Sigma Xi

Summer Science Seminar Award winners

Summer Science Seminars

In 2012 Sigma Xi sponsored the Summer Science Seminars, an open forum for students to present the results of their summer research, or to share what they are planning to do and steps they have taken in their preparation. The seminars give the students a chance to practice talking about their own scientific work, to answer questions and get feedback, as well as an opportunity to find out about other the research projects of their peers. 17 students presented during the 2012 seminar series, along with one faculty member, James Mountjoy, associate professor of biology. (Pictured above) James Mountjoy presenting The Sigma Xi Summer Science Outstanding Student Seminar award to the co-winners, Andrei Papancea '14 (left) and Michael Graf '15 (right).

Sigma Xi is a scientific honor society. Full members must own a Ph.D degree in a scientific discipline. Associate members may be nominated who are in the midst of their education, yet have completed a significant research project, have presented the results of their research at an off-campus forum, and show promise for the future. Two full members of the society must nominate a student for associate membership, and then the executive board must approve of the nomination before they can become a member.

Sigma Xi was founded in 1886 at Cornell University, and has over 60,000 members worldwide. More than 200 Sigma Xi members have received the Nobel Prize, most recently the 2006 Physics prize, which went to members John C. Mather and George F. Smoot.

New members for 2012-13

Nicolette Brown
Research Project: "Identification of Ultraviolet Sensitive Mutants in Dictyostelium"
Mentor: Matt Jones-Rhoades, Biology Department
Research Presentation Venue: 19th Annual California McNair Scholars Symposium

Natalia Cipolla
Research Project: "Grandparental Investment: Battle of the Sexes"
Mentor: Frank McAndrew, Psychology Department
Research Presentation Venue: 2012 Illowa Undergraduate Psychology Conference

Hannah Fidoten
Research Project: "Do Faculty Recognize the Difference Between Computer Science and Information Technology? A Survey of Liberal Arts Faculty."
Mentor: Jaime Spacco, Computer Science Department
Research Presentation Venue: SIGCSE (Special Interest Group, Computer Science Education), Raleigh, NC
College Honors in Computer Science

Chris Holland
Research Project: "Attachment Style and Human-Dog Relationships: Are Anxious Individuals More Satisfied with Dogs than with People?"
Mentor: Yuna Ferguson, Psychology Department
Research Presentation Venue: 19th Annual California McNair Scholars Symposium

Oscar Jimenez
Research Project: "Verification of Endogenous Small RNAs in Dictyostelium purpureum"
Mentor: Matt Jones-Rhoades, Biology Department
Research Presentation Venue: 19th Annual California McNair Scholars Symposium

Aparna Kumar
Research Project: "The Influence of Heritage Language Proficiency and Heritage Language Use with Family and Peers on Ethnic Identity Development Among Asian-Indian Adolescents"
Mentor: Tim Kasser, Psychology Department
Research Presentation Venue: 2012 Illowa Undergraduate Psychology Conference

Matt Pinkelton
Research Project: "Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Heteroleptic Liquid Crystal Dimers"
Mentor: Tom Clayton, Chemistry Department
Research Presentation Venue: Midstates Consortium 2011 Undergraduate Research Conference, Chicago

Kathryn Quesnell
Research Project: "The Paleomicrobiology and Geomicrobiology of the Dakhleh Oasis, Egypt, with Scanning Electron Microscopy"
Mentors: Linda Dybas, Biology Department and Katie Adelsberger, Environmental Studies
Research Presentation Venue: 2012 Illinois State Academy of Science Conference

Dana Robinson
Research Project: "Effects of Microclimate on the Reproductive Biology of Besseya bullii"
Mentor: Brenda Molano-Flores, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Research Presentation Venue: 19th Annual California McNair Scholars Symposium

Justin Steele
Research Project: "Synthesis of Novel Long-Chain Carboxylate Copper(II) Tetramers"
Mentor: Tom Clayton, Chemistry Department
Research Presentation Venue: Midstates Consortium 2011 Undergraduate Research Conference, Chicago