University Of Arkansas Publishes First Undergraduate Research Journal In History Of State

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - The University of Arkansas has just published Inquiry, the first undergraduate research journal ever published by an institution of higher learning in Arkansas. The journal showcases the high-caliber research of 12 undergraduate students in a variety of disciplines.

Murray Smart Jr., professor of architecture emeritus and president of the University of Arkansas Teaching Academy, edited the 76-page journal, of which 4,000 copies have been published. An editorial board consisting of professors from various disciplines chose a dozen papers from 60 submitted works for the publication’s inaugural issue.

"We hope that readers will see that there is no limit to what can be accomplished by the University’s best students and teachers working together," Smart said.

. Robert Jason Reed of Bakersfield, Calif., worked with professor Dmitry Khavinson in mathematics to take highly formal and abstract mathematical material and make it accessible to undergraduate students.

.Marlie McGovern of Springdale worked with professor Mark E. Cory III in foreign languages and studied how cultural atrocity is expressed in contemporary art.

.Angie Maxwell of Baton Rouge, La., worked with professor Sidney Burris, English and honors studies, and examined the myths and realities of Sen. J. William Fulbright’s Middle East peace plan.

. Karen V. Dick of Baton Rouge, La., worked with professor Marilyn Nelson, art, and looked at the interpretation of modern myth through art.

. Anna Terry of Fort Smith worked with professor Wesley E. Stites, chemistry and biochemistry, and contributed to the better understanding of the principles that underlie protein structure and stability.

.Rebecca Turner of Hot Springs worked with professor Judy Brittenum, landscape architecture, and designed a development plan for the future of Rogers.

. Andrew Ellett of Branson, Mo., worked with professor Ronald Okimoto, poultry science, and examined varying genetic sequences in a pigment gene in chickens.

. Eric Goodspeed of Eureka Springs worked with professor Jeannine M. Durdik, biological sciences, and used biochemical means to enhance immunological memory in cells.

. Nicole Reed of Bakersfield, Calif., worked with professor Roger Koeppe II, chemistry and biochemistry, and studied amino acids and their role in the stability of cell membranes.

. Brant Ward of Colorado Springs, Colo., worked with professor Gisela Erf, poultry science, and profiled lymphocytes in the blood and tumors of chickens that can combat cancer and another line of chickens that succumbs to the same disease.

.Julia Lincoln of Conway worked with professor Amy Apon, computer science and computer systems engineering, and analyzed the effectiveness of wireless communication on the University of Arkansas campus.

. Ben McKenzie of Ozark worked with Amy Apon, computer science and computer systems engineering , and designed, implemented and evaluated a virtual interface architecture that improves computer performance by reducing overhead in messaging.

The Inquiry editorial board includes Kathleen Barta, nursing; Philip J. Besonen, curriculum and instruction; Chuck R. Britton, economics; Sidney J. Burris, English; Allan Cochran, mathematics; Robert B. Cochran III, English; Lynda L. Coon, history; Wally Cordes, chemistry and biochemistry; Mark E. Cory III. German; Ro DiBrezzo, kinesiology; Robert P. Elliott, civil engineering; John T. Gilmour, agronomy; Ethel Goodstein, architecture; David Mack Ivey, biological sciences; Thomas C.Kennedy, history; Roger E. Koeppe, chemistry and biochemistry; Daniel B. Levine, classical studies; Suzanne D. McCray, honors studies; Max V. Meisch, enomology; Louise F. Montgomery, journalism; Lyna Lee Montgomery, English; Marianne Neighbors, nursing; John M. Norwood, accounting; Kraig J. Olejniczak, electrical engineering; Karen M. Pincus, accounting; Larry G. Pleimann, civil engineering; Mary Jo Schneider, anthropology; William A. Schwab, sociology; Kenneth A. Stout, art; and John Todd, management.

Robert Jason Reed majored in mathematical sciences. He was a Sturgis Fellow and a National Merit Scholar. He received USA Today honorable mention, twice received Science Information Liaison Office Undergraduate Research Fellowships, was selected as a Barry Goldwater Scholar, participated in Penn State's mathematics Advanced Study Semester and was included in Princeton's Institute for Advanced Study in math. In 1999, he was awarded a Deptartment of Energy fellowship at Argonne National Laboratory. He was president of Pi Mu Epsilon, the undergraduate math society and organized a weekly lecture series on math. He received the Phi Beta Kappa Outstanding Scholar's Award from the Arkansas chapter of Phi Beta Kappa and was accepted early to the graduate program in math at the University of California, Berkeley. He graduated in May 2000.

Marlie McGovern majored in cultural anthropology. She was a member of the Golden Key National Honor Society and received recognition from the National Deans' List and the Fulbright College Dean's List. She received a SILO (Science Information Liaison Office) grant. McGovern will graduate in May 2001.

Angie Maxwell majored in international relations and Middle East studies. She was a 1999 Truman Scholar, a Four-Year Honors Scholar, honored with the J. William Fulbright Award for Distinction in the Liberal Arts, was winner of the Johns Hopkins Policy Institute Citizenship Essay Contest, and was president of the Associated Student Government. She was selected as a USA All College Academic Team Member, and received a SILO Undergraduate Research Fellowship She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in American Studies at the University of Texas at Austin.

Karen V. Dick majored in art. The University Teaching Academy awarded her its Creativity Award in 1999 and 2000 for excellence in undergraduate research in creativity and the creative arts. She received a statewide SILO Advisory Council Undergraduate Research Fellowship. She graduated in May 2000. She is exhibiting her work nationally and has been freelancing in graphic design. In 1999-2000 won Blanche Elliott scholarship for outstanding seniors in art.

Anna Terry was a Four-Year Honors Scholar. She was a Sturgis Scholar, a Barry Goldwater Scholar, was named to the Deans' List and Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges, received a SILO grant and was named honorable mention for the USA Today Academic Team. Terry is majoring in biochemistry and German. She studied abroad in Germany for a year. She is a senior and will graduate May 2001.

Rebecca L. Turner majored in landscape architecture. She graduated in May 2000. She was the School of Architecture Presidential Scholar for 1999-2000 and was the school's Senior Scholar. She was awarded The Verna C. Garvan Medal for 1999-2000. The medal was presented to a graduating landscape architecture student who achieved the highest grade point average in the last two years of design studio and faculty recognition for creativity. She served as a School of Architecture Student Ambassador, and as both treasurer and president of the University's American Society of Landscape Architects student chapter. She was a member of Cardinal Key and Golden Key honor societies, and the student chapter of the Construction Specifications Institute. She completed her studies with summer positions in the offices of HOK of St. Louis and Bob Callans & Associates in Little Rock. She is currently working at Design Workshop in Vail, Colo.

Andrew E. Ellett will graduate in December 2000 with a bachelor’s degree in biology. He has worked part time in Ronald Okimoto’s laboratory in molecular genetics since May 1999.

"I enjoy the lab work and feel lucky to be able to take part in the scientific research process," he said. He is in the process of applying to medical school at several institutions and hopes to begin medical school in the fall of 2001, while also continuing to do research.

"Performing this research has added so much to my experience here at the U of A and I think I have learned more working in his lab than I have in many of my classes," he said.

Eric Goodspeed majored in microbiology. He was a recipient of a SILO Undergraduate Research Fellowship. His mother is Patricia McDonald of Eureka Springs. He graduated in May 2000 and is working at Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville. He plans to further his education in medicine.

Nicole Reed majored in biochemistry. She was a Sturgis Fellow, president of the Association of Honors Students, a SILO Undergraduate Research Fellowship recipient, president of the campus American Chemical Society, a Morris Udall Fellowship recipient, and was an undergraduate presenter at the Biophysical Society national meeting in February 2000. She graduated in May 2000 and currently is studying at Stanford Law School, which awarded her a full renewable fellowship.

Brant Ward majored in microbiology. He graduated in May 2000 and currently is pursuing his M.D. Ph.D. at the Medical Scientist Training Program at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. The MSTP is a program in which a combined graduate/medical curriculum leads to the attaining of both an M.D. and a Ph.D. The National Institutes of Health funds the program at UT Southwestern, as well as several other schools around the country for a total of about 200 positions nation-wide.

"It'll be a tough time, but I have no doubt that it will be worth it in the end," Ward said.

Julia Lincoln majored in computer science and was in the Fulbright College Honors Studies program. She graduated Cum Laude in May 2000 and is currently working at Alltel in Little Rock doing client server programming.

Ben McKenzie majored in computer science and was in the Fulbright College Honors Studies program. He was a Wal-Mart Competitive Edge Scholar and had a University Scholarship. He was a member of the Golden Key Honor Society and received the Outstanding Senior Computer Science Award. He graduated Magna Cum Laude in May 2000 and currently is employed by Sheshunoff Information Services in Austin, Texas, a financial and information provider for banks, where he does Java web development.