UNK students turn summer break into research opportunity
KEARNEY – Research at the University of Nebraska at Kearney doesn’t stop when the academic year ends.
A dozen students are working one-on-one with faculty mentors this summer to investigate real-world questions while developing skills that extend well beyond the classroom.
The Summer Student Research Program (SSRP) supports independent research and creative activity across all academic disciplines, giving participants the opportunity to pursue original projects while gaining hands-on experience in their chosen fields and receiving a $3,250 stipend. This year, 12 projects are underway in areas including biology, psychology, physics and astronomy, chemistry, mathematics, communication disorders, political science and art and design.
Searching the Stars
For Andrew Yemma, a junior astrophysics major from Stuart, the program offers a chance to begin building the career he’s always envisioned.
Working alongside associate professor Brandon Marshall, he’s studying some of the brightest and most massive stars in the galaxy, using data collected from past NASA space telescope missions to identify O-type stars exhibiting unusual patterns of mass ejection.
“These types of stars are very rare – only about two dozen have been confirmed within our galaxy – and the phenomenon of emission isn’t really well understood,” Yemma explained. “If we can identify and study more of these stars, then we can hopefully figure out why that happens. And if we can figure out why that happens, it gives us some insights into the life cycle of stars and how they’re formed.”
Because of their high mass, O-type stars burn through their fuel quickly. They typically exist for only a few million years before exploding in a supernova.
“We’re looking at the highest-mass stars that exist, and those are the types of stars that really shape what galaxies look like and how they evolve over time,” Marshall said. “Understanding how these stars evolve will help us understand how our galaxy evolves.”
Yemma plans to pursue research professionally, “looking into the questions that haven’t been answered yet about our universe.” By participating in SSRP, he’s taking another step toward reaching that goal.
“This program provides a lot of experience, which I’m going to need for my career,” Yemma said. “It’s really an intro to what I could be doing in the future, so that’s been pretty exciting. I’m really glad UNK has this program, because it’s a great opportunity for undergrads.”
Marshall views programs like SSRP as an extension of his classroom instruction, a “less intimidating” environment where he can introduce students to research and scientific concepts.
“I like teaching, and this is just another teaching experience for me. And it’s more rewarding because I know the student is interested in what we’re talking about,” he said with a smile.
The UNK faculty member is currently seeking funding from NASA and the National Science Foundation to support the research and Yemma’s continued involvement beyond this summer.
Supporting the Supporters
Across campus in the psychology department, senior Blaine Tewahade is working with assistant professor Rachael Turner on a project examining the cognitive challenges faced by caregivers supporting loved ones with dementia. Their research focuses on how the prolonged stress associated with caregiving can affect prospective memory – the ability to remember future tasks – while identifying support systems that may help reduce those impacts.
“Our healthcare system and our society rely on caregivers, but it’s actually detrimental to their own health and well-being because of that chronic high stress,” Turner explained. “We need to understand the caregiver experience as a whole so we can tailor support services to meet these individuals’ needs.”
A Chadron native, Tewahade joined the project last spring through Undergraduate Research Fellows, a program similar to SSRP that occurs during the school year.
“Before doing research, I was very unclear what road I wanted to go down,” she said. “Participating in research definitely helped clear up what side of psychology I wanted to pursue.”
The project also carries personal significance.
“My family has some history with dementia, so I know how important it is to get caregivers the support and help they need to continue being good caregivers while also taking care of themselves,” Tewahade said.
Like Marshall, Turner considers undergraduate research to be one of the most valuable teaching opportunities available at UNK – “something you don’t see at every university.”
“Working with undergrads in research is very similar to teaching, but I kind of think of it as all the best aspects of teaching,” she said. “You get a lot of one-on-one time, and you see the long-term development of their skills. It’s really rewarding.”
Beyond their individual projects, SSRP participants also meet regularly throughout the summer, allowing them to learn from faculty and peers conducting research in other disciplines.
“It definitely gives you a better appreciation of other fields and how they conduct studies,” Tewahade said. “More than that, it gives you a better view of the world and what people are doing to solve issues in other areas.”
Tracking Hidden Threats
Biology major Morgan Holm is taking her summer project beyond campus, collecting data that could help researchers better understand disease patterns in Nebraska wildlife populations.
The senior from Ord is working with professor Letty Reichart to study parasites carried by migratory birds traveling through the state, research that also has potential connections to broader ecosystem and human health questions.
“There have been other projects where people have studied blood parasites in birds. It’s not like we’re unique to doing that,” Reichart said. “But people haven’t really studied them here, and south-central Nebraska is a really important migratory corridor for birds traveling to and from North and South America.”
Reichart and Holm plan to collect blood samples and other data from both migratory and resident birds captured at sites throughout central and western Nebraska. Along with their primary research focus, they’re collaborating with scientists from the University of Nebraska Medical Center to test for West Nile antibodies.
The project combines fieldwork and laboratory science, allowing Holm to gain experience in both settings while preparing for physician assistant school after graduating in December.
“I get to do something completely different than what I’ve been learning for the past 3 1/2 years, but it also connects back to the medical side,” she said. “It’s both exciting and challenging, and it’s bringing a lot of new skills into my life going into professional school.”
Reiterating the words of her colleagues, Reichart said mentoring undergraduate researchers remains one of the most rewarding parts of her job.
“Working with the students is my favorite thing to do,” she said. “It’s different than working in the classroom. It’s a personal relationship. You have a shared goal of learning something new, and it’s something we’re both exploring together.”
SSRP participants will continue their research through the summer before presenting their projects Oct. 8 during UNK’s Fall Student Research and Creative Activity Symposium.
That dedicated time makes all the difference, according to Holm.
“SSRP gives students a really good opportunity to actually focus on their research, dive deeper into it and have a little more fun with it,” she said.