Academics at Hanover:
Designed to give students the opportunity to participate in scientific research, the Summer Research Fellows Program emphasizes experiential learning in one or more different sub-disciplines.
Students work closely with a professor on an active research project over the summer, learning the skills necessary to be a professional scientist. The program provides a monetary award, consumables used during the research, as well as a stipend to cover the cost of room and board.
- Design and conduct lab and field studies in various disciplines
- Work directly with scientists to learn how science is done
- Develop the skills and expertise to excel in graduate school or related careers
- Learn to read and write scientifically
- Present your work at state and national scientific conferences
- Author articles in peer-reviewed publications
The Summer Research program is open to rising juniors and seniors majoring in Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry and Geology. Interested students should contact individual professors during Winter Term.
Alumni and friends make the Summer Research Fellows experience possible through annual gifts to the program. Make your gift today and support our aspiring scientists!
Previous Summer Research Fellows
Summer 2015
Biology
Lindsay N. Beasley ’16 (magna cum laude, biology and spanish), from Batavia, Ohio, worked with Professors Glené Mynhardt and Pamela Pretorius. She works as a Clinical Research Associate at Medpace in Cincinnati while pursuing a Master’s degree in current biomedical laboratory research techniques at the University of Cincinnati.
Learning potential in Spotted Salamander larvae
Investigation of generic variation among populations of Dermestes
Trevor L. Chapman ’14 (biology), from Noblesville, Ind., worked with Professor Brian Gall, has continued his interests in amphibian conservation and ecology, completed an M.S in Biology, and is pursuing a Ph.D. at East Tennessee State University.
Only fear the fatal foe: Predation risk assessment by eastern newts (Notophthalmus) in response to common snapping turtles and other potential predators (with Kari L. Spivey, Jennifer M. Lundergan, Evie K. Sehr
John M. Dunn ’16 (cum laude, biology) from Louisville, Ky., worked with Professor Pamela Pretorius and has subsequently enrolled in the doctoral program in molecular and cellular biology at the University of Iowa.
A role for pax2e in craniofacial development of zebrafish
Emily K. Lessig ’16 (biology), from West Chester, Ohio, worked with Professors Glené Mynhardt and Darrin Rubino. After working as an Interpretive Naturalist at Clifty Falls State Park in Madison, Ind., she is now pursuing graduate work in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at UCLA.
Diversity of beetles (Insecta: Coleoptera) infesting decaying wood
Evanna K. Sehr ’15 (biology and spanish), from Bedford, Ind., worked with Professor Brian Gall and has subsequently undertaken graduate work in the Department of Plant Biology at Southern Illinois University.
Learning potential in Spotted Salamander larvae (with Lindsay N. Beasley and Kurtis W. Wilson)
Amelia L. Smith ’15 (biology), from Crestwood, Ky., worked with Professor Glené Mynhardt and has subsequently completed a M.S. in Biology at Western Kentucky University.
Kari L. Spivey ’14 (biology), from Springfield, Mo., worked with Professor Brian Gall and has subsequently pursued graduate work at Missouri State University.
Complex predator-prey interactions between the Rusty Crayfish (Orconectes rusticus and invertebrate and vertebrate prey within their native range
Rachel E. Turner ’16 (biology), from Greendale, Ind., worked with Professor Darrin Rubino and has subsequently worked with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation.
Using tree rings to date an historically erected building in Fountain City, Ind.
Chemistry
Kegan T. Mixdorf ’16 (chemistry), from Zionsville, Ind., worked with Professor Craig Philipp and subsequently began work as quality assurance/control technician at Heritage Environmental in Indianapolis.
Lindsay N. Taormina ’16 (chemistry), from Midland, Pa., worked with Professor Craig Philipp and currently works as a quality control analyst for Teva Pharmaceuticals in the Cincinnati area.
Summer 2016
Biology
Taylor N. Davis ’17 (cum laude, biology), from Jeffersonville, Ind., worked with Professor Darrin Rubino and subsequently has enrolled at Ball State University to pursue an M.S. in Biology.
Tree-ring Dating of the Reverend Frederick and Sophia Wyneken house in Adams County, Indiana
Rebekah J. Dickmander ’17 (cum laude, biology), from Greenfield, Ind., worked with Professor Pamela Pretorius, and subsequently has enrolled at UNC-Chapel Hill to pursue a doctoral degree in analytical chemistry.
Using hair to investigate genetic diversity in the bobcat (Lynx rufus) population of Clay Hill Memorial Forest
Shelby L. Hart ’17 (biology), from Louisville, Ky., worked with Professor Brian Gall.
The Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana) as a Possible Predator of Terrestrial and Aquatic Salamander Species
Mackenzie M. Spicer ’17 (cum laude, biology), from Indianapolis, Ind., worked with Professor Brian Gall and subsequently has enrolled in a doctoral program in cellular and molecular biology at the University of Iowa.
Clutch-level variation in predator avoidance behavior in wood frog (Rana sylvaticus) tadpoles
Chemistry
Adam J. Anthony ’17 (cum laude, chemistry) from Louisville, Ky., worked with Professor Craig Philipp.
Levels of Anthocyanins in Stressed Unripe Blackberries
Alana Feeley ‘18 (cum laude, chemistry) from Colchester, Vt., worked with Professor Edward Hall and subsequently has accepted employment as an analytical chemist for quality control.
Synthesis of Zinc Chelating D-Amino Acids as Potential Antibacterial Therapeutics
Taylor M. Lineberry ‘18 (cum laude, chemistry) from Monroeville, Ind., worked with Professor Edward Hall and subsequently has enrolled in a doctoral program at The Ohio State University.
Probing the Use Bismuth Oxide as a Cheap, Environmentally Benign Photo-catalyst
Karlie R. Miller ‘19 (cum laude, chemistry) from Newton, Ill., worked with Professor Timothy Cunningham and subsequently has enrolled in a doctoral program in chemistry at Washington University in St. Louis.
Protein Purification Using the Double Histidine Metal Binding Motif
Allison Mruzek Terpening ‘17 (summa cum laude, chemistry), from Hanover, Ind., worked with Professor Stephen Steiner.
Investigation of Substrate Specificity of L-Idonate Dehydrogenase By Site-Directed Mutagene
History
Caroline H. Brunner ‘18 (history), from Madison, Ind., worked with Professor Sarah Vosmeier and subsequently has accepted employment as an admission counselor in the Hanover College Office of Admission.
Archival research and oral history interviews on the “re-integration” of Hanover College in the 1950s and after
Summer 2017
Biology
Zoe Bachmann ‘19 (biology and anthropology), from Hobart, Ind., worked with Professor Glené Mynhardt.
Monique Huynh ‘18 (biochemistry), from Indianapolis, Ind., worked with Professor Pamela Pretorius and subsequently joined the AmeriCorps Emergency Response Team in St. Louis.
Samuel Stryker ‘19 (biology) worked with Professor Glené Mynhardt.
Keaton Veldkamp ‘18 (cum laude, biology), from Greenwood, Ind., worked with Professor Glené Mynhardt and has subsequently been a scientist-in-training at KCI Industries in Indianapolis.
Theresa Wrynn ‘19 (biology), from Connersville, Ind., worked with Professor Brian Gall and has subsequently conducted field research in Canada in Summer 2019 with the support of a Walne International Study grant.
Chemistry
Jacob Odulio ‘19 (summa cum laude, chemistry and philosophy), from Mitchell, Ind., worked with Professor Eddie Hall and has subsequently received the 2019 Distinguished Award in Philosophy.
Leah Bontreger ‘19 (magna cum laude, chemistry), from Middlebury, Ind., worked with Professor Eddie Hall and has subsequently been a German Academic Exchange Service intern in summer 2018 at the Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry Institute in Münster, Germany.
Jared Compton ‘19 (chemistry), from Hope, Ind., worked with Professor Tim Cunningham.
Karlie Miller ‘19 (cum laude, chemistry), from Shelbyville, Ill., worked with Professor Tim Cunningham. She received the 2019 Keith and Gwen White Award for Graduate Study in Chemistry and will pursue a doctoral degree in chemistry at Washington University in St. Louis.
Geology
Kelsie Rodgers ‘18 (geology), from Louisville, Ky., worked with Professor Ken Bevis.
Summer 2018
Biology
Ciara Mergler ‘20 (biology), from Troy, Ohio, worked with Professor Brian Gall.
Chemistry
Caroline Millard ‘20 (B.S. in chemistry), from Cincinnati, Ohio, worked with Professor Eddie Hall.
Allison Reardon ‘20 (B.S. in chemistry), from Amelia, Ohio, worked with Professor Tim Cunningham.
Josh Edwards ‘19 (biochemistry), from Seymour, Ind., worked with Professor Tim Cunningham.
Evan Stacy ‘21 (chemistry), from Louisville, Ky., worked with Professor Tim Cunningham.
Summer 2019
Biology
Sidney Goedeker ‘22 worked with Professor Brian Gall
Hanna Werner ‘21 worked with Professor Pamela Pretorius
Zoë Henry ‘20 worked with Professor Glené Mynhardt*
Ciara Mergler ’20 worked with Professor Glené Mynhardt*
Lauren Muse ‘20 worked with Professor Glené Mynhardt*
Samuel Stryker ‘19 worked with Professor Glené Mynhardt*
Alex Ludwig ‘20 worked with Professor Darrin Rubino**
*Students supported by a grant from the Indiana Forest Alliance.
**Student supported by the Business Scholars Program.
Chemistry
Kiley Ritter ‘21 worked with Professor Eddie Hall
Brynn Durecki ‘21 worked with Professor Eddie Hall
Alex Maldeney ‘21 worked with Professor Craig Philipp
Sydney Amick ‘21 worked with Professor Eddie Hall
Summer 2021
Biology
TBA
Chemistry
TBA
Geology
TBA
