Spring 2025 ND EPSCoR Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program awards announced

The ND EPSCoR State Office, in partnership with Valley City State University, solicited proposals for the Spring 2025 Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program. The purpose of this program is to stimulate undergraduate research at the primarily undergraduate institutions within the North Dakota University System.

We are pleased to announce that the following proposals will be funded.

Undergraduate research awards

Mallory Hoogensen, Minot State University

Moving babies – does Zumbini provide health-enhancing physical activity for toddlers?

Mentor: Yung-Ju "Ruth" Chen

This project aims to examine the amount and levels of physical activity toddlers engage in during a musical movement program called Zumbini. The findings will improve knowledge of evidence-based practices for improving children’s health and development in early childhood settings.

Micaela Kocher, Mayville State University

Utilizing fluorescent lifetime probes to examine the binding characteristics of dietary supplements to human serum albumin

Mentor: Thomas Gonnella

Human serum albumin (HSA), the primary transport protein in blood, is of significant relevance to drug pharmacokinetics and overall health. This research will focus on the interaction between a small collection of dietary supplements and HSA by time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. Through competitively displacing HSA-bound fluorescence lifetime probes with dietary supplements, the researcher will gain insight into their binding sites, binding affinities and potential allosteric effects on HSA.

Cody Leonard, Minot State University

Comparison of the effectiveness of conventional antibiotics and triangular silver nanoparticles against clinically important ESKAPE pathogens

Mentor: Abiodun Ebenezer Odufuwa

The rapid emergence of multiple antibiotic-resistant bacteria poses a significant global health crisis, creating the need for innovative antimicrobial strategies. The ESKAPE bacteria are of special interest in clinical microbiology. The researcher will examine whether triangular nanoparticles are more potent against ESKAPE bacteria compared to conventional antibiotics. This research will provide direction in the search for alternative therapy to antibiotic resistance bacteria.

Ethan Miller, Minot State University

The antibacterial effects of silver nanoparticle on clinically important ESKAPE pathogens

Mentor: Abiodun Ebenezer Odufuwa

This study seeks to explore AgNPs as an alternative to antibiotics in the treatment of infections caused by ESKAPE bacteria.

Kirstin Nelson, Minot State University

Bats and bat diets at Upper Souris National Wildlife Refuge

Mentor: Joseph Pettit

Upper Souris National Wildlife Refuge may provide habitat to the federally endangered northern long-eared bat, but this remains unconfirmed. To confirm the presence of the northern long-eared bat, the researcher proposes netting for bats. In addition to confirming presence of an endangered species, the researcher will document the diet of bats through eDNA samples in bat guano. With these data, the researcher will be able to determine the controlling impact of bats on insects that are vectors of zoonotic disease.

Eniola Soetan, Dickinson State University

Evaluating the impact of compensatory crosslinkers and scaffold composition on the tensile strength and elasticity of anterior cruciate ligaments (ACL) using both normal type and genetically mutated synthesized type I collagen

Mentors: Trevor Hann, Samanthika Hettiarachci

Collagen is a fibrous structural protein crucial for wound healing, organ protection, fibroblast formation, and blood clotting. Type I collagen, the most abundant in the body, is a key component of tendons and ligaments. Its triple-helical structure, stabilized by glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline in a Gly-Pro-X or Gly-X-Pro sequence, allows for efficient crosslinking, ensuring strength and integrity. However, genetic disorders such as Type I Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OA1) and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Arthrochalasia (EDS ARTH) introduce sequence mutations that disrupt helix formation and crosslinking, weakening collagen integrity. This study investigates the effects of these mutations on the mechanical properties of mock ligament grafts formed from such collagen. It also evaluates compensatory strategies including glutaraldehyde and genipin crosslinking agents, as well as gelatin methacrylate (GelMa) hydrogel versus gelatin scaffolds, to improve tensile strength and elasticity.

Kristen Spanier, Valley City State University

Measuring organic carbon in Moon Lake sediments

Mentor: Michelle Abshire

The erosion of farmland has become a big concern for farmers and ecologists. This project will evaluate how agricultural and other human-caused runoff affect the carbon cycle of North Dakota’s lakes and wetlands.

Mariana Quezada, Valley City State University

A study of farming practices and carbon storage in Hobart Lake

Mentor: Michelle Abshire

This project will study how increasing agricultural development has impacted wetland and lake sediment composition over time. The goal is to assess changes in these sediments by collecting cores from both lake and wetland sites.

Ethan Walsvik, Valley City State University

Tracking seasonal movement of walleye in Fox Lake, North Dakota, using biotelemetry

Mentor: Casey Williams

The study will examine seasonal/diel movement, seasonal habitat uses, and habitat use with environmental factors (dissolved oxygen, temperature, air pressure, and conductivity) of walleye in Fox Lake, North Dakota.

Equipment awards

Andre Delorme, Valley City State University

Cabinets to establish and organize a natural history collection of North Dakota aquatic macroinvertebrates

Museum quality cabinets will preserve a collection of biological specimens that is unique within the state.

Nicholas Galt, Valley City State University

Versatile tool for gene expression and eDNA analysis

This equipment will allow for collaboration between the science department and the Prairie Waters Education and Research Center at VCSU.

Khwaja G. Hossain, Mayville State University

Freeze dryer

Wheat bran and sugar beet pulps are used to prepare bioplastic films using glycerol as plasticizers, which seems to be a suitable alternative to replace existing synthetic plastic. A freeze dryer is required to process the wheat bran fiber and sugar beet pulp.

Mark B. Lueders, Minot State University

Sensors and samplers for aquatic biology research

An enhanced ability to measure environmental conditions will increase the scientific value and impact of research opportunities for undergraduates.

Beth Marschner, Minot State University

SwimEx treadmill repair and portable diagnostic ultrasound

Repairing a nonfunctional underwater treadmill at Minot State University will provide students with the opportunity to study movement under reduced body weight conditions. The portable diagnostic ultrasound will provide students with access to equipment that they may need to operate in their future career fields, as well as in research studies.

Abiodun Ebenezer Odufuwa, Minot State University

Glass triple door laboratory refrigerator

This refrigerator is critical for the proper storage of microbial cultures, nanoparticles, and experimental reagents. The acquisition of this fridge will help Minot State University meet the growing demand of students for undergraduate research in biomedical sciences.