Month: October 2013

Meet the New Faculty: Dr. Pablo Hernandez in Economics

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Dr. Pablo Hernandez is an Associate Professor of Economics teaching introductory and intermediate microeconomics, international trade and finance, and a 200-level INQ course. Dr. Hernandez’s fields are in development economics; environmental and ecological economics and his specialty is in environmental economics.

Dr. Pablo Hernandez
Dr. Pablo Hernandez

 

1. Tell us about your research.

I am researching land reforms and recent credit constraints in the agricultural sector in Mexico.  I am also researching the premises behind common access resources regimes in southeast Mexico.

 2. What attracted you to Roanoke College?

Friends and colleagues attracted me to Roanoke College. The College’s friendly and respectful environment, and its emphasis on teaching excellence in the liberal arts tradition, played a critical role in my decision to accept the position.

 3. What do you do when you’re not at work?

During my spare time I like to spend time with family and friends. I enjoy the outdoors and traveling.

If you see Dr. Hernandez around campus, please welcome him to Roanoke College!

Meet the New Faculty: Dr. Guan Soon Khoo in Communication Studies

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Dr. Guan Soon Khoo is an Assistant Professor in Communication Studies teaching Research Methods, Communication Theory, and an INQ 120 (Storytelling Cinema) in the Spring. He has a PhD in Mass Communications in the Media Psychology, Media Effects field with a specialty in Entertainment Research and Narrative film.

Dr. Guan Soon Khoo
Dr. Guan Soon Khoo

 

1. Tell us a little bit about your research.

My research is on media entertainment, particularly films. We often think of film as “entertainment,” the out of sight, out of mind kind. However, some of us seek out and watch movies that provide us with a different experience, ones that we’d consider meaningful; some of us go to the cinema for a good cry or to be moved by these narratives, particularly dramas. So, I am interested in looking at our cognitive and emotional responses to these meaningful experiences when we expose ourselves to somber films. One over-arching research question would be “to what extent could media entertainment make us better individuals?

2. What attracted you to Roanoke College?

The atmosphere in the department in which I was hired and the feeling of belonging with faculty members who were curious and interested in my research.

3. What do you do when you’re not at work?

I am rarely not at work or thinking about it; I blame my intense but captivating graduate work. Occasionally, I practice strumming on my ukulele, which may prove to be therapeutic, and I try to watch movies on my shamelessly large projection screen at my residence after sundown.

If you see Dr. Khoo on campus, please welcome him to Roanoke College!

Dr. Richard Keithley wins Baxter Young Investigator Award

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This past month Dr. Richard Keithley won the Baxter Young Investigator Award from the Baxter Healthcare Corporation. This award is given to highlight a young scientist’s accomplishments and he presented his research project, “Ultrasensitive Single-Cell Analysis of Glycosphingolipid Metabolism”, at their worldwide headquarters in Deerfield, IL. He is one of five recipients out of fifty-eight applicants.

For this project Dr. Keithley wanted to find out why the chemical makeup of cells that are spatially, genetically, and functionally identical can vary up to 35%. He constructed equipment that allowed for the detection of glycosphingolipids in single cancer cells.

“Glycosphingolipids are a promiscuous group of specialized molecules that reside on the outside of cells and are involved in a variety of functions including cancer progression.  Single cells are microscopic so we need very sensitive instrumentation to measure the small amount of glycosphingolipids inside of them.   Borrowing from the technology used to sequence the human genome, I constructed an instrument that was capable of detecting fewer than 100 glycosphingolipid molecules.  Once the instrument was constructed, I then studied the differences in glycosphingolipid metabolism among single cells within cancerous tumor mimics.”

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Dr. Keithley plans to bring this same innovative technology here to Roanoke College to research glycosphingolipid metabolism in neuronal tissue.

“There is some evidence that these molecules could play a role in the progression of neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease.  I am eager to work with [students here] to investigate this further.  Moreover, this technology will provide students a distinct opportunity to work with instrumentation that isn’t available at any other liberal arts college in the country.”

Dr. Keithley advises students considering research opportunities here to

“Jump in with both feet!  Roanoke College provides students with unique opportunities to perform cutting-edge research across multiple disciplines that students at other institutions do not have.  I believe research is the art of conducting science without an instruction manual.  Life doesn’t come with one either so research can provide students an avenue to explore their creative side while making important contributions to the broader field of knowledge. “

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This project was recently published in Analytical Chemistry and can be viewed here: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/ac402262e

More information on the Baxter Young Investigator Award can be viewed here: https://www.baxter.com/about_baxter/scientific_excellence/young_investigator/index.html

Students interested in learning more about this work are encouraged to email or drop by Dr. Keithley’s office (Trexler 179)

Meet the New Faculty: Dr. Richard B. Keithley in Chemistry

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Dr. Richard B. Keithley is an Assistant Professor of Chemistry teaching General Chemistry/General Chemistry Laboratory, Environmental Chemistry, and Instrumental Analysis. He has a PhD in Analytical Chemistry and his specialty is Electrochemistry, Separations, and Neuroscience.

1. Tell us a little bit about your research.

As an analytical chemist, my expertise lies in the development of instrumentation and equipment used to measure interesting molecules.  You probably have seen many of these items on shows like CSI or the Discovery Channel’s Forensic Science shows.  Personally, I am enamored by Nature’s sophisticated elegance and am eager to apply my knowledge to address neurobiological and environmental problems.

Neurons in your brain control everything from how you move, how you think, who you are, and what you love.  Neurons talk to one another with the aid of chemical messengers called neurotransmitters.  Neuronal communication is exceptionally fast and can be difficult to measure, both because sensors require rapid response times and the sensors must be small enough to not damage neuronal tissue.  Using a technique called Fast Scan Cyclic Voltammetry, I can measure neuronal communication in the brains of organisms in real time while they are awake and moving around.  Working with psychologists and biologists, I am interested in using this technology to study how neuronal communication is affected by drug abuse and how it is altered in neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson’s Disease and Alzheimer’s Disease.

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2. What attracted you to Roanoke College?

Roanoke College is the type of institution that personally allows me to excel as both a teacher and a scholar.  I don’t fit into the traditional mold of a chemist.  Roanoke College is unique in that I am not just allowed, but I am encouraged to work with students across multiple disciplines including chemistry, biology, and even psychology.  Moreover, when I arrived at Roanoke College it just felt like a place I wanted to call home.  Finally, I am a native Virginian and it is great to come back home from my travels across the U.S.  I was raised in a rural area along the coast and decided to experience life in the lovely Blue Ridge.

3. What do you do when you are not at work?

As a chemist, I realize that spare time has exceptionally high vapor pressure and readily evaporates.  However, on the occasion that I manage to find spare time, I enjoy sitting outside reading a book and playing with my two cats, Smith & Wesson.  I also love to show off my Southern heritage, constantly cooking food for others that is incredibly unhealthy yet exquisitely decadent.

If you see Dr. Keithley around campus, please welcome him to Roanoke College!

Can’t resist texting while working? Summer Scholar Jessica Gladfelter (’15) says blame it on your hormones

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Jessica Gladfelter (’15) spent her summer studying texting behavior in college students.

In particular, Jessica’s research project focuses on technointerruptions, such as text messages or Facebook notifications.

Most students do not turn off their electronic devices when studying or completing coursework even though they are known to cause stress and distract students from what they are doing. Jessica believes there may be a biological explanation behind it.

“Over the summer, I reviewed existing literature on texting and the social hormone, oxytocin. We developed a study to examine whether oxytocin is released in relation to receiving technointerruptions, causing students to feel socially connected and overriding the stress associated with being interrupted.”

Dr. Denise Friedman and Jessica Gladfelter
Dr. Denise Friedman and Jessica Gladfelter

 

Jessica enjoyed Summer Scholars because

“it allowed me to concentrate solely on my research while receiving individual attention and support from my research adviser.”

All of the Summer Scholars and summer researchers had the option to live in New Hall this summer. Jessica noted that

“I enjoyed the atmosphere of living on campus with other students that love research just as much as I do.”

Jessica’s faculty mentor was Dr. Denise Friedman, and Jessica advises other student researchers to be proactive.

“Start a literature search without being asked, come up with research ideas, ask if there is a project that you can help with, etc. Show the professor you are working with that you can handle and want responsibilities.”

Jessica is planning to continue her research this fall by collecting data that she will write up for publication.

 

Do you love birds? Summer Scholar Lauren Strong (’14) explains how bird diversity differs from forests to residential areas in the Roanoke Valley

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Lauren Strong (’14) is a Biology major and her research project looked at

“how human development affects bird populations along the Roanoke River.”

She decided to study three varying habitat uses of riparian forests (habitats along rivers), and looked at different levels of development and how it impacts the birds that live there:

“My high impact sites are within residential areas, and my low impact sites consist of intact forest along the Blue Ridge Parkway. So far, I have found that even though there were similar numbers of species between the high and low impact sites, they both had totally different communities.”

Lauren Strong
Lauren Strong

Lauren mentions that

“being able to get experience in a field that I am interested in was really incredible. Secondly, it’s really nice to do research during the summer, when you more time on your hands to really focus on the research.”

She advises other student researchers to

“begin your data collection and scientific paper, as soon as the summer begins. Also, keep in touch with your faculty mentor multiple times a week! Most importantly have fun!”

Lauren’s faculty mentor for this project was Dr. Rachel Collins.

Lauren plans on continuing research this year on

“migratory birds that use habitats along the Roanoke River. I will be collecting data during the fall and winter. Then my last semester, I plan on conducting an Honors Project! Essentially, I will gain as much experience as possible before I graduate.”

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Mark your calendars for our next on-campus presentation opportunities:

Showcase on Thursday, November 21, 2013 from 6-8pm in Fintel Library focused on service-learning, internships, and study abroad. Apply to present by November 8.

Showcase on Friday, November 22, 2013 from 6-8pm in Fintel Library focused on research and artistic/creative work. Apply to present by November 8.

For updated information on student-faculty research:

#GraphTheory in 140 characters or less. Summer Scholar Jon Marino (’14) studied the mathematics of twitter

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Jon Marino (’14) is a mathematics major with a concentration in statistics. Jon’s research project allowed him to create a computer model of the social networking site Twitter to understand and analyze how people interact online.

“I used data collected from real Twitter users to model a small portion of the site and simulated how people in the network may interact with each other.  We want to answer the following questions: how many people saw your message and how long did it take for them to see it.  Whether you’re marketing a product or a politician trying to gain supporters, it’s advantageous to have your message seen by the greatest amount of people in the shortest amount of time, and our model helps see how that can happen in social media.”

As for the Summer Scholars program, Jon says that he enjoyed being a part of it because

“it was a productive way to spend my summer researching a topic I am passionate about while gaining valuable research experience.”

Jon Marino ('14) and Dr. Karin Saoub
Jon Marino (’14) and Dr. Karin Saoub

Jon’s faculty mentor for this research project was Dr. Karin Saoub. His advice to students interested in research is

“to find out which faculty member is passionate about the same things you are, because that gives you a valuable resource and a mentor who is just as excited as you to collaborate with.”

This year Jon will be applying to graduate programs in pure mathematics and continuing planning for the math club at RC.

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Mark your calendars for our next on-campus presentation opportunities:

Showcase on Thursday, November 21, 2013 from 6-8pm in Fintel Library focused on service-learning, internships, and study abroad. Apply to present by November 8.

Showcase on Friday, November 22, 2013 from 6-8pm in Fintel Library focused on research and artistic/creative work. Apply to present by November 8.

For updated information on student-faculty research:

Why should we follow laws? Summer Scholar Andrew Miles (’13) explains social contract theory

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Andrew Miles (’15) is a double major in History and Philosophy and his research project combined Social Contract Theory and Game Theory. His project asked the question “Why should a person cooperate with societal laws and norms?” He approached this to show that cooperating with society is not only a moral choice, but one that can be beneficial to the person asking the question as well.

“Specifically, my research compares the pros and cons of living in a contractual society—one where everybody agrees to follows the laws—to a society without any central government or laws and finds that cooperation is better achieved within a contractual system than without it.”

Andrew feels that Summer Scholars is an awesome program and getting to work one on one with a professor is extremely helpful. Andrew’s faculty mentor for his project was Dr. Ned Wisnefske.

“All the summer scholars were passionate about their projects and we became a close-knit family by the end of the summer. Summer Scholars is a fantastic program that allows students to do professional research in a great environment.”

Andrew Miles & Dr. Ned Wisnefske
Andrew Miles & Dr. Ned Wisnefske

For students considering research opportunities, Andrew says

“don’t be afraid to be ambitious. If you are passionate about something, then go for it. Don’t ever try to stay within your limits; research is about broadening them. Start large, embrace your mistakes, and keep going. There is always something else to discover.”

Currently Andrew works as a tutor in the Writing Center and as a Maroon Ambassador. He is also the student leader for the newly established RC Alternatives

“hosting events to allow students another way to have fun and find new people to hang out with on campus.”

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Mark your calendars for our next on-campus presentation opportunities:

Showcase on Thursday, November 21, 2013 from 6-8pm in Fintel Library focused on service-learning, internships, and study abroad. Apply to present by November 8.

Showcase on Friday, November 22, 2013 from 6-8pm in Fintel Library focused on research and artistic/creative work. Apply to present by November 8.

For updated information on student-faculty research: