2015–2016 CUGR Academic Year Research and Creative Activities Fellowship winners announced

UMaine Alert

Posted: April 19, 2024 - 1:32 PM

At approximately 9:24 a.m. on Friday, April 19, a University of Maine graduate student was struck by a university vehicle on Long Road at the University of Maine campus in Orono. The student reports that they are at a local hospital with minor injuries.

Emergency services, including the Orono Fire Department, University Volunteer Ambulance Corps, University of Maine Police Department, Orono Police Department and Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene.

The university vehicle involved in the incident was a Chevrolet Express van. It was being operated by a university employee.

Counseling services and support are available for students, faculty or staff who may have been affected. The Counseling Center can be reached at 207-581-1392 and the Dean of Students Office can be reached at 207-581-1406.

The scene has been cleared and Long Road is now accessible. An investigation is being conducted by the University of Maine Police Department with assistance from the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office Crash Reconstruction Unit. Any witnesses to the incident are encouraged to contact Lt. Noel Santiago at noel.santiago@maine.edu.

November 2, 2015 Research, Sociology

The University of Maine’s Center for Undergraduate Research (CUGR) has announced the recipients of the Academic Year Research and Creative Activities Fellowships for 2015–16.

The fellowships were developed to enhance and increase undergraduate student involvement in faculty-supervised research.

Each fellowship provides a $1,000 award for the student to help cover costs of their project. The fellowships are funded through the Vice President for Research’s Office with additional funding from UMaine colleges.

Out of the 73 applications, 17 projects were funded for an acceptance rate of about 23 percent. Each proposal was reviewed with a detailed rubric by CUGR staff members.

Results of the research projects will be presented to the community Wednesday, April 27, 2016 as part of the UMaine Student Research Symposium at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor. The event will combine the annual Undergraduate Research and Academic Showcase with the Graduate Academic Exposition (GradExpo).

The winning projects:

Morgan Cates of Camden, Maine, business management, “Research and Practicum in Arts Management and Marketing: Managing Producer for School of Performing Arts Fundraiser/University Singers European Tour Coordinator;” faculty mentor, Laura Artesani
Matthew Curti of Kittery, Maine, engineering physics, “Structural Analysis of Thin Film Materials In Controlled Gas Environments using In-Situ X-Ray Diffraction;” faculty mentor, Robert Lad
Ashley Edwards of West Suffield, Connecticut, animal and veterinary science, “Killing of Streptococcus equi by Different Moisture Content of Compost;” faculty mentor, Robert Causey
Shania Evangelista of Old Orchard Beach, Maine, chemical engineering, “Extraction of Polysaccharides from Marine Biomass;” faculty mentor, Peter van Walsum
Grace Gould of Waterville, Maine, chemistry, “Synthesis and Characterization of Ferrocene-Oxadiazole Complexes and a Study of their Medicinal Potential;” faculty mentor, Alice Bruce
Hannah Grover of East Vassalboro, Maine, bioengineering, “Characterization of the Mechanical Properties of Nanocellulose Based Solid Forms;” faculty mentor, Michael Mason
Morgan Gustin of Merrill, Maine, animal and veterinary science, “Efficacy of Maine Lobster Shell as Treatment for Parasitic Nematodes in Small Ruminants;” faculty mentor, Robert Bayer
Mikael Heikkinen of Auburn, Maine, psychology, “The Effects of Categorization Training on Category Representations;” faculty mentor, Shawn Ell
Samuel Landry of Yarmouth, Maine, chemical engineering, “Investigation into a New Hydrogel Material for 3-D Cell Culture;” faculty mentor, William Gramlich
Justin Leavitt of Orono, Maine, Earth science, “Analyzing the Spatial Variability of Snow Accumulation on the Eclipse Ice Field, Yukon Territory, Canada;” faculty mentor, Karl Kreutz
Katherine Lees of Saco, Maine, psychology, “Prosociality: The Effects of Religion, the Government and other Societal Institutions;” faculty mentor, Jordan LaBouff
Molly Meadows of Portland, Maine, English literature, “Identity Construction and Queer Theory in Modern American Poetics;” faculty mentor, Carla Billitteri
Sarah Mullis of Corinna, Maine, sociology, “Alleviating Social Isolation and Food Insecurity Through Community Gardening; How the Orono Community Garden Impacts Seniors;” faculty mentors, Melissa Ladenheim and Mark Haggerty
Elias Pasquerillo of Hermon, Maine, chemistry, “Investigating Neuromelanin’s Role in Neurodegenerative Diseases Using Synthetic Fragments;” faculty mentor, Matthew Brichacek
Scott Richards of Jay, Maine, computer science, “Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy for Veterans with PTSD;” faculty mentor, Nicholas Giudice
Ella Sulinski of Old Town, Maine, cognitive psychology, “Methadone Exposure and the Mother-Infant Bond;” faculty mentor, Marie Hayes
Austin Ward of Lovell, Maine, engineering physics, “High Speed Mixing during Nanoparticle Formation;” faculty mentor, Scott Collins