student research

Summer Scholar Research Highlights

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Jared Boone ’20

Major: Political Science & French

Title: Power Structures and Political Tradition: An Explanation for the Disparate Healthcare Outcomes Between the United States and France

Abstract: The United States and France have distinctly different healthcare systems and these differences are shown in nearly every measure. It is unique that two western Republics with very similar systems of governance, values, traditions, and global interests have created such different systems and this project seeks to answer the question of why. A three-pronged approach is taken for each country which focuses on the key actors of each system. First, a history of the contemporary health system is treated which outlines the development of the major actors as well as the politics that surrounded this development. Then follows an examination of how these key actors interact when reform efforts are undertaken by the government in order to guard their own respective interest. Finally, specific recent reforms are examined specifically focusing on the political process involving such key actors and how they influenced the ultimate political outcome. Interviews of students, doctors, and academics in each system are used to supplement the research. Through the understanding the political structure of each respective system, this project seeks to understand the disparate result of the two systems.

Something about the scholar: Jared is a rising senior in the Honors program that began to enjoy the study of politics during the presidential primaries of the 2016 election. During this time, he was a bored high school student, but these events sparked his realization that in our modern world, the domain of politics is among the last in which, as a nation, we fight with one another for what we think is right. However divisive this process may be, Jared believes that this constant battle of ideas is important for the health of our local, national, and global society. Regarding his study of French, this is something that he undertook starting his freshman year in high school and never had the heart to let go. So, he made it a second major and now he seeks to one day be able to call himself bilingual in the French language and culture. Further, he seeks to begin to put that skill to use in this project which he is completing for the Roanoke College Honors Program, out of love for the political process seen in different cultures, and to give himself a boost for his upcoming career. In his free time, Jared enjoys music, biking and chess among other things. If he’s not working on his project, taking shots of espresso while hovering over his online chessboard or at choir practice, you can probably find him on one of the beautiful nature trails in Roanoke.

Emma Coogan ‘20

Major: Biology

Title: Testing the Limits of Perception and Cognition of the Odorous House Ant Tapinoma sessile

Abstract: I propose experiments with the well-known odorous house ant (Tapinoma sessile) to determine their color vision abilities, and then, to determine their ability to recognize themselves through the mirror test paradigm often used in studies of animal cognition. My research will build upon and test controversial published work demonstrating self-recognition in a single species of Myrmica ants. If ants exhibit self-recognition, we would better understand the limits of cognitive abilities of insects, compared to vertebrates—so-called higher animals—as very few animal species pass the mirror test.

Something about the scholar: Emma is a rising senior at Roanoke College, majoring in Biology and minoring in Psychology. With a deep passion for ecology as well as comprehending alternative viewpoints, she has studied a variety of resources outside the classroom—such as Joseph Campbell’s Hero of a Thousand Faces and Measuring Behavior: An Introductory Guide by Paul Martin and Patrick Bateson. She has thrown herself into the realms of interning and volunteering in both wildlife rehabilitation and zoological institutes. Having a strong belief in animals’ rights as well as human rights, she hopes to foster human respect for the other lifeforms with which they share the planet so that both groups might be brought closer together.

 

Summer Scholar Research Highlights

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Isabel Hildesheim ‘20

Major: Biology

Title: Using Bryophytes for Stronger Quantification of the Effects of Air Pollution in Habitat

Abstract: This project will work to develop a method for using mosses to quantitatively assess air pollution. Moss will be fumigated with SO2 in the lab. The morphology, physiology, and cytology of these mosses will be observed, and polar auxin transport, photosynthesis, and respiration rates will be measured pre and post fumigation. Moss will be placed at three locations within Southwestern Virginia along a pollution gradient. Every three months for a year, the number of moss species present at these sites will be counted and samples of the moss specimens placed in the field will be collected for observation and analysis.

Something about the scholar: Isabel is Biology major who is passionate about conservation. She is an avid hiker and her hobbies include identifying plants and animals, spending time outdoors, reading, and learning about the world around her. She is dedicated to finding ways to improve the environment and educate others about how important the environment is. Her long-term goal is to go to graduate school and eventually get a job as a National Park Ranger performing conservation ecology field research. 

 

Emma Howard-Woods ‘20

Major: Sociology

Title: Barriers to Healthcare Access: How Socioeconomic Status Affects Perceived Access to Healthcare

Abstract: The goal of this project is to assess different barriers to healthcare access within the Roanoke Valley. This project will begin with the selection of three clinics within the Roanoke Valley, each serving a distinct socioeconomic population. From there, each clinic will receive two sets of questionnaires, one to be distributed to the patients, and one to the healthcare providers that work there. The questionnaires are designed to gauge the extent to which participants from each clinic perceive different barriers to healthcare access. Participants will also have an opportunity to participate in an optional interview.

Something about the scholar:  Emma was raised in Roanoke, Virginia. She graduated from William Byrd High School in 2016. She is now a junior at Roanoke College and is majoring in Sociology with concentrations in Anthropology and Peace and Justice Studies. She is active in the Honors program as well as the Student Peace and Justice Association and Alpha Kappa Delta. After Roanoke, she plans to go to graduate school to study public health, public policy, and law. She hopes to someday have a career in healthcare policy where she can make healthcare more equitable.

Research Highlight: Riker Lawrence

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Riker Lawrence (’20) presented recently at the Mid-Atlantic Undergraduate Research Conference at Virginia Tech. Her poster was about Psychological Capital (PsyCap), well-being, and work attitudes of employees. It was a joint project with her lab mate, Kaitlin. Riker “wanted to share her work with others because it is a topic that is common in the workplace and can influence the success of a business”. This research examined associations between PsyCap and how employees write about their jobs in addition to exploring the usefulness of Maslow’s (1943) Hierarchy of Needs in coding employees’ writings about their jobs. It was found that Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is not very useful when identifying and coding the themes that participants had wrote about their job.

“I think this is important to consider because employees’ attitudes and views on their workplace can impact employee morale. Therefore, measuring these components can possibly be helpful to a business’ success”.   


This was Riker’s first conference that was primarily other undergraduate students. This experience was different from others as at this conference she was around other students like herself instead of the usual professors and graduate students. Riker’s experience at the conference was very positive.

“I think being in [this] conference . . . made me feel more comfortable and confident with my presentation of the poster. It was also interesting to watch those students give oral presentations because it seems less intimidating than the oral presentations that I have experienced at my other conferences. In addition, I had the confidence to help other undergraduate students, who have never been to a conference before, by providing information from my past experience that could help with their poster presentation”.


Research Highlight: Kiah Coflin & Rachel Harmon

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Fellow RC students, Kiah Coflin (’19) and Rachel Harmon (’20) had the opportunity to present at the Society for Research on Child Development biennial conference in Baltimore.  They presented with Dr. Powell on the preliminary information gathered from Dr. Powell’s May Term on Emerging Adults Intercultural Competencies (ICC)over time after traveling to Thailand.

“Dr. Powell had us, as a May term class, complete quantitative measures on the A.S.K.S.2+ and on our intercultural competencies before, during, and after our experiences in Thailand. She plans on continuing to collect this data in the future with her next trip to Thailand.”

Kiah

 Presenting this research especially was appealing to both Kiah and Rachel. 

“I was interested in Dr. Powell’s research on ICCs because of its relevance to my own research on the cross-cultural differences in the available resources for children with disabilities between the United States and Mexico.”

Rachel

“It was wonderful getting to present at this conference not only because of the incredible scholars we were surrounded with and could network with, but also because I was on the May term and could give personal accounts of my experience and thoughts!”

Kiah

The presentation was a hit as so many people were very interested in the research of Dr. Powell. This research was intriguing to professors because the presentation was given at the pre-conferences for teachers. Specifically, professors from other schools were interested about how their own students ICCs could improve if they offered short-term study abroad opportunities.

“Many individuals were interested in our findings because of the educational aspect that was incorporated, as we spoke to the class assignments we needed to complete, and the measurements Dr. Powell included for her May Term. Due to this, many teachers and individuals interested in travel to different countries were visitors at our poster.”

Kiah

 After presenting at the pre-conference, Rachel and Kiah were able to spend the following days attending research talks, listening to guest speakers, and attend peer poster presentation. They were able to spend some time in downtown Baltimore and explore the city. 

“Overall, I thought the conference was amazing and gave me the opportunity to gain experience presenting research, so that I am more prepared when I present my own next year. SRCD also helped to remind me how important research can be in making global changes.”

Rachel

                                                                                 

Fine Arts Highlight

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RC students Charissa Roberson, Sarah Jane Ruppert, Haley Ramsey, and Adeline Huggins, had the opportunity to attend the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival for Region IV. In particular Adeline Huggins was nominated for her performance in Our Town, RC’s Theatre fall production. The group had the opportunity to perform a scene before a panel of judges, after which Adeline performed a monologue. 

RC students Charissa Roberson, Sarah Jane Ruppert, Haley Ramsey, and Adeline Huggins

I interviewed Charissa Roberson and here’s what she had to say about the whole experience.

I participated in the Institute for Theatre Journalism and Advocacy (ITJA), a program in which students write about the plays they see during the festival and then workshop their articles in small-group sessions. I attended six student productions; wrote two reviews, one lead, and an interview piece; and participated in several two to three-hour ITJA sessions with a reporter from the Washington Post, during which we workshopped articles and discussed the plays we had seen.  

This festival was an amazing opportunity to see a wide variety of high-level artistry, including numerous full-length plays (for free!).  I enjoyed the opportunity to participate in an acting competition as well, which is something I have never done before—it was a new kind of exciting stress!  

Also, as a creative writing major at Roanoke, the ITJA program honed my journalistic skills—such as conducting interviews and meeting pressing deadlines—and connected me with professionals in my prospective field.  I was able to interview a student playwright and learn how to use a transcribing program to structure a Q&A interview piece. Also, I experienced the realistic pressure of watching a play one night and having to get an article written by the next morning! 

 Beyond all that, I enjoyed and benefited from the time spent discussing writing, play-crafting, and other interesting topics in the workshop sessions.  At the end of the festival, I actually ended up winning the Regional award for my submissions in the ITJA program, which was an honor. 

HHP Highlight

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Dr. Elizabeth Ackley and her undergraduate research team recently participated at the Southeast Regional meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine. Dr. Ackley had high praises for her team as they were a really good group of students. She also said “this [trip] was one of the best travel experiences with students [she] has had”.

Four students presented research:

           Kasey Ansell (So.)              

 

 

 

 

Peyton Rohrbaugh (Sr.)  

        Kate Priester (Sr.)                   
                 

Hannah Kolcz (Recent Graduate)

 

Peyton Rohrbaugh was one of eight undergraduates selected from hundreds of research presentations to compete in the undergraduate research competition. She finished 3rdoverall! This is the second time Dr. Ackley’s had a student as a finalist, but this is the first time she’s had a winner. Also, Roanoke College finished 12thout of 39 schools across the Southeast Region.

Great to see so many Roanoke students excelling!

Frequently Asked Questions

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I asked some fellow students frequently asked questions about research and all it entails. Here are their responses.

Why would someone want to do research?

It allows you to further explore areas that you are interested in and connect with professors. It also gives you opportunities to present your research and know more about the research process.it helps you to become more prepared for graduate school or jobs you are interested in

-Rachel Harmon

Why would someone be interested in doing research in the summer as opposed to during the semester?

Doing research during the summer allows the student to have more focus on the research than they would be able to have during the semester. Solely doing research during the summer allows for a deeper understanding of the topic, creates a familiarity with techniques, and strengthens the bond between the research student and the research professor.

                             -Madalyn Wheeler

 

Doing research in the summer is beneficial because it is the main focus, so you get more out of it. When you do research during the semester, sometimes it is pushed back as a last priority thing that you get to when you have time. 

                      -Claire Aurand

 

What was your summer research experience like?

My summer research experience was very beneficial to my thought process about what career path I might want to pursue. It made me want to apply for an REU this summer and then consider a career path that involves genetics research.

                             -Madalyn Wheeler

 

Summer is a laid-back way to get more hands-on experience in a setting of your choice. I was taking summer classes and was still allowed to participate in research. I had limited lab hours due to class, but through what I did I gained a lot of knowledge at a fast pace. 

                             -Claire Aurand

 

Why did you choose to do off-campus research?

I chose to do off-campus research for the ability to do work in facilities that aren’t available here on campus. I wanted to be able to do work in a field (fluid dynamics) that I wouldn’t normally have access to. My off-campus research experience was more than I hoped for. I was able to experience graduate type research in a field that isn’t offered here on campus. I was able to use different facilities and work closely with my graduate adviser and a graduate student that worked in the same field. I was given insight into what my potential research would be able to look like.

                      -William Lambert

 

 

Research Highlight: Cody Dillon-Owens

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Cody Dillon-Owens is a senior at Roanoke College majoring in Psychology. His research investigates how group biases in empathy can affect our judgements in moral decisions. Essentially, people can make moral decisions based off of emotions or gut reactions rather than logical reasoning. These emotional processes can be influenced by empathy, or putting oneself in someone else’s shoes. Depending on who that ‘someone else’ is, emotional processes may be influenced in different ways. The end goal is to find ways to increase rational thinking in order to combat these biases. His project stems from his fascination on how people interact with one another.

“There are a lot of terrible events in our human history that are the result of discrimination or other negative consequences of group dynamics. I would like to find ways that we can increase our positive experiences with each other.”

He states that working with his research advisor Dr. Buchholz has been a wonderful and enriching experience. He has learned so much about not only research in the field, but how to conduct research of my own.

“There are a lot of valuable skills that I’ve gained from the last couple of years and I hope I can develop my skills as a researcher even more.”

Cody recently had the opportunity to present his research at the Society for Personality and Social Psychology conference.

“The conference was a ton of fun! There were a ton of highly intelligent people all in one building presenting new and exciting research in the field. You definitely learn a lot in a short amount of time, it’s overwhelming. My presentation went well, I actually presented research that someone else in the lab did on making moral decisions in the modern context of self-driving cars. I had the opportunity to present at the morality pre-conference so it was a much more intimate setting.

He is looking forward to the opportunity to present at a conference again.

To anyone considering doing a research project, Cody recommends getting involved.

“Definitely take advantage of the resources Roanoke College provides to be a part of research at such an early time. It will give you the experience and skills to be both competent and competitive in your future endeavors. Plus it’s a lot of fun to actually contribute to a field that interests you!

Research Highlight: Megan Blackwell

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Megan Blackwell is a senior at Roanoke College. She is a psychology and biology major with a concentration in neuroscience.  She has had the opportunity to work with the Salem Veterans Affairs Medical Center to conduct research.

How did your collaboration with the Salem VAMC come to be?

     “I was at my induction for Psi Chi, the psychology honors society, my sophomore year when Dr. Buchholz approached me. He knew I had been looking for research opportunities and talked to me about the VA and afterwards sent information to me about the primary investigators (PIs) that were looking for undergraduate assistants. There were several projects that I thought were really interesting, so I sent in an application. When I went through the interview process, I had a great interview with Dr. Stacy Belkonen in the Center for Aging and Neurocognitive Services (CANS). She accepted me on as an undergraduate research assistant and I have continued to research there since May 2017.”

How has your experience with VAMC been?

     “I have had an incredible experience at the VA. When I first started, Dr. Belkonen introduced me to everyone who worked in CANS so I could talk to all of them about the research they had going on. From there, I had the freedom to pick which research projects I wanted to be a part of. I was put onto two protocols originally, “Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in Older Adults” and “Traumatic Brain Injury in Rural OEF/OIF/OND Veterans.” With these projects, I’ve been able to do data entry and analysis, study intakes, IRB maintenance, and have presentations at two conferences. I have also been able to assist in performance improvement projects for CANS. I’ve developed wonderful relationships with the researchers at the VA and they have been great mentors for me through the latter half of my undergraduate education and in my application project for PhD programs.”

What has been your favorite or most interesting part of your research so far? Why did you decide to do research?

     “My favorite part of my research has been being able to develop and carry out my own research project. My project is titled “Cognitive Reserve and Resilience in Traumatic Brain Injury” and focuses on the role cognitive reserve and resiliency play on the severity of symptoms experienced by patients who come through our TBI clinic. This project has given me a lot of independence as a researcher. I was able to design the project, carry out my IRB proposal, and do the intakes and data analysis for it largely on my own. The researchers at the VA have been extremely helpful in this process, especially Dr. Belkonen, Dr. Neena Cassell, and Dr. Brian Shenal. This has prepared me for my next steps for research in graduate school. I chose to do research because I am really interested in a variety of topics in psychology. Doing research at the VA now has allowed me to explore these interests and will open a lot of possibilities to me in the future.”

What would you say to current and incoming students interested in doing research?

     “If there are students interested in research, I would strongly encourage them just to ask about it. Professors here are very open about their research if a student is interested in what they are doing. If a student has a topic or an area of interest that isn’t being explored by a lab here, the professors are always open to talk about ways the student can further explore the topic or connect them with someone in the area that could help them.”

Lastly, any other additional information or comments you’d like to include besides the questions stated above?

     “My time at the VA has been extremely influential in my decision to apply to PhD programs for Clinical Psychology. Without working there, I am not sure that I would have decided to go down this path and found something that I love doing as much as this. I’ve also formed relationships with the individuals that work there that I plan on keeping because they have had a profound impact on me both academically and as a person.”