Application Information
2012-2013 Fellows
2011-2012 Fellows
2010-2011 Fellows
2009-2010 EIDRoP Fellows
Left to right: Changstrom, J. Carter, Chini, Callicoat, Gregory, Fenwick, D. Carter, Urban
Jeffrey Callicoat
Education: Bachelor's of Science in Geology-Eastern Illinois University
Current Program at K-State: MS in Geology
Anticipated Graduation Date: August, 2010
Research: Research is focused on the petrographic, chemical, isotopic and temporal nature of the Jarbidge Rhyolite. The study is focused on outcrops surrounding the town of Jarbidge and Wild Horse Reservoir. The relation of these outcrops to regional volcanism of the Idaho-Oregon-Nevada tri-state region is unknown. This study aims to provide first order information (volume estimates, petrography, chemistry, and possible petrogenetic observations) about the poorly studied volcanics. The outcrops distribution is large, and implies that Jarbidge Rhyolite may be related to several different volcanic fields. Correctly placing the Jarbidge Rhyolite volcanics within a volcanic field is being attempted, and may shed more light on the Middle Miocene and Yellowstone Hotspot volcanism of the Western US.
Other Interests: I am generally gardening or botanizing at Konza when I'm not working.
Daniel Carter
Education: B.A. in Biology from Grinnell College
Current Program at K-State: PhD in Biology
Anticipated Graduation Date: 2013
Research: I am interested in plant community assembly in grassland restoration, because the ratio of conserved to converted land area for temperate grasslands is the lowest of all global ecoregions, and in much of the tallgrass prairie ecogregion of North America the extent of restored grasslands now exceeds that of remnant grasslands.
Specifically:
How do plant communities on restorations change with time and compare to those on remnant grasslands?
What consequences do inititial restoration methods have for plant community assembly, resistance to invasion, and response to drought?
I study this in the context of manipulations of seeding richness, sowing density, rainfall, and seed source.
Other Interests: I am generally gardening or botanizing at Konza when I'm not working.
Jacob Carter
Education: B.S. Biology-University of Central Arkansas, M.S. Biology-Kansas State University
Current Program: PhD in Biology at University of Kansas
Anticipated Graduation Date: 2015
Research: I investigate the physiological responses of plants to various environmental stressors (salinity, drought, temperature stress, etc.). More specifically, I am interested in how the physiology of invasive plant species is affected by environmental stressors as compared to how historically native species are affected. By understanding the underlying physiologies of invading plant species, we can better predict future invasions.
Other Interests: I love cats and when I was in the GK-12 programs, I hope I got this across to my students.
Future Plans: Currently, I am teaching two classes at Kansas State University: plant physiology lab and principles of biology. I will begin a Ph.D at The University of Kansas beginning January, 2011.
Jessica Changstrom
Jackie Chini
Website: web.phys.ksu.edu
Education: B.A. in Physics from Drew University
Current Program at K-State: PhD in Physics
Anticipated Graduation Date: Summer 2010
Research: I study how students learn physics. Specifically, I am investigating how students' learning is supported by performing experiments with traditional physical equipment and computer simulations.
Other Interests: Playing with my Westie, Vegan baking, working with the youth at my church
Emily Fenwick
Website: www.emilyfenwick.webs.com
Education: B.A. in Environmental Studies and Environmental Economics from Knox College, Galesburg, IL
Current Program at K-State: M.S. in Geology
Anticipated Graduation Date: Summer, 2010
Research: Problem-based learning in the sciences has been demonstrated to be a successful educational approach to engage students and increase content knowledge. However, the power of collaborative learning to engage students, increase content knowledge and develop problem-solving skills in the sciences has not yet been fully researched. Collaborative learning has an enormous potential to not only foster student learning, but also increase interest in the sciences and promote cutting-edge education strategies worldwide.
Collaborative learning tactics in this study take place within the virtual learning environment entitled “GeoWorlds.” GeoWorlds is an online educational gaming program within the Second Life 3-D Teen Grid. The curriculum was developed to be a collaborative, investigative and engaging program to promote learning of Earth science content. The program allows students to be submersed-in and explore different geologic time periods; enabling them to observe species and geological structure while interacting with one another to complete tasks. This study investigates the educational impact, emotional response and overall feedback of the GeoWorlds virtual learning environment on Midwest ninth graders.
Future Plans: After graduating, Emily will be working on an MPA in Environmental Policy, Management and Law and the University of Colorado-Denver.
Andrew Gregory
Education: B.S. Ecology and Biochemistry, Winona State University; MSc. Conservation Biology, Central Michigan University
Current Program at K-State: PhD in Biology
Anticipated Graduation Date: Spring 2011
Research: A natural component of all ecosystems, which wildlife must adapt to, is change and disturbance. However, human caused disturbances differs from most natural disturbances in both the duration and the extent over which the disturbance occurs. Today, anthropogenic disturbance is nearly omnipresent in nature, and consequently now all wildlife must now inhabit landscapes vastly different form those they originally evolved in. My research combines techniques and tools from the fields of ecology, population genetics, remote sensing, landscape ecology, geographic information systems science, statistics, and behavioral biology to investigate how wildlife adapt to and cope with disturbances to their natural environments. Aside form my dissertation work which focuses on the impacts of wind development on Greater Prairie-Chickens (Tympanuchus cupido) in Kansas, I've also worked with Rock Ptarmigan re-introduction in the western Aleutian Islands, AK, prairie-chicken translocation to Missouri, modeling rabies transmission throughout the great plains, and elk wolf predator prey dynamics in Yellowstone National Park, Wy.
Joshua Urban
Education: B.S. at Kansas Wesleyan University
Current Program at K-State: M.S. in Entomology
Anticipated Graduation Date: August, 2010
Research: I am interested in the genetics that underlies complex behaviors, especially those found in social insects like termites. Specifically, I am looking for genes that are differentially expressed among termite workers, soldiers, and alates that may play a role in caste-specific characteristics and/or behaviors. The genes I'm interested in were selected based on their presence in honey bees.
Other Interests: I very much enjoy participating in a wide variety of sports. I enjoy basketball, softball, volleyball, sand volleyball, dodge ball, golf, and I participate in many of them in the Manhattan City leagues. I also enjoy going for rides on my motorcycle and spending time with friends and family.
Future Plans: I will be finishing my Masters Soon and hope to get a job as a lab tech or lab assistant here in Manhattan while I continue looking for an ideal fit for me in a research position.