UW-Superior Students Selected for Summer Research Work
By Tom Hansen
Summer research is going strong at the University of Wisconsin-Superior for ten students who were honored with scholarships for undergraduate research.
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program gives UW-Superior students the opportunity to work with a mentor to explore a research problem or undertake a scholarly, creative activity. SURFs provide students with a stipend intended to cover summer living expenses so they can devote time to their chosen project.
Goal is to foster undergrad research, creative activity, and mentoring
The SURF program at UW-Superior began in 2012 with support from the UW-Superior Foundation. The goal of the program is to foster undergraduate research and creative activity and mentoring in all disciplines. SURF awards are competitive and so far 39 students have been supported by SURF awards in the first four years of the program.
SURF Students & Mentors: L to R: row 1 (sitting) Mikayla Haynes, William Collins, Brooke Collins, Charla Stickland, Trevor Laroche-Theune.
Standing from L to R: (row 2) Julie O’Leary, URSCA Program Director; Dr. Deborah Augsburger, Professor & Mentor; Dr. Khalil Dokhanchi, Professor & Mentor
The SURF experience gives students a variety of learning opportunities. They do everything from developing an idea, to writing a proposal and designing their project. Students do the research over the summer and present their findings or finished products at professional meetings and conferences.
What sets UW-Superior apart from other undergraduate research programs may be the wide variety of scholarly projects taken on by the students. On many campuses, undergraduate research occurs primarily in the fields of math, science and engineering. UW-Superior’s student’s projects reflect the campus’s commitment to liberal arts and the humanities. This year student researchers are tackling topics in anthropology, economics, art, music, and writing, as well as the more traditional fields of biology and psychology.
Each fellowship provides students with supportive funding (and a stipend for their mentor) to engage in summer research for 20 hours a week over a ten week period. After completion of their research, the students will present their work at a campus symposium during the fall, as well as at other events such as professional meetings and the annual UW System Posters in the Rotunda event in Madison.
Recipients of UW-Superior’s 2015 Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships are:
- William Collins with Dr. Greg Kehl Moore in Jazz Studies; Study of Jazz Improvisation on Valved Low Brass.
- Brian Honness with Dr. Zamira Simkins in Economics; Economic Impact of Tower Avenue Closing and Reconstruction.
- Mikayla Haynes with Dr. Kurt Schmude in Biology; Assessment of Water Quality of Upper St. Croix Lake Watershed – Douglas County, WI Using Aquatic Macroinvertebrates.
- Brooke Collins with Dr. Eleni Pinnow in Psychology; Analyzing Residence Hall Behavioral Conduct Process Participation, Recidivism and Retention Factors.
- Xuan Chen with Dr. Jayson Iwen in Writing; The Complexity of Writing the Real World: The Character Study of Citizens in Kumming, China.
- Donald Simmons with Diek Carlson in Economics; Assessing the Potential Economic and Environmental Impact of the Proposed Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation in Bayfield County, WI.
- Trevor Laroche -Theune with Dr. Khalil Dokhanchi in Political Science; How Do We End Racism in FIFA?
- Mieszko Brikis with Dr. Deborah Augsburger in Anthropology; Analyzing College Athletes’ Understanding of Eating Habits.
- Charla Stickland with Gloria Eslinger in Visual Arts; A Mural of Hope.
- Rachel Reichert with Dr. Joel Sipress in History; A Deeper Shade of Blue: The Folklore of Bluegrass Music.
