STEMconnect

Andrews University Division of STEMBiology | Chemistry & Biochemistry | Physics Engineering & Computer Science | Mathematics .ig-b- { display: inline-block; } .ig-b- img { visibility: hidden; } .ig-b-:hover { background-position: 0 -60px; } .ig-b-:active { background-position: 0 -120px; } .ig-b-v-24 { width: 137px; height: 24px; background: url(//badges.instagram.com/static/images/ig-badge-view-sprite-24.png) no-repeat 0 0; } @media only screen and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2), only screen and (min--moz-device-pixel-ratio: 2), only screen and (-o-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2 / 1), only screen and (min-device-pixel-ratio: 2), only screen and (min-resolution: 192dpi), only screen and (min-resolution: 2dppx) { .ig-b-v-24 { background-image: url(//badges.instagram.com/static/images/[email protected]); background-size: 160px 178px; } } Follow @andrewsSTEM !function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+'://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js';fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document, 'script', 'twitter-wjs');

[andrewsstem]

#TBT - Belinda Cheeseboro @ National Optical Astronomy Observatory

This past summer, Physics major, Belinda Cheeseboro (pictured above) found an undergraduate research opportunity at the National Optical Astronomy Observatory, an observatory with relations to Kitt Peak, located in Tuscon, Arizona. She had first heard about it through professor Tiffany Summerscales, who told her about her own experiences there. 

Under the supervision of Dr. Dara Norman, Belinda investigated active galactic nuclei environments (AGN), galaxies with a supermassive black hole in the middle. In order to find these galaxies, she looked at three types of environments: gravitationally relaxed galaxy clusters, non-gravitationally relaxed clusters, blank fields ( random patches of sky). Using the Wide field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) mid-Infrared (MIR) data, she was able to see whether or not AGN candidates were observable, concluding that the three types of environments had no correlation with the probability of an AGN being present.  

Surprisingly, Belinda said her main challenge was learning a computer language, called, Python, in order to do her research.  

Besides the actual work, though, Belinda remembers the fun, small things that made her summer memorable, like getting froyo every Friday with other students. Pictured below are the students she met while doing her undergraduate research. 

[andrewsstem]

Here's a great example of how Physics gets used practically outside of the classroom. There are a panoply of applications for the science education you can get right here at Andrews University! You can read more about this application here.

[andrewsstem]

Chris Kim, one of our Biology - PreMed majors who was recently accepted to Loma Linda University School of Medicine's class of 2019, shares his experiences at Andrews. 

"Looking back, a career in medicine was not really on my mind for the majority of my K-12 years--I was actually more interested in art and design growing up. My interest in medicine arose while taking AP Biology my junior year of high school where the complexity and beauty of our natural world was a constant inspiration for me from then on. That experience as well as wanting to serve the people around me to the greatest of my ability--a desire developed through being involved in missions--pushed me toward an undergraduate degree in Biology in the pursuit of becoming a physician.

“Medicine aside, what drew me to Andrews University was its strong biology program as well as the unique, Seventh-day Adventist community that provided a hub for both academic and spiritual growth. In my three years here, Andrews provided a number of opportunities that put me in a great position for success to go beyond my undergraduate studies. Especially in the biology department, I've come to know many of the teachers very well and it was apparent to me that they were also interested in getting to know me. Moreover, having the opportunity to be a lab TA, Family Group Mentor for freshmen orientation, or even the current president of our Pre-Med Club, Andrews University provided the means to set myself apart extracurricularly when it came to applications for medical schools.

“I applied this past fall, and I'm extremely blessed and humbled to have been accepted to the Loma Linda University School of Medicine Class of 2019! I plan on starting school later this year and hope to continue my development as a professional.”

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We love to see our students succeed, and we're sharing a short write up Chris sent us about what led him to medicine and why he chose Andrews University for STEM! Do YOU have a success story you want to share? Feel free to drop us a line at [email protected]!

[andrewsstem]

#TBT Summer Research at Protection Island

Sumiko Weir writes about her experience this past summer:     

     This summer I spent two-and-a-half weeks working with the Seabird Ecology Team at the Protection Island National Wildlife Refuge in Washington. I first became involved with the Seabird Ecology Team when I took Dr. Henson’s Math Modeling for Biology class: the class material – using mathematics to model biological systems – really intrigued me and so the opportunity to be part of an interdisciplinary team that really excelled in using math modeling in biology was very thrilling. I spent a semester analyzing data with Dr. Henson before I went out to the island and actually got to meet and experience the gulls that I had been studying.

     I had heard quite a bit about the island from other researchers and from Dr. Henson and Dr. Hayward, so I anticipated really enjoying the process, but I didn’t quite anticipate how much I would really fall in love with the place. Being on the island is absolutely delightful. No one is allowed on the island except for approved researchers, so it is a really special place and I feel so privileged to be able to go there and occupy it. It is the nesting grounds for a lot of different birds, not just the Glaucous-winged gulls we study, and the place is brimming with wildlife: it’s a biologist’s paradise.

     One of my concerns about being on the island initially was the isolation of the place, cooped up with only two or three other people, but I found that the social aspect within this small team of people is quite rich. Dr. Hayward – who was overseeing the team when I was out on the island – fosters a really nice community full of people who are passionate, not just about our research, but about learning in general. We could chat one moment about the sea-star wasting disease that has been devastating the Pacific North West and about classical music the next.

          Each day has a rhythm, taking shifts in the bird blind, monitoring plots and watching for eagle disturbances, then spending your free time in the cabin or going for walks. This summer Ashley Reichert was investigating egg cannibalism behavior on the colony, so I was also involved in collecting egg shell at cannibal territories. The most harrowing and difficult part of each day was the egg walk, the time where the team does a careful walk through five different plots, recording new eggs that have been laid and eggs that have been lost. I was on the island in late June, when the parent gulls are particularly cranky, so a lot of them dive bomb you with their droppings and bop you on the head with their feet. There are ways of fending them off, though, and pretty soon it didn’t bother me too much. It is exciting to get a peek into the lives of these birds, particularly when the eggs start to hatch.

      Being a part of this research team is definitely one of the highlights of my college experience and I definitely plan to go back to the island again this summer. Both Dr. Hayward and Dr. Henson have been excellent mentors, really encouraging me throughout the research process and offering helpful feedback every step of the way. I have learned so much about the research process by being a part of this team, but I have also genuinely enjoyed the experience.

[andrewsstem]

AU STEM SPOTLIGHT: Alyson Drew & Dr. Hyun Kwon

Alyson Drew is one of the two undergraduate research assistants working with Dr. Kwon through the Undergraduate Research Scholar Award (URS) Program. A Biology major, Alyson is specifically in an interdisciplinary research project that combines the specialties of Mechanical Engineering and Biology: they are studying a simpler way of detecting cancer biomarkers in the bloodstream.

This Biomedical research is focused on using biosensors to analyze biological molecules, a procedure that doesn't require invasive techniques. Their ultimate goal is to improve current technology by cutting down costs and time in cancer diagnoses.

On October 22-24, they traveled to San Antonio, Texas to present their findings at the Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) Conference. The title of their presentation was, "Paper-based Biosensor for Colorimetric Detection of PSA Biomarker."

The abstract for their research is as follows: 

"Prostate cancer is commonly screened in the bloodstream by detection of excess PSA, prostate-specific antigen which is a protein the prostate produces in large quantities when tumors are present. In order to facilitate inexpensive and disposable detection, diagnostic tools have begun to be created out of paper and wax which wick solutions through channels based on their hydrophobicity. George M. Whitesides, who pioneered the majority of this work, designed a paper-based LFD, lateral flow device, effective for detecting liver function which we are modifying to detect PSA. In this paper, we designed an oPAD, origami paper analytical device, specific to PSA using GNPs, gold nanoparticles, which provide a colorimetric, qualitative, inexpensive, efficient, and disposable design to detect prostate cancer through the bloodstream. We are currently concept-testing our design with PSA, but we hope to design a device that can be easily modified to detect many other biomarkers for disease."

Stay tuned to see what more their research yields at the Undergraduate Research Symposium next spring! 

[andrewsstem]

Dr. Jason Beckrow for PREMED CLUB

On Tuesday, Oct 30, Dr. Jason Beckrow, DO FACOI came to Andrews University to speak to students interested in the medical field about compassion and responsibility in practicing medicine, as well as any other general questions students might have on the subject. Dr. Beckrow practices in St. Joseph and is the founder of Lighthouse Oncology and a medical director for Hospice at Home. In addition to giving advice about developing and maintaining the skills necessary to connect to and genuinely care for patients, he emphasized that it is these things that set us apart from machines in this day and age where technology is both prevalent and accessible.

Dr. Beckrow also shared some stories, one of which was his experience being interviewed for Michigan State University. It was one of the best interviews that he’s ever had because he wasn't expecting to get in at all, so he was very relaxed. Also, he and the interviewer ended up talking about his experiences traveling around the world for the whole interview, which he did after not getting into osteopathic medical school his first time applying. He was accepted and attended MSU shortly thereafter. From this story, Dr. Beckrow illustrated that while it focusing on academics is necessary, it is also important to pursue your passions and broaden your life views and experiences, as this differentiates us from computers as well as other people in or pursuing the medical field.

[andrewsstem]

AU STEM SPOTLIGHT: Zach Reichert's Experiences @ Mayo

Zach Reichert shares how he spent his summer as an undergraduate researcher at the prestigious Mayo Clinic.

Many STEM students at Andrews University pursue a Pre-med track; they hope to, someday, become physicians, diagnosing and treating patients around the world. But a small handful of our Pre-med students are interested in going a step further by obtaining dual MD/PhD degrees, mainly to branch towards the research aspect of medicine.

Zach Reichert, a junior, spent his summer as an undergraduate researcher at the prestigious Mayo Clinic. The title of his project was, “The Functional Role of Acute Inflammation in Zebrafish Spinal Cord Regeneration,” and it helped him to get a better understanding of a career path incorporating both science, and medicine.

He describes the lessons he learned from his time researching under professionals: “Every experience I had at Mayo will help me in the future – learning new and cutting-edge techniques, attending graduate lectures and seminars, presenting updates at weekly lab meetings, networking with other scientists, attending Neurology and Neurosurgery grand rounds, developing a poster and a presentation, and more. The experience of learning the dynamics of a research lab and interacting with a diverse group of people was invaluable.”

STEM promotes Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU), and Andrews University is blessed to have faculty that invest heavily in research. Zach recommends REU opportunities because they allow students to “gain experience working day-by-day in a real world setting.” Specifically, the Mayo program was for rising juniors interested in “utilizing scientific findings to treat disease,” but any STEM students could easily find opportunities for their own field of interest! So don't wait and plan early!

[andrewsstem]

Jonathan Wheeler, Student Missionary

Jonathan recently returned from Beirut, Lebanon where he was a student missionary (SM) since September 2013. He taught 7th & 8th grade math, assisted with Bible classes and organized chapels, did IT (as well as helps with IT at the university) and supervised some of the science labs. For extracurricular activities, he taught piano and guitar lessons to the students and sponsored the robotics club. He was also involved with music and youth groups at the local church.

Jonathan feels prepared to serve because, “Andrews provides a close and personal relationship between mentors and students that is invaluable for future interpersonal development in a career. You can go to a huge University and take general physics with 400 students, or you can come here [to AU] and you can build personal relationships. When you come from a smaller environment, it is easier to create and build personal relationships with others.”

Jonathan said, “One of the objectives for college is to build professional development for the work force. If you begin building this in your relationships with the faculty, it helps you later in your career. Also, as an SM, the departments or classes you may teach will be similar to the size that you have at Andrews. It is not a culture shock quite as much as if you came from a huge University and went to a smaller atmosphere. You can get more results this way as well.”

 If you are thinking about becoming a Student Missionary at some point during your time at Andrews, here is some advice from Jonathan, “Do it. Ever since you were 5 years old, you have been in school. When you are an SM, it is one of the first true independent experiences that you will have. You are guided by a purpose bigger than yourself. You come back knowing more about who you are and what your goals will be. It also helps to solidify what you want to do in your future. I came back with a huge sense of purpose and a clear direction for my life.”

Jonathan has decided to add to his double major of Physics and Math. He is now a triple major - BSE in Electrical Engineering, BS Physics with Mathematical Studies. After he graduates, (Tentatively May 2016) he wants to enter grad school for either engineering or physics. 

[andrewsstem]

SummerPhysics 2014

As the eight-week summer intensive comes to a close, Dillon Zimmerman - JR Physics and Math Education Major, shares his experience as a Learning Assistant for the program. 

As an LA, I have been working in the classroom by helping students get through their worksheets. For many students, they want someone to make sure that they’re on the right track. For others, I help them express their thinking process by guiding them with questions. From this time in the class, I am able to see where the students are struggling and where they need reinforcement. During the afternoon, I work in the student guided learning (SGL) sessions. Here, the students work in groups of three or four to solve problems similar to the ones they did in class, though the problems are usually harder and are solved faster when group members contribute. 

Small group learning can be useful so long that the students are dedicated to working cohesively. In this sense, SGL is valuable in forming team-work skills. Additionally, when students work together, there is a better chance of catching each other’s mistakes in reasoning and correcting them.

I've really enjoyed getting to know the students and working with them; they've become a little bit like family. Since we meet every day for long periods of time, there is a lot of opportunity to connect that is not as readily possible in the regular semester classes.

We try to make the SummerPhysics like the normal physics during the semester. What makes it different and unique is the speed at which a student can accomplish their goals and the family environment that is fostered. We take great care to feed the students (provided daily in the late morning) and encourage them to work collaboratively to make it through this monumental two months. Working collaboratively is one of the most valuable lessons that the students can learn in SummerPhysics."

[andrewsstem]

SUMMER SPOTLIGHT: MATH 192 - Calculus II

Jonathan Penrod, a Mechanical Engineering Major taking Calculus II, walked us through one of them more challenging classes offered during the summer. 

For those of you that don't know Jonathan, he originally started his freshman year at Southwestern Adventist University on a Trombone scholarship. However, his passion was in engineering, so he transferred halfway through the year to Andrews University. He chose to take Calculus II this summer in order to catch up to his engineering classmates since math is a necessary component of the curriculum. 

Calculus II is known to be harder than most of the other Calculus courses because it covers a large range of material. But since the summer class covers a semester's amount of material in four short weeks, MATH192 was definitely an extra challenge for many of the students. 

The class starts every morning at 8:30AM and consists of lectures, in-class assignments, daily quizzes, weekly two-hour tests and homework assignments. WOOO, already we can see why this class is considered one of the harder summer school classes. This year's class was comprised of 10-11 students from many different backgrounds. A few are taking it for their general education requirements, a handful are Biology majors, and others are from different STEM departments like Engineering. 

Jonathan praised Dr. Yun Myung Oh for being an eloquent and hard working professor who explained the material very well. However, because the material built on itself, missing one day of class (which is equivalent to missing an entire week!) put you very behind the rest of the class. Jonathan described the class as, "very intense," and the biggest challenge, "staying on top of the work." He had to put in 5-6 hours of serious studying every night in order to understand and remember what he was learning. 

He said taking the course on campus, instead of online, was very helpful because he could ask Dr. Oh many questions in person. Help is also provided via free tutoring every day at 4pm-- this includes Sundays! Students can take advantage of this and work together to succeed in the class.

Notes on notes on notes!!!!

[andrewsstem]

SUMMER SPOTLIGHT: BCHM 421 - Biochemistry I

Senior Biochemistry student, Gideon Nyakundi, took time with Andrews STEM to answer a few questions about BCHM 421.

1) What is biochemistry about?

Gideon: Biochemistry is the mix of understanding the chemistry and biology of the body, like the pH in the stomach/blood and how water plays a major role in our lives besides being a universal solvent.

2) What is the summer school class like? 

Gideon: The summer school class is very fast paced because we cover a chapter or more in a matter of 4 hours. Then you have to read in order to comprehend what you just learned in class, AFTER finishing your homework lol. It is overwhelming the first week because you are used to a class of 50 minutes and you usually cover a section or two.

3) What do you enjoy most about the class?

Gideon: I enjoy the small learning atmosphere of biochem right now. we have about 11-12 students in our class and it is easy to ask the teacher questions on the homework, or even ask questions out loud because we all know each other from taking so many classes together. That's why it's a good environment for a class that expects you to catch on very quickly to the general biology and chemistry concepts.

4) What are some of the challenges in the class?

Gideon: Some challenges...one of them is definitely the fact that it is summer. You want to be like your friends who are traveling, hanging out at the beach, playing sports and doing other great activities once school ends, but you have to stay focused to do well in summer classes. One slip-up and you will feel it in the gradebook if you aren't careful. Another challenge is time management. You have to realize you are doing a lot in a day so you can't just expect to get done in two minutes. you need to space out your day after all the labs and lectures to find time to rest if you need to, work out/exercise if time permits and eat somewhat healthy because you don't want to stress yourself out anymore than you already are.

Here are some pictures from the class! Students in STEM summer courses are provided with "brainfood" every day around 10AM. The main snack changes from waffles to pita & hummus-- but cereal, oatmeal and hot drinks are supplied daily!

[andrewsstem]

THROWBACK THURSDAY #tbt  The Biology hallway was dedicated to David Steen on May 3rd, 2014 in honor of his 26 years of service. The hallway celebrates the diverse research of Honors and other Undergraduate Research Scholars from the Department of Biology. David A. Steen handcrafted the poster frames used in the display. Dr. Steen served as professor of Biology at Andrews University from 1986 to 2012 and chair of the department from 2000 to 2012. His passion for biology and commitment to excellence, especially displayed in the first semester of Foundations of Biology, awakened a love for biology and spirit of inquiry in many students. Thank you Dr. Steen!!!

[andrewsstem]

Biology Professor Emeritus, Dennis Woodland, presenting the Hanes Trust Grant check for $2,000 to Tori Steely (BS 2008, MS 2013), who is the science teacher at Battle Creek Academy. The grant was given to her at a school constituency meeting for “A Tall Grass Prairie Reconstruction for K-12 and Public Use.” Congratulations, Tori! The Biology Department and STEM are proud of the good work you are doing at BCA. 

[andrewsstem]

One of the Biology classes that were offered in the Spring 2014 Semester was BIOL415 - Genomics, Proteomics & Bioinformatics.

Taught by Dr. Lyons, the class was centered around this idea: How can you get information on genes and proteins using computational methods-- bioinformatics?

Genomes can be sequenced easily by taking the variety of nitrogenous bases (ie. guanine, adenine etc.) and running them through computers. This shortens the time of research because proteins and genes can be understood without having to physically experiment with them in a lab setting. 

Projects included an analysis of the the characteristics of aminopeptidase in B. burgdorferi (the bacteria that causes Lyme disease) and a study of Zn-Dependent peptidase in Pseudomonas fluorescents.  

[andrewsstem]

Many students know Dr. Marian Prince as Math professor at Andrews University. But what if we told you that besides her teaching position, she is involved in an even bigger project?

Dr. Prince formed Charitable Calculators, a non-profit organization in 2011-- shortly after Texas Instruments released their newest model: the TI-NSPIRE. She couldn't help imagining all the older calculators lying around, not being used. Knowing that some school districts and educators were unable to provide calculators due to a low budget, Dr. Prince thought of Charitable Calculators! 

She avidly collects donated calculators, organizes, and then distributes them to schools in need around the United States and in different countries. A few weeks ago, she traveled to North Carolina with a few classroom sets of donated calculators and taught teachers in Greenville how to use them with their students. As far as foreign countries, she's been to Nepal, Macedonia, Albania, Jamaica and Haiti. Teachers/schools can apply for a classroom set of calculators on her website. 

The biggest shock of all, is that Dr. Prince pays for all her trips with her own Andrews University salary. She calls it a"ministry" and uses her trips to give testimonies of how God has moved in her life to teachers, politicians and education officials around the world. She's gotten a few monetary donations in the past, and Professor Poblete and two web-design students even helped design her website! She's relied completely on God to support this organization since the beginning, and Charitable Calculators has become a testimony on its own. 

HOW CAN STUDENTS GET INVOLVED? (contact Dr. Prince: [email protected])

volunteer your time to test calculators/perform data entry

go with Dr. Prince on a Charitable Calculators trip!

donate any calculators you have that you don't use anymore, or ask friends/family to donate their unused calculators 

If you're interested in web-design/computer science, help maintain and re-design the website! (this can be done for a class project too!)

help set up a a blog

help Dr. Prince find ways to recycle unusable calculators (this can be a class project too)

fix broken calculators in your spare time

This list is very minimal, Dr. Prince is open to any ideas! If you want to help in some way, she will think of something for you :)

[andrewsstem]

This past spring break, a group of Biology students journeyed to the Everglades to study the diverse Floridian ecosystem. Through hands-on activities like snorkeling and canoeing, they were able to explore the ecology of the area in-depth. Here are a few short thoughts from two students who participated this year. 

"While I had a number of valuable experiences on the Biology trip to the Florida Keys and Everglades, possibly the most enjoyable aspect of the trip was the opportunity to connect with the group of people that went. During our time in Florida, we engaged in a number of activities that required us to be able to work together: such as a 2-day canoe trip, snorkeling in the keys, and simply making meals and cleaning up together 3 times a day. While I previously knew most of the group from seeing them around the department, the activities of the trip provided an excellent opportunity to truly get to know each member of the group. I was impressed to see that despite the fact that many of the activities were tough, each group member got along well with an overall attitude of positivity."

-Zach Reichert

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"The Everglades biology trip was an exciting learning experience that will surely be one of the highlights of my years at Andrews University. The days spent trekking through marshes, canoeing through mazes of mangrove tree islands, and snorkeling at the beautiful Looe Key reef taught me so many things about the world I live in that I had not yet been exposed to. In addition to gaining a fuller knowledge of Florida ecology, I was able to share the experience with students and professors who love nature and biology just as much as I do. I can't think of a better way to have spent my Spring Break!"

-Ashley Reichert

Click to see previous findings from the Everglades trips 

[andrewsstem]

Nina Lassonnier - Senior Design Project with Physics Enterprises

Nina Lassonnier is working with Robert Jewett and Brian Booth on their senior design project. They are designing an automated rod cutter for Physics Enterpises (click to see previous post about PE). Nina is designing the conveyer, a part of the handling system, which will transport the rod to be cut. 

When asked what she has learned from this project, Nina said, “So far, I have learned how to correspond with different companies to obtain quotes and order materials or systems. I've also learned to find the balance between cost, ideal mechanism, and clients specifications. One crucial skill that has to be mastered for this project is time management, without it, it is impossible to get anything done. Finally, designing and building this system helps me improve my technical hands-on skills, my CAD skills, as well as my simulation skills.”

The next step in their project is to send their designs to a manufacturing company to be built. The company will use Nina, Robert, and Brian’s CAD (computer-aided design) drawings to manufacture their finished product. Then it will be sent back to them to assemble the finished product to give to Physics Enterprises. 

About working with Physics Enterprises, Nina said, “Partnering with PE has given us the opportunity to complete this project from idea to final product. Without their sponsorship, we wouldn’t have been able to do a project of this magnitude.”

The Engineering & Computer Science department also sponsored a portion of the project. Regarding the support of the department, Nina mentioned, “This project brought us a ‘real world experience’. It allowed us to see a project from the beginning to the end. The guidance from the faculty, professional support of PE, and improved teamwork and design skills have been an invaluable part of my senior experience.”