Students Selected for Research Experience for Undergrads (REU) Summer Program

Eleven undergraduate students from across the state have been selected to participate in the Oklahoma EPSCoR Summer 2012 Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program.  Award recipients and their lab sponsors will perform bioenergy research during the collaborative summer program in labs at Oklahoma institutions of higher education, including University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation and East Central Univeristy

The EPSCoR REU program strengthens and encourages undergraduate students' early participation in the university and scientific communities.  Students experience hands-on STEM research and one-on-one guidance from faculty mentors at Oklahoma’s comprehensive research institutions through the program.

Summer 2012 REU Recipients: 

  • Research Title
    Mechanistic Studies of Dihydrodipicolinate Synthase
    Student Researcher
    Christina Bruxvoort, University of Central Oklahoma
    Faculty Mentor & Lab Site
    Lilian Chooback, University of Central Oklahoma
    Award Amount:  $5,000
  • Research Title
    Genetic Determinants of Biomass Gain and Drought Tolerance in Foxtail Millet
    Student Researcher
    Jessica Stromski, Oklahoma State University
    Faculty Mentor & Lab Site
    Andrew Doust, Oklahoma State University
    Award Amount:  $5,000

  • Research Title
    Functional Group Contributions to Heats of Absorption of Bio-oil Compounds on Oxide Surfaces
    Student Researcher
    Matthew Wallace, University of Oklahoma
    Faculty Mentor & Lab Site
    Friederike Jentoft, University of Oklahoma
    Award Amount:  $5,000

  • Research Title
    Biochar for Conditioning Biomass-Generated Syngas
    Student Researcher
    Onovwie O. Rachael, Southeastern Oklahoma State University
    Faculty Mentor & Lab Site
    Ajay Kumar, Oklahoma State University
    Award Amount:  $5,000

  • Research Title
    Identifying Functional Biomarkers Associated with Tillering in Switchgrass
    Student Researcher
    Kathryn Parsley, Cameron University
    Faculty Mentor & Lab Site
    R. Mahalingam, Oklahoma State University
    Award Amount:  $4,980

  • Research Title
    Enhancing Biomass Yield and Processing Efficiency in Alfalfa
    Student Researcher
    Guitri Obame-Ndong, Southeastern Oklahoma State University
    Faculty Mentor & Lab Site
    Maria Monteros, Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation
    Award Amount:  $4,992
    View Obame-Ndong's end-of-project video

  • Research Title
    Phenotypic Measurement and FIeld Management for Mapping Switchgrass Genome
    Student Researcher
    Ethan Purkins, Oklahoma State University
    Faculty Mentor & Lab Site
    Yanqi Wu, Oklahoma State University
    Award Amount:  $4,500

  • Research Title
    SSR Marker Screening for Mapping Switchgrass Genome
    Student Researcher
    Josh Garner, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M
    Faculty Mentor & Lab Site
    Yanqi Wu, Oklahoma State University
    Award Amount:  $5,000

  • Research Title
    Subcellular Localization of Proteins Involved in Rice Cell Wall Cross-linking for Improved Biomass Quality
    Student Researcher
    Meagan Anderson, Oklahoma City Community College
    Faculty Mentor & Lab Site
    Laura Bartley, University of Oklahoma
    Award Amount:  $5,000

  • Research Title
    Characterizing Dinoflagellate and Cryptomonoad Products for Biofuels
    Student Researcher
    Ankita Thapa, East Central University
    Faculty Mentor & Lab Site
    Stephen Fields, East Central University
    Award Amount:  $5,000

  • Research Title
    Low Input Bioenergy Feedstock Production:  Assessing Fertilizer and Drought Interactions on Soil Microbial Communities, Soil Carbon Sequestration and Switchgrass Production
    Student Researcher
    Shana Lancaster, Oklahoma State University
    Faculty Mentor & Lab Site
    Gail Wilson, Oklahoma State University
    Award Amount:  $5,000