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KU celebrates undergraduate research at annual symposium
LAWRENCE — More than 130 undergraduate students participated in the 27th annual Undergraduate Research Symposium earlier this month at the University of Kansas. Volunteer judges selected 28 individual presentations and three group presentations to receive Outstanding Presentation Awards. Honorees included Kansans from Atchison, Bel Aire, Kansas City, Lawrence, Olathe, Overland Park, Prairie Village, Salina, Shawnee, Topeka and Wichita.
Seven students receive Kansas Biological Survey Student Research Awards for 2024
LAWRENCE — The Kansas Biological Survey & Center for Ecological Research at the University of Kansas has awarded $7,500 in funding this spring for student research to be conducted this year. Seven Jayhawks will receive assistance through the research center’s 2024 Student Research Award, including Annalise Guthrie, doctoral student from Kansas City, Missouri.
Researchers parse oddity of distantly related bats in Solomon Islands that appear identical
LAWRENCE — A study of body size in leaf-nosed bats of the Solomon Islands has revealed surprising genetic diversity among nearly indistinguishable species on different islands. The research team behind the study from the University of Melbourne, Australia, included several evolutionary biologists from the University of Kansas — who collected specimens in the field, conducted genetic analysis and co-wrote the research appearing in the journal Evolution.
Full stories below.
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Contact: Erin Wolfram, Academic Success, 785-864-2308, [email protected]
KU celebrates undergraduate research at annual symposium
LAWRENCE — More than 130 undergraduate students participated in the 27th annual Undergraduate Research Symposium at the University of Kansas. The symposium took place online April 15-19 and featured oral and poster presentations as well as artist talks and creative displays from many disciplines. Presentations can still be viewed on the symposium website.
In addition to the previously announced ACE Talks presentation winners, who each receive $500 and have their work featured on the symposium homepage, volunteer judges selected 28 individual presentations and three group presentations to receive Outstanding Presentation Awards. Honorees each receive a $50 award per presentation.
The 2024 Outstanding Presentation Award winners are listed by name, hometown, major, link to presentation, and mentor:
Individuals
Saha Ahmadian, Olathe, biochemistry, The Effect of L-Theanine on Glycogen Phosphorylase b, mentored by Roberto De Guzman.
Josh Burton, Olathe, biochemistry, Prednisone as an Activator of Glycogen Phosphorylase b, mentored by Roberto De Guzman.
Hannah Chern, Shawnee, chemistry and molecular, cellular & developmental biology, Leveraging Zebrafish and Electrochemistry to Search for Therapies to Delay Cognitive Decline, mentored by Romana Jarosova.
Isabella Crawford-Parker, Lawrence, global & international studies and political science, Religion in the Slavic Region in Generation-Z, mentored by Brian Lagotte.
Rylee Crowell, Atchison, biochemistry, The Effect of Humalog and Lantus Insulin Injectables on Glycogen Phosphorylase B, mentored by Roberto De Guzman.
Ashley Decker, Overland Park, architecture, The Americana Circus Museum, mentored by Kapila Silva.
Eric Haberman, Bel Aire, human biology, Subcloning and Cysteine Mutagenesis of the Transmembrane Regions of the Shigella IpaB Virulence Protein, mentored by Roberto De Guzman.
Jenna Hansen, Dallas, behavioral neuroscience, Restoring Rest: The Effects of Hormone Therapy on Sleep Quality, mentored by Amber Watts.
Tae Gyu Kang, Republic of Korea, psychology, Relationship Between Characteristics of Trauma Exposure and Symptom Severity, mentored by Jeffrey Girard.
Leslie Koffi, Aurora, Colorado, architecture, Museum of Black Feminism, mentored by Kapila Silva.
Cate Manning, Omaha, Nebraska, strategic communication and global & international studies, Rhetoric v. Reality: HS2 Decision-Making, mentored by Brian Lagotte.
Priscilla Munoz, Kansas City, Missouri, pre-clinical laboratory sciences, Comparing Molecular and Morphological Diversification of Shrews (Cryptotis Parvus) between the Florida Mainland and Florida Keys, mentored by Jocelyn Colella.
Trisha Nair, Overland Park, chemistry, Investigation of the Effects of pH and Ionic Strength on AuBP1 Peptide Binding, mentored by Cindy Berrie.
Alexys Peppers, Salina, global & international studies, THAAD is Bad?, mentored by Brian Lagotte.
Janie Rainer, Overland Park, microbiology and Spanish, Identifying the YesN Regulon of Enterococcus faecalis, mentored by Lynn Hancock.
Taylor Ross, Florissant, Missouri, global & international studies, Beyond the Binary: Investigating Gender in the Olympics, mentored by Brian Lagotte.
Devin Setiawan, Indonesia, Individualized Machine-learning-based Clinical Assessment Recommendation System (iCARE), mentored by Arian Ashourvan.
Helenna Shcherbinin, Overland Park, behavioral neuroscience, Partisanship and the Distribution of Moral Foundations Across Contexts, mentored by Monica Biernat.
Olivia Sourivong, Kansas City, Kansas, social work, Intergenerational Trauma, Domestic Violence, and the Potential for Healing: A qualitative study with service providers and activists who have worked with Lao domestic violence survivors, mentored by Claire Willey-Sthapit.
David Streiler, Prairie Village, biochemistry, Effects of Dihydroxy Berberine on the Activity of Glycogen Phosphorylase B, mentored by Roberto De Guzman, and Measurement Of Intracellular Reactive Nitrogen Species in Human Microglia Using Microchip Electrophoresis and Laser Induced Fluorescence, mentored by Sue Lunte.
Mason Thieu, Topeka, exercise science, Anthropometric And Physical Fitness Profiles of Youth Athletes, mentored by Quincy Johnson.
Isabel Vanlandingham, Wichita, photography, Toyland, mentored by Elise Kirk.
Farrukhbek Varisov, Uzbekistan, theatre performance and political science, Train Tickets, mentored by Laura Kirk.
Aidan Warner, Overland Park, psychology, A Critical Analysis of Environmentalist Organizations’ Engagement with Environmental Injustice, mentored by Trevor Lies.
Emily Whisenhunt, Alexandria, Virginia, global & international studies, FIFA’s Trek to Modernity: The Role of Muslim Women in Football, mentored by Brian Lagotte.
Grace Worden, Greensboro, North Carolina, photography, No Place Like Home, mentored by Elise Kirk.
Groups
Kailyn Alani, Ellie Preston, Alyssa Lynn Rosales-Stephens, Adrian Delacruz, Shuntaro Shimakura and Isabella Wingrove, Prairie Park Nature Center Sign Project, mentored by Ali Brox and Kelly Kindscher.
Tavin Cook, Logan Littleton and Melanie Mnirajd, Evaluating the Feasibility of HLA-B *15:02 Pharmacogenomic Testing to Guide Carbamazepine Therapeutic Decisions in US Hospital, mentored by Judy Wu.
Eddie Church, Evren Dequincy, Madison Wiley, Callie Roberts, Trevor Boyd and Maggie Grandsire, EcoRadio, mentored by Kelly Kindscher.
Alyssa Marino, Aubrianna Gerdes and Elizabeth Webster, A Scoping Review of Music-Based Intervention Reporting Quality for Biological and Psychological Health Outcomes during Pregnancy in Medical Settings, mentored by Deanna Hanson-Abromeit.
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Contact: Kirsten Bosnak, KU Field Station, 785-864-6267, [email protected], @KUFieldStation
Seven students receive Kansas Biological Survey Student Research Awards for 2024
LAWRENCE — The Kansas Biological Survey & Center for Ecological Research at the University of Kansas has awarded $7,500 in funding this spring for student research to be conducted this year. Seven students will receive assistance through the research center’s 2024 Student Research Awards.
The students’ work covers subjects such as the impact of dry periods in microbial nitrogen processes in streams; influences on wildflower diversity in a quarter-century tallgrass prairie restoration; and planning prescribed burning using drones. During the 2024-2025 academic year, each student will present their research during one of the center’s Friday Ecology Seminars.
The Kansas Biological Survey & Center for Ecological Research houses a diverse group of ecological research and remote sensing/GIS programs. It also manages the 3,200-acre KU Field Station, a resource for study in the sciences, arts, humanities and professional schools.
“The research these students are doing is exciting, and we’re pleased to provide funding,” said Bryan Foster, who chairs the awards committee. Foster is a KU professor of ecology & evolutionary biology, a senior scientist at the research center and director of the KU Field Station.
The individual awards and their recipients are listed below. Each award is funded through KU Endowment, the independent, nonprofit organization serving as the official fundraising and fund-management organization for KU.
The Director’s Award provides support for research conducted by a graduate student. Sarah Flynn, Burlington, Kentucky, doctoral student in ecology & evolutionary biology, was awarded $1,500 in funding for her project, “How do no-flow periods impact microbial N processing in non-perennial streams?” Her adviser is Amy Burgin, professor of ecology & evolutionary biology and a senior scientist at the Kansas Biological Survey & Center for Ecological Research.
The Kenneth B. Armitage Award provides support for research conducted by an undergraduate or graduate student at the KU Field Station. Annalise Guthrie, Kansas City, Missouri, doctoral student in ecology & evolutionary biology, was awarded $1,000 in funding for her project, “Topographical controls on forest productivity as a response to climate.” Her adviser is Sharon Billings, University Distinguished Professor of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Dean’s Professor and a senior scientist at the Kansas Biological Survey & Center for Ecological Research.
The W. Dean Kettle Conservation Award provides support for research conducted by an undergraduate or graduate student at the KU Field Station in the area of natural resource conservation. David Weiss, Burlington, Vermont, doctoral student in geography, was awarded $1,000 in funding for his project, “Investigating the utility of NEON hyperspectral imagery for KUFS tree canopy classification.” His advisers are Jude Kastens, associate research professor at the Kansas Biological Survey & Center for Ecological Research, and Xingong Li, professor of geography & atmospheric science.
The Mari F. Pesek Award provides support for research conducted by a graduate student at the KU Field Station. Zhenghao Lin, Haining, Zhejiang Province, China, doctoral student in electrical engineering & computer science, was awarded $1,000 in funding for his project, “Safe and smart prescribed burning and planning using sUAS.” His adviser is Haiyang Chao, associate professor of aerospace engineering.
Three students received funding through the Kansas Biological Survey & Center for Ecological Research Awards, which provide support for research conducted by either undergraduate or graduate students. These students, listed below, were awarded $1,000 each.
Kayla Clouse, Farmington Hills, Michigan, doctoral student in ecology & evolutionary biology, was awarded funding for travel to give her presentation, “Maternal parent drives responsiveness to nitrogen-fixing consortium in maize.” Her adviser is Maggie Wagner, assistant professor of ecology & evolutionary biology and an assistant scientist at the Kansas Biological Survey & Center for Ecological Research.
Lydia Regier, Lincoln, Nebraska, doctoral student in ecology & evolutionary biology, was awarded funding for her project, “Increasing forb diversity in a 26-year-old tallgrass prairie restoration: the influence of disturbance, propagule addition, and fungal pathogens on community assembly.” Her adviser is Sara Baer, director of the Kansas Biological Survey & Center for Ecological Research and professor of ecology & evolutionary biology.
Yufan Zhou, doctoral student in ecology & evolutionary biology from Urumqi, Xinjiang Province, China, was awarded funding for his project, “The temporal development of plant-soil feedback in perennials and annuals.” His advisers are Maggie Wagner, assistant professor of ecology & evolutionary biology and an assistant scientist at the Kansas Biological Survey & Center for Ecological Research, and Jim Bever, Foundation Distinguished Professor of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology and a senior scientist at the Kansas Biological Survey & Center for Ecological Research.
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Contact: Brendan Lynch, KU News Service, 785-864-8855, [email protected], @BrendanMLynch
Researchers parse oddity of distantly related bats in Solomon Islands that appear identical
LAWRENCE — A study of body size in leaf-nosed bats of the Solomon Islands has revealed surprising genetic diversity among nearly indistinguishable species on different islands.
The research team behind the study from the University of Melbourne, Australia, included several evolutionary biologists from the University of Kansas — who collected specimens in the field, conducted genetic analysis and co-wrote the research appearing in the journal Evolution.
“This is genus of bats called Hipposideros with multiple species all over Southeast Asia in the Pacific,” said co-author Rob Moyle, senior curator of ornithology with the KU Biodiversity Institute and Natural History Museum, whose lab conducted much of the investigation. “In the Solomon Islands, where we’ve been doing a lot of fieldwork, on each island there can be four or five different species, and they parse out in terms of body size. There’s a small, medium, large — or if there’s more than three species, there’s a small, medium, large and extra large. On one island there’s five, so there’s an extra small.”
According to Moyle, who also serves as professor of evolutionary biology at KU, previous generations of researchers reviewed the bats’ morphology, or physical traits, and concluded they’re one species.
“You go from one island to the next, and the medium-sized species is identical to the other islands,” he said. “Biologists have always looked at those and said, ‘OK, it’s obvious. There’s a small, medium and large size species distributed across multiple islands.’”
However, Moyle and his collaborators had more modern analysis at their disposal. In sequencing the DNA of bats they collected from the field (along with specimens from museum collections), the team found the large and extra large bat species weren’t actually closely related.
“That means that somehow these populations arrived at this identical body size and appearance not by being closely related — but we usually think identical-looking things are that way because they’re really closely related,” Moyle said. “It brings up questions like what’s unique about these islands that you’d have convergence of body size and appearance into really stable size classes on different islands.”
The team performed precise measurements on bats from different islands, confirming previous work by scientists in the Solomon Islands.
“All the large ones from different islands all clustered together in their measurements,” Moyle said. “It’s not just that the earlier biologists made a mistake. They looked at them and said, ‘Oh, yeah, they’re the same.’ And they’re actually not. We measured them, and they’re all clustered together, though they’re different species. We verified — sort of — that earlier morphological work.”
Moyle’s collaborators included lead author Tyrone Lavery of the University of Melbourne and KU’s Biodiversity Institute and Natural History Museum. Other KU co-authors include Devon DeRaad, doctoral student, and Lucas DeCicco, collections manager, both of the Biodiversity Institute and Natural History Museum; and Karen Olson of both KU and Rutgers University. They were joined by Piokera Holland of Ecological Solutions Solomon Islands; Jennifer Seddon of James Cook University and Luke Leung of the Rodent Testing Centre in Gatton, Australia.
Genetic analysis that revealed the bats weren’t closely related was performed at KU’s Genome Sequencing Core.
“When we created family trees using the bats’ DNA, we found that what we thought was just one species of large bat in the Solomon Islands was actually a case where bigger bats had evolved from the smaller species multiple times across different islands,” Lavery said. “We think these larger bats might be evolving to take advantage of prey that the smaller bats aren’t eating.”
DeRadd said the work could be “highly relevant” for conservation efforts in identifying evolutionarily significant units in this group.
“Body size had misled the taxonomy,” DeRadd said. “It turns out every island’s population of extra-large bats is basically genetically unique and deserving of conservation. Understanding that is really helpful. There are issues with deforestation. If we don’t know whether these populations are unique, it’s hard to know whether we should be putting effort into conserving them.”
According to DeCicco, the new understanding of leaf-nosed bats was fascinating on a purely theoretical level.
“We study evolutionary processes that lead to biodiversity,” he said. “This shows nature is more complex. We humans love to try to find patterns — and researchers love to try to find rules that apply to broad suites of organisms. It’s super cool when we find exceptions to these rules. These are patterns that you see duplicated over lots of different taxa on lots of different islands — a large and a small species, or two closely related species that differ somehow to partition their niches. We’re seeing there are lots of different evolutionary scenarios that can produce that same pattern.”
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