Abi Kowai-Bell worked with Ali Forouzi and Dr. Henry S. White at the University of Minnesota Center for Interfacial Engineering. She was trying to detect whether or not nitrogen had been incorporated into the coating of a polypropylene hallow fiber. These fibers could be used for oxygenating blood and water and supplying water and nutrients in liquid form to cell cultures. Abi liked the research program because it was a new experience and a challenge. She began the program fearing that the material would be over her head. Once she got into her project, however, she found it was not as intimidating as she had thought it would be, and she really enjoyed the experience. Abi is seriously considering majoring in engineering for her undergraduate studies.
Marie Efstathiou worked with Dr. Gary Reineccius at the Food Science and Nutrition lab at the University of Minnesota. She tested a more effective method of determining the flavor compounds responsible for the aroma of food. She improved previous method of flavor determination by combining sensory analysis with aroma extract analysis using gas chromatography. Maria learned a great deal from this project, such as the importance of using controls and coming to justified conclusions from data. She also met a number of very interesting and important people in the field. As a result of her experience, she was invited to participate in a gas chromatography short course at the University of Minnesota which only professionals and Ph.D. students normally attend. She is going to submit her data for publication. She is also taking A.P. Biology and Honor Physics this year to prepare for a college major in science.
Leslie Robinson worked with Dr. Gary Mabbott in the Chemistry Department at the College of St. Thomas. She researched the amount of lead that leaches out of the crystal on wine glasses. She used a rotating disk electrode that sits in the beverage to see how much lead actually contaminated the beverage. The electrode picks up the lead and then scans it. Her advisor actually stopped using his own leaded glass crystal after seeing the result from her project. Leslie especially liked doing the actual research because it was a tremendous hands-on experience. She also liked being a part of the St. Thomas research team. She was invited to seminars every Friday and even gave her own presentation.
Barbie Merz worked with Dr. Michael Russelle at the University of Minnesota in the Soil Sciences Department. She determined the next method for assessing nitrogen content of rain that passed through plant canopies. She compared a method of her own design to that of an accepted ion-exchange method. She found that her new method yielded more quantitative results. Her work was important because of the problems facing rural communities with nitrogen-contaminated groundwater. Barbie says that the research project have her an opportunity to explore the field of science. “In research I was able to use by own creativity to solve an unknown problem. Her research, which was submitted to the Westinghouse Science Talent Search, placed among the top 100 finalists in the nation as a Westinghouse Science Talent Search Semi-Finalist.
Dan Peterson worked with Dr. Steven Archer at the V.A. Medical Center. He looked at the effects of superoxide dismutase on pulmonary hypertension. Lungs produce oxygen radicals that are destroyed by superoxide dismutase and are turned into oxygen gas. San’s hypothesis was that the more oxygen radicals one has, the less hypertension that person will have. Dan worked to find a way to reduce superoxidase dismutase. He enjoyed doing research where results were not already known. He plans to go into medicine. This experience showed him how research contributes to that field.
Zachary Drake worked with Dr. John
Crosson and Dr. Robert Anderson at Hennepin County Medical Center studying
IgA Nephritis. He looked at how proteins and red blood cells get from
the blood stream into the urinary system. His hypothesis was that there
are holes in the capillary membranes of the glomerulus through which the
particles migrate. With a scanning microscope, he was able to look for
holes and measure their size and shape. Zach says that he found a lot
about his subject and learned how to carry out an independent project.
He feels that this kind of experi4ence stretches students and gets their
minds working independently. He is looking at colleges that will offer
this type of research experience.
