Seven UIS students to present at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research

For the first time, the University of Illinois Springfield is sending a contingent of seven students to present at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research April 3-5, 2014 at the University of Kentucky.

Students were selected to submit abstracts from UIS in a competitive process by the Undergraduate Research Steering Committee. All seven students were accepted by the national conference committee.

Jesse Britz, a chemistry major from Divernon, studied the use of iron nanoparticles for removing nitrate pollutants with professor Keenan Dungey. Nathan Hoyle of Jacksonville used geographic information systems to map tree diversity on campus with Environmental Studies professor Dennis Ruez.

Wesley Hill, a psychology major from Decatur, worked with professor Carrie Switzer to study the spread of urban legends. Sophia Pham, a chemistry major from Chicago, working with biology professor Hua Chen, studied the greenhouse gases at Emiquon.

Two students will present from the research group of professor Frances Shen in psychology. Brittany Sievers of South Jacksonville studied the role of religious commitment in college student stress. Brianna Werner of Carrollton studied the perceptions of the college experience by veterans. Nicholas Decker, a biology major from Peru, Ill. explored enzyme inhibitors with chemistry professor Layne Morsch.

The 28th annual National Conference on Undergraduate Research is a program of the Council on Undergraduate Research. Around 4,000 students from around the country will present their research and creative activities. UIS is an institutional member of CUR.

The students will be accompanied by Keenan Dungey, director of the Undergraduate Research Support Program, which co-sponsored the students’ travel. Rachel Tohme, a graduate student in the Human Development Counseling program, will also participate in the trip. Further support was provided by a Student Life Conference Travel award.

For more information, contact Keenan Dungey at 217/206-7345 or kdung1@uis.edu.