The Office of Student Research (OSR) at Illinois State University announces the winners of the fall 2024 FIREBird and BirdFEEDER research grants. These small grants provide funding to support student research, scholarly inquiry, and innovation at Illinois State. The FIREbird Awards provide undergraduate students with funds for Faculty-mentored Independent Research Experiences (FIREbird). Up to $1,500 may be used for student hourly wages, research incentives, supplies, or travel. The BirdFEEDER Awards (Fund for Experimentation, Enquiry and the DEvelopment of Student Research) provide graduate and undergraduate students with up to $500 to use for research supplies, materials, or travel to conduct research.
This semester’s recipients are:
FIREBird
James Aygun, Department of Physics, “Asymmetry in Molecular Attosecond Energy Streaking using Sculpted Laser Pulses.” Faculty Mentor: Dr. Allison Harris.
Mary Block, School of Biological Sciences, “Development of Plant Two-Hybrid Assay.” Faculty Mentor: Dr. Viktor Kirik.
Alaina Glover, Department of Geography, Geology, and the Environment, “Unique feature of prominent flow banding in basalts sourced from Kverkfjöll Volcano, Iceland.” Faculty Mentor: Dr. Tenley Banik.
Aaron Jacob, Department of Geography, Geology, and the Environment, “Guadalupe Mountains Erosion: Tracing and dating the detrital and stratigraphic origin of sediments from stream channels.” Faculty Mentor: Dr. Lisa Tranel.
Aleah Keating, Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, “Perceptions of Thickened Liquids in Normal Adults.” Faculty Mentor: Dr. Taeok Park.
Gabby Montano, Department of Geography, Geology, and the Environment, “What lies beneath: An investigation of subglacial magma systems (Esjufjöll, Iceland).” Faculty Mentor: Dr. Tenley Banik.
Heather Salmons, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, “The Development and Transmission of Nut-Cracking and Stone-Knapping Skills in Young Children.” Faculty Mentor: Dr. Shelby Putt.
Atharv Kedar Walimbe, Department of Politics and Govenment, “Borderline Survival: The War on Drugs and Migration from Central America.” Faculty Mentor: Dr. Michael Hendricks.
Lily Whittington, Department of Biological Sciences, “Identifying a Crustacean Tachykinin Related Peptide Receptor that contributes to neuronal temperature resilience.” Faculty Mentor: Dr. Wolfgang Stein.
BirdFEEDER
Grace Adeyemo, School of Communication, “Can I Cope: Language Barriers and Academic Stress Experiences among International Graduate Students at Illinois State University.” Faculty Mentor: Dr. Andrew Ventimiglia.
Esi Afful, Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, “Barriers to Mental Health Among International Students: Identifying Challenges and Developing Support Strategies for Depressive Symptoms and Depression.” Faculty Mentor: Dr. Luke Russell.
Ana Bicudo, Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, “Educating older adults on home modifications through Virtual Reality experience to promote aging-in-place.” Faculty Mentor: Dr. Gabriela Fonseca Pereira.
Ellie Cain, School of Kinesiology and Recreation, “Meeting Athletes Where they are at: Consulting with Youth Athletes Informed by Developmental Psychology.” Faculty Mentor: Dr. Scott Pierce.
Melissa Calvillo, Mennonite College of Nursing, “Creation of a Grounded Theory of Prioritization Among School Nurses.” Faculty Mentor: Dr. Susana Calderon.
Ivellisse Del Valle, Department of Psychology, “Links between Turnover Intentions, Abusive Supervision, Counterproductive Workplace Behaviors, and Gender.” Faculty Mentor: Dr. Kimberly Schneider.
Will Ervin, Department of Psychology, “Authority and Expressions of Knowledge.” Faculty Mentor: Dr. Allison Nguyen.
Carolina Ford, Mennonite College of Nursing, “Internal Factors and Phases of the Role Transition to Full-time Nursing Academia.” Faculty Mentor: Dr. Cherrill Stockman.
Md. Mahadi Hasan, Department of Agriculture, “Can Cover Crops Reduce the Size of the Dead Zone?” Faculty Mentor: Dr. Rob Rhykerd.
Mackenzie Laney, School of Biological Sciences, “Using an Enzyme Inhibitor (Metyrapone) to Investigate the Effects of Cortisol Exposure During Embryonic Development.” Faculty Mentor: Dr. Ryan Paitz.
Alexis Quick, School of Communication, “Corporate Social Responsibility and Organizational Attractiveness: The Impact of CSR on the Workplace Preferences of Generation Z and Millennials.” Faculty Mentor: Dr. Rebecca Hayes.
Sydney Risen, Department of Psychology, “The Impact of Work Setting, Autonomy, and Belonging on Employees’ Job Satisfaction.” Faculty Mentor: Dr. Kimberly Schneider.
Lauren Rogers, Department of Psychology, “A Phenomenological Look at Mental Blocks in Artistic Gymnastics.” Faculty Mentor: Dr. Gregory Braswell.
Amanda Tay, School of Teaching and Learning, “Technology in the Second Language Acquisition Classroom: Attitude, Perception, and Preparedness of Language Teachers in Ghanaian IB Schools.” Faculty Mentor: Dr. Anna Smith.
Jessie Wertz, School of Biological Sciences, “Understanding the Role of Free Fatty Acids in Embryonic Development.” Faculty Mentor: Dr. Ryan Paitz.
Find out more about applications and grants at the Office of Student Research (StudentResearch.IllinoisState.edu).
