Beckman Scholars INBRE Undergraduate Scholars
 

Beckman Scholars Program

 
Mackenzie Parker
Colstrip, Montana
Biochemistry
Mentor: Trevor Douglas, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Project: An investigation of the DNA-binding properties of two novel Dps-proteins from the Archaeans Prococcus furiosus and Sulfolobus solfataricus
 

INBRE Scholars

Elliott Barnhart

Broadus, Montana

Microbiology
Mentor: Tim Ford, Microbiology
Project:

Community analysis of methanogenic archaea within underground coal beds

 

Holly Basta

Great Falls, Montana

Microbiology
Mentor: Marcella McClure, Microbiology
Project:

Prediction of protein:protein interactions: A protein disorder approach

 

Trevor Beard

Durango, Colorado

Microbiology

Mentor: Jim Burritt, Mircrobiology
Project:

Co-localization of NADPH oxidase with A. fumigatus conidia in human neutrophils

 

Teresa Blaskovich

Butte, Montana

Chemistry

Biochemistry

Mentor: Jean Starkey, Microbiology
Project:

Expression profiling canine tumors for pre-clinical studies of photodynamic therapy

 

Anna Burke

Bozeman, Montana

Cell Biology and Neuroscience
Mentor: Michele Hardy, Veterinary and Molecular Biology
Project:

Stimulation of antiviral immune mechanisms by natural and synthetic compounds

 

Alex Caten

Billings, Montana

Cell Biology and Nueroscience

Biomedical Science

Mentor: Roger Bradley, Cell Biology and Neuroscience
Project:

Analyzing the role of Chick Protocadherin 1 in neural cell migration

 

Megan Duffy

Dillon, Montana

Microbiology
Mentor: Dionne Gesink Law, Microbiology
Project:

Epidemology of births in Montana

 

Kathryn Hoyt

Bellingham, Washington

Chemical Engineering
Mentor: Sarah Codd, Mechanical Engineering
Project: Deomonstration of novel MRI contrast technique for use on biofilms
 

Abby Kelly

Fort Benton, Montana

Cell Biology and Neuroscience
Mentor: Benfang Lei , Veterinary and Molecular Biology
Project: Group A Streptococcus transcpription regulator Mrr: Protein preparation and investigation on its interaction with the promoter of the Virulence Gene emm
 
Molly Krehlik
Juneau, Alaska
Health and Human Development
Mentor: Christina Campbell, Health and Human Development
Project: The influence of plant based omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on inflammatory gene expression in post menopausal women
 

Julianna Morley

Missoula, Montana

Biomedical Science
Mentor: Mary Cloninger, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Project: Isolation of Galectin-3 and binding assay design
 

Mital Patel

Mumbai, India

Biotechnology
Mentor: Barry Pyle, Microbiology
Project:

Household water biofilms

 

Lena Petersen

Polson, Montana

Biochemistry and Dietetics
Mentor: Brian Bothner, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Project: Proteomic analysis of the effects of the MNV-1 on murine cells
 

Laura Richert

Pocatello, Idaho

Cell Biology and Neuroscience
Mentor: Heini Miettinen, Microbiology
Project:

Functional role of neutrophil formyl peptide receptor in inflammatory bowel disease

 

Jeff Sadino

Whitefish, Montana

Physics
Mentor: Thomas Hughes, Cell Biology and Neuroscience
Project:

A new expression cloning strategy for isolating cell surface proteins

 

Justin Schwartzenberger

Butte, Montana

Cell Biology and Neuroscience
Mentor: Martin Teintze, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Project:

Using photoactivatable drug analogues to map the antagonist binding cites of CCR5

 

Paul Tewson

Bozeman, Montana

Cell Biology and Neuroscience

Mentor: Roger Bradley, Cell Biology and Neuroscience
Project: Analyzing the role of N-cadherin mediated cell adhesion in neural crest migration
 

Joseph Twitchell

Wolf Point, Montana

Biochemistry
Mentor: Mary Cloninger, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Project: Indium catalyzed carbohydrate acetylation
 

Michael Wright

Columbia Falls, Montana

Biochemistry
Mentor: Martin Teintze, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Project: Using NGAL to mimick the CD4 binding site on gp120
 

Undergraduate Scholars Program

Nicolette Allen

Byron, Wyoming

Nursing
Mentor: Karen Zulkowski, Nursing
Project: Integration of geriatric content into a new curriculum
 

Ruhani Amin

Bozeman, Montana

Microbiology
Mentor: Barry Pyle, Microbiology
Project: Immunomagnetic separation of E. coli O157 using mibrobial-vac and pathatrix
 

Leif Anderson

Bremerton, Washington

Earth Sciences- Geology
Mentor: William Locke, Earth Sciences
Project: Geomorphology and glacial history of the Kongressvatnet catchment, Svalbard, Norway
 

Tyler Arbour

Dillon, Montana

Chemistry
Mentor: Trevor Douglas , Chemistry and Biochemistry
Project: An investigation of the binuclear active site of the Dps-like protein from Sulfolobus solfataricus
 

Kathrine Baldwin

Bozeman, Montana

History and German
Mentor: Patricia Anne Simpson, Modern Languages and Literatures
Project: Youth perspectives and pop culture: Turkish immigration and integration in Germany
 

Laura Barney

Lewistown, Montana

Psychology
Mentor: Jason Clark-Miller, Sociology
Project: Affect control theory and exotic dancing
 

Ashley Bembenek
Edan, Utah

Soil and Water Science
Mentor: Bill Locke , Land Resources and Environmental Science
Project: Improving temporal resolution of extreme fluvial events recorded in Ugandan dambo soils using optical age chronology
 

Jake Berriochoa

Boise, Idaho

Cell Biology and Neuroscience

Biomedical Science

Mentor: Thomas Hughes, Cell Biology and Neuroscience
Project: A novel approach to a genetically encoded voltage sensor
 

Christina Carr
Cheyenne, Wyoming

Earth Science
Mentor: Bill Locke, Earth Sciences
Project: Controls on suspended sediment transport in Linneelva Sualbard
 

Patrick Carroll

Bend, Oregon

French and Film
Mentor: Ada Giusti, Modern Languages and Literatures
Project: An assessment of humanitarian organizations in Francophone Europe
 

Chase Clausen

Bozeman, Montana

Earth Science
Mentor: Mark Skidmore , Earth Sciences
Project: Respiration and metabolism of sporosarcina strain BM-5, a a psychrophilic bacteria immured in ice
 

Christian Coe
Fairbanks, Alaska

Chemistry
Mentor: John Peters, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Project: FI FI FT-IR characterization of fe-only hydrogenases
 
Angela Cole
Polson, Montana
Cell Biology and Neuroscience
Mentor: Roger Bradley, Cell Biology and Neuroscience
Project: Immunolocalization of chick pedhl
 

Kevin Connolly

Bozeman, Montana

Media and Theatre Arts
Mentor: Walter Metz, Media and Theatre Arts
Project: People are curious
 

Rebecca Cooper

Corvallis, Oregon

Pre-Nursing and French
Mentor: Florence Dunkel, Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology
Project: High lysine yeast replacement
 
John Davies
Bellevue, Washington
Cell Biology and Neuroscience
Mentor: Marcella McClure, Microbiology
Project: Predicting amino acid contacts among the three proteins of the replication/transcription complex of the order Mononegavirales
 

Meagan DeRaps

Tampa, Florida

Earth Science
Mentor: Todd Feeley, Earth Sciences
Project: Petrology and geochemistry of plagioclase-phyric basaltic lava flows on St. George Island, Alaska: Evidence for a genetic link between magmatic centers of the Pribilof Islands
 

Amy Druse

Bellevue, Washington

Photography and

Language Commerce, French

Mentor: Florence Dunkel, Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology
Project: Effective visual aids for coaching non-literate subsistence farmers in Mali
 

Kyle Eaton

Bozeman, Montana

Media and Theatre Arts

Mentor: Paul Monaco, Media and Theatre Arts
Project: Experimental Animation
 

Sarah Eby

Eagle River, Alaska

Health and Human Development

and Psychology

Mentor: Michael Hahn, Health and Human Development
Project: The effect of dual-attention tasks on cognitive motor function
 
Aleisha Elliott
Kirkland, Washington
Biochemistry
Mentor: Jean Starkey, Microbiology
Project: The effects of photodynamic therapy on the vascular system of MDA-MB-231 tumors
 
Danielle Elliott
Helena, Montana
Photography
Mentor: Daniel Wise, Media and Theatre Arts
Project: Predicting the visual impact of the Aspen Trails subdivision through a combination of photography and digital manipulation
 
Tyrell Elliott
Helena, Montana
Media and Theatre Arts
Mentor: Dennis Aig, Media and Theatre Arts
Project: Creating a music video
 
Andrew Fahlgren
Glasgow, Montana
Cell Biology and Neuroscience
Mentor: Benfang Lei , Veterinary and Molecular Biology
Project: Preparation and test of protein Spy0269, a putative protective antigen for Group A Streptoccocus
 
Kelby Fischer
Helena, Montana
English Literature
Mentor: Gordon Brittan, History and Philosophy
Project: Exploitation vs. utilization: A case for the bioprospecting of thermophiles in Yellowstone National Park
 

Karen Gaulke

Bozeman, Montana

Religious Studies and History
Mentor: Lynda Sexson, History and Philosophy
Project: The Carona Project
 

Isaiah Helm

Jordan, Montana

Mechanical Engineering
Mentor: Michael Edens , Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
Project: Supersonic aircract efficiency enhancement with variable geometry wing structures
 
Jay Hendricks
Billings, Montana
Biochemistry
Mentor: Edward Dratz, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Project: Determination of the structure of dark adapted bovine rhodopsin-antibody complex
 

Veronica Hendrikson

Spanish
Mentor: Bridget Kevane, Modern Languages
Project: Latino-Jewsih literature
 

Doug Higgins

Crystal Lake, Illinois

Environmental Biology
Mentor: Cathy Zabinski, Land Resources and Environmental Science
Project: Utilizing existing CO2 gradients in Yellowstone National Park to investigate plant and soil microbial responses to elevated CO2
 

Ryan Holtan

Anchorage, Alaska

Political Science
Mentor: Jerry Calvert, Political Science
Project: Bust and boom: Fiscal policies of natural resource dependent states
 
Roger Hunt
Boston, Massachusetts
Philosophy
Mentor: Gordon Brittan, Philosophy
Project: Itellectual property and bioprospecting
 

Sonya Iverson

Sunburst, Montana

Biotechnology and Psychology
Mentor: Ed Schmidt, Veterinary Molecular Biology
Project: Correlating molecular evolution of TFIID to vertebrate evolutionary transitions
 

Anya Jackson

Great Falls, Montana

Biological Sciences, Ecology
Mentor: Kevin O'Neill
Project: Behavioral responses of Aedes aegypti (L.) to varying temperatures
 

Elizabeth Johnson

Eagle, Idaho

Paleontology
Mentor: David Varricchio, Earth Sciences
Project: Coprolite mineralization investigation 
 
Holly Kary
Billings, Montana
Nursing
Mentor: Karen Zulkowski, Nursing
Project: LTC deep tissue injury
 
Lindsay Klouser
Bozeman, Montana

Biochemistry

Pre-Veterinary

Mentor: Alan Dyer, Plant Science and Plant Pathology
Project: Chitinase enzyme activity in relation to fusarium pathogen population in wheat crop
 

Joseph Krakker

Boise, Idaho

Cell Biology and Neuroscience

Mentor: Thomas Hughes, Cell Biology and Neuroscience
Project: Split protein complementation assay
 

Emily Kuipers

Bozeman, Montana

English Literature and French
Mentor: Ada Guisti, Modern Languages and Literatures
Project: An assessment of French humanitarian organizations
 

Viktor Kujawa

Butte, Montana

Art
Mentor: Rick Pope, Art
Project: Combined ceramic techniques to construct large sculptural forms
 

Joseph Lacerenza
Bozeman, Montana

Plant Biotechnology
Mentor: Mike Giroux, Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology
Project: Wheat and barley as a starch source for production of ethanol alcohol in Montana
 
Keri Lackey
Sturgis, Michigan

Biological Sciences

Fish and Wildlife Management

Mentor: David Willey, Ecology
Project: Mexican spotted owl diet study
 

Patrick Lawrence

Bozeman, Montana

Land Resources and Environmental Sciences

Mentor: Cliff Montagne , Land Resources and Environmental Sciences
Project: Remote sensing analysis of desertification in the Darhat Valley, Mongolia
 
Brent Leavell
Bozeman, Montana

Earth Science

Geography of South-East Asia

Mentor: Nora Smith, University Studies
Project: Religion in schools, a pilot study of Indonesia's mandate for prayer in schools
 
Karyn Lewis
Ashland, Missouri
Psychology
Mentor: Jessi Smith, Psychology
Project: Group membership as a moderator of the relationship between rejection and empathic accuracy
 
Nathanael Lintner
East Glacier Park, Montana

Cell Biology and Neuroscience

Biomedical Sciences

Mentor: Martin Lawrence
Project: Structural studies of STIVA81, a protein from a novel crenarchaeal virus
 
Jennifer Lyles
Big Timber, Montana
Microbiology
Mentor: Marcella McClure, Microbiology
Project: Identification of retroid agents in Macaca mulatta and comparison with Homo sapien and Pan troglodytes
 

Meekyung MacMurdie

Whitehall, Montana

Religious Studies and Art History
Mentor: Lynda Sexson, History and Philosophy
Project: The Carona Project
 

Josh Manchester

Great Falls, Montana

Microbiology
Mentor: Linda Hyman, Health Sciences
Project: The assessment of the effects of microgravity on Canidia albicans
 

Nicole Marquardt

Bozeman, Montana

English
Mentor: Gwendolyn Morgan , English
Project: Creation of memory
 

Natalie McGowan

Stevensville, Montana

Animal Science
Mentor: Shannon Moreaux, Animal and Range Sciences
Project: A survey of selenium supplementation in the United States Pony Club
 

Brittania McNair

Riverton, Wyoming

Sociology
Mentor: Jason Clark-Miller, Sociology
Project: Stigma with-in exotic dance clubs
 

Eva Mends

Bozeman, Montana

Biomedical Sciences and French
Mentor: Florence Dunkel, Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology
Project: Exploration of traditional anti-malarial medicinal plants and their effectiveness in clinical trials
 

Ryan Minton

Rapid City, South Dakota

English Literature
Mentor: Robert Campbell, History
Project: Impacts of the wilderness ideal on National Park Service policy and management
 

Sarah Mullowney

Butte, Montana

Engineering and Biochemistry
Mentor: Brent Peyton, Chemical and Biological Engineering
Project: Enzymatic activities of Yellowstone thermal alkylphiles
 

Colette Nelson

Belgrade, Montana

Motion Picture Video Theatre
Mentor: Bill Neff, Media and Theatre Arts
Project: Life without parole
 

Jesse Olsen

Molt, Montana

Biotechnology

Animal Systems

Mentor: James Berardinelli, Animal and Range Sciences
Project:

Adrenal activation by the biostimulatory effect of bulls and the resumption of ovarian cycling activity in postpartum, primiparous, anovular beef cows

 
Luke Oltrogge
Absarokee, Montana
Chemistry
Mentor: Trevor Douglas, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Project: Mechanistic analysis of an antioxidant protein cage (SsDps-L) from Sulfolobus solfactaricus using mass spectrometry and fluorescent labeling techniques
 

Megan O'Reilly

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Biology

Fish and Wildlife Management

Mentor: Robert Garrott, Ecology
Project: Relationships among moose abundance, willow community structure, and migratory landbirds at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge
 

Duke Pauli

Cascade, Montana

Biotechnology
Mentor: Alice Pilgeram and David Sands, Plant Science
Project: Synthesis of bio-lubricants using transgenic mushrooms
 

Mark Paulson

Rapid City, South Dakota

Organismal Biology and

Photography

Mentor: Robert Sharrock
Project: Deforestation and avian communities along Loreto Road, eastern foothills, Ecuador
 

Reyan Pulido

Lahaina, Hawaii

Nursing
Mentor: Wade Hill, Nursing
Project: Risk perception of enviornmental contaminants among rural households
 

Shawna Raden

Plains, Montana

Land Rehabilitation
Mentor: Cathy Zabinski, Land Resources and Environmental Science
Project: Investigating temperature tolerances of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi isolated from different temperature regimes
 

Jonathan Reddinger

Billings, Montana

Philosophy and Economics
Mentor: Rob Fleck, Ag Economics and Economics
Project: Genetic algorithms in economics
 

Christoffer Renner
Bozeman, Montana

Physics and Applied Math
Mentor: Robert Maher, Electrical and Computer engineering
Project: Passive ultrasonic sound detection
 

Leif Routman

Northbrook, Illinois

Guitar Performance
Mentor: Terry Beaubois, Arts and Architechture
Project: Digital collaborations: Music and design in a complex age
 

Ben Ruffatto

Whitefish, Montana

Cell Biology and Neuroscience
Mentor: Thomas Hughes, Cell Biology and Neuroscience
Project: Novel approach to a gene encoded voltage sensor
 

Jay Rutherford

Missoula, Montana

Chemical and Biological Engineering
Mentor: Joseph Seymour, Chemical and Biological Engineering
Project: Characterization of liquids in porous media using earth's field NMR
 

Logan Shultz

Chelan, Washington

Chemical Engineering
Mentor: Robin Gerlach , Center for Biofilm Engineering, Chemical and Biological Engineering
Project: Effects of biofilms on porous media system
 

Jonathan Shafer

Billings, Montana

Electrical Engineering
Mentor: David Dickensheets, Electrical and Computer Engineering
Project: Micromachined substrates for platinum wire growth
 

Ronald Sheppard

Frenchtown, Montana

Nursing
Mentor: Sandra Kuntz, Nursing
Project: Methylmercury risk awareness: A comprehensive review of current literature
 

Joseph Sibbert

Oak Harbor, Washington

Chemical Engineering
Mentor: Brent Peyton, Chemical and Biological Engineering
Project: Identification of siderophores produced by extremophiles
 

David Smith
Bozeman, Montana

Plant Biotechnology
Mentor: Tracy Dougher, Plant Science and Plant Pathology
Project: Influence on seed emergence due to smoke and water quantity
 

Mitchell Smith

Coram, Montana

French
Mentor: Ada Giusti
Project: Assessing French humanitarian organizations
 

Kevin Swanson

Butte, Montana

Biomedicine
Mentor: John Peters , Chemistry and Biochemistry
Project: Expression, purification and characterization of HydG from Clostridium acetobutylicum
 

Tara Swope

Miles City, Montana

Chemistry and Biochemistry
Mentor: Marcella McClure, Microbiology
Project: Are the retroid agents from Saccharomyces cerevisiae found on other yeast genomes?
 

Shane Tillo

Helena, Montana

Cell Biology and Neuroscience
Mentor: Thomas Hughes, Cell Biology and Neuroscience
Project: In-vitro protein complementation assay
 

Dallas Timms

Albaquerque, New Mexico

Anthropology
Mentor: Michael Neeley, Sociology and Anthropology
Project: A GIS analysis of prehistoric settlement patterns in west-central Jordan
 

Erick Tombre

Missoula, Montana

Nursing
Mentor: Sandra Kuntz, Nursing
Project: Missoula county public schools (MCPS) body mass index project
 

Alicia Tolar

Bozeman, Montana

Biochemistry
Mentor: Martin Teintze, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Project: Site specific mutagenesis of the M13 Phage pIII protein
 

Sadie Tynes

Simms, Montana

English Literature, History and

Religious Studies

Mentor: Lynda Sexson, History and Philosophy
Project: The Carona Project
 

Loni Waters,

Crystal Lake, Illinois

Anthropology
Mentor: Michael Neeley, Sociology and Anthropology
Project: Analysis of Natufian microlithic tools from two sites in west-central Jordan
 

Riley Wedlake

Spokane, Washington

Biomedical Science,

Cell Biology and Neuroscience

Mentor: James Berardinelli, Animal and Range Sciences
Project: Identification of endocrinological changes associated with chronic wasting disease in cervids
 

Amber Weitzel

Wolf Creek, Montana

Ecology
Mentor: Luther Talbert, Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology
Project: Molecular markers for low polyphenol oxidase levels in wheat
 

Michael Welch

Havre, Montana

Cell Biology and Neuroscience
Mentor: Gary Strobel, Plant Science
Project: Isolating endophytic streptomycetes
 

Ryan Worden

Wausau, Wisconsin

Psychology
Mentor: Keith Hutchison
Project: Measuring retrieval processes of prospective memory