Student Research Opportunities
School of Science, Engineering and Health
Roseann K. Sachs, Ph.D.
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
School of Science, Engineering and Health
Messiah College
Seven Academic Departments
within SEH
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Biological Sciences
Chemistry & Biochemistry
Health and Human Performance
Nursing
Nutrition and Dietetics
Information & Mathematical Sciences
Engineering
Faculty within each of these departments routinely
engage in research projects/programs that are
intended to involve student collaborators.
The Collaboratory for Strategic
Partnerships and Applied
Research
Research in the Natural and Physical
Sciences at Messiah College
• Experience how science is done.
• Develop critical thinking, planning, reflection,
technical skills and patience.
• Integrate material across disciplines to solve
problems
• Discern potential career paths
• Student-faculty collaborations provide material for
wonderful letters of recommendation (graduate
school, medical school, or employment)
Research in the Natural and Physical
Sciences at Messiah College
• Upper level courses incorporate research
directly into laboratory components
• Academic year credit for individual projects
• Paid, on campus opportunities in the summer
• Advising and letters of recommendation for
students seeking to pursue research at major
research universities over the summer
Department of Biological Sciences
Lawrence Mylin, Ph.D.
Research Interests:
• Harnessing of innate cellular immunity to prevent or
control cancer
• Site directed mutagenesis of antigens recognized by
immune system
• Transfection of mammalian cell lines with these mutant
antibodies
• In vitro analysis of immune system response
Courses:
Molecular and Cellular Biology,
Molecular Biology, Immunology,
Microbiology
David Foster, Ph.D.
Research Interests:
• Culture, growth and propagation of native plants for
future incorporation into natural environments
• Yellow Breeches restoration
• Monitoring habit recovery following restoration
Courses:
Ecology and Sustainability, Ecological
Field Techniques, Plant Ecology
John F. Harms, Ph.D.
Research Interests:
• Genes controlling the growth and aggressiveness of
pancreatic cancer
• Role of gene expressed intestinal proteins, such as
Gastrin, in pancreatic cancer growth
Courses:
Human Anatomy & Physiology,
Physiology, Human Biology
Gary Emberger, Ph.D.
Research Interests:
• Distribution, diversity, and substrate relationships of
fungi in Pennsylvania that utilize wood as a substrate
• Medicinal properties of plants and plant extracts
Courses:
Plant Form and Function, Plant
Taxonomy, Mycology, Medicinal
Botany
Michael Shin, Ph.D.
Research Interests:
• Molecular genetic analysis of light and carbon
regulation in Arabidopsis thaliana
• Bioremediation using Arabidopsis thaliana
Courses:
Molecular and Cellular Biology,
Genetics, Molecular Genetics, Cell
Biology
Erik Lindquist, Ph.D.
Research Interests:
•Amphibian Chytrid Fungal Outbreaks in Tropical Cloud
Forest.
•Ecology of temperate vernal pool communities
in central Pennsylvania
•Characterization of pollinators in Messiah College’s
sunflower field
Courses:
Animal Form and Function,
Environmental Science, Herpetology,
Ornithology
Research Projects: Department of
Chemistry and Biochemistry
Roseann K. Sachs, Ph.D.
Research Interests:
•Green Chemistry – Plants as Biocatalysts
•Green Chemistry – Ionic Liquids as new solvents for
organic reactions
O
OH
D. Carota
H2O, r.t.
Courses:
Organic Chemistry, Advanced Organic
Chemistry
Rick Schaeffer, Ph.D.
Research Interests
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Synthesis and solubility of unique minerals.
Phytoremediation
Environmental impacts of Marcellus Shale drilling
Glow discharge plasma as synthetic tool for
formation of unique materials
Courses:
General Chemistry, Chemical
Analysis, Natural Science
Capstone Course
Anne Reeve, Ph.D.
Research Interests:
•Medicinal Chemistry – Develop a flexible synthesis of
Aspernigrin A, Develop a bioassay for testing this
compound for cytotoxicity
•Isolate and characterize the orange pigment from the
Jack-o-Lantern mushroom
O
O
NH2
N
H
Aspernigrin A
Isolated from a marine fungus and
shown to be moderately cytotoxic to
several cancer lines
Courses:
Organic Chemistry, Advanced
Synthesis and Spectroscopy,
Introduction to Organic Chemistry
Hannah Tims, Ph.D.
Research Projects
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Heat shock proteins that protect cells against
stressful conditions
Stabilization of DNA in organisms that live in extreme
environments
Use of biophysics to understand how proteins interact
with DNA
Heat stress
Courses:
General Chemistry, Biochemistry
Alison Noble, Ph.D.
Research Interests:
•Surface binding effects on the long-range order of
liquid crystalline films
•Use of open-source software for materials image
analysis
•Sensor applications
Courses:
General Chemistry, Environmental
Chemistry, Physical Chemistry
Micrographs of liquid crystals
Department of Nutrition and Dietetics
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Kathryn A. Witt, PhD,
RD, LDN
– Nutrition Assessment
– Exercise Nutrition
– Maternal and Child
Nutrition
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Amy Porto, PhD, RD,
LDN
– Lipid metabolism and
heart disease
prevention
– Exercise Nutrition
Nutrition
and
Dietetics
All Students
design,
implement, and
present
projects as a
part of the
Advanced
Nutrition I and
II Courses
Do organic peppers
have more vitamin C?
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Does exercise influence
the blood glucose
response to eating?
Does the size of a
cereal bowl influence
the amount of cereal
consumed?
What is the nutrient
content of the food served
at a local soup kitchen?
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Nutrition
and
Dietetics
Honors
students may
conduct
additional
individualized
projects
What are the food
resources and nutritional
challenges in Rural Burkina
Faso?
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Do the overall activity
patterns of varsity and
recreational runners
differ?
What are the nutritional
needs of individuals
receiving home delivered
meals in Albania?
Department of Health and Human Performance
(Drs. Scott Kieffer, Doug Miller, Jodie Haak and collaborators)
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Running on a Treadmill Compared to Interactive Running with the Wii
Fit
The Use of Chocolate Milk as a Recovery Aid for Women
Kinematic Analysis of Overspeed Training using the the Woodway
Curve Treadmill
Effects of Caffeine on Long Anaerobic Exercise
Comparison of Different Arm Positions for Body Composition using a
Handheld BIA Device
Physics Research
Projects
at Messiah College
Abaz Kryemadhi
Niklas Hellgren
Assistant Professors of Physics
Abaz Kryemadhi, Ph.D.
Research Interests:
• Built antennas and radio receivers that detect highest
energy cosmic rays
• Study cosmic ray impact on weather
• Measure the debris that high energy cosmic rays
leave on the ground
Courses:
Introductory Physics,
General Physics,
Modern Physics
Niklas Hellgren, Ph.D.
Research Interests
•Liquid crystal physics
•Effect of electric fields on the orientation and
dynamics of liquid crystalline films
150
m
40m
150 m
Courses:
Introductory Physics,
General Physics,
Modern Physics