The student research program was originally funded in 1981 with a grant from the National Science Foundation and continues to be supported primarily by alumni donations. One hundred percent of all science majors have completed a senior research project since 1983, distinguishing McPherson College’s program as one of the few and longest running undergraduate research requirements in the country.

In 1993, student research papers began being compiled annually in an in-house scientific journal entitled "Cantaurus"(a fictitious name derived from the Latin words "bull"and "dog"). As part of the curriculum, Cantaurus gives science majors the experience of writing for a scientific publication. Since its inception, more than 90 students have contributed to the journal.

Two types of awards are bestowed on McPherson College students who demonstrate excellence in senior research. The highest honor, the Burkholder Research Award, honors outstanding achievement. The Merit Research Award distinguishes significant achievement. Both awards are sponsored by the Natural Sciences of McPherson college and Midwest Oilseeds of Adel, Iowa.

For each award, the faculty of the Natural Sciences selects one or more candidates based on three criteria:

1. selection and design of a senior research project;
2. quality of the research, including technique, observations, and data analysis; and
3. presentation of the research, comprising preparation of a scientific research paper and an oral presentation to students and faculty.

A certificate of Award is granted to each winner. Persons qualifying for the Burkholder Research Award have their name inscribed in a plaque and receive a year membership to the American Association for the Advancement of Science and a subscription to "Science."

Volume 15 May 2007
    · 2007 Senior Research Science Forum Program (.pdf)
    · Senior Research Forum to be held (press release)

Callie Crist
"The Interaction of Alcohol and Iron-Overload in the in-vivo Regulation of Iron Responsive Genes" [ paper ]

Laura DeAnn Engquist
"Tracking Patient Habits: Gender Age, Financial State, and Health Education" [ paper ]

Hannah Fisher
"Benzo(a)pyrene Induced Mutagenesis of Saccharomyces cerevisiae" [ paper ]

Matthew W. Herber
"Development of a Novel Assay to Determine Nanoparticle Protection of Complexed dsDNA" [ paper ]

Rhonda Hoffert
"Hershey Diamond Synthesis: an Attempt at Verifying Methods" [ paper ]

Jamie Rodriguez
"Aerobic Methane Production by Banana Plant" [ paper ]

Alicia R. Schoen
"Carbon Fiber Electrode as an Electron Acceptor for a Microbial Fuel Cell using Geobacter" [ paper ]

Jamie Schropp
"Comparison of Effort for High-Velocity and Low-Velocity Bench Press" [ paper ]

Volume 14 May 2006
    · 2006 Senior Research Science Forum Program (.pdf)
    · Senior Research Forum (press release)

Travis Allen
"Explaining Spatial Variation in Yields in Irrigated Corn" [ paper ]

Timothy D. Cox
"Germination of Five Wheat Varieties over a Range of Salinities" [ paper ]

Reuben May
"Observation and Characterization of Fullerenes in Soot Generated during Reproduction of Historical Diamond Synthesis" [ paper ]

Ellie Miller
"Population Growth and Lag Time Assent in Lactose Induced Eschericia coli Stains" [ paper ]

Lisa Sader
"Isolation and Identification of an Electricity Producing Microorganism from the Quivira National Wildlife Refuge" [ paper ]

Eric Vrtiska
"Multi-Subject Assessment of Human Performance Using the DYFORMON" [ paper ]

Volume 13 May 2005
    · ABSTRACT (.doc)
    · 2005 Senior Research Science Forum Program (.pdf)
    · Senior Research Science Forum - followup (press release)
    · Senior Research Forum to be held April 15, 2005 (press release)

Joe Blas
"Expression and Purification of Tumor-Suppressor Protein Tip30 for Structural Studies by NMR Spectroscopy." [ paper ]

David Cockriel
"The Design and Synthesis of Pyrazine Ligands Suitable for Molecular Weaving with Octahedral Metal Ion" [ paper ]

Dean Feasenhiser
"The Effects of Organic Selenium on Rumen Volatile Fatty Acid Production in Continuous Culture." [ paper ]

Jenny Harper
‘Influence of Lactose Utilization and Population Dynamics of Eschericia coli var. mutabilis." [ paper ]

Dave Hoffman
"Human Performance Assessment Using the DYFORMON Exercise System." [ paper ]

Danielle Lucore
"The Mutagenesis of Benzo(a)pyrene on Yeast." [ paper ]

Tau Lyn (Johnston) Snell
"Synthesis and Characterization of a Cross-Bridged AMD 3100 analog." [ paper ]

Volume 12 May 2004
John Andrew Berlanga
"Bacteria Isolated from an MTBE Mineral Medium Culture"

Douglas J. Consaul
"The Effects of Kickoff and Compost on Yield and Economic Value of Double Crop Potatoes"

Abida A. Hamud-Socoro
"Pseudomonas aeruginosa Resistance to Tetracycline and Triclosan"

Lawrence E. Monte
"Identification of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Anthracene in Beach Sand Extracted from Matagorda Island"

Melissa Osterloh
"Transfer of Antibiotic Resistant Genes between Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurum"

Robert Ullom
"Linked Cross-Bridged Cyclams as Anti-HIV Agents"

Volume 11 May 2003
Cameron Coleman
"What are the Effects of No-till Farming on Soil Moisture and Soil Temperature Compared to Conventional Tillage in Rice County Kansas?"

Adelina Cripe
"McPherson College’s Environmental Impact on Water Use, Energy Use, and Waste Generation/Disposal"

Wes Hoffert
"Synthesis and Characterization of a Chloro - Hydroxo Chromium 3+ Complex of Cross-Bridged Cyclam"

Brett F. Jones
"How Sewage Foam Affects Grass Growth Compared To UAN Fertilizer Or No Fertilizer"

Bryan Lucore
"Characterization of CD25+ T regulatory cells in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus"

Trenton Parsell
"Synthesis and Characterization of 4, 11-dimethyl-1, 4, 8, 11, tetraazabicyclo hexadecane Chromium"

Michelle L. Schulz
"The Effects Of Cover Crops In No-Till Systems On Microbial Activity "

Michael Vrtiska
"The Effects of CRP on Earthworm Populations"

Volume 10 May 2002
Shawn Allen
"Characterization of Co (Am 2Bcyclam) PF6 "

Seth J. Good
"Operation and Methods Development for the Varian Saturn 2100D GC/MS"

Adedamola Grillo
"The Synthesis and Characterization of Co(Am2Bcyclam)PF6
A model for new MRI Contrast Agents"

Munira Abubakar Hamud-Socoro
"Is There a Difference in Hemoglobin Concentration Between Male and Female Horses?"

Renata L. Lichty
"The Effect of Natural Selection on the Resistance of Escherichia coli to Triclosan"

Caleb M. May
"Synthesis and characterization of Cu(1,1,3,6,6,8-Hexamethyl-decahydro-3a,5a,8a,10a-tetra-azapyrene)Cl2 "

Elizabeth Stover
"In vitro cytotoxicity of the epothilone analog, BMS 247550, in pediatric malignancies"

CONTACT
Dept of Natural Science Chair
noffsink@mcpherson.edu

800.365.7402
info@mcpherson.edu
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