Twenty-seven undergraduates at Missouri University of Science and Technology
have been selected to share their research experiences with state lawmakers in
Jefferson City during Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol on April
30.

Students from all four University of Missouri campuses have been invited to
participate. Missouri S&T students will share information with lawmakers
about research topics ranging from the economics of ethanol to the cult of the
soccer mom.

“The purpose of this event is to demonstrate to lawmakers the opportunities
our undergraduate students have to participate in research with faculty,” says
Dr. Harvest Collier, vice provost for undergraduate studies at Missouri
S&T. “We are preparing a work force with the necessary skills to further
the economic growth of the state.”

The students work with research advisors in groups or as individuals. The
participating Missouri S&T students and descriptions of their research
interests are as follows:

Adedayo Agbaje, a senior in electrical engineering from Kansas City, Mo.,
“Detecting and analyzing milia-like cysts for malignant melanoma diagnosis”
(with Dr. Bijaya Shrestha, lecturer in electrical and computer engineering)

Leykun Amdemichael, a senior in electrical engineering from Rolla, Mo.,
“Detecting and analyzing milia-like cysts for malignant melanoma diagnosis”
(with Dr. Bijaya Shrestha, lecturer in electrical and computer engineering)

Herman Armstrong, a senior in biological sciences from St. Louis,
“Construction of a biological timer and biological breathalyzer” (with Dr.
David Westenberg, associate professor in biological sciences)

Jared Bouquet, a senior in chemical engineering from St. Peters, Mo.,
“Hydrogen production from jet fuel for mobile electric power” (with Dr. Sunggyu
Lee, professor of chemical and biological engineering)

Cory Cheatham, a senior in biological sciences from St. Robert, Mo.,
“Construction of a biological timer and biological breathalyzer” (with Dr.
David Westenberg, associate professor of biological sciences)

Joshua Eads, a senior in computer science from Lee’s Summit, Mo., “Deriving
gas phase exposure history through computationally evolved inverse diffusion
analysis” (with Dr. Daniel Tauritz, assistant professor of computer science,
and Dr. Glen Morrison, associate professor of civil, architectural and
environmental engineering)

Jasmine Glaese, a senior in computer science from Rolla, “Computer science
recruitment for the 21st century” (with Dr. Daniel Tauritz, assistant professor
of computer science)

Bryan Glass, a junior in computer science from Ballwin, Mo., “Investigation
of automated transportation” (with Dr. Steve Watkins, professor of electrical
and computer engineering)

Janet Guntly, a junior in computer science from Bridgeton, Mo., “Indoor air
quality simulator with lab and interactive consumer interface” (with Dr. Daniel
Tauritz, assistant professor of computer science, and Dr. Glen Morrison,
associate professor of civil, architectural and environmental engineering)

Lisa Guntly, a senior in computer science from Bridgeton, Mo., “Computer
science recruitment for the 21st century” (with Dr. Daniel Tauritz, assistant
professor of computer science)

Jill Hecht, a junior in environmental engineering from Chesterfield, Mo.,
“The cult of true womanhood versus the cult of the soccer mom” (with Dr. Diana
Ahmad, associate professor of history and political science)

Jason Kaiser, a senior in geology and geophysics from De Soto, Mo.,
“Constraining the origin of Rapakivi Feldspars in granite” (with Dr. John
Hogan, associate professor of geological sciences and engineering)

Rachel Klapper, a senior in chemical engineering from Murray, Ky.,
“Construction of a biological timer and biological breathalyzer” (with Dr.
David Westenberg, associate professor of biological sciences)

Amber Loftis, a junior in chemical engineering from Bartlesville, Okla.,
“Indoor air quality simulator with lab and interactive consumer interface”
(with Dr. Daniel Tauritz, assistant professor of computer science, and Dr. Glen
Morrison, associate professor of civil, architectural and environmental
engineering)

Jonathan McKinney, a junior in environmental engineering from Kansas City,
Mo., “Forensic analysis of contamination history using solid phase
microextraction” (with Drs. Glenn Morrison and Joel Burken, associate
professors of civil, architectural and environmental engineering)

David Mullen, a senior in computer science from Rolla, “Secure data and
cluster management in wireless sensor networks” (with Dr. Sanjay Madria,
associate professor of computer science)

Michael Nolte, a senior in mechanical engineering from Rolla, “Detecting and
analyzing milia-like cysts for malignant melanoma diagnosis” (with Dr. Bijaya
Shrestha, lecturer in electrical and computer engineering)

Christian Pick, a senior in chemical engineering from Liberty, Mo., “Optical
microsensor fabrication for continuous monitoring of blood glucose levels” (Dr.
David Henthorn, assistant professor of chemical and biological engineering)

Phillip Ponzer, a senior in computer engineering from Rolla, “Hydrological
monitoring of watersheds using hybrid sensor networks” (with Dr. Sahra Sedigh
Sarvestani, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering)

Brian Pink, a senior in chemical engineering from Kansas City, Mo.,
“Construction of a biological timer and biological breathalyzer” (with Dr.
David Westenberg, associate professor of biological sciences)

Morgan Schiermeier, a senior in biological sciences from Vienna, Mo.,
“Construction of a biological timer and biological breathalyzer” (with Dr.
David Westenberg, associate professor of biological sciences)

Jackie Schneider, a junior in biochemical engineering from O’Fallon, Mo.,
“Construction of a biological timer and biological breathalyzer” (with Dr.
David Westenberg, associate professor of biological sciences)

Evan Stevens, a senior in geological engineering from St. Charles, Mo.,
“Investigation of jointing in the Roubidoux Formation near Rolla” (with Dr.
John Hogan, associate professor of geological sciences and engineering)

Michelle Vaughan, a junior in computer science from Chesterfield, Mo.,
“Investigation of automated transportation” (with Dr. Steve Watkins, professor
of electrical and computer engineering)

Phoebe Wiles, a junior in economics from Willow Springs, Mo., “A
cost-benefit study of Ethanol produced from corn” (Dr. Greg Gelles, professor
of economics)

Timothy Wilkins, a junior in computer engineering from Bunker Hill, Mo.,
“Detecting and analyzing milia-like cysts for malignant melanoma diagnosis”
(with Dr. Bijaya Shrestha, lecturer in electrical and computer engineering)

Jessica Williams, a senior in computer science from St. Louis, “Computer
science recruitment for the 21st century” (with Dr. Daniel Tauritz, assistant
professor of computer science).