Trinity Students Accepted to National Conference for Undergraduate Research

Eleven Trinity students engaged in research on campus have been accepted to present their work at the prestigious National Conference for Undergraduate Research at the University of North Carolina Asheville on April 7-9.

The students represent the work of seven faculty and four departments. Several are doing a VanderVelde Research Fellowship, one is pursuing Honors work, and others are conducting research for the pure love of it.

“This is an exciting development and a testament to the growing culture of research at Trinity,” said Dr. Clayton Carlson, associate professor of biology. “Our acceptance rate is much higher than the conference average. What an opportunity for our students!

The mission of the Council on Undergraduate Research is to support and promote high-quality undergraduate student-faculty collaborative research and scholarship.

Students invited to present their work are:

• Hannah Dykstra ‘16, Beaver Dam, Wis. (VanderVelde Research Fellow), “Composer. Soviet. Coward. Survivor. (Shostakovich: a Pictorial Study)”
• Derek Frejd ‘16, Lockport, Ill. (VanderVelde Research Fellow) “The Genetic and Morphological Effects of Bisphenol A on Arabidopsis Thaliana”
• Megan Hanafee-Major ‘16, New Richmond, Wis., “Are We Antigone?: Analysis of Gilligan’s Moral Development Theory through Dramatic Texts”
• Valerie Jochems ‘16, Pella, Iowa & Anna Spotts ‘16, Hamilton, Mich. (co-VanderVelde Research Fellows), “Effect of Laminin, Fibronection and Serum on Mesenchymal Stem Cells”
• Lauren Kuipers ‘16, Orland Park, Ill. (VanderVelde Research Fellow), “Assessing Plant Biodiversity at Trinity Christian College”
• Eric Los ‘16, Hudsonville, Mich., “Biodiversity Survey of Navajo Creek Corridor”
• Alyssa Milosz ‘18, Elgin, Ill. & Sarah Roddy ‘18, Waupun, Wis., “Exploring College Students’ Academic Success and the Influence of Identity Factors”
• Josiah Rosario ‘18, Woodridge, Ill. & Loretta Findysz, Worth, Ill., “Do I Belong?: A Qualitative Study of Perceived Fit in Relationship to College Identity, Racial and Ethnic Identity, and Spiritual Identity for Students on a Christian College Campus”

Faculty involved with the conference include:

• Dr. William Boerman-Cornell, associate professor of education
• Dr. Robert A. Boomsma ‘77, professor of biology
• Dr. Clayton Carlson, associate professor of biology
• Dr. Jessica Clevering, associate professor of psychology
• Dr. Abbie Schrotenboer, assistant professor of biology
• Ryan Thompson , associate professor of art and design
• Dr. Kara Wolff, assistant professor of psychology

Congratulations to our students and faculty whose work has been accepted to the conference!