Magellan Scholar program at the University of South Carolina

Second cohort of Magellan Scholars named for fall 2006

From a pool of 82 applications, the Office of Undergraduate Research has selected 48 Magellan Scholars for 2006-07 with total funding of more than $132,000.

USC now has 66 Magellan Scholars funded with more than $180,000 for their respective research projects. The latest cohort of Magellan Scholars, their research project titles, and their mentors are:

Aubrey Gray, music performance, "Advanced study of chamber music and performance skills." Mentor: Robert Jesselson, music.
Jessica Maples, psychology, "The Developmental Origins of Cognitive Vulnerability in Depressed Adolescents." Mentor: Ben Hankin, psychology.
Kendall Williamson, chemical engineering, "Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Transition Metal Catalysts Using Viral Nanoparticle." Mentor: Christopher Williams, chemical engineering.
Christina Baraty, biology, "Self-Repairing Polymeric Materials Based on Boronic Acids/Esters," Mentor: John Lavigne, chemistry and biochemistry.
Thomas Behling, mechanical engineering, "Advanced Control and Semi-Automation of a Microcontroller-Based Articulated Robotic Arm." Mentor: Philip Voglewede, mechanical engineering.
Anna Handley, anthropology, "Linguistic and Social Barriers in Medical Interpretation for Exclusively Spanish-speaking Latina Patients in South Carolina." Mentor: Ann Kingsolver, anthropology/languages,
literatures, and cultures.
Mary Allison Joseph, Spanish, "Linguistic and Social Barriers in Medical Interpretation for Exclusively Spanish-speaking Latina Patients in South Carolina." Mentor: Ann Kingsolver, anthropology/
languages, literatures, and cultures.
Kevin Ludwick, engineering/ physics, "Measurement of Lambda/Ko Production Ratio in the MIPP Experiment." Mentor: Sanjib Mishra, physics.
Stephanie Maddox, psychology, "Effects of Post-training lesions to the prefrontal cortex on learning and memory." Mentor: Barbara Oswald, Continuing Education Credit Programs.
Catherine Meekins, biology/finance, "Effects of IL-1beta and IL-2 in the brain on mood behaviors in a rat model of mammary adenocarcinoma." Mentor: Marlene Wilson, pharmacology, physiology, and neuroscience.
Matthew Seaton, physics, "A sensitive search for a heavy neutrino in neutrino interactions." Mentor: Sanjib Mishra, physics.
Justin Uzl, biology, "Nature-Nurture: Hurricane Katrina and Genetic Factors of Emotion." Mentor: Ben Hankin, psychology.
Justin Vaughn, music performance, "Exploring the cello: Bonnie Hampton-Juilliard," Mentor: Robert Jesselson, music.
Kevin Yehl, chemistry, "Conformationally Programmable Molecular Receptors/
Molecular Playdough." Mentor: Ken Shimizu, chemistry and biochemistry.
Xiaoyi (Tina) Zhang, biology, "Effects of Hyperglycemia on the Cardiac Fibroblast Response to Mechanical Stretch." Mentor: Wayne Carver, cell and developmental biology and anatomy.
Chris Butch, chemical engineering, "A signal strength analysis to identify the toxin most responsible for senility in Alzheimer's." Mentor: Melissa Moss, chemical engineering.
Katrina Byerly, geophysics, "Lithospheric evolution and deep structure of the Sierra Nevada mountains." Mentor: Thomas Owens, geological sciences.
Catherine Carlstedt, exercise science, "Effects of the Flavanoid, Quercetin, on Endurance Exercise Performance." Mentor: Mark Davis, exercise science.
Travis Deason, chemistry, "A Method for Sensing Biogenic Amines." Mentor: John Lavigne, chemistry and biochemistry.
Michael Dole, biology, "Behavioral fever and the maintenance of a male-killing bacterial infection in a natural beetle population." Mentor: Timothy Mousseau, biological sciences.
Lindsey Gainey, biology, "Preventative versus interventive treatment of diabetes induced arterial stiffness." Mentor: David Murray, cell and developmental biology and anatomy.
Jesse Grainger, international studies, "The application of microfinance in Mbale, Uganda." Mentor: Melanie Feakins, geography.
Nicole Haghshenas, biology, "Horizontal Gene Transfer of Virulence Factors and nifH in Vibro parahaemolyticus." Mentor: Charles Lovell, biological sciences.
Samantha Hayford, theatre/media arts, "Expeditionary Scenic Design: Exploring "Baby with the Bathwater" in Costanta, Romania." Mentor: Nic Ularu, theatre and dance.
Malvina Hryniewicz, political science, "Sea port security since 9/11." Mentor: Katherine Barbieri, political science.
Kathryn Johnson, chemical engineering, "Understanding Alzheimer's Disease: Mechanistic studies of amyloid-B surface assembly." Mentor: Melissa Moss, chemical engineering.
Zeeshan Khaliq, chemistry, "Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Coordination Polymers." Mentor: Hans-Conrad zur Loye, chemistry and biochemistry.
Melinda Lynch, biology, "The development and testing of a novel gene therapy-based method to target HuR in colon cancer using RNA interference." Mentor: Dan Dixon, biological sciences.
Teresa Mark, biology, "The relationship between sickle cell crises history and acute procedural pain in pediatric sickle cell patients." Mentor: Sarah Sweitzer, pharmacology, physiology, and neuroscience.
Amber Martin, psychology, "Self-esteem levels and cigarette smoking among youth with ADHD." Mentor: Kate Flory, psychology.
Brandon Mogan, civil engineering, "Time synchronization of data collected by wireless sensors for the modal identification of slow moving structures." Mentor: Juan Caicedo, civil engineering.
Suchita Pancholi, biology, "Analysis of MAP Kinase Activity in Direct and Indirect Defense Responses in Tomato Plants." Mentor: Johannes Stratmann, biological sciences.
Ashley Shull, geology, "3-D maps of salinity and groundwater composition beneath South Carolina's coastal plain." Mentor: Alicia Wilson, geological sciences.
Laura Sima, chemistry, "Measuring the ability of biofilms to protect intercellular signaling molecules: Critical micelle concentration of AcylHSLs." Mentor: John Ferry, chemistry and biochemistry.
Oksana Slobozhan, international studies, "The impact of economic interdependence on Russia's foreign relations." Mentor: Katherine Barbieri, political science.
David Smith, chemistry/biology, "Specific PRMT inhibitor design and synthesis." Mentor: Paul Thompson, chemistry and biochemistry.
Heather Taylor, chemistry, "Validation of IR spectroscopy for forensic detection of blood and semen at crime scenes." Mentor: Stephen Morgan, chemistry and biochemistry.
Meredith Tershansy, chemistry, "The Synthesis, Structural Determination, and Optical Characterization of New Mixed- Metal bismuth halide systems." Mentor: Hans-Conrad zur Loye, chemistry and biochemistry.
Karen Wigal, chemical engineering, "Development of a novel synthetic approach for the preparation of uniform Pt and Ru clusters in aqueous solutions." Mentor: Michael Amiridis, chemical engineering.
Alan Clamp, history, "Pure and Practical Science in Nineteenth Century America." Mentor: Ann Johnson, history.
Erin Curtis, media arts, "Excavating Clovis: Topper and the Peopling of the Americas." Mentors: Laura Kissel, art, and Albert Goodyear, S.C. Institute of Archeology and Anthropology.
Aaron Flaaen, economics/international business, "Analyzing the textile cluster in San Pedro Sula, Honduras." Mentor: Robert Rolfe, international business.
Jacob Hunter, chemical engineering, "Synthesis and Characterization of Levan-Clay Nanocomposites." Mentor: Harry Ploehn, chemical engineering.
Wayne Miller, biology, "The role of MKK2 in the systemin signaling pathway in tomato plants." Mentor: Johannes Stratmann, biological sciences.
Claire Precil, international business/marketing, "The impact of war on military families." Mentor: Katherine Barbieri, political science.
James Stewart, anthropology, "Rediscovering 'Congeree Town,' A contact period site." Mentor: Gail Wagner, anthropology.
Vivek Thakur, chemistry/biology, "Role of succinylation of proteins in protection against endogenous stress during exercise." Mentor: John Baynes, chemistry and biochemistry.
Nicholas Younginer, anthropology, "Lebanese Identity in South Carolina before and after 9/11." Mentor: Karl Heider, anthropology.

More information about the Magellan Scholar program can be found at http://www.sc.edu/our/magellan.shtml.

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