2008 Honors Summer Research Projects

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Carolanne Bonanno, Class of 2009
Faculty sponsor: Prof. Paige Critcher, Studio Art
The archaic photographic process called bromoil has existed for an entire century, yet only a small number of people practice it today. The purpose of my research will be to learn the techniques and nuances of the process in the interest of creating fine art. I also hope to explore unconventional subject matter in my photographs while maintaining technical excellence.

Petra Dacheva, Class of 2009
Faculty sponsor: Prof. Eugene Gotwalt, Economics and Business
The theme of my Honors Research is the method of implementing the power of microfinance to defeat global poverty and empower women. Microfinance has for some time been the established tool for fighting poverty- it consists of giving small amount credits to entrepreneurs in developing countries in order for them to realize their business plans. Microcrediting is also a proven strategy for reaching poor women. Access to financial services for the world’s poorest is a great advancement in modern development economics and has granted the underprivileged many opportunities. My research will focus on the different forms of microfinance, its profitability, and the various microcredit institutions. Other points of interest include the effect on the Human Development Index (HDI) and new possible ways in which microfinance can expand.

Maxine Emerich, Class of 2010
Faculty sponsor: Prof. Scott Pierce, Physics and Engineering
This summer I propose to perform research and development work on a six-degree-of-freedom robot. This robot is to be used to automatically manufacture nano-scale films on glass slides as part of Dr. Yochum’s nanotechnology research. The robot will be used to automate highly repetitive tasks that are currently being performed by hand. The results at the end of summer will be a fully-controlled, single-axis robot arm, an inverse-kinematic model that can be used as the primary analytic tool for scaling up to a six-axis geometry, and component-level design of key components of the six-axis robot.

Laura Hanold, Class of 2010
Faculty sponsor: Prof. Abraham Yousef, Chemistry
The purpose of this research is to synthesize 3(2H)-furanones and study their photochemical properties. The idea is based on the recent discovery of inotilone, a chemical that has been found to be a selective inhibitor of the enzymes cyclooxygenase (COX) and xanthine oxidase (XO), which are responsible for inflammatory responses in rheumatoid arthritis and gouty arthritis, respectively. Our first goal will be to synthesize 5-phenyl-3(2H)-furanone. This chemical will be reacted with a series of substituted benzaldehydes in an Aldol reaction to produce inotilone derivatives. It is hoped that insight will be gained on the possibility of using these chemicals as anti-inflammatory medications.

Katelyn James, Class of 2011
Faculty sponsor: Prof. Dorsa Sanadgol, Engineering
The goal of my research project is to develop a new method for increasing the performance and efficiency of turbomachineries. The method involves the use of an electrostatic boost that is mediated by an electric field internal to the compressor system. The hypothesis is that an electret coating on the blades of the impeller will couple the gas closer to the impeller surface, thus providing for an increase in the pressure ratio achieved during the gas compression process. If successful in developing an effective design this method could be applied to many other situations that face the same problem of inefficient airflow.

Brittany Patterson, Class of 2009
Faculty sponsor: Prof. Kimberly Dukes, Anthropology
For my Honors Summer Research project, I will explore the factors that determine access to the cultural knowledge that is believed by the Dogon people of Mali to be embodied in their art. I will also investigate the possible relationship between gender and the accessibility of "secret" cultural knowledge within Dogon society. This research question will be examined through the analysis of three examples of Dogon art: a mask, a wooden sculpture, and a granary door. My goal for this research is to provide an accurate representation of these pieces for their display in a 2009 African art exhibit and lecture series as well as to further the development of my Senior Honors Thesis in Anthropology.

Cynthia Roden, Class of 2010
Faculty sponsor: Prof. Eugene Gotwalt, Economics and Business
Suicide is commonly studied in psychological terms but the economic and sociological factors that influence this ultimate opportunity cost are often ignored. This study will form a regression equation that uses economic and sociological variables to predict the suicide rate in US counties.

Lara Slough, Class of 2010
Faculty sponsor: Prof. John Morrissey, Biology
Elasmobranchs, which include sharks and rays, are a subclass of the class Chondrichthyes that has yet to be studied extensively. This is especially true of the deep-dwelling chain catshark, Scyliorhinus retifer. This small shark commonly inhabits the waters of the outer continental shelf from Nova Scotia to Nicaragua, living at depths of 40-550m. This summer I will study the digestive system and prepare a basic histology, or study of the tissues, of Scyliorhinus retifer. I will obtain insight into the biology of this species by observing its organs and tissues.

Jessie Waitt, Class of 2009
Faculty sponsor: Prof. John Morrissey, Biology
The placoid scales that cover the body of sharks have long been used to distinguish one shark species from another. This practice assumes that all scales on the body of a single shark do not vary in shape during the life of the individual shark. The overall objective of this research project is to compare and analyze the shape of placoid scales from different areas of a shark’s body to determine if predicted variation is present. Skin samples will be taken, air dried, metal coated, and examined for scale shape using a scanning electron microscope. I hypothesize that scale shape will vary with age, body region and with sex. Jessie Waitt was also awarded a Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges Summer Research Fellowship to support this project.

Laurel Watts, Class of 2009
Faculty sponsor: Prof. Debbie Kasper, Sociology
Within the field of Sociology, effort has been made to understand how contemporary evangelicalism has been able to maintain influence despite the contradicting ideologies of modernity. Sociologists have developed several theories of religious vitality that help to explain the accomplishment of these institutions, including the Competitive Marketing Theory, brought about by Fink Iannaccone, and Stark, which has proven to be particularly revealing in the explanation of the vitality of the contemporary evangelical churches and communities that dominate Christianity within the United States. This study will duplicate the work of Christian Smith, examining the religious strength of nearby Lynchburg, Virginia’s evangelical community and will attempt to explain its vitality with the Competitive Marketing Theory.

Elizabeth Zuckerman, Class of 2009
Faculty sponsor: Prof. Carrie Brown
This summer I will be working on a novel from the point of view of Ophelia, the tragic and mysterious heroine of Shakespeare's "Hamlet." The novel will offer possible explanations for the actions and motivations of the play's characters, as well as telling the story of a young woman we know little about. Through working on this novel, I hope to refine my writing skills and further my study of one of the theatre world's great works.