The STEM Summer Scholars Institute (STEM SSI) is designed to provide intensive, full-time summer research experiences for students interested in pursuing a PhD as part of their future academic pursuits. The STEM SSI, an eight-week program held at the IU Bloomington and IUPUIcampuses, enrolls select students from our IU-MSI partner institutions. These STEM Scholars engage in continuous, substantive research at the Summer Scholars Institute and their universities.
Read About our earlier SSI Institutes
Highlights
Friday, July 27, 2018 concluded the 12th consecutive summer of the IU-MSI STEM Summer Scholars Institute. This year's cohort was among one of the largest in the program's history, with 34 student participants. Of the 34 participants in the 2018 Summer Scholars Institute, 10 were returning for a second or third year. Beginning Friday, June 1, 2018, the cohort convened at Bradford Woods for a weekend of orientation activities designed to bond students together for their summer of research. The following Sunday, 14 students departed for the Riverwalk Campus Apartments on the Indianapolis campus and 20 scholars departed for Wilkie Residence Hall on the Bloomington campus. Upon arrival, students began to settle in campus apartments, continue building deeper connections with their cohort members with whom they shared placement campuses, and prepared for introductions to their faculty mentors and lab environments.
The 2018 Summer Scholars represented the following institutions (numbers from each represented in parentheses): Alabama A&M University (1), California State University- Dominguez Hills (1), Delaware State University (2), Indiana University Bloomington (4), Jackson State University (17), Morgan State University (1), North Carolina A&T State University (4), University of Texas- Rio Grande Valley (2), and the University of Texas at San Antonio (2). As in the past years, Jackson State University was highly represented.
Throughout the course of the summer, Scholars had access to the library facilities, student recreation facilities, computing systems, research labs, campus bus service, and dining facilities. They also had several opportunities for deeper engagement with each other and their university and local communities as a group during the following activities:
GRE Seminars and Study Sessions
Friday Evening Reflection Dinners
Louisville Day Tour
Indianapolis Excursion Trip
Annual Joint-Campus Research Symposium
Poster Presentations and Closing
The commemorating closing luncheon was held Friday, July 27 at the University Place Conference Center on the Indianapolis campus. Prior to the luncheon, students presented posters of their summer research to an audience of students, family members, faculty mentors, and university administrators and staff. Additionally, STEM faculty members from various partner institutions also attended the poster presentation. These faculty members were also hosted in Bloomington throughout the week for the Faculty Development and Research Institute (FRDI) conference with other MSI and IU faculty to review potential faculty research collaborations. The keynote speaker of the STEM SSI closing session was Dr. Teresa Demeritte, who was a participant in the STEM SSI 10 years ago and was a faculty participant in the 2018 FRDI.
The 2018 IU-MSI STEM Summer Scholars Cohort
Last Name
First Name
Home Institution
Faculty Mentor
Placement
Abate
Biruk
Jackson State University
Selma Sabanovic
IUB
Abdullahi
Afnan
IUB
Ehren Newman
IUB
Alamri
Ali
IUB
Heather Bradshaw
IUB
Alfaro
Kathya
University of Texas at San Antonio
Sarath Janga
IUPUI
Brakefield
Whitney
Jackson State University
Kan Shao
IUB
Brown
Kheelum
North Carolina A&T State University
Sylk Sotto
IUPUI
Calderon
Daniel
IUB
Ehren Newman
IUB
Casey
Tahlia
Delaware State
Travis Jerde
IUPUI
Crockett
Destiny
Jackson State University
Jing Liu
IUPUI
Dagne
Samuel
Jackson State University
Xingchen Ye
IUB
Davis
Jaylen
Jackson State University
Charles Dann III
IUB
Faris
Amanuel
Jackson State University
Jian Xie
IUPUI
Gardner
Amber
Jackson State University
Jill Fehrenbacker
IUPUI
Gebretsadek
Tsige
Jackson State University
Jing Liu
IUPUI
Gutierrez
Jacob
UTRGV
Hanna J Block
IUB
Hailemariam
Yoseph
Jackson State University
Selma Sabanovic
IUB
Harris
Maya
North Carolina A&T State University
Lane Baker
IUB
Johnson
Darriah
Alabama A&M
Roger Innes
IUB
Kaur
Sukhwinder
UTSA
Heather Bradshaw
IUB
Langat
Vincent
Jackson State University
Raquel Hill
IUB
Mahoui
Asmaa
IUB
Yuro Takagi
IUPUI
Melaku
Kabinad
Jackson State University
Selma Sabanovic
IUB
Mikell
Zandra
North Carolina A&T State University
Sylk Sotto
IUPUI
Odoemena
Chisom
North Carolina A&T State University
Travis Jerde
IUPUI
Ontiveros
Carlos
CSUDH
Selma Sabanovic
IUB
Orelaja
Samuel
Morgan State
Sarath Janga
IUPUI
Robins
Taiquitha
Jackson State University
Lester Smith
IUPUI
Rodriguez
Omar
UTRGV
Selma Sabanovic
IUB
Stuart
Luke
Jackson State University
Sarath Janga
IUPUI
Swami
Shaurya
Jackson State University
Charles Dann III
IUB
Tadesse
Dinaol
Jackson State University
John Lee
IUPUI
Tchakoua
Ingrid
Jackson State University
Selma Sabanovic
IUB
Traylor
Tyrek
Delaware State
Jim Marrs
IUPUI
Highlights
The 2017 IU-MSI STEM Summer Scholars Institute began the 11th consecutive summer program at the Indiana University Bradford Woods outdoor recreation facilities. Twenty-three students from nine universities attended orientation activities designed to bond students together for their summer of research. Students arrived on Friday, June 2, and spent the weekend with the Bradford Woods staff engaging in various activities, including team building, canoeing, hiking and high-wire challenges. The following Sunday, June 4, eight students went to the IUPUI campus and 15 students went to the Bloomington campus to settle in campus apartments and prepare for the upcoming introductions to their faculty mentors and lab environments.
The 2017 Summer Scholars represented the following institutions (numbers from each represented in parentheses): Alabama A&M University (3), Bennett College for Women (1), Clark Atlanta University (2), Hampton University (1), Indiana University-Bloomington (1), Jackson State University (13), North Carolina A&T State University (1), and University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (1).
Students established their lab schedule in their initial meetings with their faculty mentor, which included up to 40 hours of research and practice under their supervision as well as independent study. In order to maintain a healthy balance and receive the program's full benefit, Institute staff facilitate several social, academic, and cultural excursions. This year students attended the following:
GRE seminars
Mentor-Mentee luncheon
Reflections Dinners
Hidden Figures Movie Night and Discussion
Indianapolis Excursion
Cincinnati Day Tour
Scholarly Research Presentation methods
Annual Joint-Campus Research Symposium
Poster Presentations and Closing
Scholars showed an unwavering commitment to their intellectual and social growth while on campus and even coordinated social activities among themselves in order to support each other and create community during necessary times.
The 2017 IU-MSI STEM Summer Scholars Institute concluded with culminating research presentations and a celebration among faculty, friends, family, campus partners, and university administrators of the completion of the summer at the closing luncheon in the Indiana Memorial Union. Each scholar was recognized by Dr. Jack Schmit for their commitment and encouraged to continue their pursuit of excellence on their individual campuses.
The 2017 IU-MSI STEM Summer Scholars Cohort
Scholar
Home Institution
Mentor
Campus
Alexandria Lauray
Clark Atlanta University
Silvia M. Bigatti
IUPUI
Ali Alamri
Indiana University Bloomington
Heather Bradshaw
IUB
Amanuel Faris
Jackson State University
Jian Xie
IUPUI
Ariel Craft
Jackson State University
Yuro Takagi
IUPUI
Bemnet Tirfagegnehu
Jackson State University
Jian Xie
IUPUI
Biruk Abate
Jackson State University
Selma Sabanovic
IUB
Darriah Johnson
Alabama A&M University
Roger Innes
IUB
Emilia Oben
Jackson State University
Heather Hundley
IUB
Hannah Scott
Jackson State University
Fred Pavalko
IUPUI
Imani Crawford
Alabama A&M University
Robyn Fuchs
IUPUI
Ingrid Tchakoua
Jackson State University
Selma Sabanovic
IUB
Javier Piña
University of Texas at Rio Grande
Selma Sabanovic
IUB
Joseph Owusu
Jackson State University
Steven M Lulich
IUB
Kabinad Melaku
Jackson State University
Selma Sabanovic
IUB
Maya Harris
North Carolina A&T State University
Lane Baker
IUB
Portia Hunt
Alabama A&M University
Silvia M. Bigatti
IUPUI
Randall Gregory
Clark Atlanta University
Hannah J. Block
IUB
Samuel Degne
Jackson State University
Xingchen Ye
IUB
Serence Baker
Bennet College for Women
Charles Dann III
IUB
Shaurya Swami
Jackson State University
Charles Dann III
IUB
Taylor Cole
Hampton University
Heather Bradshaw
IUB
Ujjwal Baskota
Jackson State University
Katie Siek
IUB
Yoseph Hailemariam
Jackson State University
Jian Xie
IUPUI
Highlights
In the tenth consecutive year, the IU-MSI STEM Initiative (previously called the IU-HBCU STEM Initiative) hosted the STEM Summer Scholars Institute (SSI). Twenty-six students from partner institutions participated in the 2016 Institute. These students began the summer with orientation activities designed to bond participants together for their summer of research.
Students arrived on Friday, June 3 for the weekend at Bradford Woods and the staff reported that the larger group "was still very easy to work with" and the participants "were very engaging." On Sunday, June 5th, twelve students went to the IUPUI campus and 14 students went to the Bloomington campus to settle in campus apartments; this was the most balanced distribution across the two core campuses since the very first year of the program. On Monday, June 5th, students met their mentors at a welcoming luncheon on each campus and were then escorted to the research labs. Of the 26 participants in the 2016 Summer Scholars Institute, five were returning for a second year.
The 2016 Summer Scholars represented the following institutions (numbers from each represented in parentheses): Alabama A&M University (2), Hampton University (1), Indiana University Bloomington (4), Jackson State University (16), Morgan State University (1), North Carolina A&T State University (1), North Carolina Central University (1), and Xavier University of Louisiana (1).
Three former Summer Scholars Institute participants --Byron Gipson, Crystal Boston-Clay, and Delawrence Sykes, who are also enrolled in the Ph.D. programs at Indiana University, served as Ambassadors and mentors for the 2016 Institute participants.
During the course of the summer, Scholars had access to library resources, student recreation facilities, computing systems, research labs, campus bus service, and dining facilities. Students had numerous opportunities to gather as a group at:
GRE Seminars
Wednesday Lunch Research Seminars
Poster Presentation skills training
Research symposium at IU Bloomington
Historical Preservations Trip
Holiday World Trip
Participants of the IU-MSI STEM Summer Scholars Institute completed their summer program on July 29th with a closing luncheon at Hine Hall on the IUPUI campus. Faculty mentors, university administrators and staff were present to support these future researchers, who presented posters of their summer projects. Additionally, faculty members from the partner institutions, who were part of the inaugural Faculty Research Development Institute (FRDI), attended the poster presentation and closing luncheon. FRDI was funded by the Office of Naval Research grant to support faculty collaborations.
The 2016 IU-MSI STEM Summer Scholars Cohort
Scholar
Home Institution
Mentor
Campus
Amanuel Faris
Jackson State University
Euzeli dos Santos
IUPUI
Ariel Craft
Jackson State University
Travis Jerde
IUPUI
Ashley Anderson
Indiana University Bloomington
Heather Hundley
IUB
Bemnet Tirfagegnehu
Jackson State University
Jian Xie
IUPUI
Brooklyn Sloss
Indiana University Bloomington
Selma Sabanovic
IUB
Emilia Oben
Jackson State University
Heather Hundley
IUB
Eugena Grigsby
Jackson State University
Robyn Fuchs
IUPUI
Imani Crawford
Alabama A&M University
Robyn Fuchs
IUPUI
Jesus Bazan
Indiana University Bloomington
Malcolm Winkler
IUB
Johnny Chapman
Jackson State University
Euzeli dos Santos
IUPUI
Joseph Owusu
Jackson State University
Steven Lulich
IUB
Kim Navarro
Indiana University Bloomington
Mary Murphy
IUB
Kingsley Bimpeh
Jackson State University
Yuichiro Takagi
IUPUI
Kirubel Benalfew
Jackson State University
Larry Moss
IUB
LaPrince-Miller Smith
North Carolina Central University
Emilia Martins
IUB
Leelena Asfaw
Jackson State University
Jian Xie
IUPUI
Lidya Worede
Jackson State University
Bodgan Dragnea
IUB
Nardos Tadele
Jackson State University
Bodgan Dragnea
IUB
Paris Smith
Jackson State University
Jeffrey Meier
IUB
Sabirah Muhammad
North Carolina A&T State University
Andrew Kusmierczyk
IUPUI
Sabrina Welch
Jackson State University
Steven Lulich
IUB
Sacha Williams
Alabama A&M University
Steven Lulich
IUB
Taylor Cole
Hampton University
Heather Bradshaw
IUB
Tobiloba Komolafe
Morgan State University
Euzeli dos Santos
IUPUI
Ujjwal Baskota
Jackson State University
James Hill
IUPUI
Yoseph Hailemariam
Jackson State University
Jian Xie
IUPUI
Highlights
Now in its 9th consecutive year, the 2015 IU-MSI STEM Summer Scholars Institute hosted a total of twenty-four students. Students arrived on Friday, June 4th to begin their orientation activities designed to bond students together and facilitate community building for their engaging summer of research. The orientation weekend was spent with the Bradford Woods staff engaging in various challenging activities, including team building, canoeing, hiking and high-wire challenges. The following Sunday, June 7, at the conclusion of the orientation, 15 students took residence for the summer on the IUB campus and three students on the IUPUI campus where they settled into their campus apartments and prepared for introductions to their faculty mentors and lab environments the following day.
The 2015 Summer Scholars represented the following institutions (numbers from each represented in parentheses): Jackson State University (13), Langston University (2), Bennett College for Women (1), Indiana University-Bloomington (7), and Morehouse College (1). Eight of the students were rising graduate students, nine students were rising seniors, five were rising juniors, and two were rising sophomores.
Over the course of the summer, student's lab schedules were determined by their faculty mentor, and included 40+ hours of research and practice under their supervision as well as independent study. In order to maintain a healthy balance, the scholars were encouraged to participate in several academic, cultural and social excursions facilitated by Institute staff. This year students attended the following:
GRE seminars
Weekly STEM Research luncheons
Holiday World Retreat
French Lick Historical Preservations Tour
Scholars showed an unwavering commitment to their intellectual growth while on campus. They were intentional about coordinating social activities among themselves in order to support each other and create community during necessary times.
The 2015 IU-MSI STEM Summer Scholars Institute concluded with a poster presentation of the research questions pursued by the students and their faculty researchers. Following the presentations, faculty, friends, family, campus partners, and university administrators celebrated completion of the summer at the closing luncheon in the Indiana Memorial Union. Each scholar was recognized by Dr. Jack Schmit for their commitment and encouraged them to continue their pursuit of excellence on their individual campuses.
Scholar
Home Institution
Mentor
Campus
Ashley Anderson
Jackson State University
James Hill
IUPUI
Andrew Overton
Indiana University Bloomington
Heather Hundley
IUB
Bernard Aldrich Jr.
Jackson State University
Yurichiro Takagi
IUPUI
Brooklyn Sloss
Indiana University Bloomington
Emilia Martins
IUB
Cord Carter
Jackson State University
Lisa Jones
IUPUI
Dorina Feher
Jackson State University
Jian Xie
IUPUI
Esayas Kiros
Indiana University Bloomington
Heather Bradshaw
IUB
Gabrielle Williams
Jackson State University
Travis Jerde
IUPUI
Grace Blackwell
Langston University
Robyn Fuchs
IUPUI
Joel Maddirala
Jackson State University
Bogdan Dragnea
IUB
Kimberly Navarro
Morehouse College
James Hill
IUPUI
Lidya Worede
Jackson State University
Stephen Lulich
IUB
Mary Jordan
Indiana University Bloomington
Heather Bradshaw
IUB
Meera Manchanda
Indiana University Bloomington
Mary Murphy
IUB
Meskerem Etebo
Jackson State University
Shixiong Zhang
IUB
Michael Yitna
Indiana University Bloomington
Claire Walzack
IUB
Nana Sloan
Bennett College for Women
Robyn Fuchs
IUPUI
Nardos Tadele
Indiana University Bloomington
Selma Sabanovic
IUB
Nyalia Lui
Jackson State University
Bogdan Dragnea
IUB
Robel Worede
Jackson State University
Stephen Lulich
IUB
Sabrina Welch
Langston University
Claire Walzack
IUB
Sarina Rodriguez Rajput
Jackson State University
Bogdan Dragnea
IUB
Tsion Andine
Jackson State University
Jian Xie
IUPUI
YaMarie Jallow
Jackson State University
Adam Ward
IUB
Highlights
The IU-MSI STEM Initiative celebrates its eighth year as the only program of its kind at a public institution. 24 students from our partner institutions and 17 faculty members engaged in vigorous academic research over the course of 8 weeks on both the Bloomington campus and the IUPUI campus. This summer, we kicked off the program with our annual weekend orientation session at Bradford Woods alongside our campus comrades at the School of Informatics, culminating into a wondering bonding experience for over 50 students. Orientation at Bradford Woods has continually allowed students to forge relationships with individuals they otherwise would never have interacted with. Lessons in communication, respect, and diligence were taught and put into practice over the duration of the Institute.
After the weekend ended, the STEM scholars departed to their respective campuses to begin their research experience in their research labs. The students are put up in apartment-style housing on campus, complete with necessary amenities expected from off campus housing. During the course of the summer, Scholars had access to the library resources, student recreation facilities, computing systems, research labs, campus bus service, and dining facilities.
Formal introductions to professors and laboratory assistants were made at the annual IU-MSI STEM SSI Welcome Luncheon on each campus. This year, we had 6 returning scholars. Over the course of the summer, students are expected to devote 80% of their time to research and practice inside and outside of the lab. In order to maintain a healthy balance, the scholars were encouraged to participate in multiple social, academic, and cultural excursions facilitated through by Institute staff. This year students attended:
GRE seminars
Academic Breakfast Seminars
Scholarly Research Presentation methods
Annual Joint-Campus Research Symposium
French Lick Historical Preservations Trip
Holiday World Trip
The students committed to growing while on campus and even coordinated social activities among themselves in order to support each other and provide relief during necessary times. The students also had access to mentors and graduates of the program—Byron Gipson and Crystal Boston-Clay—who are both enrolled in Ph.D. programs at Indiana University.
The summer concluded with a poster presentation of the research questions pursued by the students and their faculty researchers. Following the hour long presentations, faculty, friends, family, campus partners, and university administrators celebrated completion of the 2014 IU-MSI STEM Summer Scholars Institute at the closing luncheon in the Indiana Memorial Union. Guest speaker Dr. Maxine Watson, past director of the Ronald E. McNair Program, lauded the hefty accomplishments of the students. Dr. Jack Schmit recognized each scholar for their commitment and encouraged them to continue their pursuit of excellence on their individual campuses.
The 2014 IU-MSI STEM Summer Scholars Cohort
Scholar
Faculty Mentor
Research
Campus
Abenazer Abegaz
Kay Connelly, Informatics
Depression Screening App
Bloomington
Susanna Adjei
Kay Connelly, Informatics
Serve It: An interactive cutting board that encourages social interactions amongst older adults
Bloomington
Amelia Anderson
George Rebec, Psychological & Brain Sciences
The Effects of Cocaine-Induced Sensitization in Infralimbic Cortex and Nucleus Accumbens Shell After Short and Extended Abstinence
Bloomington
Tsion Andine
Yuichiro Takagi, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nanobody-aided X-ray Crystallography of Mediator of Transcription Regulation Part III
IUPUI
Meron Asnake
Richard Nass, Pharmacology & Toxicology
Identification of Acetylated Proteins that Modulate DA Neuron Vulnerability in a C. elegans model of Parkinson's Disease
IUPUI
Shanika Daniels
Claire Walczak, Medical Sciences
Testing the Relationship between MCAK Expression and Taxane Resistance in Breast Cancer
Bloomington
Maskerem Etebo
Xie Jian, Mechanical Engineering
Nanostructured FeOF/Graphene Composite Materials for Cathode of Lithium Ion Batteries
IUPUI
Mesafint Fanuel
Xie Jian, Mechanical Engineering
Tin (IV) Chloride/Graphene Composite Material for Cathode of lithium Ion Batteries
IUPUI
Kennth Fiawoyife
Todd Royer, Environmental Science
Water Quality Monitoring of Clifty Creek in Southeast Indiana
Bloomington
Marvin Jones
Babak Seradjeh, Physics
Characterizing Properties of Electrons Through the Hofstadter Butterfly
Bloomington
Esayas Kiros
Bogdan G. Dragnea, Chemistry
Monitoring Size Variation of Immature Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Like Particles (HIV-1VLPs)
Bloomington
Joel Maddirala
Kay Connelly, Informatics
Dietary Intake Monitory Analysis (DIMA)
Bloomington
Aleena McDaniel
Andrew R. Kusmierczyk, Biology
Mechanism of Assembly of 20S Proteasome
IUPUI
Taha Merghani
Kay Connelly, Informatics
HealthyMe: Real-Time, Self-Monitoring Weight Loss App
Bloomington
Mohamed Mohamed
Jian Xie, Mechanical Engineering
Study of Oxygen Reduction Reaction (ORR) on SO3-functionalized de-alloyed PtNi/Ketjen black catalyst in acid electrolyte
IUPUI
Brooklyn Sloss
Roger Hangarter, Biology
Interaction of THRUMI-NI and ADF3 True Story?
Bloomington
Isaiah Sloss
Roger Innes, Biology
Bloomington
Nardos Tadele
Bogdan G. Dragnea, Chemistry
Toward the Real-Time Studies of Protein Conformational Changes
Bloomington
Nahom Tilahun
James P. Hill, Computer Science
Real Time Instrumentation on the Android Devices
IUPUI
Heidi Williams
Mary Murphy, Social Psychology
Identify Safety or Economic Reward? How Stigmatized and Non-Stigmatized People Choose Job Opportunities
Bloomington
Sade Wilson
Michael Lynch, Biology
Genetic Variation of DNA Polymerases using MK Tests
Bloomington
Lidya Worede
Emilia Martins, Biology
Bloomington
Robel Worede
Jian Xie, Mechanical Engineering
Modeling and Calculation of Diffusion Coefficient of Lithium-Ion in the Cathode of Lithium-Ion Batteries
IUPUI
Michael Yitna
Steven Lulich, Sppech & Hearing Sciences
Defining the Occlusal Plane for Three-Dimensional Laser-Scanned Palate Impressions
Bloomington
Highlights
The IU-MSI STEM Summer Scholars Institute began its seventh year with 24 students from our partner schools and 18 faculty mentors. These students were able to complete intricate and time-consuming research in 8 weeks' time, culminating into an advanced poster presentation to the campus.
Students from SSI and the School of Informatics met at Bradford Woods for orientation; engaging in trust building, communication skills, and stress management activities in order to prepare for the fast-paced research experience approaching. At the conclusion of orientation, students departed for their assigned research sites at the Bloomington or IUPUI campus. The campus residences resemble practical apartments, complete with the amenities needed as a home away from home. Scholars had access to the library resources, student recreation facilities, computing systems, research labs, campus bus service, and dining facilities. Faculty mentors and laboratory assistants were formally introduced to their students at the Welcome Luncheon that first Monday.
Over the course of the summer, student's lab schedule are determined by the primary researcher, and can include 40 hours of research and practice under their supervision as well as independent study. In order to maintain a healthy balance, the scholars were encouraged to participate in multiple social, academic, and cultural excursions facilitated through by Institute staff. This year students attended the following:
GRE seminars
Academic Breakfast Seminars
Scholarly Research Presentation methods
Annual Joint-Campus Research Symposium
French Lick Historical Preservations Trip
Kings Island Trip
Alumni of the program Byron Gipson and Crystal Boston-Clay were present at the IUB and IUPUI campus, respectively, to provide mentorship and guidance for the current scholars. Byron and Chrystal are both enrolled in Ph.D. programs on their campuses.
The Institute concluded with poster presentations by the scholars, as well as a luncheon in their honor. Following the hour long presentations, faculty, friends, family, campus partners, and university administrators celebrated the endeavors of the 2013 IU-MSI STEM Summer Scholars Institute participants at the closing luncheon at IUPUI. Guest speaker Dr. James Hill, associate/assistant professor at the IUPUI School of Informatics and local tech business owner, praised the commitment of the students. Dr. Jack Schmit, the director of the SSI, recognized each student for their accomplishment that summer, and encouraged their academic success at their home institutions.
The 2013 IU-MSI STEM Summer Scholars Cohort
Scholar
Faculty Mentor
Research
Campus
Darius M. Bost
Michael Lynch
Biology
Bloomington
Alexus Copes
Martin J. O'Donnell
Chemistry & Chemical Biology
IUPUI
Shanika Daniels
Jay T. Lennon
Biology
Bloomington
Kenneth Fiawoyife
Bogdan G. Dragnea
Chemistry
Bloomington
Liza A. Gebre
Kay Connelly
Informatics
Bloomington
Marion L. Grant
Selma Sabanovic
Informatics
Bloomington
Robert D. Hollins, III
Soni Lacefield
Biology
Bloomington
Khala Hurst-Beatty
Leonie Moyle
Biology
Bloomington
Marvin Q. Jones
Babk Seradjeh
Physics
Bloomington
Candace N. King
Kay Connelly
Informatics
Bloomington
Mejhe M. Minor
Clay Faqua
Biology
Bloomington
Harene Natarajan
Selma Sabanovic
Informatics
Bloomington
Thomas G. Negash
Peter Ortoleva
Chemistry
Bloomington
Lemnyuy (Bernard) B. Nyuykongi
Kay Connelly
Informatics
Bloomington
Brandon P. Rhodes
Andrew R. Kusmierczyk
Biology
IUPUI
Misrak (Ella) A. Seifu
Bogdan G. Dragnea
Chemistry
Bloomington
Isaiah Sloss
Roger Innes
Biology
Bloomington
Christine Tchnouwou
Travis Jerde
Pharmacology & Toxicology
IUPUI
Eleni G. Temech
Yuichiro Takagi
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
IUPUI
Marvin Y. Thomas
LaQuia Walker
Dentistry
IUPUI
Nahom T. Tilahun
Kay Connelly
Informatics
Bloomington
Nichelle S. Whitney
Soni Lacefield
Biology
Bloomington
Sade Wilson
Michael Lynch
Biology
Bloomington
Michael T. Yitna
Kay Connelly
Informatics
Bloomington
Daniel J. Zapata
Michael Lynch
Biology
Bloomington
Highlights
For the sixth consecutive summer, the IU-MSI STEM Initiative hosted the STEM Summer Scholars Institute. A total of 26 students participated in the 2012 Institute–21 students came from our partner institutions and five students from the Bloomington campus. These students began the summer with orientation activities designed to bond students together for their summer of research; we had an additional 16 students from other STEM-related programs join for the orientation activities. Students arrived on Friday, June 1, for the weekend at Bradford Woods and the staff reported that the larger group "was still very easy to work with" and the participants "were very engaging." On Sunday, June 3, six students went to the IUPUI campus and remaining students went to the Bloomington campus to settle in campus apartments. On Monday, June 4, the students met their mentors at a welcoming luncheon on each campus and then were escorted to the summer labs. Of the 26 participants in the 2012 Summer Scholars Institute, five were returning for a second year.
The 2012 Summer Scholars represented the following institutions (numbers from each represented in parentheses): Alabama A&M University (1), Bennett College for Women (2), Hampton University (1), Indiana University Bloomington (5), Jackson State University (9), Langston University (1), Morehouse College (3), North Carolina A&T State University (1), North Carolina Central University (2), and Xavier University of Louisiana (1). We also had a student this year from Howard University.
There were nine additional students who were part of the IU School of Informatics and Computing affiliated program, representing Elizabeth City State University and Mississippi Valley State University. They participated in many of the same events as the IU-MSI STEM Summer Scholars. Four former Summer Scholars Institute participants–Byron Gipson, Crystal Boston-Clay, Ginger White and Delawrence Sykes, who are also enrolled in Ph.D. programs at Indiana University–served as ambassadors and mentors for the 2012 Institute participants.
During the course of the summer, Scholars had access to the library resources, student recreation facilities, computing systems, research labs, campus bus service, and dining facilities. Students had numerous opportunities to gather as a group at:
GRE seminars
Wednesday lunch research seminars
Poster presentation skills training
Research symposium at IUPUI
Historical preservations trip
Kings Island trip
Participants of the IU-MSI Summer Scholars Institute completed their summer program on July 27 with a closing luncheon at the Indiana Memorial Union Alumni Hall on the Bloomington campus. Students, family members, faculty mentors, and university administrators and staff were present to support these future researchers. Prior to the luncheon, students presented posters of their summer research. Additionally, faculty members from the partner institutions attended the poster presentation and closing luncheon.
Participants
Scholar
Faculty Mentor
Research
Campus
Shanaé Alford
Anne Prieto, Psychological & Brain Sciences
NRG3 Role in Schizophrenia
Bloomington
Ana Baker
Randy Arnold, Chemistry
Synthesizing Amino Acids
Bloomington
Alexus Copes
Martin O'Donnell and William Scott, Chemistry/Chemical Biology
Distributed Drug Discovery
IUPUI
DeMarcus Crews
Martin O'Donnell and William Scott, Chemistry/Chemical Biology
Distributed Drug Discovery
IUPUI
Marshé Edwards
Travis Jerde, Pharmacology & Toxicology
Prostatic Inflammation in Cancer
IUPUI
Kenneth Fiawoyife
Bogdan Dragnea, Chemistry
Quantifying Alphavirus Life-Cycle
Bloomington
Liza Gebre
Lane Baker, Chemistry
COMSOL Multiphysics
Bloomington
Kenneth Harris
Jim Goodson, Biology
Neuropeptide Activation
Bloomington
Robert Hollins
Roger Innes, Biology
Plant Pathogen Immunology
Bloomington
Kuwade Huey-Robinson
Emilia Martins, Biology
Animal Behavior
Bloomington
Kari Jackson
Troy Smith, Biology
Knifefish Courtship Behavior
Bloomington
Martha Johnson
Yuichiro Takagi, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mediator in Gene Expression
IUPUI
Ammanuiel Kebede
Bogdan Dragnea, Chemistry
Tracking Trajectories of Alphavirus
Bloomington
Thomas Negash
Jian Xie, Mechanical Engineering
Lithium Ion Battery Diffusion Coefficient
IUPUI
Uchechukwu Ngwudike
Randy Arnold, Chemistry
Peptides Analysis Software
Bloomington
Vera Obinwanne
Richard Nass, Pharmacology
Methylmercury Toxicity
IUPUI
Terry Phillips
David Kehoe, Biology
Complementary Chromatic Acclimation
Bloomington
Brandon Rhodes
Heather Bradshaw, Brain & Psychological Sciences
N-Acyl Amide Lipidomics
Bloomington
Misrak (Ella) Seifu
Bogdan Dragnea, Chemistry
Computational Analysis of Viral Trajectories in Cells
Bloomington
Isaiah Sloss
Roger Innes, Biology
Plant Pathogen Immunology
Bloomington
Jamar Smith
Melanie Marketon, Biology
Yersinia pestis Colonization of Drosophila
Bloomington
Stephen Stewart
Catherine Sherwood-Laughlin, Public Health
Communications and Sexual Satisfaction
Bloomington
Janay Tyler
George Rebec, Psychological & Brain Sciences
Cocaine and Personality Traits
Bloomington
Constance Williams
Peter Ortoleva, Chemistry
Viral Structural Transitions
Bloomington
Robel Worede
Leonie Moyle, Biology
Phylogenetic Reconstruction
Bloomington
Philip Young
Lane Baker, Chemistry
Importins Expression
Bloomington
Highlights
The IU-MSI STEM Summer Scholars Institute finished the fifth summer program with the largest number of participants to date–40 students. Nineteen students from seven of our partner institutions and 23 students from our affiliate programs attended orientation activities designed to bond students together for their summer of research. Students arrived on Friday, June 3, for the weekend at Bradford Woods and the staff reported that the larger group was still very easy to work with and the participants were very engaging. On Sunday, June 5, seven students went to the IUPUI campus and remaining students went to the Bloomington campus to settle in campus apartments and prepare for introductions to their faculty mentors and lab environments. Of the 40 participants in the 2011 Summer Scholars Institute, 12 were returning for a second year while 3 were returning for a third year.
The 2011 Summer Scholars represented the following institutions (numbers from each represented in parentheses): Alabama A&M University (1), Bennett College for Women (2), Indiana University Bloomington (1), Jackson State University (10), Morehouse College (2), North Carolina Central University (2), and North Carolina A&T State University (1). Two additional students from Prairie View A&M University were affiliated with the summer institute. In addition, 21 students were part of the IU School of Informatics and Computing affiliated programs and represented the following institutions: Elizabeth City State University (7), Hampton University (1), Mississippi Valley State University (4), North Carolina A&T State University (4), Rice University (1), Santa Clara University (1), and Shaw University (1). Three former Summer Scholars Institute participants–Byron Gipson, Crystal Boston-Clay, and Ginger White–who are also enrolled in the Ph.D. programs at Indiana University–served as ambassadors and mentors for the 2011 Institute.
During the course of the summer, Scholars had access to the library facilities, student recreation facilities, computing systems, research labs, campus bus service, and dining facilities. Students had numerous opportunities to gather as a group at:
GRE seminars
Wednesday lunch research seminars
Poster presentation skills training
French Lick historical restoration trip
Kings Island trip
Scholars also presented their research posters at the CIC SROP (Committee on Institutional Cooperation Summer Research Opportunity Program) Conference at The Ohio State University from July 15-17 with other summer research students from across the country. Students had quality interactions with faculty members from the CIC universities who reviewed their posters and moderated their research roundtable discussions.
Participants of the IU-MSI Summer Scholars Institute completed their summer program on July 29 with a closing luncheon at the University Place Conference Center on the Indianapolis campus. Students, family members, faculty mentors, and university administrators and staff came to celebrate with the 40 students who took part in the 2011 Institute. Prior to the luncheon, students presented posters of their summer research. Additionally, faculty members from the partner institutions attended the poster presentation and closing luncheon. These faculty members had gathered for the previous two days with faculty on both the Bloomington and Indianapolis campuses to review potential faculty research collaborations.
Participants
Scholar
Faculty Mentor
Research
Campus
Anas Alfarra
Peter Ortoleva
Chemistry
Bloomington
Sharaé Alford
S.P. Srinivas
Optometry
Bloomington
Alana Anderson
Kay Connelly
Health Informatics
Bloomington
Michael Austin
Geoffrey Fox
High Performance Computing
Bloomington
Jean Bevins
Geoffrey Fox
High Performance Computing
Bloomington
Joyce Bevins
Geoffrey Fox
High Performance Computing
Bloomington
JerNettie Burney
Geoffrey Fox
High Performance Computing
Bloomington
Ravin Byrd
Travis Jerde
Pharmacology
IUPUI
Ashley Clodfelter
Apu Kapadia
Cybersecurity
Bloomington
Brian Collins
Phillip L. Johnson
Psychiatry
IUPUI
Brook Dawit
Peter Ortoleva
Chemistry
Bloomington
Eric Drew
XiaoFeng Wang
Cybersecurity
Bloomington
John Duke
Peter Ortoleva
Chemistry
Bloomington
Marshe’ Edwards
Travis Jerde
Pharmacology
IUPUI
Robyn Evans
Geoffrey Fox
High Performance Computing
Bloomington
Jameka Grigsby
Yuichiro Takagi
Biochemistry
IUPUI
Abdissa Gutema
Peter Ortoleva
Chemistry
Bloomington
Sakeli Hall
Claire Walczak
Medical Sciences
Bloomington
Franchetta Hibbler
Geoffrey Fox
High Performance Computing
Bloomington
Joseph Jackson
Geoffrey Fox
High Performance Computing
Bloomington
Chartese Jones
Geoffrey Fox
High Performance Computing
Bloomington
Quincy Kea
Steven Myers
Informatics
Bloomington
Glen Koch
XiaoFeng Wang
High Performance Computing
Bloomington
Kristen Lewis
Peter Ortoleva
Chemistry
Bloomington
Lan Li
Jean Camp
Cybersecurity
Bloomington
Suzanne Lien
Jean Camp
Cybersecurity
Bloomington
Autumn Luke
Geoffrey Fox
High Performance Computing
Bloomington
Alyssa Middleton
Rafeal Bahamonde
Kinesiology
IUPUI
John Miles II
Peter Ortoleva
Chemistry
Bloomington
Thomas Morton
Beth Plale
Large Scale Data Mining
Bloomington
Cornelius Myles
Raquel Hill
Cybersecurity
Bloomington
Vera Obinwanne
Richard Nass
Pharmacology
IUPUI
Ryan Patterson
Jian Xie
Engineering
IUPUI
Donovan Ricks
Steven Myers
Cryptography
Bloomington
Hussein Sadek
Peter Ortoleva
Chemistry
Bloomington
Asha Saravanamohan
Raquel Hill
Informatics
Bloomington
Stephen Stewart
Catherine Sherwood-Laughlin
Applied Health Sciences
Bloomington
Kriscilla Walker
David Daleke
Medical Sciences
Bloomington
Lakesha Wells
Geoffrey Fox
High Performance Computing
Bloomington
Jessica Williams
Alyce Fly
Nutrition/Applied Health
Bloomington
Highlights
The IU-MSI STEM Summer Scholars Institute began the fourth summer program at the Indiana University Bradford Woods outdoor recreation facilities. Twenty-seven students from eight HBCU institutions attended orientation activities designed to bond students together for their summer of research. Students arrived on Friday, June 4, and spent the weekend with the Bradford Woods staff on increasing levels of activities from team building to canoeing to hiking to high-wire challenges. On Sunday, June 7, six students went to the IUPUI campus and 21 students went to the Bloomington campus to settle in campus apartments and prepare for introductions to their faculty mentors and lab environments. Three members of the 2010 Institute returned for a second year.
The Summer Scholars represented the following institutions (the number from each in parenthesis): Alabama A&M University (1), IU Bloomington (2), Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis (1), Jackson State University (7), Morehouse College (1), and Xavier University of Louisiana (1). There were also students from Elizabeth City State University (6), North Carolina A & T (4), Prairieview A & M (3), and Shaw University who participated in many of the support activities for the STEM Summer Scholars. Former Summer Scholar Institute participants, Byron Gipson, who also enrolled in the PhD program at Indiana University Bloomington, and Crystal Boston, who is enrolled in the PhD program at IUPUI, served as ambassadors for the institute.
During the course of the summer, Scholars had access to the library facilities, student recreation facilities, computing systems, research labs, campus bus service and dining facilities. Students had numerous opportunities to gather as a group at:
GRE seminars
Wednesday lunch research seminars
Poster presentation skills training
French Lick historical restoration trip
CIC SROP Summer Research Conference
Participants of the IU-MSI Summer Scholars Institute completed their summer program on July 30 at a poster presentation and closing luncheon at the Indiana Memorial Union in Bloomington.
Participants
Scholar
Faculty Mentor
Research
Campus
Michael Austin
Judy Qiu
Computer Science/Informatics
Bloomington
Jean Bevins
Judy Qiu, Adam Hughes, Saliya Ekanayake
Computer Science/Informatics
Bloomington
Joyce Bevins
Judy Qiu, Jong Youl Choi, Ruan Yang, Seung-Hee Bae
Computer Science/Informatics
Bloomington
Keenan Black
Judy Qiu, Jong Youl Choi, Ruan Yang, Seung-Hee Bae
Computer Science/Informatics
Bloomington
JerNettie Burney
Judy Qiu
Computer Science/Informatics
Bloomington
Nadirah Cogbill
Judy Qiu, Marlon Pierce, Yu (Marie) Ma, Xiaoming Gao, Jun Wang
Computer Science/Informatics
Bloomington
Brian Collins
Sylvia Bigatti
Psychology
IUPUI
Brook Dawit
Kay Connelly
Nanotechnology
Bloomington
Eric Drew
Kay Connelly
Computer Science/Informatics
Bloomington
Joseph Duke
Martin F. Jarrold
Engineering
Bloomington
Robyn Evans
Judy Qiu
Computer Science/Informatics
Bloomington
Javar Gerald
Minaxi Gupta
Computer Science/Informatics
Bloomington
Matthew Hardin
Kay Connelly
Computer Science/Informatics
Bloomington
Eric Hollman
D. Thomas Iseley
Mathematics
IUPUI
Brook Kassa
Jaehwah (John) Lee
Engneering
IUPUI
Quincy Kea
Minaxi Gupta, Rew Kalafut
Computer Science/Informatics
Bloomington
Kristen Lewis
Peter Ortoleva, A. Singharoy, H. Joshi
Computational Science
Bloomington
Matthew May
William Timberlake
Animal Behavior
Bloomington
Alyssa Middleton
Jake Streepey, Rafael Bahamonde
Exercise Physiology
IUPUI
John Miles II
Peter Ortoleva
Computer Science/Informatics
Bloomington
Cornelius Myles
Judy Qiu, Jong Youl Choi, Ruan Yang, Seung-Hee Bae
Computer Science/Informatics
Bloomington
Bernard Nyuykongi
Kay Connelly, William Hazelwood
Informatics
Bloomington
Asha Saravanamohan
Dr. Sarah Koskie
Engineering
IUPUI
Christine Tchounwou
Yuichiro (Yuro)Takagi
Genetic Diseases
IUPUI
La Sasha Walker
Peter Ortoleva
Computer Science/Informatics
Bloomington
Ginger White
Eli Blevis
Informatics
Bloomington
Constance Williams
Judy Qiu, Jong Youl Choi
Computer Science/Informatics
Bloomington
Jessica Williams
Alyce Fly, Allison J. Willis, Elizabeth A. Eaton, Beth Foland, Yi-Chun Lin
Viral Pathogenesis
Bloomington
Cortnie Wright
Judy Qiu, Adam Hughes, Saliya Ekanayake
Computer Science/Informatics
Bloomington
Johnny Wright
David Daleke
Cancer Biology
Bloomington
Highlights
The IU-MSI STEM Summer Scholars Institute began the third summer program at the Indiana University Bradford Woods outdoor recreation facilities. Twenty-two students from six of the partner institutions attended orientation activities designed to bond students together for their summer of research. Students arrived on Friday, May 29, and spent the weekend with the Braford Woods staff on increasing levels of activities from team building to canoeing to zip lines to high-wire challenges. On Sunday, May 31, nine students went to the IUPUI campus and 13 students went to the Bloomington campus to settle in campus apartments and prepare for introductions to their faculty mentors and lab environments. The twenty-two participants matched last year's enrollment and three members of the 2009 institute returned for a second year.
The Summer Scholars represented the following institutions: Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis, Jackson State University, Langston University, Morehouse College, Morgan State University, and Xavier University of Louisiana. There were also students from Elizabeth City State University, North Carolina A & T, Prairieview A & M, and Claflin University who participated in many of the support activities for the STEM Summer Scholars. A former Summer Scholar Institute participant, Byron Gipson, who also enrolled in the PhD program at Indiana University Bloomington, participated in the Bradford Woods experience and served as an ambassador for the institute.
During the course of the summer, Scholars had access to the library facilities, student recreation facilities, computing systems, research labs, campus bus service, and dining facilities. Students had numerous opportunities to gather as a group at:
GRE seminars
Wednesday lunch research seminars
Poster presentation skills training
French Lick historical restoration trip
Indianapolis 500 Track and Museum tour
The Indianapolis Black Expo
UniverSoul Circus
Participants of the IU-MSI Summer Scholars Institute completed their summer program on July 31 with a closing luncheon at the University Place Conference Center on the IUPUI campus. Students, family members, faculty mentors, university administrators and staff came to celebrate the 22 students who took part in the institute. Prior to the luncheon students presented posters of their summer research. A week earlier, students presented these same posters at the CIC SROP (Committee on Institutional Cooperation Summer Research Opportunity Program) Conference at the University of Michigan with 418 other students from across the country. In late September, students received a DVD with video highlights on their summer experience.
A sample of the STEM Summer Scholars Institute poster presentation topics include:
Distributed Drug Discovery (D3): Solid Phase Synthesis of Acylated Unnatural Amino Acids and Amino Acid Amides
Algorithm Optimization and High Performance Parallel Computing with Multi-Core Machines
The Feasibility of Designing a Secure System to Prevent Surgical Errors Using Radio Frequency Identification Technology
The Impact of Breast Cancer on Patient's Motor Mobility: A Comparison of Motor Mobility of Women Diagnosed with Breast Cancer and Women Without Breast Cancer as Reported by Their Husbands or Partners
Synthesizing of Porous Carbon Using a Substrate by the Method of CVD
Synthesis of a Fluorescent Folic Acid Derivative to Guide Targeted Cancer Drug Development
Developing Models for In Vivo Imaging of Breast Cancer Metastasization to the Bone Marrow
Participants
Scholar
Faculty Mentor
Research
Campus
Nidia Adames
Silvia Bigatti
Stress
IUPUI
Jean Bevins
Marlon Pierce
Computer Science
Bloomington
Joyce Bevins
Marlon Pierce
Computer Science
Bloomington
Crystal Boston
Raquel Hill
Informatics
Bloomington
Saikou Camara
Raquel Hill
Informatics
Bloomington
Cedric Carter
Geoffrey Fox
Computer Science
Bloomington
Jeremiah Chukwuka
Cheng Kao
Viral Pathogenesis
Bloomington
Brandon Hill
Claire Walczak
Cancer Biology
Bloomington
Shantelle Hughes
Charles Dann III
Chemistry
Bloomington
LaShanna Johnson
Barbara A. Hocevar
Infectious Diseases
IUPUI
Rosalyn Johnson
Raquel Hill
Informatics
Bloomington
Nadia Jones
Geoffrey Fox
Computer Science
Bloomington
Yulian Kebede
Jian Xie
Engineering
IUPUI
Na'il Mitchell
Jian Xie
Chemistry
IUPUI
Shabree Nichols
S.P. Srinivas
Cancer Biology
Bloomington
Towanta Reese
Angelo Cardoso
Genetic Diseases
IUPUI
Delawrence Sykes
Emilia Martins
Animal Behavior
Bloomington
Andre Thompson
Marty O'Donnell
Chemistry
IUPUI
Tim Watson
Geoffrey Fox
Informatics
Bloomington
Ginger White
Pauline Baker
Chemistry
IUPUI
Cory Wilson
Marty O'Donnell
Chemistry
IUPUI
Baraka Williams
Teresita Bellido
Immunology
IUPUI
Highlights
The IU-MSI STEM Summer Scholars Institute began its second summer program with 22 students from ten of the 13 partner institutions. Fifty-five applications were received during early spring semester resulting in 11 students paired with Indiana University faculty members on the Bloomington campus and 11 on the Indianapolis campus. Participation doubled from last summer's inaugural program.
The Summer Scholars represented the following institutions (number from each in parenthesis): Alabama A&M University (4), Jackson State University (6), Langston University (4), Morehouse College (2), North Carolina Central University, Bennett College for Women, Tennessee State University, Xavier University of Louisiana, Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis, and Indiana University Bloomington.
The Summer Scholars Institute participants began their summer experience at the Indiana University Bradford Woods Outdoor Center. The weekend was filled with activities that bonded students together into a cohesive unit prepared to engage in full-time summer research. Five members of the 2008 Institute returned for a second year; the weekend retreat was a new experience for them. A former Summer Scholar Institute participant, Byron Gipson, who also enrolled in the PhD program at Indiana University Bloomington this past January, participated in the Bradford Woods experience and served as an ambassador for the institute.
During the course of the summer, Scholars had a chance to attend the following:
GRE seminars
Wednesday lunch research seminars
Poster presentation skills training
Social events–pizza, bowling, hiking, etc.
The Juneteenth Celebration
The Indianapolis Black Expo
UniverSoul Circus
The summer experience culminated in poster presentations as CIC-SROP conference at Michigan State University. Students also presented their posters at the closing recognition luncheon.
A sample of their poster presentation topics includes:
Presentation of Chlamydia Antigens by Reproductive Tract Epithelial Cells
Mans' Best Friend Works to Find New Epigenetic Therapy for Bladder Cancer
Glucocorticoid-Inducted Osteopososis
Investigation of Sensor Technology
Electrophysiological Recording in Basolateral Amygdala During Cocaine Self-Administration and Reinstatement in Rats
Development of an in vitro Model of Hyperglycemia of Diabetes
Antioxidant Effect of Vernonia amygdalina on Acrylonitrile-Induced Oxidative DNA Damage in Rat Astrocytes
Hyperinsulinemia-Induced Plasma Membrane Derangement and Cellular Insulin Resistance
Effect of Conjugated Linoleic Acid Supplementation on the Severity of Exercise-Induced Bronchoconstriction
Two students from the 2007 institute were enrolled at IU pursuing doctoral work. Plans for 2009 included expanding the institute to 30 participants.
Participants
Scholar
Faculty Mentor
Research
Campus
Aaron Slinker
Joe Bidwell
Physiology
IUPUI
Anthony Gutierrez
Stuart Warden
Physiology
IUPUI
Ashley Lambert
Margaret Bauer
Infectious disease
IUPUI
Brittney Macklin
Jeff Elmendorf
Diabetes
IUPUI
Brittanie Atkinson
Ken Mackie
Diabetes
Bloomington
Candice Perry
Barbara Hocevar
Cancer
IUPUI
C. Mandela Bynes
Jian Xie
Engineering
IUPUI
Danielle Mcshan
Lisa Kamendulis
Toxicology
IUPUI
Gennea' Quinney
George Rebec
Cancer
Bloomington
Jarrett David
Kay Connelly
Nanotechnology
Bloomington
LaShanna Johnson
Ken Nephew
Genetic Diseases
Bloomington
Leslie Johnson
Timothy Mickleborough
Immunology
Bloomington
M. Francine Stefan
Flynn Picardal
Environmental science
Bloomington
Maurice Speights
Geoffery Fox
Computational Science
Bloomington
Merrill Brouillette
Jian-Ting Zhang
Chemistry
IUPUI
Nitrecus Simmons
Heather Bradshaw
Neurosciences
Bloomington
Shabree Nicols
John B. Watkins, III
Diabetes
Bloomington
Shanel Pruitt
Raymond Johnson
Infectious disease
IUPUI
Teresa Demeritte
James Klaunig
Biochemistry
IUPUI
Towanta Reese
David Daleke
Molecular biology
Bloomington
Rochelle Howard
Paul Kirk
Mathematics
Bloomington
Highlights
The Summer Scholars Institute 2007 was launched on June 4, 2007. Eleven Scholars from five HBCUs (Alabama A& M University, Clark Atlanta University, Jackson State University, Morehouse College, and Langston University) attended the institute. Six of the Scholars were from Jackson State University and two were from Morehouse College. The majority of the Scholars were chemistry and biology majors and rising juniors and seniors. There were also two graduate students, one rising sophomore, and one recent university graduate. Although every Scholar had taken lab-based science classes, most had not conducted intensive laboratory research before attending the Summer Scholars Institute.
Summer Scholars Institute 2007 was a nine-week program conducted both on the IUPUI and Bloomington campuses. The institute had two objectives: (1) to provide the Scholars with an intensive STEM laboratory research experience and (2) to enhance the Scholars' interest in attending graduate school. Six Scholars worked with mentors at IUPUI and five with mentors at Bloomington.
The program was designed so that each Scholar spent at least 75% of his or her time conducting research in the laboratory. In addition, there were planned social activities and presentations to the Scholars by Mentors regarding their research on the respective campuses. There were two joint social events for all Scholars. Every Scholar attended the Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC) conference at Purdue University. In addition, every Scholar prepared a poster explaining his or her research which was presented at the closing ceremony of the Summer Scholars Institute.
In addition to the faculty coordinators, Vicki Roberts, Associate Vice President Budget and Administration; Dr. Jack Schmit, Assistant to the Vice President for Institutional Development and Student Affairs; Dr. Sherree Wilson, Special Assistant to the Chancellor, Office of the Chancellor and IU Vice President for Long-Range Planning, IUPUI; Dr. Samuel White, Jr., Clinical Professor of ECE and Senior Advisor to the Dean, Purdue University School of Engineering and Technology and David Koerner, Assistant Director, IUPUI Graduate Office, Administration, IU (together with the faculty directors, the "IU Team") were responsible for the administration of the Summer Scholars Institute.
Participants
Scholar
Faculty Mentor
Research
Campus
Jamera L. Barnes
Randy Brutkiewicz
Innate immunity and the response to viruses or cancer
IUPUI
Merrill Brouillette
Jian-Ting Zhang
Cancer biology and how cancer cells become immune to anticancer drugs
IUPUI
Kimyatta Cain
Linda Malkas
Cancer biology and early detection
IUPUI
Jarrett David
Kay Connelly
Security issues related to computer science
Bloomington
Byron H. Gipson
J. Michael Walker
Cloning certain acid and lipid GPCRs
Bloomington
James P. Lucas
Stephanie Sen
Organic synthesis of mimic molecules and combinatorial chemistry
IUPUI
Genaee B. Quinney
George Rebec
Effects of ceftriaxone on neurons
Bloomington
Jasma D. Shelby
Ann Roman
Viral studies
IUPUI
Lungile Sitole
Tom Tolbert
Chemistry and organic synthesis dimer formation for HIV inhibitor peptide