The Helen Barton Summer Research Scholarship
The Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition
University of Illinois at Chicago
2014
The Helen Barton Summer Undergraduate Research Scholarship is for undergraduate
Kinesiology majors (due to the donor’s request) in the Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition
who have an interest in pursuing a career in research in the health sciences. This program will
provide students an opportunity to:
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conduct a small research project with a faculty member of Kinesiology and Nutrition;
develop technical, analytical and communication skills;
acquire knowledge related to a scientific field;
receive a stipend for their work; and
present their research at the University’s Student Research Forum and the
Department’s Awards Ceremony and Research Symposium during a spring semester
For consideration, please fill out the application on the following pages and respond to the
particular project you are interested in. You may respond to more than one project,
but be sure to indicate your interest in each project you intend to apply for.
Please only apply to those you have a serious interest in. Students who are
graduating this spring or summer and students previously awarded this scholarship are not
eligible. The applications should be typed and emailed back to Kileigh Guido at
flemingk@uic.edu no later than 8am on Tuesday, April 29, 2014.
Helen Barton Summer Research Scholarship Application – 2014
Name:
UIN:
Email:
Year in School:
Semesters Remaining at UIC:
Concentration:
GPA:
What Project(s) Below Are You Applying For?
Career Goals:
Project 1:
Craig Horswill, PhD
Title: Assessment of Beverage Fluid Absorption Using D 2O as Water Tracer
Purpose of the project: The purpose of this project is to conduct a pilot study and obtain data that will be used in a
larger proposal that seeks extramural funding for a complete study. For the pilot study, the scientific purpose is to
compare rates of intestinal fluid uptake in people with the implication of determining how beverage formula
affects the rate of hydration of a person. We will measure the appearance of a tracer of water in the blood
following the ingestion of two sports drinks of various formulation; a high sodium-low carbohydrate formula vs.
low sodium-high carbohydrate formula. The data will be used to calculate the sample size needed for the full
study, which will examine differences in absorption rates of the sports drinks consumed after exercise.
Methods (general overview): Two subjects at rest will ingest one of the two beverages and will repeat the study
with the opposite beverage approximately one week later. The studies will be conducted at the UIC Clinical
Research Center (CRC). Nurses at the CRC will place a catheter in a forearm vein to draw blood before and every 5
min immediately after the ingestion of the beverage. Each beverage will be spiked with 3 grams of 99% deuterium
oxide, or D2O, a stable (non-radioactive) isotope of water. A comparison of the graphs of blood enrichment of D2O
vs. time for a 90-min period will be made to determine the differences in rate of appear (slope) of D 20, time of
plateau, and maximum level of D2O in the blood.
Role(s) of the student (what the student will be responsible for): The role of the student in this project is to assist
with execution of the studies at the CRC, preparation of the collection and storage tubes, preparation of the
beverages, processing of the bloods, interpretation of the results (isotope enrichment in the blood), and the
sample size calculation. In addition, the student will help in the preparation of the full proposal for industry
funding by obtaining and helping review relevant literature needed for the project.
Student requirements (e.g., student must have completed a particular course, be proficient in
Excel, be comfortable calling participants, etc.): Students will need a strong background in anatomy and physiology
and exposure to exercise physiology. This could be acquired through the completion of courses (KN251-252,
KN253-254, KN255-256, KN352 or KN452) and/or having comparable experience in independent studies (KN396).
An understanding of the trace methodology is helpful. The desire to work as a part of a team, do clinically related
research, have a strong work ethic, and solid project and time management skills are also critical requirements.
Weekly time commitment: The student will average approximately 20 h per week on the project.
Why are you interested in participating in this research project (please answer below)?
Project 2:
Dr. Tracy Baynard
Title: The Role of Heart Rate on Heart Rate Variability Responsiveness
Purpose:
The objective of the proposed study is to examine the effects of heart rate (HR) on the interindividual variation in
heart rate variability (HRV) measured under varying conditions. We expect this study to demonstrate the
importance of matching the steady state HR when assessing HRV. This will be accomplished by matching all steady
state HRs while assessing HRV; additionally, control experiments will be performed in which equal increases in HR
or equal increases in workload on a cycle ergometer will be experienced by all subjects. We expect that the results
of these experiments will solidify the importance of steady state HR when measuring HRV and will allow for more
sensitive conclusions about autonomic function from assessment of HRV.
Methods:
Orientation Day: Subjects will fill out IRB approved consent forms and health history questionnaires. After review
of the health history questionnaire, the subject will be prepped for a 12-lead electrocardiogram. After 5 minutes a
12-lead ECG measurement will be made and brachial blood pressure (BP) will be measured. The subject will then
be asked to stand and another 12-lead ECG and brachial BP will be acquired. Subjects will move to the supine
position to be prepared for a non-invasive microvasculature reactive hyperemia test using the Hokanson
apparatus. After the Hokanson test, arterial stiffness and pulse wave velocity will be measured using the vascular
screening device VaSera. Upon completion of preliminary screening, subjects will perform a maximal oxygen
uptake (VO2max) test on the cycle ergometer. Continuous EKG and hemodynamic variables will be measured via
finger plethysmography (Finometer) during the duration of the VO2max test. Upon completion of orientation day
the subject will be scheduled for Testing Day.
Testing Day: Upon arrival to the IPL, subjects will be instrumented for a 3-lead EKG and respiration using a
pneumobelt. Subjects will then sit upright on a cycle ergometer and be fitted for finger plethysmography. There
will be a 15-minute rest period where the subject is sitting quietly on the cycle ergometer, with the last 5 minutes
of rest being recordable data while the subject is performing paced breathing at 15 breaths per minute. After
collecting resting measures, subjects will undergo 3 separate cycling conditions that will be administered in
random order. Each condition will be separated by a 10-minute rest period where the subject ceases pedaling and
sits quietly on the cycle ergometer. The 3 cycling conditions are:
i.) Pedaling at an intensity that will elevate their HR to 80 beats per minute (bpm). Subjects will maintain a
steady state HR of 80bpm for 3 minutes before EKG and hemodynamic recordings are collected for 5 minutes
during which the paced breathing at 15 breaths per minute is performed;
ii.) Pedaling at an absolute workload. Again, subjects will pedal at a steady state for 3 minutes followed by 5
minutes of data recording with paced breathing at 15 breaths per minute;
iii.) Pedaling at an intensity that will elicit a 10bpm increase from the baseline HR of the preceding rest period.
Once a 3-minute steady state is achieved, data will be recorded for 5 minutes as 15 breath per minute paced
breathing is performed. Testing will conclude after the third cycling condition.
The entire test protocol should last one and a half hours.
Role:
The student will help in recruitment, collection and analysis of data. Particularly the student will be responsible for
analysis of blood pressure variability.
Student requirements:
Reliable, computer knowledgeable (nothing unusual), independent, responsible, communicator
Weekly time commitment:
10-20 hr/wk; depending on student availability. Data analyses can be conducted in 'off-hours' as needed. Data
collection will usually occur in the morning.
Why are you interested in participating in this research project (please answer below)?
Project 3:
Dr. Jacob Haus
Title: Effects of daily aerobic exercise in reversing complications associated with diabetes
Purpose of the project: Uncontrolled type 2 diabetes, resulting in consistently high blood sugar levels, leads to
heart disease, blindness and loss of limbs. High blood sugar causes these negative complications through
unwanted creation of glycated proteins. When proteins are glycated with diabetes they lose their original function
and take on a harmful role in the body. The mechanisms in reversing protein glycation are poorly understood, but
may involve normal cellular processes related to tissue remodeling and protein turnover that occurs with regular
exercise and/or physical activity. We are currently investigating the regulation of skeletal muscle remodeling and
protein turnover in response aerobic exercise in people with type 2 diabetes. We perform skeletal muscle biopsies
and a technique called microdialysis to sample the muscle fluid environment before and after exercise to gain
insight into these cellular and metabolic events. The knowledge gained from these experiments will provide us
with mechanisms that may have pharmacologic potential, thus leading to new therapies for the prevention and
treatment of complications associated with diabetes.
General Methods: The overarching research study the students will be supporting involves the study of late middle
age to older (60-75 yrs), overweight or obese adults (BMI 26 - 40 kg/m2) with type 2 diabetes. Forty subjects will
be randomized to 12 wks of standard care (control group) or standard care plus AE training (AE group). All subjects
will undergo baseline and post-intervention testing for maximal aerobic capacity, body composition and insulin
sensitivity. Muscle biopsies and microdialysis sampling will be obtained at baseline, in the time course immediately
following acute exercise (or matched sedentary trial), and following day 84 (12 wks) of the AE intervention or
standard care periods. Subjects randomized to the AE arm will undergo a 2 wk ramp-up period of progressing
exercise intensity and duration. Following the initial 2 wks, subjects will exercise 5 days/wk, 60 min/day at 85%
HRmax for the remaining duration of the 12 wk intervention period.
Students will be fully immersed in the human clinical research process. Student daily activities may include, but not
limited to the following: assisting with exercise (VO2max) and metabolic testing (indirect calorimetry, muscle
biopsy, tissue microdialysis, brachial artery flow mediated dilation, etc) of human research participants,
supervision and direction of daily exercise prescriptions, acquisition and documentation of exercise heart rate and
blood pressure measurements, management of participant physical activity monitors, administration of physical
activity and nutrition questionnaires, basic data management and data entry, basic study coordinator duties such
as subject interface and scheduling, participation in weekly lab group journal club on topics relevant to human
health and disease, interface with graduate students and postdoctoral fellows on their research projects, general
training in ethical considerations for human subjects research, general training in laboratory safety and laboratory
techniques such as pipetting, protein assay and ELISA. Depth and breadth of student activities will be directed
according to student interest, performance and accountability.
Student requirements: Students must be able to perform resting and exercise blood pressure and HR
measurements. Students must complete various training modules directed by the PI related to education on
human subjects research, HIPAA, Blood Borne Pathogens and Personal Protective Equipment, and Laboratory
Safety. Students must be proficient in Word, Excel and PowerPoint and must be comfortable calling research
participants. Strong interpersonal communication skills are a necessity. Students must be comfortable at the sight
of needles and handling of human blood.
Weekly time commitment for the students are expected to be 15-20 hrs/week and students must be able to start
as early as 5:30am to meet needs of human metabolic research protocols.
Why are you interested in participating in this research project (please answer below)?
Project 4:
Dr. Timothy J. Koh
Title: Effects of low-intensity vibration on gene expression in bone marrow
Purpose:
The primary purpose of this study is to determine whether whole body low-intensity vibration induces gene
expression associated with bone marrow cell mobilization. We have found previously that vibrations can induce
mobilization of certain bone marrow cells and improve wound healing. We now intend to eludicate the
mechanisms by which vibration improves healing. Our central hypothesis is that vibration increases the expression
genes associated with bone marrow cell mobilization, which in turn, leads to improved wound healing.
Research Methods Overview:
Four groups of mice will be used for this project. Two groups of non-diabetic mice will be subjected to skin
wounding and then one of the groups will be subjected to low-intensity vibration for 5 days per week. Two
additional groups of diabetic mice will be subjected to skin wounding and then one of the groups will be subjected
to low-intensity vibration for 5 days per week. After 10 days, bone marrow, spleen and wound cells will be
collected, RNA isolated from these cells and real time PCR perform for a panel of genes associated with bone
marrow cell mobilization.
Student’s Role:
The student who assists with this project will have the opportunity to:
 Work on an interdisciplinary project with faculty in both Kinesiology and Medicine
 Perform a literature review on bone marrow cell mobilization
 Participate in Dr. Koh’s journal club
 Learn animal handling and experimentation
 Learn how to do RNA isolation
 Learn how to do real time PCR
Student Requirements
Students should have a strong academic record and junior standing is ideal, but not mandatory. Additionally, it is
very important that students who apply to be a part of this project are highly reliable, have excellent interpersonal
communication skills, are organized, and will act with utmost professionalism during the research process.
Student Time Commitment
The student involved in this project should plan on devoting ~20 hours per week in the summer and ~10 hours per
week in the subsequent fall and spring semesters.
Why are you interested in participating in this research project (please answer below)?
Project 5:
David X. Marquez, PhD
Title: Exercise Psychology Laboratory
1.
Purpose of the project:
The purpose of this opportunity is to have the Kinesiology student gain valuable research experience.
The purpose of the research is to increase the physical activity of older Latino adults, and as a result positively
influence their physical and cognitive functioning.
2.
Methods (general overview):
The student will gain experience by taking part in many different aspects of the research study (e.g., literature
reviews, participant recruitment, screening, preparing participant and study materials, scheduling and tracking
participants, making reminder calls, data collection, data entry and checking, data analysis, presentations and
publications for our lab’s work, and other study procedures).
3.
Role(s) of the student (what the student will be responsible for)
Products of Effort:
 Successfully sign up participants for the study
 Participants are successfully screened, scheduled & tested
 Participants are kept informed/updated
 Data is properly entered and checked
 Any assignment given by Dr. Marquez is completed successfully
Expectations:
 Fulfill hours commitment
 On time, reliable, work hard
 Meet Dr. Marquez bi-weekly
 Email Dr. Marquez when things need to be rescheduled
 Communicate with Exercise Psychology Lab and Dr. Marquez where appropriate
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Student requirements (e.g., student must have completed a particular course, be proficient in Excel, be
comfortable calling participants, etc.):
*Fluent* Spanish speaker (not conversational)
Good interpersonal skills
Hard working
Good attention to detail
Weekly time commitment:
As many hours as the student can commit to; minimum of 10 hours per week.
Why are you interested in participating in this research project (please answer below)?