Student-Faculty Collaboration

“When you find something that you think is worth studying, it’s not work anymore. You genuinely want to find out what’s happening, and if you can present that information to the greater community in the end, it’s a big deal.”

— Sarah Wurzbacher

Allegheny environmental science professor Rich Bowden and his students know that patience is a virtue. As part of work that began 22 years ago at Harvard University, they’re studying the effects of acid rain in the College’s 283-acre Bousson Environmental Research Reserve.

“There are six plots of soil we take samples from—half are fertilized with nitrogen and half are not,” says Emma Helverson, an environmental science major and psychology minor. “We compare the plots and observe how far into the soil the nitrogen affects and how it alters the roots. It’s supposed to be a synthetic representation of acid rain.”

The study’s ultimate goal, according to Professor Bowden, is to reveal how acid rain alters forest eco-system productivity processes. “We’re learning that the long-term deposition of nitrogen alters the quantity and quality of roots,” he explains, “and that process alters the ability of plants to take up water and nutrients, which is needed for the forest to be productive.”

In addition to Allegheny and Harvard, the study involves Cornell University, Pennsylvania State University and a laboratory in China where samples from Bousson have been sent for further analysis. According to the Allegheny researchers, a broad range of locations is necessary because of the extent of acid rain’s effects on soil.

“Everyone uses forest products,” said Sarah Wurzbacher, an environmental science major and writing minor. “The biggest concern for everyday people is being able to better understand the mechanisms that impact forest systems and to be able to use those forests in the future.”

The Bousson acid rain study also serves as a model for other research at Allegheny, including Sarah’s senior project. Her study will focus on the effects of acid rain on entire tree systems. Although it will be a challenging experience, it is one that Sarah is eager to undertake.

“When you find something that you think is worth studying, it’s not work anymore,” she says. “You genuinely want to find out what’s happening, and if you can present that information to the greater community in the end, it’s a big deal.”

— By Hillary Wilson ’12

With graduate school on the horizon, Mallory Scott, a physics major and religious studies minor, and Karl Smith, an English and physics double major, spent a summer researching with Allegheny physics professor Doros Petasis. The students coordinated two independent yet related projects—Mallory studied various metalloproteins and Karl designed and built modulation coils for the spectrometer that makes Mallory’s research possible.

“To have an actual scientific application for something I like to do makes me feel confident that my skill set is valuable.”

— Karl Smith

With graduate school on the horizon, Mallory Scott, a physics major and religious studies minor, and Karl Smith, an English and physics double major, spent a summer researching with Allegheny physics professor Doros Petasis. The students coordinated two independent yet related projects—Mallory studied various metalloproteins and Karl designed and built modulation coils for the spectrometer that makes Mallory’s research possible.

“My goal is to expand a library of different metalloproteins by looking at the shapes of individual molecules and determining their functions and structures,” says Mallory. “I’m increasing the knowledge available about the molecules I’m working on so that others can incorporate that information into their studies.”

While Professor Petasis spent a few weeks at conferences in Europe, Karl and Mallory experienced what it was like to fly solo with their project, a challenging and valuable opportunity for both students.

“I read a lot of research papers and expanded my knowledge of the metalloproteins I would be working with as much as I could,” recalls Mallory. “I also had to adjust to applying all of the different sciences I’ve learned over the years to one project. Chemistry was never my strong suit, so getting to prove that I can do something like this and do it well has been really rewarding for me.”

Adds Karl: “To be able to do the research on our own time helped us to understand that even if it was more difficult, it made us better able to comprehend what we were studying. To have an actual scientific application for something I like to do makes me feel confident that my skill set is valuable.”

— By Hillary Wilson ’12

“Even though I’m a chemistry major, that doesn’t mean I can’t do research with a computer science professor.”

— Ian Armstrong

Allegheny computer science professor Matt Jadud and chemistry major/psychology minor Ian Armstrong might not seem like the typical student-faculty collaboration. They met in an even more unlikely way.

“Matt came strolling into my parent’s hobby shop one day last summer and basically said ‘I want a flying robot,’” says Ian with a laugh. “It just so happened that I was a student at Allegheny and knew how to fly remote-controlled airplanes.”

What began as Professor Jadud’s dream for a flying robot and Ian’s interest in miniature planes has since transformed into a multi-disciplinary research project. Ian, with the help of Professor Jadud and fellow students, is creating a small, robotic aircraft known an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

“Our goal is to have the UAV used somewhere where they do long-term research studies and need to document everything very well,” says Ian. “Geology or biology researchers could put all kinds of sensors and cameras on an airplane like this and have it fly itself. It could take pictures at the same GPS points year after year.”

Controlled by an autopilot, the UAV uses a parallel programming system to perform multiple functions simultaneously, such as checking on sensors or orientation. The plane will be able to follow navigation coordinates and fly up to two miles from the controller. In accordance with FAA regulations, the UAV will allow its operator to regain control of the aircraft in case of an issue.

Although their collaboration may have seemed unlikely at first, Ian and Professor Jadud agree that it has evolved into a practical application of both of their fields.

“In the real world, computer science gets placed in a context,” says Matt. “It’s not, ‘I’m a computer scientist,’ it’s ‘I’m a computer scientist and I’m working with a chemist on a real world problem.”

And Ian appreciates that Allegheny provided an environment that encourages collaboration across academic disciplines. “Even though I’m a chemistry major, that doesn’t mean I can’t do research with a computer science professor,” he says. “Just be proactive and take advantage of those opportunities. I’ve gained research experience and the knowledge of how to bring things like this to reality.”

— By Hillary Wilson ’12

“I don’t feel like I’m teaching them, per se. They’re teaching me about something that I’ve always wanted to learn.”

— Professor Aimee Knupsky

After three summers dedicated to research, Julia Harris and John Mahalchak, both senior neuroscience and psychology double majors, earned the honor of presenting at the Association for Psychological Science Convention. A rare but rich experience—contributions to the convention are typically reserved for graduate students or professors—Julia and John’s research explores cognitive studies of eye fixations.

The study involved the use of an eye-tracker, a piece of equipment not often found at a small liberal arts college. The eye-tracker is able to measure the time it takes for the eye to reach a key object, the amount of fixations made on the object, and how long each fixation lasts. The first students at Allegheny to use the instrument, John and Julia explored whether outside factors can unknowingly influence perception.

“Basically we’re studying how context affects the way we look at things,” says John. “We’re using information that you might not even be aware of to change the way you consider pictures. People listen to sentences, and we observe the way they look at a ‘Where’s Waldo?’ kind of picture. Then we see if the sentences they listen to change the patterns their eye uses.”

John and Julia shared their findings as a poster presentation at the APS convention among hundreds of other research teams. Although their project took an extensive amount of time, including a year and a half learning how to use the equipment, the students agree the investment has paid great dividends.

“It was a learning process, and just getting interpretive results was rewarding for us,” says Julia, “but getting accepted to the conference was great because people would be interested in the kind of work that we were doing. It was good to hear different perspectives and to find out how others were analyzing this difficult eye-tracking data we were working with.”

Julia and John’s advisor, psychology professor Aimee Knupsky, credited the students for the eye-tracking research, noting that it was a learn-as-you-go process for all involved. “I don’t feel like I’m teaching them, per se,” says Professor Knupsky. “They’re teaching me about something that I’ve always wanted to learn.”

Both John and Julia benefited from the opportunity to make their own discoveries – and learn from their mistakes – throughout the study. “The conference was the capstone to everything we’ve done,” says John. “We had little milestones along the way, but the conference has been our end goal. We wanted to not just share our research but also to get to see what so many other people are doing.”

— By Hillary Wilson ’12

Several academic studies have shown that it’s possible to condition the immune system to be suppressed. With this in mind, Allegheny neuroscience professor Rodney Clark made a compelling proposition to his junior seminar: is it also possible to condition the immune system to be enhanced?

“You just can’t give up. You’re going to face obstacles, and that’s part of what makes doing research so great. You have to be completely dedicated to it.”

— Ashley Brandebura

Several academic studies have shown that it’s possible to condition the immune system to be suppressed. With this in mind, Allegheny neuroscience professor Rodney Clark made a compelling proposition to his junior seminar: is it also possible to condition the immune system to be enhanced?

Ashley Brandebura, a neuroscience major and political science minor, took the question and ran with it. She focused on the theory that, if classical conditioning is found to enhance the immune system, it could serve as an alternative to sustained drug use for patients with immune system disorders such as HIV. As part of her senior project, Ashley is collaborating with Professor Clark to explore how environmental conditioning alters body function in rats throughout their lifecycle.

Ashley’s goal is to classically condition the rats’ immune systems to bypass negative feedback and improve their function. To test the effects of this treatment, she will count the number of T-cells in the blood serum of the rats. The rats with the most T-cells will have the best immune system function.

“It’s relevant because so many people have immune system disorders, and there’s really not a perfect treatment out there,” says Ashley, who hopes to publish her findings in an academic journal. “It could potentially be a much better medical option.”

Creating the structure of the research – and deciding how to measure results – have proven to be challenging, says Ashley. But she knows that it’s all part of a rewarding process.

“The setup may take longer than you want it to, and you may have to take alternate routes, but you just can’t give up,” she says. “You’re going to face these obstacles, and that’s part of what makes doing research so great. You have to be completely dedicated to it.”

— By Hillary Wilson ’12

“The students get exposed to state-of-the-art research methods, equipment and facilities, as well as interact with a lot of skilled and enthusiastic people.”

— Dr. Glen Wurst

Students who collaborate with biology professor Glen Wurst gain more than valuable laboratory experience on campus—they find a springboard to opportunities in prestigious research settings.

Allegheny graduate Dr. John Letterio ’82—a former student of Wurst’s and until recently a principal investigator in the National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health—informed Wurst that the NIH had an undergraduate research program. Letterio encouraged Wurst to recommend Allegheny students.

Two students who participated in Wurst’s research and courses—Jennifer Alabran and Brad Burkholder—have secured positions in this program at the National Cancer Institute. “My experience at NIH has been priceless,” says Alabran. “It was such a unique environment to work in and the people around me were some of the most amazing scientists in the world.” So impressive were Alabran and Burkholder that they both received invitations to return to the NIH for full-time research positions following graduation.

Student Melanie Gasper also conducted research with Wurst, and she became so interested in biomedical research as a result that she applied for a summer research position in another NIH laboratory. Gasper excelled while working in the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Strokes. She studied the growth and regulation of pigment cells, which are known to play roles in deafness, skin cancer, and other disorders.

Gasper, too, was subsequently invited to take a full-time research position with the NIH upon graduation. “I think Dr. Wurst can attest to the fact that I came back with very ambitious goals for the year after my summer at the NIH,” she says. “I got to see very advanced procedures and I made some great connections.”

Wurst—whose research focuses on how specific genes affect developmental processes by observing what goes wrong when these genes are mutated—says that their experience at the NIH made each of these students much more sophisticated about biomedical research. “I think that we should do whatever we can to facilitate student research in major research labs,” he says. “The students get exposed to state-of-the-art research methods, equipment and facilities, as well as interact with a lot of skilled and enthusiastic people.”

“As a biology major, I would have never expected to be able to experience a trip that would target my passion for the theatrical arts.”

— Caitlyn Smith

Professor Mark Cosdon asks students in his junior seminar in American theatre to stay informed of current developments within New York theatre. They read the New York Times, the Village Voice, Playbill, Backstage and other print resources. “During my four years at the College, I’ve consistently heard from my students that they wish they could actually study in New York and experience some of these events for themselves, rather than secondhand,” says Cosdon.

With funding from the Dean’s office, Cosdon transformed that wish into reality. He and six of his students traveled to New York for five days of theatre, workshops and meetings with professionals. The funding helped to defray the costs of the participants’ theatre tickets, lodging, food and travel. Students saw four Broadway and off-Broadway productions, as well as an improv performance. Each of the productions was discussed at length during morning seminars.

“Our conversations each morning were productive and deep,” says Cosdon. “We were pushed to think about the making of theatre in ways that can’t possibly be undertaken in our Arter Hall classroom.”

Students also met with a variety of professionals working in New York theatre, including an Allegheny alumna with the Pearl Theatre Company. As a result of that connection, one student is pursuing an internship with the company. “This opportunity has been an extremely special one for me because I had never seen New York or a Broadway show,” says student Caitlyn Smith. “As a biology major, I would have never expected to be able to experience a trip that would target my passion for the theatrical arts.”

Jenna Wagner notes that one of her best memories from the trip was watching the Tony award-winning play Doubt. “We were sitting on the edge of our seats,” she says, “completely absorbed by the riveting performances of four amazing actors who brought a story to life that kept us in discussion long after we had left the theatre.”

“The faculty really take a personal interest in what you would like to do with your future and move heaven and earth to give you as many opportunities as they can.”

— Damon Harvey

Determination, coupled with mentoring from Allegheny College music faculty, took Bonnie Sands and Damon Harvey all the way to playing Carnegie Hall—twice.

Bonnie and Damon performed in 2006 and 2007 with the prestigious National Wind Ensemble, which is open by audition to every college and high school musician in the U.S. Music faculty members Lowell Hepler, Ronald Stitt and Julie Hepler accompanied the students on the trips to New York City.

“The faculty really take a personal interest in what you would like to do with your future and move heaven and earth to give you as many opportunities as they can,” says Damon, who plays trumpet and runs on the College’s cross country and track teams. He came to Allegheny intending to major in English. But after taking several classes in the music department and working with its professors, Damon changed his mind.

Bonnie—a tuba player who planned on attending law school when she started at Allegheny—explains that the music department is like a second family for students. “The faculty have a passion not just for music but for people, which isn’t always the case, especially when you get people who are at really high performance levels,” she says. “They’re very nurturing, kind of like our extra parents.”

And it’s not only music majors who benefit from that support and interaction. Biology major Chris Wahlmark performed as first alto saxophone with the National Small College Intercollegiate Band at the University of Michigan. “I’m not treated any differently in the music department even though I’m not a major,” he says. “Professors still recommend me for all these bands and they’re allowing me to perform solo pieces with ensembles. I really appreciate that because music is still a large part of my life.”

Bonnie and Damon plan on pursuing graduate-level education in music and then careers teaching at small colleges, while Chris would like to continue studying biology in graduate school.

“As you get to college you sort of realize what your passions are,” says Damon. “You can’t deny what you really like to do.”

“I simply could not have conducted this research without student assistance—and would not have wanted to.”

— Professor Caryl Waggett

Professor Caryl Waggett doesn’t teach economics, but she still knows how to capitalize on an investment and transform it into greater rewards.

Waggett joined Allegheny’s Environmental Science faculty in 2003. When designing an environmental health class for her first semester, she chose lead poisoning as a topic because it allowed her to discuss what she considered to be a “success story” in the discipline: a health outcome that had been clearly associated with a specific environmental exposure and that had been effectively addressed through screening and prevention.

Through class research, Waggett and her students found that lead is still a significant health concern, particularly in certain states and in regions with older homes and a high population of lower-income families.

Along with students Suzanne Young and Seth Wilmore, Waggett applied to the Dean’s office for a Shanbrom Collaborative Research Grant to explore this area of research in her first summer at Allegheny. The project was designed to test the amount of lead in dust and soil of older homes with young children in Crawford County.

After receiving the grant, Waggett, Young and Wilmore spent much of the summer refining methods, identifying collaborators in the community and discovering needs within the state. By the end of summer, the researchers had developed appropriate protocols and initiated field research and data collection.

When these findings were added to the research conducted by her environmental health class, Waggett felt that there was sufficient information to justify further research. Preliminary findings had shown that the dust in homes and the soil in yards had significant quantities of lead and could pose a risk to children.

Waggett went on to apply for a grant through the Environmental Protection Agency to explore the possibility of screening children directly for lead exposure. She was awarded the EPA grant and credits the College’s initial support with setting the stage for that success. While Waggett says she could have funded some of the materials herself, the students’ summer stipends provided by the Dean’s office were a significant and critical component.

“I simply could not have conducted this research without student assistance—and would not have wanted to,” says Waggett.

“Even though Allegheny may be small, we have much to share with other universities around the world.”

— Amy Warnick

It’s not that unusual for Allegheny faculty to involve students in their presentations at conferences—but it’s certainly less common for them to invite a student to another continent to collaborate. Psychology professor Elizabeth Weiss Ozorak did just that when she and student Amy Warnick presented papers on teaching ethics through service learning at a conference hosted by the Federal University of Surrey in the United Kingdom. With financial support from the Dean of the College, Ozorak and Warnick garnered international recognition for Allegheny’s innovative academic program.

Ozorak, also coordinator of the College’s Values, Ethics and Social Action (VESA) minor program, had presented at the conference the previous year and suggested to organizers that they would benefit from involving undergraduate students. When Ozorak was invited to return to the conference, she encouraged Warnick to submit a paper, which was in turn accepted. “This was a great opportunity for one of our students to experience different approaches to education and share ours at Allegheny with others,” says Ozorak.

Warnick—the conference’s only undergraduate presenter—discussed her experiences as a student in the VESA program. She contended in her paper that service learning not only fosters a sense of community and citizenship among students but also prepares them for the rigors of the real world.

Warnick also had the opportunity to respond to questions from and offer suggestions to faculty members at European institutions still in the early stages of developing service-learning programs. “Being the only undergraduate to attend and present at the conference was initially intimidating,” she says. “However, my experiences at Allegheny and in the community, along with support from Professor Ozorak, helped me convey the benefits of service learning articulately.”

Ozorak notes that conference attendees had a difficult time believing that Warnick was an undergraduate. “They kept asking her what graduate program she was in,” says Ozorak. “Amy was a poised and confident ambassador for Allegheny. It was a gratifying experience.”

The conference also marked the beginning of a working relationship between Allegheny College and the Centre for Applied and Professional Ethics. Officials from the Federal University of Surrey visited Allegheny in spring 2006 to learn more about the College’s involvement in the community and the educational opportunities that it affords.

“Attending the conference showed me that even though Allegheny may be small,” says Warnick, “we have much to share with other universities around the world.”

“My internship has given me experiences that have not only stimulated my imagination but will also benefit me in my future academic and professional careers.”

— Alexander Brown

Summer work conducted by physics professor James Lombardi Jr. and his student research assistant, Alexander Brown, was featured in the episode “The Life and Death of Stars,” a segment of the History Channel series “The Universe.”

Lombardi and Brown performed computer simulations and created visualizations of a stellar collision that help establish how stars called “blue stragglers” can be formed through the collision of “garden-variety” stars. (To view the visualizations, please visit this page.)

“Alex accomplished a tremendous amount during his internship,” says Lombardi. “Our interactions this summer quickly developed from that of a student and teacher to that of two colleagues. Alex completed not only the collision and visualization for the History Channel but also has initiated a series of new state-of-the-art calculations modeling collisions of more massive stars.”

Brown is a physics major and a history minor. “My internship has given me experiences that have not only stimulated my imagination but will also benefit me in my future academic and professional careers,” he says. “I’ve learned things this summer that can only be taught outside of the classroom.”