Hendrix Odyssey Program
Project Funding
February 2018
With the first funding cycle of 2018, the Committee on
Engaged Learning has now awarded $3,940,921.88 in Odyssey grants to Hendrix
students and faculty since the Odyssey Program’s inception in 2005. In this
cycle, 40 projects were awarded $156,327 in grants to help Hendrix students
conduct research, learn new skills, and explore their interests around the
world. Also, see below for this year’s recipient of the Robert F. Baker Prize
in Economics.
Elijah Ballard
Characterization
of Bearded Seal Locomotor Muscle
Category:
UR
Supervisor:
Dr. Jennifer Dearolf, Biology
Bearded
seals in the Artic have the ability to stay underwater for 20-25 minutes at
depths of about 100 meters or less, which is an interesting combination of the
ability to hold their breath and swim for an extended period of time. Elijah
Ballard will research the seals’ locomotor muscle to gain insight to the
biology behind their unique diving behavior.
Lindsey Barrett
Fiber-type
Composition of Bearded Seal (Erignathus barbatus) Locomotor Muscle
Category:
UR
Supervisor:
Dr. Jennifer Dearolf, Biology
Bearded
seals are among the animals in the Arctic and sub-Arctic that are experiencing
dramatic habitat changes due to diminished sea ice. The seals spend the
majority of their time in the water, diving and foraging for food. Lindsey
Barrett will explore the construction of the seals’ swimming muscles to compare
them to similar species, which may help with conservation efforts.
Megan Bellfield
Shepherd
Higher Education Consortium on Poverty
Category:
PL
Supervisor:
Dr. Jay Barth, Politics
The
Shepherd Higher Education Consortium on Poverty offers students an opportunity
to interact effectively with people who experience poverty and homelessness.
Megan Bellfield will partner with a local organization and explore future
career paths tied to fighting poverty. Bellfield hopes to learn how race, age,
status and immigration impact the homeless demographic.
Gwen Boone
Ozark
Mission Project College Staff
Category:
PL
Supervisor:
JJ Whitney, Chaplain
This
summer, Gwen Boone will be a college staffer with Ozark Mission Project, a
non-profit organization that helps United Methodist youth gain experience in
service while creating lasting bonds in local communities. As a college
staffer, Boone will explore her vocational calling in the field of service
while participating in all aspects of non-profit service work and learning the
logistics behind successful experiences for all involved. She will assign
service projects to the campers, coordinate tools and supplies for the
jobsites, and lead devotionals.
Aleck Bratt
Icelandic
Populist Environmentalism
Category:
SP
Supervisor:
Prof. Maxine Payne, Art
Public
policy, environmentalism, and photography will come together as Aleck Bratt
explores Iceland. Despite a passive environmental policy, the country is
consistently ranked one of the “greenest” in the world. Bratt will assess the
current environmental state in Iceland and then investigate the financial
forces behind its public policy. His
trip will include a visit to the Ministry for the Environment and Natural
Resources and other key offices in Reykjavik followed by a tour around the
Island’s 827-mile Ring Road.
Jackson Bridges and Kirstyn Baker
Development
of a Kinetic Model for the Formation of Supported Lipid Bilayers (SLBs)
Category:
UR
Supervisor:
Dr. Peter Kett, Chemistry
In
a collaborative research project, Jackson Bridges and Kirstyn Baker will
develop a kinetic model for the formation of supported lipid bilayers. These
are a type of model biological membrane that can be used to help distinguish
the roles of its biomolecules. This research will focus on how the SLBs form.
Rachel Chenault
My
Farewell to Arms: Bringing the Works of Ernest Hemingway to Life
Category:
SP
Supervisor:
Dr. Peg Falls-Corbitt, Philosophy
A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway is
one of Rachel Chenault’s favorite novels. This summer she will explore the
real-life settings of the novel and locations associated with its author in
Europe, with a focus on the character’s journey from Italy and Switzerland in
World War I. Chenault will combine history, literature and photography visiting
sites such as the Milano American Red Cross Hospital where Hemingway and the
novel’s main character recovered from war-related injuries.
Savannah Draud
Characterization
of the Muscle Tissue in Atlantic Spotted Dolphin Diaphragms
Category:
UR
Supervisor:
Dr. Jennifer Dearolf, Biology
Savannah
Draud will build on her interest in marine biology through a research project
to determine how the Atlantic spotted dolphin breathes. After learning new
research techniques in the laboratory, she will focus on the role diaphragms
play in the dolphin ventilation process and ultimately write a paper and deliver
a presentation about her findings.
Olivia Eddings
The Green
Program-Iceland Renewable Energy and Sustainability
Category:
SP
Supervisor:
Dr. Stella Capek, Sociology and Anthropology
This
May, Olivia Eddings will travel to Reykjavik, Iceland, to participate in The
GREEN Program, an immersive experiential learning session in the environmental
engineering industry with a focus on renewable energy and sustainability. The
program promotes the United Nation’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals and will
take participants to tour the country’s renewable energy production facilities,
which produce 100% of Iceland’s power.
Connor Griffin, David Jiang and Journey
Eubank
An
Investigation of the Chinese Health Care System with Regards to Modern and Traditional
Chinese Medical Treatment
Category:
GA
Supervisor:
Dr. Mark Sutherland, Biology
There
has been an increasing interest in traditional Chinese medicine as that country
has placed additional restrictions on antibiotic prescriptions. Connor Griffin,
David Jiang and Journey Eubank will speak with Chinese doctors, visit medical
museums, and tour a traditional Chinse medicine factory. They will study
traditional healing techniques, assess their potential benefits, and compare
the differences between the Chinese and Western medical treatments.
Chloe Harris
Behind a
Surgical Mask
Category:
SP
Supervisor:
Prof. Cori French, Foreign Languages
Through
a fellowship with The Atlantis Project, Chloe Harris will travel to Ponferrada,
Spain, to shadow up to twelve doctors in five different specialties at a local
hospital. Harris will also give lessons
in English to the hospital’s staff and immerse herself in Spanish language and
culture.
Sara Hoopchuk and Portia Renee
From
Molecular to Behavioral: A Study of C. elegans
Category:
UR
Supervisor:
Dr. Brenda Houck, Biology
Experimenting
on a small worm that is often used as a model in biological research, Sara Hoopchuk
and Portia Renee will study specific molecular changes and their corresponding
effects on behavior and locomotion. Although Hoopchuk and Renee will have
separate research projects, their studies will complement each other and add to
the scientific understanding of C.
elegans.
Kathryn King
My
History, Arkansas History
Category:
SP
Supervisor:
Dr. Chris
Campolo, Philosophy
Kathryn
King comes from generations of Arkansans who have lived in and helped build the
Fayetteville area. However, her knowledge of her ancestors is sparse. To fill
in the gaps, she will travel to courthouses and cemeteries along with
conducting research online. A DNA test will confirm family legends about Native
American heritage…or give her unexpected leads to pursue.
Robbie Kiss
"There
is no higher standard than the assent of the relevant community" A
Lab-based Case Study on the Development of Scientific Paradigms
Category:
UR
Supervisor:
Dr. Peter Kett, Chemistry
Robbie
Kiss will combine scientific experimentation on supported lipid bilayers with
an exploration of how an idea becomes the dominant scientific theory as it replaces
previous rules, theories and practices. He will incorporate writings by Thomas
Kuhn, whose 1962 book The Structure of
Scientific Revolutions introduced the phrase “paradigm shift” into the
scientific lexicon.
Allison Long
Optimization
of the Expression, Growth and Purification of Toxoflavin Lyase
Category:
UR
Supervisor:
Dr. William Gunderson, Chemistry
Rice
crops in the United States and Asia are vulnerable to toxoflavin, a toxin
produced by a bacterium that can destroy the grain. Allison Long will
investigate the genetics behind rice that is resistant to toxoflavin infection
through a special enzyme the plants secrete.
Mallory Magruder
Cameroon
Mission Initiative
Category:
SW
Supervisor:
JJ Whitney, Chaplain
Yaoundé,
Cameroon, is a second home to Mallory Magruder, who lived there for four years
as a child. Now she will return to the city to work with the Cameroon Mission
Initiative of the United Methodist Church. Magruder will work to improve the
public health and entrepreneurship education of the community.
Brendan Midkiff
Oxidative
Potential of Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) Vocal Muscles
Category:
UR
Supervisor:
Dr. Jennifer Dearolf, Biology
The
Atlantic bottlenose dolphin makes whistle sounds with the left side of its head
and produces clicks with the right. Brendan Midkiff will analyze the muscle
fibers involved in making the sounds, working under the hypothesis that
producing whistles requires more energy to sustain muscle contraction and
create the sound.
Inaya Molina
Development
of a Novel, Fluorescence-Based Method for Detecting Phase Changes in DNA
Category:
UR
Supervisor:
Dr. Julie Gunderson, Physics
Inaya
Molina will work to develop a new fluorescence-based assay to detect when DNA
melts and cools. Fluorescence-based assays are non-toxic and environmentally
friendly. In addition, this new method would be cost-effective because it is
inexpensive and requires small test samples, making it ideal for undergraduate
lab use.
Mary Nail
Bringing
Learning to Life
Category:
PL
Supervisor:
Dr. Dionne Jackson, Education
Mary
Nail is a history major pursuing a career in museology. Her internship this
summer at the Scott Family Amazeum in Bentonville is the perfect fit. She will
facilitate an innovative educational experience as an assistant instructor
during the institution’s weekly day camps on topics ranging from robotics to
architecture to 3-D animation. Nail will also learn about the museum’s exhibits,
educational programs and daily functions.
Rebecca Parham
Interactions
Between Water and Aerosols: Unveiling the Mysteries of Climate Change
Category:
UR
Supervisor:
Dr. Courtney Hatch, Chemistry
Volcanic
ash is a naturally-occurring atmospheric aerosol that can influence the Earth’s
climate indirectly by taking up water and forming cloud droplets. Rebecca
Parham will measure water adsorption on volcanic ash particles to gain a better
understanding of indirect aerosol effects related to climate change.
Eliot Peterson
Single
Pitch Guiding Course and Certification
Category:
SP
Supervisor:
Prof. Erik Maakestad, Art
Eliot
Peterson will further his expertise in rock climbing by completing a course
through the American Mountain Guides Association. He will learn about Single
Pitch Guiding and become a certified instructor of these types of climbs that
are less than one rope length of distance at a time and will bring his new
expertise back to Hendrix to share with others involved in a burgeoning
climbing community.
Emma Reynolds
Thyroid
Cancer Research
Category:
UR
Supervisor:
Dr. Laura MacDonald, Biology
Emma
Reynolds is interested in medical research, and she will explore this field in
the lab this summer studying drug sensitivity of the organic components of
thyroid cancer. Treatment options are limited for the most common type of
thyroid cancer, so this research will help decipher the mechanisms that make it
resistant to chemotherapy drugs.
Kennedy Reynolds
Rewriting
Gerda Taro: Glamorization of Life and Erasure of Legacy
Category:
UR
Supervisor:
Dr. Michael Sprunger, History
Jewish
refugee Gerda Taro, the first female photojournalist to die on the frontlines
of war, is known for her work in the Spanish Civil War. Taro is also remembered
as a tragic, romantic figure for her relationship with acclaimed war
photographer Robert Capa. Kennedy Reynolds will explore historical
representations of Taro and her position in the larger narratives about race,
gender, politics and photojournalism in a war-torn country.
Grace Rogers
Ozark
Mission Project College Staff
Category:
SW
Supervisor:
JJ Whitney, Chaplain
Ozark
Mission Project is a non-profit that serves the Arkansas Conference of the United
Methodist Church. The organization helps Arkansans who are financially or
physically unable to complete repairs on their homes by connecting them with
groups of campers who range from sixth grade to recent high school graduates,
all under the supervision of a college staff member. In this role, Grace Rogers
will create construction blueprints, place supply orders, organize the budget
for the projects, and build a relationship with the homeowners.
Maddie Rowe
Physical
Therapy Internship at Conway Regional
Category:
PL
Supervisor:
Dr. Brenda Houck, Biology
Maddie
Rowe aspires to be a physical therapist, and she will get an inside look at the
profession during her summer internship at Conway Regional. By shadowing
physical therapists as they work with patients, Rowe will learn about the
primary equipment at the hospital, the different treatment methods, and the
computerized documentation process.
Kyle Rutherford
Summer
Internship with the Democratic Party of Arkansas
Category:
PL
Supervisor:
Prof. Hope Coulter, English
As
a political communications intern for the Democratic Party of Arkansas, Kyle
Rutherford will help craft a persuasive message for a targeted audience. He
will hone his skills through drafting press releases, talking points, and other
forms of political communication while learning about the functioning of the
office and its different departments.
David Samuel
Homecoming:
An Ethnographic Study of the Parsee Community
Category:
SP
Supervisor:
Dr. Anne Goldberg, Sociology and Anthropology
The
Parsees are an ethnic group that fled religious persecution in Persia in the
eighth century and settled in India and Pakistan. David Samuel is a descendent
of the Parsees and is interested in taking a look at their community in a
cross-cultural exploration that combines history, anthropology, religion and
journalism.
Rachel Stacks
An
Engineered Law Internship
Category:
PL
Supervisor:
Dr. Gabby Vidal-Torreira, Foreign Languages
In
an internship with an attorney who owns her own practice, Rachel Stacks will
explore the legal profession and learn basic skills and procedures. In
addition, Stacks will become familiar with document-drafting, client
communication, and courtroom decorum.
Daniel Sweeney
Applied
AI: Realistic Game Simulation
Category:
UR
Supervisor:
Dr. Mark Goadrich, Math and Computer Science
Daniel
Sweeney will build on previous computer research by Hendrix students as he
creates an Artificial Intelligence player for a card game simulation program.
With a more realistic game simulation, he can evaluate the results on metrics
like entertainment, excitement, and complexity.
John Tran and Christy Tran
Immersion
in the Culture of Immigrants
Category:
GA
Supervisor:
Dr. Deb Skok, History
Siblings
John and Christy Tran will travel to San Jose, California, to work at the
Vietnamese Voluntary Foundation (ViVo) this summer. The city has the largest
Vietnamese population in America, and the organization helps refugees and
immigrants assimilate into their communities. The Trans will also experience
their own culture and heritage through immersion in Vietnamese-American
neighborhoods.
Haley Whitson
Isla
Mujeres Field Experience
Category:
PL
Supervisor:
Dr. Anne Goldberg, Sociology and Anthropology
For
two months this summer, Haley Whitson will attend the Isla Mujeres Ethnographic
Field School in Mexico. She will experience anthropological work from
developing a topic, conducting research and presenting her findings. Whitson
hopes to work with a professor at the school to incorporate her longstanding
interest in American Sign Language in her research. This project is also
supported by the Hendrix-Murphy Foundation Programs in Literature and Language.
Adam Williams
Learning
from Earle: Best Practices for Rural Education Policy
Category:
SP
Supervisor:
Dr. Jay Barth, Politics
Working
with two non-profits, Rural Community Alliance and Forward Arkansas, Adam
Williams will analyze issue surrounding rural education in Arkansas through a
case study of the Earle School District. His goal is produce a report that
recommends the best policy practices for turning around a struggling rural
school.
Eberle Yarborough
Cheetah
Outreach: A South African Conservation Initiative
Category:
SP
Supervisor:
Dr. Laura MacDonald, Biology
Eberle
Yarborough will explore exotic wildlife conservation this summer, working with
Cheetah Outreach. Located in South Africa, this cheetah conservation program
helps bridge the gap between these endangered animals and their most dangerous
predators, humans. The organization’s efforts have included habitat protection,
reduction of poaching, and improved livestock management methods for local
farmers.
Alec Zills
Law in
Little Rock
Category:
PL
Supervisor:
Dr. Leslie Zorwick, Psychology
Alec
Zills plans to enter the legal profession, and he will get to experience the
daily procedures in a private practice firm as an intern for the entire summer.
He will help conduct research and learn how attorneys and clients interact with
each other. One highlight is that Zills will spend one week at the Arkansas Bar
Association’s convention in June, where he will meet professionals from across
the state.
Dr.
Andres Caro
Chronic Ethanol
Consumption and Oxidative Stress in the Liver
Category:
UR
Grishma
Patel and Diego Valdivieso will work with Dr. Andres Caro to research the
mechanisms and effects of ethanol consumption and its underlying links to liver
disease.
Dr. Heidi Dahlmann
Chemistry
Inspired by Nature: Organo Catalysts and Nucleoside Analogs
Category:
UR
In
Dr. Heidi Dahlmann’s lab, Hayden Criswell, Evan Glassford, and Shawqi Musallam
will design, synthesize, and test the use of environmentally-friendly organic
catalysts in chemical reactions. They will also work on detecting DNA damage
that can cause mutations that lead to cancer.
Dr. David Hales
Exploring
the Role of Proline in Peptide Folding Through Ion Mobility Spectrometry and
Mass Spectrometry
Category:
UR
Kameron
Molloy and Connie Zhang will work with Dr. David Hales to measure rates of and
energies associated with changes in the folded shapes of selected small
peptides. The students will work in a lab at Hendrix and also will spend
one week at Indiana University collecting complementary data from a specialized
instrument.
Dr. Rod Miller
Week in
Florence 2018
Category:
UR
Dr.
Rod Miller will take students from his Renaissance/Baroque Art History class to
Florence. Emilia Dennis, Nick Hancock, and Myca Treat will conduct on-site
research of an artwork that they will view in person during the residency,
building on a research project that was initiated in the class.
Dr.
Andrew Schurko
Using
CRISPR/Cas9 Genome Editing to Study DNA Repair in Bdelloid Rotifers
Category:
UR
Bdelloid
rotifers are microscopic invertebrates with an unusual ability to repair DNA
damage caused by ionizing radiation. Dr. Andrew Schurko, Chelbi Gilmore, and
Connor Onitsuka will use a powerful new gene-editing technique to research how rotifers
can repair levels of DNA damage that would be lethal to other animals.
Dr. Damon Spayde
MOLLER at
Hendrix
Category:
UR
A
Hendrix student will perform computer simulations and data analysis in
experimental nuclear physics for the MOLLER collaboration at the Thomas
Jefferson National Accelerator Facility in Newport News, Va., with Dr. Damon
Spayde.
ROBERT F. BAKER PRIZE IN
ECONOMICS
Melissa
Pizza is the recipient of this year’s Baker Prize in Economics for her project “Evaluating
the Ecological Services of Bats using Economic Models.” Pizza will examine the
economic benefits of insecteating bats by looking at the market benefits in
the agricultural sector. Her goal is to is to give a monetary value to the
services bats provide, and in doing so, generate evidence of the importance of
bat conservation. Prof. Haden Chomposy will supervise Pizza’s
work on the project, which will include disseminating the results in an
accessible manner to the public.