Summer research teams selected

Sixteen student-mentor teams have been chosen to participate in SURE 2007, an intense 8-week collaborative research project. Details...

The Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) program supports student-mentor teams participating in a mutually beneficial and intense 8-week collaborative research project.  Among the various activities sponsored by the Undergraduate Research Program, SURE involves mentoring and student research at the highest level possible.

In addition to a substantial increase in institutional funding for SURE
this year, URPAC announces the inauguration of the Joseph Powell SURE
Fellowships, an endowment that will fund the top one or two SURE
Fellows each summer. 

The Joseph Powell SURE Fellows for 2007 are Jennifer Toadvine and Jessica Young.

The Undergraduate Research Program Advisory Committee (URPAC), which
serves as the selection body for SURE applications, enthusiastically
supports the 16 excellent mentor-student teams selected to participate
in SURE 2007, listed below:

Erin Barnett (COM) and Prof. Janna Anderson (COM)
“Internet Governance and the Digital Divide”

Conor Britain (COM) and Prof. Tom Mould (SOC/ANT)
“The Ethnography of Little League Baseball”

Sarah Cox (ENG/CW) and Prof. Brooke Barnett (COM)
“Our Campus Climate: Activism, Apathy and Global Warming”

Jackie Del Giorno (ESS) and Prof. Eric Hall (HHP)
“The Effects of Cognition During Exercise”

Karen Hooper (MTH) and Prof. Ayesha Delpish (MTH)
“Statistical Analysis of Student Activity Profile”

Grace Ilevbare (CHM) and Prof. Karl Sienerth (CHM)
“Developing Automated Analysis of Dangerous Heavy Metals”

Alyse Knorr (ENG/JOU) and Prof. Janna Anderson (COM)
“The Voices We Do Not Hear: Teen Pregnancy in Alamance County”

Stephen Michael (PSY) and Prof. Meredith Allison (PSY)
“The Narrative Qualities of Authentic Alibis”

Thad Norman (PHY) and Prof. Kyle Altmann (PHY)
“Investigation of the Electrons in Different Alloys of Nickel and Manganese”

Kevin O’Leary (ESS) and Prof. Wally Bixby (HHP)
“Does Cognitive Function Change Following a Bout of High-intensity Exercise?”

Kayla Rodrigues (HUS) and Prof. Judy Esposito (HUS)
“Peer Supervision and Play Therapy Skill Retention: A Model for Pre-school Teachers”

Jennifer Toadvine (PSY), J. Powell SURE Fellow, and Prof. Gabie Smith (PSY)
“Meeting the Needs of Adult Sexual Assault Survivors: Identifying Key Factors in Sexual Assault Advocacy”

Jennifer Vanyur (HUS) and Prof. Cindy Fair (HUS)
“Sexual Coercion, Verbal Aggression and Condom Use Consistency Among College Students’ Intimate Relationships”

Autumn Welt (DAN) and Prof. Lauren Kearns (Perf. Arts)
“Investigating and Applying Abstract Choreographic Theory to Create a Dance Piece”

Jessica Young (PSY/SPN), J. Powell SURE Fellow, and Prof. Maureen Vandermaas-Peeler (PSY)
“Cultural and Familial Influences on the Personal Narratives of Adolescents”

Larissa Ferretti (PSY) and Prof. Maureen Vandermaas-Peeler (PSY)
“Investigations of Mothers’ and Fathers’ Beliefs and Behaviors During Literacy and Play Activities”

Selection to the program is competitive and includes substantive academic, scholarly, and mentoring components.  While peer-reviewed publication is not a required outcome, projects conducted during SURE are expected to have the potential to result in scholarly publication or presentation beyond Elon. They should enrich the Elon community through programs such as SURF.  For participating in SURE, mentors and students receive stipends, and grants-in-aid are made available to directly support research projects.