program.

Undergraduate students receive stipends of $2,400 to engage in intensive research or creative activity for 10 hours per week.

The following is a list by major of engineering students who received UCARE awards for the 2016-17 school year, with their hometowns and project titles:

ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING

Stephanie Ann Ahrens, Lincoln, "Identifying Quantitative and Qualitative Trends in Worship Space Acoustics Design"

Jordan Charles Blayney, Lincoln, "Correlation between Student Academic Performance and Lighting Design in Nebraska and Iowa Public School Classrooms"

Monica Houck, South Lyon, Michigan, "Corrosion of Rebar and Identification of Resulting Delamination Using Ultrasonic Testing."

Barbara Louise Mullen, Omaha, "Corrosion of Rebar and Identification of Resulting Delamination Using Ultrasonic Testing";

BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS ENGINEERING

Janelle Adams, Hickman, "Hydrogel Platform for Single Walled Carbon Nanotube Sensors for In Vitro and In Vivo Nitric Oxide Detection."

Victoria A. Bart, Woodbury, Minnesota, "Single Wall Carbon Nanotube Fluorescence Detection to Quantify Nitric Oxide Concentrations in Cell Culture Conditions"

Conner James Beyersdorf, Bellevue, "Circle of Willis Funcitonal Model for Transcranial Doppler Ultrasound Training"

Nicholas Anthony Bohlim, Omaha, "The Role of Rice Leaf Surface Properties in the Appressorium Formation of Magnaporthe Oryzae"

Madison Burger, Columbus, "Measuring Changes in Cerebrovascular Reactivity with Increasing Intracranial Pressure."

Hannah Christian, Omaha, "Scalable and Replicable Cardiomyocyte Differentiation of H9 Embryonic Stem Cells"

Erica Marie Dolph, Lincoln, "TCD Mobile Application Development and Testing"

Catelyn Evans, Omaha, "Developing Cerebral Organoids to Model Human and Mice Brain Development"

Blake Edward Hass, West Point, "To Determine the Heparin Binding Domain in Stabilin-2."

Austin Jeffre Helmink, Spencer, Iowa, "Characterizing Chitosan Modifications to Improve Nonviral Gene Delivery for DNA Vaccination."

Philion Lucas Hoff, Omaha, "Analysis of Peptidoglycan Biosynthesis in Mycobacteria: Essentiality of Glutamate Racemase and Related Enzymes"

Lindsey Hollmann, Omaha, "Engineering Water Availability and Quality Integration Based on Sensitivity of Nitrogen Levels to Fluctuating Hydroclimatological Events in the Platte River Basin"

Ellis James Johnson, Logan, Iowa, "Importance of Arabidopsis Thaliana Myzu Persicae-Induced Lipase1 Gene in Defense against Cabbage Aphids (Hemiptera)."

Doussou Shannan Karibuhoye Said, Omaha, "Safe and Eco-Friendly Approach for Chemical Hair Straightening"

Courtney Nicole Kinser, Lincoln, "Mechanical Stretch Manipulation of Adipokine Signaling For Diabetes"

Aliya Kunikeeva, Lincoln, "Development of Microfluidic Devices for Mechanobiology Research of Chondrocytes"

Michael Moeller, Plainview, "Toxicity of Nanoceria in Engineered Neuron-Astrocyte Co-Culture Model."

Paulina Nguyen, Lincoln, "Examining the Experiences and Beliefs of Asian Parents in Nebraska"

Marissa Nitz, Omaha, "Novel Transcranial Doppler Headband for Simultaneous Measurement of Bilateral Middle Cerebral Artery Hemodynamics"

Ravi Michael Raghani, Lincoln, "Fluid Flow Induced Mesenchymal Stem Cell Migration: Role of Focal Adhesion Kinase and RhoA Kinase Sensors"

Douglas Alexander Rowen, Omaha, "Automated Feedback Device for the Madonna Pedi-ICARE"

John Shook, Mission Hills, Kansas, "Pressure Distribution on Cranium Due to Different Tempering Techniques of a Transcranial Doppler Fixation Device."

Joseph Anthony Stapleton, Omaha, "Single Wall Carbon Nanotube Fluorescence Detection to Quantify Nitric Oxide Concentrations in Cell Culture Conditions"

Erin Elizabeth Stevens, Naperville, Illinois, "Dynamic Leaf Temperature Analysis of Basil (Ocimum) Greenhouse Plants for Moisture Stress."

Jordan Catherine Verplank, Lincoln, "Patterned Alginate Hydrogels to Induce Chondrocyte Alignment"

Brett Allen Whorley, Omaha, "Improving Ankle Kinematics on Madonna Pedi-ICARE"

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

Jackson Bauer, Lincoln, "Increasing the Triplet State Population of High-Spin Derivatives of Benzotriazinyl Radicals"

Erika Bowman, Gering, "Using Proteomics to Determine the Molecular Mechanism of the Microbial Degradation of Sulfonamides"

Braden Michael Harm, Grove City, Ohio, "Continued Examination of Methods Designed to Increase Yield of Human Pluripotent Stem Cell (hPSC) Cultures for Scientific and Clinical Use."

Kaellen Miller, Pleasanton, "Rational Design of Electrolytes for Next-Generation Redox Flow Batteries from First-Principles Modeling."

Zully Perez Sierra, Norfolk, "Investigation and Model of a Nanoparticle Delivery System for Micronutrients to Plants"

Matthew James Sis, Bellevue, "Local, Surface Mediated, Duel Delivery of Model Drug Cargos."

Cassidy C. Wiese, Wayne, "Elucidating Sub1A-Mediated Submergence Tolerance Using Transgenic Approaches."

Justin Ryan Wurgler, Elkhorn, "Biosynthesis of 1,2-Propanediol from Renewable Feedstocks."

CIVIL ENGINEERING

Elizabeth Marie Regier, Julesburg, Colorado, "Microbial Degradation of Steroid Hormones in Soil."

COMPUTER ENGINEERING

Rebecca Horzewski, Oakdale, Minnesota, "Protecting UAVs from Fire: Safety during Controlled Burns."

Shreya Rawal, New Dehli, India, "Integration of Unmanned Aircraft System Vehicles of UNL's NIMBUS Lab into a Commercial Simulator."

Elliot T. Sandfort, Lincoln, "The Impact of Diversity on Open Ad-Hoc Team Formation Environments in Multiagent Systems"

CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT

Christian Eddy Leblanc, Lincoln, "Developing the NDOR Winter Severity Index to Improve Safety and Mobility"

Austin Robinson, Gering, "Developing the NDOR Winter Severity Index to Improve Safety and Mobility."

ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

Aaron Jay Ediger, Doniphan, "Development of Tungsten Selenide Photovoltaic Solar Cells."

Matthew James Hilfiker, Lincoln, "Development of Tungsten Selenide Photovoltaic Solar Cells"

Cassandra Kathleen Sulski, Colorado Springs, Colorado, "Wireless Force Sensor."

Drew Van Heuveln, Rapid City, South Dakota, "Layered and Monolayer Materials for Electronics and Energy Conversion."

Vojislav Medic, Belgrade, Serbia, "Development of Tungsten Selenide Photovoltaic Solar Cells."

MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

Alisha Marie Bevins, Lincoln, "Effects of Using Robotics for the Classroom in the United States"

Zachary Bram, Omaha, "Design and Testing of Tissue Capturing Biomechanical Capsule and pH Sensor for Biosensing inside the Small Intestine"

Charles A. Briggs, York, "Using New Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Technology to Enhance Conservation Biology Research"

Tanner Lee Buresh, Lincoln, "Impact Resistant Applications of Nanofiber Based Composites"

Cole Anton Dempsey, Lincoln, "Leidenfrost Points in Pool Boiling and Droplet Film Evaporation"

Walker Lee Dimon, Lincoln, "Constructing a Capacitor Using Conductive Polymers in an Interpenetrating Polymer Network"

Beau Alexander Marth, Lincoln, "Enhancements in Camera Design and Tools for Surgical Robots"

Mason Spilinek, Hastings, "Temperature Sensor for Long-Term Monitoring of Core Body Temperature"

Tze Yeen Yap, Tawau, Malaysia, "Corrosion of Oxide-Dispersion-Strengthened Alloys in High-Temperature Water Environment."