Hawkeye Reporter

University of Dubuque issued the following announcement.

Eleven University of Dubuque students were selected to participate in the Joseph and Linda Chlapaty Summer Research Fellowship. They will research a variety of topics this summer ranging from a quantitative analysis of lead found in baby teeth to the effects of invasive plant species on wildlife.

In its 10th year, the competitive fellowship helps prepare talented undergraduate students across all disciplines for graduate or professional school.

"Now in its 10th year, the Joseph and Linda Chlapaty Summer Research Fellowship continues to provide students with the opportunity to engage in one-on-one research with University faculty members and enhance their professional competence through a variety of group activities such as post-graduate school examination preparation, communication skill-building, and professional networking to position themselves for success in post-graduate studies and careers,” said Mark Sinton, PhD, director of the Joseph and Linda Chlapaty Summer Research Fellowship.

Fellows will commit 400 hours of work on their research over a 10 week period during the summer. They will each receive a stipend of $4,500 and an additional $500 for research-associated supplies or travel costs. Fellows are required to present their research results during the following academic year at a local, regional, or national conference.

“I’m grateful to Joe and Linda Chlapaty for their ongoing commitment to providing this incredible opportunity for talented undergraduate students at the University of Dubuque. The Joseph and Linda Chlapaty Summer Fellowship has allowed numerous students to conduct scholarly research with faculty members, to prepare for graduate entrance exams, and to build a network of professional contacts,” said University of Dubuque President Rev. Jeffrey F. Bullock, PhD.

The following students were named 2021 Chlapaty Fellows:

Lauryn Behrend, a senior biology major from Waukon, Iowa

Project: Quantitative Analysis of Lead Found in Baby Teeth

Advisor: Lalith Jayawickrama, teaching specialist

“It is truly an honor to be a named a Chlapaty Fellow. I am so grateful for this wonderful opportunity that will help me to gain numerous lab skills and so many other valuable skills. This independent research will be extremely beneficial in preparing me for graduate school as well as my future with the incorporation of dentistry, which is what I plan to pursue after graduation.”

Carlee Benzing, a senior biology major from Waukon, Iowa

Project: Antimicrobial Compound Prospecting and Characterization in Dubuque County

Advisors: Amandeep Arora, PhD, assistant professor of chemistry, and Adam Kleinschmit, PhD, associate professor of biology

“Being named a Chlapaty Fellow is a distinct honor. I am very fortunate to have great professors and advisors who have helped me get to where I am at today. I am hopeful that this fellowship will guide me in building new connections that will help me in my future endeavors. From my research, I hope that I can find novel antimicrobial compounds from bacteria located in the soil that have the potential to develop a new antibiotic.”

Hanna Blumhoff, a senior biology and chemistry double major from Polo, Illinois

Project: Effects of Chemicals in Water on DENND1A, a Gene Linked to the Development of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Advisor: Kelly Grussendorf, PhD, associate professor of biology

“It is an honor to be named a Chlapaty Fellow. I am very excited to participate in this elite program with my fellow peers and professors. I look forward to making the most of this great opportunity. I hope to provide meaningful results through research on the female reproductive system. I also hope to create awareness about ovarian cysts.”

Kayla Breunig, a senior biology and chemistry double major from Mazomanie, Wisconsin

Project: Effect of Habitat Type on Bird Diversity and Richness

Advisor: Gerald Zuercher, PhD, professor of biology and vertebrate ecology

“I am honored to be named a Chlapaty Fellow. It will give me the opportunity to conduct research that will grow my lab and field research skills and help me achieve my goal of attending graduate school. The goal of my project is to identify forest bird species abundance and diversity found at different sites in the Dubuque area, along with the forest composition of each of these sites. The data collected will hopefully provide insight to determine important forest factors and aid in the development of management targets to increase or maintain forest bird populations.”

Luke Bullock, a senior mathematics and chemistry double major from Dubuque, Iowa

Project: The Simulation of Tyrosinase’s Enzyme-Substrate Complex at High Temperatures

Advisor: Mark Sinton, PhD, assistant professor of natural and applied sciences

“Being named a Chlapaty Fellow means I get to explore an educational topic of interest in-depth with a faculty member as a summer job. I hope, through my project, to gain a better understanding of the temperature dependent property of various forms of the Tyrosinase enzyme.”

Allisen Hallahan, a junior environmental science major from Dubuque, Iowa

Project: Invasive Plant Species Effects on Wildlife

Advisor: Gerald Zuercher, PhD, professor of biology and vertebrate ecology

“Being named a Chlapaty Fellow has meant the world to me. I struggle with acknowledging the hard work I've put into my schooling, but being named a Chlapaty Fellow has given me the opportunity to reflect on what I've accomplished. Not only that but it has already pushed me to set new goals for myself. I appreciate all that the Chlapaty family has done for the UD community and am truly grateful for the opportunity that they have given me to do what I love. I hope that my project provides insight for Dubuque County about the status of invasive species in the area. I want this research to be the start of something that can be worked on in the future. Dubuque County has been invaded by a variety of plant species and I want this research to delve deeper into the effects this has had on mammals in the area.”

Hanna Horsfield, a senior environmental biology in secondary education, all science in secondary education, and biology triple major from Epworth, Iowa

Project: Analyzing the Impacts of Microplastics on Terrestrial (Lumbriculus terrestris) and Aquatic (Lumbriculus variegatus) Worms

Advisor: Adam Hoffman, PhD, professor of environmental chemistry and head of the Department of Natural and Applied Sciences

“To be named a Chlapaty Fellow is a true honor and really means a lot to me. Being a fellow will give me the opportunity to study a topic that I am very interested in as well as get to work alongside some of my favorite professors and classmates. I hope my project will bring awareness to the community and people all over about the harmful effects that microplastics are having on our world. My findings will hopefully outline a picture of how much plastic surrounds us here in Dubuque County and how it could be a potential threat to many organisms that live within it. If we could only know how much plastic surrounds us here, imagine what the rest of the world looks like as well. I hope to one day take my research and educate the community as well as my future students in my career as a science teacher so that they can also educate others on this issue.”

Brady McIntyre, a senior biology major from Davenport, Iowa

Project: Determining the Prevalence of Ticks and Tick-borne Pathogens in Eastern Iowa

Advisor: Kelly Grussendorf, PhD, associate professor of biology

“I am ecstatic to be a Chlapaty Fellow. I believe that it is such a great, essential opportunity, and I take pride in that opportunity. I believe that being a fellow will allow me to advance my research skills and enhance my knowledge as a student. Along with building my education, I believe that being a fellow will give me an opportunity to enhance the knowledge on a topic that is prevalent across the nation and spread widely throughout eastern Iowa. I am proud to carry out essential undergraduate research that can be helpful and informative for many individuals. I hope that my work can be helpful to as many people as possible for many years to come. I hope that my project will be able to accomplish many aspects within my topic. I strive to discover the prevalence of Lyme disease within eastern Iowa and discover where the more prevalent areas are. I will be collecting DNA samples from ticks and field rodents to analyze in the lab. I hope to inform others with the data collected as I carry out my research and hope to spread awareness of Lyme disease as well. I want to accomplish enough to get the word out about my discoveries, and better enhance the knowledge known in relative aspects to my research.”

Ahrend Raab, a junior biology major from Warren, Illinois

Project: Analyzing the Health Effects of Caenorhabditis elegans Exposed to Roundup Bound Microplastics

Advisors: Kelly Grussendorf, PhD, associate professor of biology, and Adam Hoffman, PhD, professor of environmental chemistry and head of the Department of Natural and Applied Sciences

“Being a Chlapaty Fellow means so much to me. Being a fellow is the first step in the door in the world of research. Being a research fellow will open up many possibilities for me in the future for my academic career and occupational career. Becoming a fellow has also boosted my confidence and has enhanced my appreciation for the field of science. I hope to uncover something new and unique that will benefit science and any future fellow that conducts a project in the similar field as mine. I also hope to enhance my laboratory skills, critical thinking skills, and problem-solving abilities. The Chlapaty Fellowship will benefit me in preparing for graduate school and my occupational goals. I am grateful for the opportunity to conduct my own research to try and better myself and make a positive impact on the science community on and off the University of Dubuque campus.”

Tyler Ramey, a senior environmental science major from Dubuque, Iowa

Project: Estimates of the Historical Tree Canopy of Dubuque, Iowa

Advisor: Dale Easley, PhD, professor of geology

“Being named Chlapaty Fellow is an honor. It allows me to apply my skills that I have learned in school into a real setting, work with new people establishing future connections, and develop new ideas and skills to shape me as an individual. I hope my project will being awareness on how much Dubuque’s tree density has changed over time. Having a healthy tree population is important for urban communities as it leads to improving water, air, temperature, and overall better human health.”

Jacob Whitbeck, a senior biology major from West Salem, Wisconsin

Project: The Search for Podophyllotoxin in River Birch Trees

Advisor: Mark Sinton, PhD, assistant professor of natural and applied sciences

“Being named a Chlapaty Fellow is not only an astounding accomplishment, but also a special privilege. I'm grateful that the fellowship gives me the opportunity to conduct my own research project as well as work alongside a group of very talented students as we prepare to continue our education beyond undergraduate studies. I am hoping that I can use this opportunity to discover new information about a topic that is not studied extensively in hopes to expand our knowledge in medicine!”

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