The Marital Paradigm Study: Wave 2

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Brian J Willoughby and Spencer L James, Family Life This project had mentored goals related to student involvement with conducting a research project and collecting data, student independent research projects with data, and general student learning. Below we outline these goals and discuss how each goals was met. Overview of Project Findings We successfully contacted […]

Mechanism of Assembly of the Bardet-Biedel Syndrome (BBS) Complex

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Barry M Willardson, Chemistry and Biochemistry Students Involved Devon Blake. Devon was the most productive student I have had in my 18 years at BYU. The MEG award helped support his work from January 2013 through May 2014. During this time, Devon co-authored two papers on the effects of cell-type specific deletion of phosducinlike protein […]

Molecular Phylogenetics of Basal Insect Groups: A Team Mentored Experience

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Michael F Whiting, Biology Funding was received from the BYU ORCA mentorship program during 2012-2013 to support undergraduates performing research in my lab on insect evolution, under the mentorship of postdoctoral researchers, graduate students, and myself. During 2013- 2014, this funding provided direct support for 6 undergraduates who are in various stages of completing research […]

Metal CNT-M, New materials and New approaches to Microfabrication

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Richard Vanfleet, Physics and Astronomy This Mentored Environment Grant (MEG) proposed to explore Carbon Nanotube Templated Microfabrication (CNT-M) approaches that used metal as the infiltration material. We proposed to focus on two specific metal systems; traditionally electrodeposited metals such as nickel and high atomic number metals like tungsten which in many cases cannot be electroplated. […]

Effect of Caffeine on Skeletal Muscle Growth

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David M. Thomson, Physiology and Developmental Biology Evaluation of academic objectives and project findings The purpose of this mentoring environment grant was to determine the role of LKB1 on the activation of p53 by exercise, muscle development, and pharmacological means. The primary research objectives and findings are listed below: Aim #1: Determine whether caffeine administration […]

Mentored student research in the Study of Ancient Maize Agriculture in Mesoamerica

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Richard E. Terry, Plant and Wildlife Sciences Mentored undergraduate students: Jacob Horlacher David Kotasek Benjamin Hawkins Tayte Campbell Austin Ulmer Adam Parker Bryce Brown Michael Barker Nic Goches Brynna Nelson Andrew Jenson Jared Barksdale Braden Harter Kevin Ricks Kalob Williams Josiah Johns Ian Blackwelder Todd McComber Michael Moore David Shurtz Austin Pearce Justin Babbel Paul […]

Cultivating an undergraduate mentoring research environment by characterizing the population genetics, reproduction biology, and native distribution of a putative keystone species, Agave utahensis (Utah agave), in the Mojave Desert and Colorado Plateau

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J. Ryan Stewart, Plant and Wildlife Sciences Evaluation of how well the academic objectives of the proposal were met Evaluation of the mentoring environment List of students who participated and what academic deliverables they have produced or it is anticipated they will produce Description of the results/findings of the project Description of how the budget […]

Alcohol and Nicotine Co-Dependence

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Scott C. Steffensen, Neuroscience, Jeff Edwards and Sterling N. Sudweeks, Physiology & Developmental Biology Proposal Abstract Alcoholism and nicotine (NIC) addiction are chronic relapsing disorders that have enormous impact on society. Alcohol and NIC are the most commonly abused drugs, and a large body of evidence indicates that there is a positive correlation between their […]

Consequences of invasive grass-fire cycles on plant-pollinator relationships in Utah deserts

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Sam St.Clair, Plant and Wildlife Sciences Project objectives We successfully completed the studies as outlined in the proposal and the data collected has been written up a in a successfully defended MS thesis with two chapters. Mentored Graduate student Andrew Lybbert successfully defended his M.S. thesis on the project topic and is in the final […]

High-speed Artifact Processing, Cataloging, and Classification System: Protocol Development and Testing

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Paul Stavast, Anthropology Evaluation of Academic Objectives This report summarizes results of the high-speed artifact processor development project from January 2013 to December 2014. The high-speed artifact processor is a conveyor-belt based system, developed at the Museum of Peoples and Cultures, that automates the processes of labeling, measuring, photographing, and classifying artifacts. The focus for […]