College launches Jasper Summer Research Scholars program and awards grants to 11 undergraduates conducting research with faculty members throughout the summer

 

6/19/2013

RIVERDALE, N.Y., June 19, 2013  – With student and faculty research on the rise at Manhattan, the College recently established the Jasper Summer Research Scholars program to fund research grants in various disciplines. The College is pleased to announce the start of its pilot program with 11 undergraduates receiving grants this summer on topics ranging from improving a modern-day medical brace design for elbow-related injuries to shortcomings in educational funding in the new South Africa.

“This is a tremendous opportunity to support valuable and wide-ranging research being done by our students and faculty over the summer,” said William Clyde, Ph.D., executive vice president and provost at Manhattan College. “Coordinated by Dr. Rani Roy, director of our Center for Graduate School and Fellowship Advisement, this new program will grow our community of summer researchers, further contributing to an overall culture of experiential learning.”

A committee of faculty from the Schools of Arts, Business, Education and Health, Engineering and Science selected five students to receive full awards of $2,800 each and six students to receive supplemental awards of $1,700 each. The recipients were selected based on their research proposals, intellectual pursuits, interest in research, cocurricular achievements, and promise for future contributions to knowledge and research. All of the Manhattan College students are collaborating with a faculty member throughout the summer.

The grant recipients and their research include:

Full Awards

  • Rokas Kirlys (Kamajai, Lithuania), a junior majoring in finance and computer information systems, is working with Kudret Topyan, Ph.D., professor of economics and finance, to research Return Predictability and Risk Structure of Baltic Equity Markets.
  • Michael Michalczyk (Queens, N.Y.), a junior majoring in mechanical engineering, is working with Zahra Shahbazi, Ph.D., assistant professor of mechanical engineering, to research Mechanical Design, Simulation and Analysis of an Elbow Assistive Device.
  • Angelica Romero (Gresham, Ore.), a junior majoring in biology, is working with Michael Judge, Ph.D., professor of biology, to research Range Expansion of the Non-native Asian Shore Crab in the Hudson River.
  • Maria Toscano (Wyckoff, N.J.), a senior majoring in exercise science with a concentration in pre-physical therapy, is working with Lisa Toscano, Ed.D., associate professor of kinesiology, to research To Land or Not To Land: What Health Professionals Can Do To Help Prevent Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Tears.
  • Kathryn Wojtkiewicz (Buffalo, N.Y.), a senior majoring in philosophy and English, is working with Eoin O’Connell, Ph.D., assistant professor of philosophy, to research A Moral Economy: How We Can Fix the Problem of Economic Inequality.

Supplemental Awards

  • Andrew Baumgartner (Bethel, Conn.), a junior majoring in physics, is working with Rostislav Konoplich, Ph.D., associate professor of physics, to research the Determination of Quantum Numbers of the Higgs Boson.
  • Peter Hanges (Teaneck, N.J.), a sophomore majoring in economics and business analytics, is working with Poonam Arora, Ph.D., assistant professor of management and marketing, to research The Role of Psychological Distance and Emotions in Social Dilemmas.
  • Raymond Leyden (Woodlawn, N.Y.), a senior majoring in finance and marketing, is working with Natalia Boliari, Ph.D., assistant professor of economics and finance, to research Informal Institutions and Their Role on Economic Performance.
  • Michael Perez (Tinton Falls, N.J.) a junior majoring in mechanical engineering, is working with Parisa Saboori, Ph.D., assistant professor of mechanical engineering, to research the Evaluation of Head Injury Criteria under Different Impact Loading.
  • Loren Rodgers (Floral Park, N.Y.), a sophomore majoring in secondary education with a mathematics concentration, is working with Corine Fitzpatrick, Ph.D., professor of education, chair of the department of Graduate Counseling, Leadership and Education, and director of the Center for Optimal College Readiness, to research College Readiness.
  • Kathleen White (Keansburg, N.J.), a senior majoring in history and peace studies, is working with Jeff Horn, Ph.D., professor of history and chair of the department, to research The Role of NGOs in South African Education.

To read more about the research program, visit https://bit.ly/11Ol3UI.