UA Recognizes Outstanding Undergraduate Researchers

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Thirteen University of Alabama undergraduate researchers have received recognition through the Randall Outstanding Undergraduate Research Award Program.

The program recognizes the best research activity conducted by UA undergraduates, who are nominated by faculty and staff research directors.

In 1997, the Randall Publishing Co., now Randall-Reilly Publishing, and the H. Pettus Randall III family created the Randall Outstanding Undergraduate Research Award Program in memory of Henry Pettus Randall Jr., a distinguished UA alumnus and creator of Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges.

A distinguished panel of UA research faculty and past winners of the Burnum Distinguished Faculty Award select the winners.

Ryan Jones, of Madison, received the Henry Pettus Randall Jr. Endowed Research Scholarship for his senior year at UA. This scholarship is awarded to the top vote recipient who also is a member of the Computer-Based Honors Program.

The winners are:

Jonathan Belanich: junior from Lindenhurst, N.Y. Major: biology and anthropology. Research: Comparative Digestive Energetics of Arachnids. Nominated by Dr. Stephen Secor, associate professor of biology.

Dorothy Crowley Casey: sophomore from Enterprise. Major: chemical engineering. Research Design of Au Nanostructures With Desirable Optical Properties for Biomedical Applications. Nominated by Dr. Yuping Bao, assistant professor of chemical and biological engineering.

Sarah Crocker-Buta: senior from Tuscaloosa. Major: biology. Research: Determinants of the Specific Dynamic Action of the Corn Snake Pantherophis guttata. Nominated by Dr. Stephen Secor, associate professor of biology.

Olivia Grubbs: junior from Hazel Green. Major: microbiology. Research: Can the Metabolites of the Common Soil Bacteria Streptomyces be Responsible for Causing Parkinsonian-Like Neurodegeneration? Nominated by Dr. Julie Olson, associate professor of biology.

Andrew Jones: junior from Cullman. Major: chemical engineering. Research: Prediction of the Thermodynamics of Key Fuels and Intermediates from Biomass and of Novel Materials for Battery Applications. Nominated by Dr. David Dixon, Robert Ramsay professor of chemistry

Ryan Jones: junior from Madison. Major: biology. Research: Linking Genetics, Behavior and Whole-Organism Performance. Nominated by Dr. Ryan Earley, assistant professor of biology.

Joshua Moon: junior from Arlington, Tenn. Major: chemical engineering. Research: The Development of the Synthon Concept for Inorganic Materials Synthesis and Reactions of H2O in Metal Doped CO2. Nominated by Dr. David Dixon, Robert Ramsay professor of chemistry.

Matthew Outlaw: senior from Birmingham. Major: chemical engineering. Research: Hydrolysis of Group IVB Metal Oxide Nanoclusters – Solar Energy Conversion to Fuels. Nominated by Dr. David Dixon, Robert Ramsay professor of chemistry.

Alex Paulsen: junior from Hartselle. Major: chemical engineering. Research:  Magnetic Hyperthermia: Measuring Heat Evolution in Iron Oxide Nanoparticles to Target Cancer Cells. Nominated by Dr. Christopher Brazel, associate professor of chemical and biological engineering.

Robertson Pearce: senior from Birmingham. Major: biology. Research: The Relationship Between Stress Reactivity and Aggression. Nominated by Dr. Ryan Earley, assistant professor of biology.

Lindsay Reynolds: senior from Huntsville. Major: biology. Research: Investigation of Genetic and Environmental Factors Causing Dopamine Neuron Degeneration in an Animal Model of Parkinson’s Disease. Nominated by Dr. Kim Caldwell, associate professor of biology.

Amanda Rushdi: senior from Collierville, Tenn. Major: chemical and biological engineering. Research: DNA interaction of Pt-coated Iron oxide Nanoparticles. Nominated by Dr. Yuping Bao, assistant professor of chemical and biological engineering.

Jade Watters: junior from Birmingham. Major: social work. Research: Making Plans for the Future Placement of Their Grandchildren. Nominated by Dr. Brenda Smith, associate professor of social work.