College of Science - Summer REU Program/Summer Scholars Program

The College of Science annually hosts students for summer research experiences as well as an optional supplement, the Summer Scholars Program, that helps minority students build a community.

Director: Sherry Yennello

2006
	Adamu, Desmond Worked with Dr. Cheng Kao in Biochemistry and Biophysics. Project Title: Analyzing post-transcriptional modifications in the tRNA-like structure (TLS) of Brome Mosaic Virus (BMV) RNAs. Abstract: The BMV genome is divided into three RNAs: RNA1, RNA2 and RNA3 that share a 3’ tRNA-like structure (TLS). Post-transcriptional modifications are universals in tRNAs are important for RNA folding and interaction with proteins. This project asks the question of whether the BMV TLS contains modified nucleotides. The anticipated results could provide knowledge of how viral RNAs use cellular enzymes to modulate RNA synthesis and/or RNA stability. Mass spectrometry will be used to identify modifications that affect mass. Mass silent modifications, such as pseudouridine will be detected after selective derivatization of pseudouridines by N-cyclohexyl-N’-£]-(4-methylmorpholinium) ethylcarbodiimide (CMC). The method used involves purification of the TLS followed by digestion by ribonuclease T1 to digest the RNA into oligonucleotides (with and without CMC modification), after which it was subjected to mass spectrometry analysis. This assay could identify not just the sequence modified, but the modification. The results catalog the potential types of modifications in a sequence that regulates viral infection.
	Crane, Christopher Worked with Dr. Sherry Yennello in Cyclotron Institute. Project Title: Abstract: I am working on creating a Graphic user interface or G.U.I. for the Bias Box in cave #4 of the Cyclotron Institute. The purpose of the G.U.I. is to allow researchers to setup model experiments in the NIMROD detector using set and controled current to the ADCs via a Linux based Rig. The Bias Box itself is a piece of hardware from Indianna University designed to administer voltage to pieces of hardware connected to NimRod called A.D.C.s. NIMROD has various sets of RIngs with different positioning of detectors, and these detectors pick up various atomic collisions,and atomic particle reactions. I am using a G.U.I. and C interpeter software called SpecTCL.
	Crane, Domonick Worked with Dr. F. Michael Speed in Statistics. Project Title:
	Culver, Ralph Worked with Dr. David Larson in Mathematics. Project Title:
	Randolph-Malachi, Shanell Worked with Dr. F. Michael Speed in Statistics. Project Title:
	Swindell, Aaron Worked with Dr. Che-Ming Ko in Cyclotron Institute. Project Title: Forward-Backward Correlations in AMPT Au+Au Collisions Abstract: Charged particle colliders, such as the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) at BNL, are capable of producing many different stages of matter at relativistic energies (~200 GeV), ranging from a Quark-Gluon plasma to other types of hadronic matter. The former is a major constituent of most nuclear astrophysics research, as it is theorized to have existed milliseconds after the Big Bang. A Multiphase Transport Model (AMPT) is employed to simulate the frequencies of particles produced by these heavy-ion collisions at the necessary energies, which can be used to predict if the particles will liberate themselves(Quark-Gluon Plasma) or correlate with each other(Hadronic matter). My contribution is to study the forward-backward direction correlations in AMPT simulated Au+Au collisions.
	Williams, Nathan Worked with Dr. Dezhen Song in Computer Science. Project Title: 3-D Scene Reconstruction Abstract: My research goals for the summer are to estimate the 3D scene of an object and find its depth information. 3D scene reconstruction consists of first finding the corresponding points of overlapped images and then second estimating the 3D scene. To find the corresponding points I will be using, Scale Invariant Feature Transform (SIFT) and Random Sample Consesnsus (RANSAC). To estimate the 3D scene, Stereo Vision and Structure from Motion are employed.

2005
	Crane, Domonick Worked with Dr. F. Michael Speed in Statistics. Project Title: Statistical Anxiety Tests
	Evans, Marchonda Worked with Dr. F. Michael Speed in Statistics. Project Title: Statistical Anxiety Tests
	Horton, Terra Worked with Dr. Nancy Amato in Computer Science. Project Title: Feature Sensitive Motion Planning Project
	Williams, Nathan Worked with Dr. Carl Gagliardi in Cyclotron Institute. Project Title: Limits on Muon Decay from Recent Measurements
	Zanders, Lavezza Worked with Dr. Ginger Carney in Biology. Project Title: Investigation P: Tracking down the logjam in female behavior