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College of Science & Health (CSH)

Past Dean's Distinguished Fellows

Meet our former fellows

2019
Reece Banta

Reece Banta

Prairie Springs Dean's Distinguished Fellowship
Chemistry: Environmental Concentration

Assessment of Mercury Contamination from Legacy Fur Trade Activity in Soils of Grand Portage National Monument, MN

Advisor: Kristofer Rolhus

Lauren Carstensen

Lauren Carstensen

College of Science and Health
Clinical Laboratory Science

Transcriptional Analysis of Two Staphylococcus aureaus Biofilm-Associated Genes in Regulatory Protein Mtan Strains

Advisor: William Schwan

Aaron Christensen

Aaron Christensen

Warner Dean's Distinguished Fellowship
Geography: Environmental Concentration

Fine-scale Characterization of Spring Phenology in a North American Prairie Using Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Imagery

Advisor: Niti Mishra

Kean Fallon

Kean Fallon

College of Science and Health
Mathematics

Analysis of non-Hirsch prismatoids for linear optimization via transportation polytopes

Advisor: Eddie Kim

 

Emma Freeman

Emma Freeman

McGinley Dean's Distinguished Fellowship
Microbiology

Inactivation of Human Noroviruses Using Heat-Denatured Lysozyme

Advisor: Xinhui Li

Alexandra Galbraith

Alexandra Galbraith

Rada Dean's Distinguished Fellowship
Chemistry: Environmental Concentration

Determining the Acute Lethal Concentration (LC50) of EarthTec® QZ for Invasive (Bithynia tentaculata) and Native (Physa gyrina) Snail Species from the Upper Mississippi River

Advisor: Nadia Carmosini

Taylor Hackel

Taylor Hackel

College of Science and Health
Chemistry

Mechanistic Investigation of Tris (pentafluorophenyl) borane-Silane Catalyzed Reduction of B-Ketoamides


Samuel Haeuser

Samuel Haeuser

College of Science and Health
Physics: Optics

All-Optical Switching via MQW ZnO Thin Films

Advisor: Eric Gansen

Jillian Hebert

Jillian Hebert

College of Science and Health
Statistics and Applied Statistics Dual Degree

Analyzing the Impact of Co-Occurring Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders on Youth’s Criminal Activity

Advisor: Barb Bennie

Megan Hein

Megan Hein

Prairie Springs Dean's Distinguished Fellowship
Biology: Biomedical Science Concentration

Effects of Chronic Exposure to the Insecticide Thiamethoxam on Zebrafish Behavior

Advisor: Tisha King-Heiden

Jaime Kloehn

Jaime Kloehn

Chan Family SURF Award
Biochemistry

Protein of Unknown Function from Murine Herpesvirus 68 Contributes to Cancer Growth

Advisor: Kelly Gorres

Rebekah Peplinski

Rebekah Peplinski

College of Science and Health
Biology: Cellular and Molecular Concentration

RT-qPCR Analysis of Genes Involved in the Response to SK-03-92 Treatment in Yeast

Advisor: Anne Galbraith

Zarif Rahman

College of Science and Health
Physics

Investigating the Nuclear Structure of Dysprosium-160

Advisor: Shelly Lesher

Taylor Repitz

Taylor Repitz

Beaty Dean's Distinguished Fellowship
Microbiology

Local Adaptations of Streptomyces in Myrick Marsh

Advisor: Anita Davelos

Alexander Robbins

Alexander Robbins

Toce Dean's Distinguished Fellowship
Biochemistry

Structural properties and enzymatic activity of dUTPase from Epstein-Barr Virus

Advisor: Kelly Gorres

Emily Simmerman

Emily Simmerman

College of Science and Health
Dual Degree Therapeutic Recreation

Examining Influences of Forest Bathing on Physiological and Psychological Aspects of Stress

Advisor: Namyun Kil

Harold Soeder

Harold Soeder

College of Science and Health
Biochemistry

The Compounding Effect of a High Calorie Diet and Poor Sleep

Advisor: Alder Yu

Michaela Thielen

Michaela Thielen

College of Science and Health
Biology: Biomedical Science Concentration

Mechanism of action of potential anti-virulence compounds against Salmonella

Advisor: John May

Gina Wade

Gina Wade

Chan Family SURF Award
Biochemistry

TPS domain folding causes hemolytic activation of a newly defined functional domain

Advisor: Daniel Grilley

2020
Reece Banta

Reece Banta

College of Science and Health
Chemistry: Environmental Concentration

Assessment of Mercury Contamination from Legacy Fur Trade Activity in Soils of Grand Portage National Monument, MN

Advisor: Kristofer Rolfhus

Mary Baumgartner

Mary Baumgartner

Prairie Springs Dean's Distinguished Fellowship
Biology

Assessing the Influence of Water Chemistry on the Toxicity of a Copper Pesticide (EarthTec® QZ) to Native and Invasive Aquatic Snail Species

Advisors: Nadia Carmosini & Gregory Sandland

* Learn more about Mary's sponsor - Prairie Springs: The Paul Fleckenstein Trust

Anna Bower

Anna Bower

College of Science and Health
Biology: Biomedical Science

Investigating the Effect of Circadian Rhythm Disruption on Gene Expression involved in Lewy Body Dementia with Advanced Aging

Advisor: Alder Yu

 

Hunter Charles

Hunter Charles

Rada Dean's Distinguished Fellowship
Microbiology: Biomedical

Inactivation of Tulane virus, a human norovirus surrogate in water using yeast-coated beads

Advisor: Xinhui Li

* Learn more about Hunter's sponsors - Ron and Jane Rada

Paige Dunnum

Paige Dunnum

Warner Dean's Distinguished Fellowship
Biology: Environmental Science

Investigating Phenology of Insect Prey Abundance and Nesting Stages in Breeding Flammulated Owls

Advisor: Markus Mika

Lee Fuller

Lee Fuller

College of Science and Health
Chemistry

Pulsed plating of copper-tin alloys for the catalytic conversion of carbon dioxide

Advisor: Sujat Sen

Trevor Geerdts

Trevor Geerdts

College of Science and Health
Physics: Optics

Exploring Nonuniformities of Quantum-Dot-Based Photon-Number-Resolving Factors

Advisors: Eric Gansen

Sara Gonske

Sara Gonske

Toce Dean's Distinguished Fellowship
Biochemistry

Characterizing a DcrB-dependent molecule that may enhance the resistance of Salmonella enterica to copper

Advisor: John May

Colin Griffin

Colin Griffin

College of Science and Health
Biochemistry

The competition between positive charges – how specific cations affect the balance between DNA binding and formation of an alternative DNA structure

Advisor: Daniel Grilley

Kendra Kreienbrink

Kendra Kreienbrink

College of Science and Health
Physics: Biomedical

MAP65 Protein and Microtubule Mechanics

Advisor: Taviare Hawkins

 

Kirstyn Loyva

Kirstyn Loyva

McGinley Dean's Distinguished Fellowship
Microbiology

Effect of the ESCRT pathway on HPIV3 budding and release

Advisor: Michael Hoffman

* Learn more about Kirstyn's sponsor - Michael McGinley, ’82

 

Drew Lysaker

Drew Lysaker

Beaty Dean's Distinguished Fellowship
Biology: Environmental Science

Tracking a deadly virus in La Crosse: Assessing the presence of La Crosse encephalitis and its mosquito vector

Advisor: Barrett Klein

Joseph Miller

Joseph Miller

College of Science and Health
Mathematics

Anti-van der Waerden Numbers of Graph Products

Advisor: Nathan Warnberg

Katherine Schmitz

Katherine Schmitz

College of Science and Health
Microbiology: Biomedical

A Novel Heterogeneous Catalyst for Green Catalytic Mercaptan Remediation

Advisor: Robert McGaff

Cullen Schull

Cullen Schull

College of Science and Health
Biochemistry

Preparation of Unnatural Asymmetric Curcuminoids with Highly Turnable Structures

Advisor: Valeria Stepanova

Tessa Slaby

Tessa Slaby

Prairie Springs Dean's Distinguished Fellowship
Biology: Aquatic Science

Are microplastics accumulating in the fish of the Upper Mississippi River? An assessment of microplastics in the Emerald Shiner (Notropis atherinoides), an abundant and important small fish

Advisor: Eric Strauss

* Learn more about Tessa's sponsor - Prairie Springs: The Paul Fleckenstein Trust

McKenna Theine

McKenna Theine

College of Science and Health
Microbiology

The Use of Environmental DNA as a Tool for Detecting the Presence of Invasive Lionfish Background/Statement of the Problem/Significance

Advisor: Kelly Gorres

Laura Zinnel

Laura Zinnel

College of Science and Health
Mathematics

Anti-Schur Numbers on the Integers

Advisor: Nathan Warnberg

 

 

2021
Marina Amato

Marina Amato

Prairie Springs Dean's Distinguished Fellowship
Biology: Aquatic Science

Phosphorus use and limitation in biofilms on wood and inorganic substrates in the Upper Mississippi River

Advisor: Eric Strauss

* Learn more about Marina's sponsor - Prairie Springs: The Paul Fleckenstein Trust

Ky Ariano

Ky Ariano

College of Science and Health
Microbiology

Determining the functional role of the GOX1969 protein in Gluconobacter oxydans

Advisor: Paul Schweiger

 

Kyle Baker

Kyle Baker

College of Science and Health
ESS: Physical Education

Learning to Facilitative Adventure-Based Learning: An Occupational Socialization Perspective

Advisor: Jenna Stark

 




Mary Baumgartner

Mary Baumgartner

College of Science and Health
Biology

Assessing the Influence of Water Chemistry on the Toxicity of a Copper Pesticide (EarthTec® QZ) to an Invasive Aquatic Snail Species, Bithynia tentaculata

Advisors: Nadia Carmosini & Greg Sandland

 

Teja Bhimavarapu

Teja Bhimavarapu

College of Science and Health
Biology: Biomedical Science

Circadian Rhythm Effect on Oscillation of Gut Bacteria in Wolbachia-free Drosophila melanogaster

Advisor: Alder Yu

Mason Faldet

Mason Faldet

College of Science and Health
Mathematics

Thickening the Trefoil Knot

Advisor: Whitney George

 

Sean Floersch

Sean Floersch

College of Science and Health
Statistics: Actuarial Science

Player Tracking for NCAA D3 Soccer to Optimize Training Design

Advisor: Chad Vidden

Brady Gagner

Brady Gagner

College of Science and Health
Physics: Dual Degree Engineering

Well-Width Dependence of ZnO MQW All-Optical Switches

Advisor: Eric Gansen

Zachary Gephart

Zachary Gephart

College of Science and Health
Computer Science

Task Allocation with Dynamic Task Set in a Self-Organizing Swarm



Jenna Hayes

Jenna Hayes

Toce Dean's Distinguished Fellowship
Biochemistry

Effect of Curcumin and Curcumin Derivatives on the Lytic Cycle of Epstein-Barr Virus

Advisor: Kelly Gorres

Jordan Hoehnen

Jordan Hoehnen

Prairie Springs Dean's Distinguished Fellowship
Geography

Particle Size Analysis of a Lake Sediment Core to Understand Periods of Floods and Droughts in the Upper Midwest Since the Last Glacial Period

Advisor: Joan Bunbury

* Learn more about Jordan's sponsor - Prairie Springs: The Paul Fleckenstein Trust

Emma Jonas

Emma Jonas

Warner Dean's Distinguished Fellowship
Biology: Plant and Fungal

Lepidopteran larval diversity, abundance, and biomass at foraging sites of insectivorous Flammulated Owls (Psiloscops flammeolus) in northern Utah

Advisor: Markus Mika

Dirk Lueck

Dirk Lueck

Zeller Dean's Distinguished Fellowship
Biology: Environmental Science

Investigation and Mapping of Invasiv

Advisor: John Kelly

 

Jason Martin

Jason Martin

McGinley Dean's Distinguished Fellowship
Biochemistry

Quantifying the Flooding Characteristics of Gas-Diffusion Layers for use in CO2 Electro-Reduction

Advisor: Sujat Sen

* Learn more about Jason's sponsor - Michael McGinley, ’82


Casey McKean

Casey McKean

Prairie Springs Dean's Distinguished Fellowship
Mathematics: Applied

Topological Data Analysis on Ecological Mississippi River Data

Advisor: Wako Bungula

* Learn more about Casey's sponsor - Prairie Springs: The Paul Fleckenstein Trust

Halle Pavelski

Halle Pavelski

McGinley Dean's Distinguished Fellowship
Biochemistry

Flag-Tag HPIV3 M Proteins as a Tool to Investigate Protein-Protein Interaction in Variant Viral Proteins

Advisor: Michael Hoffman

* Learn more about Halle's sponsor - Michael McGinley, ’82


Kyle Philpott

Kyle Philpott

College of Science and Health
Biochemistry

Synthesis of a Photoactivated Targeting Drug Conjugate


 

Lilly Riederer

Lilly Riederer

College of Science and Health
Biochemistry

Assessment of Targeting Element Efficacy and Specificity in Targeted Anticancer Drug Conjugates



Veronica Sannes

Veronica Sannes

Rada Dean's Distinguished Fellowship
Biology: Aquatic Science

Abundance of Microplastics in Carpiodes carpio (River Carp Sucker) in the Upper Mississippi River

Advisor: Eric Strauss

* Learn more about Veronica's sponsors - Ron and Jane Rada


Tessa Slaby

Tessa Slaby

Prairie Springs Dean's Distinguished Fellowship
Biology: Aquatic Science

Are microplastics accumulating in the filter feeders of the Upper Mississippi River? An assessment of microplastics in the Zebra Mussel (Dreissena polymorpha), an important invasive species

Advisor: Eric Strauss

* Learn more about Tessa's sponsor - Prairie Springs: The Paul Fleckenstein Trust

Jacqueline Sporie

Jacqueline Sporie

College of Science and Health
Biology

Synthesis and Characterization of ZnO/Graphene nanocomposite thin films

Advisor: Seth King

 

 

Jacy Zajac

College of Science and Health
Physics: Biomdical

The Influence of Attentional Focus on Running Mechanics




2022

Caleb Andrews

College of Science and Health
Biology

Determining the role of Rap1b in the cell cycle

Advisor: Jaclyn Wisinski

Ky Ariano

College of Science and Health
Microbiology

Revealing the mechanism of glucose transport in Gluconobacter oxydans

Advisor: Paul Schweiger

Edith Ben-Eboh

Nord Dean's Distinguished Fellowship
Biology

Impact of disrupted circadian rhythms on blood glucose levels in Drosophila melanogaster with modeled Type II diabetes

Advisor: Alder Yu

Anna Buss

Asmussen-Cooper Dean's Distinguished Fellowship
Biology

Determine the effect of older versus younger peoples' exosomes on muscle cell differentiation and proliferation

Advisor: Jennifer Klein

Sara Duffy

Rada Dean's Distinguished Fellowship
Biology

Effects of Chronic Exposure to the Insecticide Imidacloprid on Fathead Minnow Behavior

Advisor: Tisha King-Heiden

* Learn more about Sara's sponsors - Ron and Jane Rada

Brice Durocher

College of Science and Health
Chemistry and Biochemistry

The effects of leucine metabolites on lytic cycle activation of Epstein Barr Virus

Advisor: Kelly Gorres

Samuel Flaig

College of Science and Health
Biology

Sampling invertebrates efficiently: comparing two methods of quantifying aquatic insect emergent on the Upper Mississippi River

Advisor: Ross Vander Vorste

Nathaniel Green

College of Science and Health
Mathematics and Statistics

Positivity of coefficients coming from matrices

Advisor: Edward Kim

Adam Grunwald

College of Science and Health
Computer Science

Examining the Influences of Cross-Cultural Forest Therapy on Psychological Health and Well-Being among Children and Adolescents with Health Challenges

Advisor: David Mathias

Josh Hetcher

College of Science and Health
Bioogy

Rap1b- Detection Assay

Advisor: Jaclyn Wisinski

Travis Key

Zeller Dean's Distinguished Fellowship

Walter Leifeld

College of Science and Health
Computer Science

Generalization of Evolved Response Thresholds for Uffoctivc Decentralized Dynamic Task Allocation

Advisor: David Mathias

Abby Lewis

McGinley Dean's Distinguished Fellowship
Microbiology

Display of amylases on the surface of Gluconobacter oxydans to enable starch utilization

Advisor: Paul Schweiger

* Learn more about Abby's sponsor - Michael McGinley, ’82

Audrey Mattmiller

Asmussen-Cooper Dean's Distinguished Fellowship
Biologu

Determining the influence of phosphorylated Rap1b on megakaryocyte regulation

Advisor: Jaclyn Wisinski

Megan Miller

College of Science and Health
Exercise and Sport Science

Teacher Change in Attitudes and Beliefs of Social Emotional Learning through Professional Development

Advisor: Rachyl Stephenson

Emma Ann Oberg

Collee of Science and Health
Biology

Wild Caught Salmo trutta Gut Microbiome Response to Heavy-Metal Contamination

Advisor: Alder Yu

Max Peters

Prairie Springs Dean's Distinguished Fellowship
Biology

Analysis of microplastics in net spinning caddisfly larvae (Family Hydropsychidae) in driftless area streams

Advisor: Eric Strauss

* Learn more about Max's sponsor - Prairie Springs: The Paul Fleckenstein Trust

Morgan Priem

Asmussen-Cooper Dean's Distinguished Fellowship
Chemistry and Biochemistry

The Effects of Salt Conc. and Poly-A Tracts on the Equilibrium and Dynamics of Nucleosomes

Advisor: Daniel Grilley

Spencer Reichart

Prairie Springs Dean Distinguished Fellowship
Biology

Benthic invertebrate productivity and diversity in floodplain habitats in Pool 8 of the Upper Mississippi River

Advisor: Ross Vander Vorste

* Learn more about Spencer's sponsor - Prairie Springs: The Paul Fleckenstein Trust

Aly Reuvers

Prairie Springs Dean Distinguished Fellowship
Biology

The effect of the La Crosse River on the Myrick Marsh water system quality indicated by primary production

Advisor: Eric Strauss

* Learn more about Aly's sponsor - Prairie Springs: The Paul Fleckenstein Trust

Veronica Sannes

Prairie Springs Dean Distinguished Fellowship
Biology

Abundance of Microplastics in Freshwater Drum

Advisor: Eric Strauss

* Learn more about Veronica's sponsor - Prairie Springs: The Paul Fleckenstein Trust

Damon Trump

Toce Dean's Distinguished Fellowship
Chemistry and Biochemistry

The effects of leucine metabolites on lytic cycle activation of Epstein Barr Virus

Advisor: Kelly Gorres

Cora Vogt

Prairie Springs Dean Distinguished Fellowship
Recreation Management & Recreational Therapy

Examining the Influences of Cross-Cultural Forest Therapy on Psychological Health and Well-Being among Children and Adolescents with Health Challenges

Advisor: Namyun Kil

* Learn more about Cora's sponsor - Prairie Springs: The Paul Fleckenstein Trust

2023
Gabi Shedlov

Gabi Shedlov

Dean's Distinguished Fellowship
Biology

Analysis of the effect of carbon source on survival and copper homeostasis gene expression in SK-03-92 treated yeast cells

Advisor: Anne Galbraith

Vannessa Giallombardo

Vannessa Giallombardo

McGinley Dean's Distinguished Fellowship
Microbiology

Determining the molecular structure of NmpR, an NtrC-like response Regulator Protein

Advisor: Dan Bretl

* Learn more about Vannessa's sponsor - Michael McGinley, ’82

Morgan Priem

Morgan Priem

Toce Dean's Distinguished Fellowship
Chemistry and Biochemistry

The Effects of Salt Concentration and Poly-A Tracts on Nucleosome Equilibrium and Dynamics

Advisor: Dan Grilley

Zion Wallace

Zion Wallace

Prairie Springs Dean's Distinguished Fellowship
Biology

Ectomycorrhizal Fungal Communities associated with Hemlock in the Kickapoo Valley

Advisor: Anita Davelos

* Learn more about Claire's sponsor - Prairie Springs: The Paul Fleckenstein Trust

Charlotte Moser

Charlotte Moser

Prairie Springs Dean's Distinguished Fellowship

Mathematical Model of Gull-Billed Tern Parasite Infection

Advisor: James Peirce

* Learn more about Charlotte's sponsor - Prairie Springs: The Paul Fleckenstein Trust

Aubrey Schwonek

Prairie Springs Dean's Distinguished Fellowship
Biology

Resource Competition among Flammulated Owls (Psiloscops flammulous) in fluctuating mountain habitats

Advisor: Markus Mika

* Learn more about Aubrey's sponsor - Prairie Springs: The Paul Fleckenstein Trust

Kendrick Kolar

Kendrick Kolar

Prairie Springs Dean's Distinguished Fellowship
Geography & Environmental Science

Human Geographies of Vulnerabilities and Adaptations to Increased Flooding within the Driftless Area

Advisor: John Kelly

* Learn more about Kendrick's sponsor - Prairie Springs: The Paul Fleckenstein Trust

Elijah Behnke

Elijah Behnke

Prairie Springs Dean's Distinguished Fellowship
Chemistry and Biochemistry

Synthesis of Nanoparticle Suspensions for Catalytic conversion of Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

Advisor: Sujat Sen

* Learn more about Elijah's sponsor - Prairie Springs: The Paul Fleckenstein Trust

Skylar Voigt

Rada Dean's Distinguished Fellowship
Biology

Environmental Factors Influencing Mayfly Emergence in Pool 8 of the Upper Mississippi River

Advisor: Ross Vander Vorste

* Learn more about Skylar's sponsors - Ron and Jane Rada

Ben Graham

College of Science and Health
Biology

Determining Factors Responsible for Photobiont Preference in Driftless Area Lichens

Advisor: Todd Osmundson

Nicole Kooij

College of Science and Health
Biology

Effects of Sublethal Exposure to Thiamethoxam on the Innate Immune Response of Zebrafish (Danio rerio) Embryos

Advisor: Tisha King-Heiden

Grace Meyer

Grace Meyer

College of Science and Health
Biology

Immunohistochemical characterization of developmental changes in brainstem serotonergic networks

Advisor: Cord Brundage

Jenna Blomquist

Jenna Blomquist

College of Science and Health
Microbiology

Examination of fimB point mutations on fimB transcription in uropathogenic Escherichia coli growing in an acidic environment

Advisor: William Schwan

Vivek Tara

Vivek Tara

College of Science and Health
Computer Science

On the Machine Learning (ML)-based Classification of Microscopic Colitis Patients Data Obtained Through Colonoscopy

Advisor: Dipankar Mitra

Eric Zielinski

Eric Zielinski

College of Science and Health
Computer Science

On the Development of More Adaptable and Trainable Variational Quantum Circuts (VQC) using Quantum Machine Learning (QML)

Advisor: Dipankar Mitra

Kassi Heins

Kassi Heins

College of Science and Health
Exercise and Sport Science

A Case Study of Physical Education Teacher Change in Attitudes Toward Social Emotional Learning Through Professional Development

Advisor: Rachyl Stephenson

Reed Anderson

College of Science and Health
Chemistry and Biochemistry

Characterization of the Effects of Truncation on a Cytotoxic Protein

Advisor: Dan Grilley

Sam Nelson

Sam Nelson

College of Science and Health
Biology

Ectomycorrhizal tree communities of the Kickapoo Valley

Advisor: Anita Davelos

Chris Aamodt

Chris Aamodt

College of Science and Health
Biology

Passive Restoration of Ectomycorrhizal Fungi in Clear Cut Forests in Kickapoo Valley Preserve

Advisor: Anita Davelos

 Dean's Distinguished Fellowship Fund
 20 for 20 campaign

Our goal is to establish support for twenty fellowships through donors establishing an endowment fund or a restricted fund to support a student’s opportunity to participate in the Deans Distinguished Fellowship.

donor and student