2012 Summer Projects

    CURI Home → Summer Research → Projects for 2012

    CURI 2012 Summer Research Projects

    You can browse the 2012 project descriptions from this page. See the separate section at the bottom of the page for Environmental Science REU projects.

    Fine Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences and Interdisciplinary Studies

    • Kristina Thalhammer, Raizal Identity in Colombia
    • Ashley Hodgson, The Effects of California’s Nursing Ratio Law
    • Jim Farrell, Sustaining St. Olaf: Research and Design for Co-Curricular Sustainability Education
    • Jun Qian, Expanding the Solo Clarinet Repertoire: A Quintessential Resource for Music Educators and Young Performers
    • Rick Goedde, Predicting Revenue Growth Using Financial Ratios: Where Will the Jobs Be?
    • Timothy Mahr, Creating a New Work for the St. Olaf Band
    • Doug Casson, Civility and Its Discontents: Rudeness and Refinement in Modern Political Thought
    • Matthew Rohn, Environmental Art at St. Olaf
    • Devyani Chandran, Exploring the Development and Sustainability of Social Capital in Local Communities
    • Sherry Saterstrom, Somatic Networking

    Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Computer Science

    • Jennifer Klein – Muscle Protein Molecular Dynamics
      • (Experimental Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics; Computational Biochemistry)
    • Richard Allen – A Research Tool for Digital Humanities
    • Greg Muth – Selection and characterization of algal communities toward the development of stable cultures for the production of renewable fuels
    • Greg Muth – Chemical analysis of probiotic cultures used in organic farming
    • Greg Muth – Science Education and Outreach: A Revolution in the Classroom
    • Douglas Beussman – Human Scent Differentiation
    • Douglas Beussman – Isotope Ratio Fiber Analysis
    • Douglas Beussman – Tetrahymena Proteomics
    • Robert Hanson – Molecular Visualization
    • Dipannita Kalyani – Development of Novel Transition Metal Catalyzed Organometallic Transformations
      • (Transition Metal Catalyzed Decarboxylative Allylic Trifluoromethylation; Nickel-Catalyzed C-H Arylation Using Phenolic Electrophiles)
    • Anne Walter – Physiological Explorations
      • (Kinetic Parameters and Isozymes of Lactate Hydrogenase; Membrane Composition and Membrane Properties; Bio-Math Modules for Animal Physiology Lab Manual)
    • Brian Borovsky – The Molecular Origins of Friction – A study across velocity regimes of phosphonate monolayers on alternative MEMS-type surfaces
    • Michael Swift – Zooplankton in Northern Minnesota Lakes (see additional position under REU projects below)
    • Laura Listenberger – Mechanisims of cellular lipid storage
    • Elodie Marlier – Development of low-valent first-row transition metal complexes
    • Richard Brown – CSinParallel: Parallel computing for all CS students
    • Richard Brown – HiPerCiC: Making parallel computing available in all disciplines
    • Jason Engbrecht – Field Research Robotics
    • Angela Reisetter – SuperCDMS: Search for Dark Matter
    • Kim Kandl – RNAi in the worm C. elegans
    • Gary Muir – The Neural Basis of Navigation
    • Jay Demas and David Van Wylen – Non-visual photoreceptors: Irradiance detection in high contrast environments and sensitivity to hypoxia (see related REU project below)
    • Bob Jacobel and Knut Christianson – Ice and Climate Geophysics Group (CEGSIC)
    • Jeff Schwinefus – Cosolute Interactions with Nucleic Acids
    • Steve Freedberg – Population Genetics and Behavioral Ecology of the Smooth Softshell Turtle (see related REU project below)
    • Kathleen Shea – Ecology of the St. Olaf Natural and Agricultural Lands (see additional positions under REU projects below)

    Environmental Science REU

    These projects involved field research on campus lands at St. Olaf and Carleton Colleges, the St. Olaf College Field Station at Weaver Dunes, and the Coe College Wilderness Field Station (WFS). Any questions about these projects or other past REU projects should be directed to Diane Angell or Steve Freedberg.

    • Paul Jackson – Ecosystem assessment of an impaired coldwater brook trout stream
    • Steve Freedberg – Ecological barriers to interspecific gene flow in freshwater turtles (see related NSM project above)
    • Kathleen Shea – Ecology of the St. Olaf Natural and Agricultural Lands (see additional positions under NSM projects above)
    • Jay Demas – Ecological Light Pollution and Circadian Photoreception (see related NSM project above)
    • Jean Porterfield and John Schade – Linking Genetics and Environmental Science
    • Diane Angell – Small Mammals and Prairies
    • Diane Angell – Biodiveristy and Sustainable Agriculture
    • Michael Swift – Zooplankton in Northern Minnesota Lakes (see additional position under NSM projects above)