Three Olivet students awarded 2014 summer research grants

2014 Jun 27

Reed Hall of Science at Olivet Nazarene University won't be void of study this summer. Three students and three biology professors are conducting research as the result of receiving a prestigious grant from the University.

Curtis Groover (Avon, Indiana), Amy Brenner (Lansing, Michigan) and Brian Pickering (Chebanse, Illinois) were chosen to receive the 2014 Elbert Pence and Fanny Boyce Undergraduate Summer Research Experience Grant. Funded by alumni and friends of Olivet, the summer research program honors two former faculty members, physics professor Elbert Pence and mathematics professor Fanny Boyce.

Their projects include:

• Curtis and Dr. Gregory Long: "Concentrations of heavy metals inducing apoptosis and necrosis in baby hamster kidney cells"
• Amy and Dr. Aggie Veld: "Connections between the effects of various chemicals on the development of Drosophila melanogaster and Homo sapiens"
• Brian and Dr. Dan Sharda: "Toll-like receptor 4 activation of non-canonical signaling pathways modulates mitochondrial respiration"

Students chosen for research are paired with faculty members in order to pose a question that, according to Dr. Long, can "actually be solved." Groover, for example, will be studying hamster cells and what effects metals have on their ability to live and function. He thought of this project after Dr. Long set parameters and helped him brainstorm.

At the end of 10 weeks, students are required to write a paper, present what they discovered, and create a poster which will be displayed during Homecoming week in the fall.

"I always thought that the student would just help the professor out," says Groover, "but I actually get to do it on my own, which is cool."