summer research 2019

The end result: Students present findings from 2019 Summer Research

Keyu Jin and Priscilla Ranjitkar deliver their Summer Research presentation in Hampson Commons

Randolph students participating in the 2019 Summer Research program presented the results of eight weeks’ worth of lab work, cultural and sociological studies, and environmental research today during the Summer Research Program Symposium. Several groups have also been invited to present their work at regional and national conferences within the next year. Participating students and their projects... READ MORE >>

Setting the stage: Summer Research explores art of stagecraft

Professor Heather Sinclair (left) and Karyn Heisig draw stage renderings

Although she is a history major, Karyn Heisig ’20 often jokes that her minor in theatre is a “half major.” “I’ve always seen myself working in professional theatre somehow,” Heisig said. “I’ve dabbled a little bit in acting on stage, but I’ve always been drawn more to what’s going on backstage and how everything that... READ MORE >>

More than scratching the surface: Students test durability of antimicrobial materials

Leif Kvarnes and professor Peter Sheldon build a machine to test the durability of antimicrobial surface samples

If you’ve recently visited a public place such as a gym, an airport, or a doctor’s office, you might have noticed a rough texture applied to the door knobs, toilet handles, and other frequently touched surfaces. The special material is called an antimicrobial surface, and many businesses are now incorporating the self-cleaning technology to help... READ MORE >>

Mining information: Summer Research considers role of social media in organizing West Virginia teacher strikes

Professor Crystal Howell and Caleb Schmitzer go over their notes about the project

When Caleb Schmitzer ’21 gets deeply engaged in conversation, he knows his Minnesotan accent sometimes slips out. But thanks to his Summer Research project with education professor Crystal Howell, he’s become very familiar with a different type of accent—the one shared by the many West Virginian educators he has talked with about teacher pay and... READ MORE >>

Finding a rhythm: Summer Research project examines child behavior in group musical settings

Alex Conway and professor Sara Beck look for different behaviors among children in pre-k music classes

Alex Conway ’20 has worked at the UP Foundation in Lynchburg for the last two years. The organization provides addiction counseling, recovery, and rehabilitation services for local youth, so Conway is always looking for new ways to get through to adolescents and teens. Fortunately, a Summer Research project with psychology professor Sara Beck could give... READ MORE >>

Super saddle: Summer Research examines healing properties of Thera-tree technology on horses

Sidney Clark and biology professor Amanda Rumore examine one of their test subjects

Sidney Clark ’22 has spent her entire life around horses. She has worked in barns, taken riding lessons, and recently even acquired a mare of her own. However, she’s now studying a piece of equine technology she had no idea existed until this summer. Clark is working on a Summer Research project with biology professor... READ MORE >>

Heat of the summer: Students research effects of climate change, heat stress on seagrass beds

(From left) professor Sarah Sojka, Alex Kulvivat, Paige Edwards, and Jdody Misidor in the water along the eastern shore of Virginia.

Alex Kulvivat ’22, an aspiring aerospace engineer, has always enjoyed building and creating things. Though he knows the path to achieving his career goal is a long, difficult one, he is already gaining plenty of field experience. “Back in high school, I made a couple of products, and one was a posture training device,” Kulvivat... READ MORE >>

Saving the planet, one forest at a time

(from left) Ranjitkar, Jin, and Warren consult a field guide during one of their forest inventories

Keyu Jin ’20 and Priscilla Ranjitkar ’20 both entered the environmental science field because of their passion for protecting the environment—and because they enjoy the hands-on activities and field trips that the major entails. Now, they’re expanding their skillsets to include forestry and wilderness survival as part of a Summer Research project. Jin and Ranjitkar... READ MORE >>

Giving chemistry a little TLC: Summer Research project examines chemical purity of chamomile

Darius Chernitsky and professor Ann Fabirkiewicz run a sample through a soxhlet extractor

Are you paying too much for your chamomile tea or essential oils? A Summer Research project by Darius Chernitsky ’20 may help you find out. Chernitsky has partnered with Ann Fabirkiewicz, the Charles A. Dana Professor of Chemistry and Natural Sciences and Mathematics Division Head, to test the purity of several popular chamomile products. Chamomile... READ MORE >>

Sound check: Summer Research examines natural, acoustic properties of Randolph performance venues

Hailey Gilman plays flute while the rest of the group watches the audio frequency levels

In 1969, American composer Alvin Lucier recorded a monologue called “I Am Sitting in a Room” and played the audio from a speaker into a microphone multiple times at various distances and frequencies. Eventually, after multiple iterations, all that was left to be heard were the high-pitched, natural, resonant overtones of the room. “It sounds... READ MORE >>