Indiana University East awarded five scholarships for the 2017 Summer Research Scholar Program. Graduate and undergraduate students receive $2,000 to conduct a research project under the supervision of a faculty mentor.

Funding for the competitive program is provided by the Indiana University Office of the Vice Provost for Research and is matched by funds from IU East. All recipients will present their research findings during the ninth annual Student Research Day in spring 2018.

Stephanie Beckner, Richmond, Indiana. “Stateside.” Masters in English graduate program working with Brian Brodeur, assistant professor of English.

Beckner will complete her first poetry chapbook, “Stateside,” consisting of narrative-lyric poetry. Her poems will focus on the theme of military service, particularly combat and all that implies for not only the soldier who serves, but for the family members who remain stateside.

Westley Smith, Richmond, Indiana. “High Point.” Masters in English graduate program working with Brodeur.

Smith will complete his first book-length poetry manuscript, “High Point.” This manuscript will be a collection of free-verse, lyric narrative poems that explore his military experience, the inner life of a soldier, and a soldier’s life after serving.

Cassidy Clouse, Richmond, Indiana. “Motivating Self-Referenced Approach and Avoidance Movements with Emotional Images.” Psychology and Human Life Science major working with Greg Dam, assistant professor of psychology.

Clouse will perform a comprehensive statistical analysis of the results gathered in a previously implemented experiment that evaluated approach and avoidance movements in response to emotional stimuli. Based on her analysis, she will complete a manuscript that is to be submitted as a journal article. Clouse will present her findings at the American Psychological Association Convention in Washington, D.C. held August 3-6, 2017.

Breanna Nowak, Richmond, Indiana. “Examining the Effects of Lindane on Gene Expression in Fruit Flies.” Biochemistry major working with Hitesh Kathuria, associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry.

Nowak will work on the model organism Drosophila melanogaster, to identify key genes whose expression levels have altered upon exposure to Lindane, an organochlorine insecticide. The stress of the insecticide Lindane, a carcinogen, is expected to alter the expression levels of various genes with the genome of the fruit fly.

Gregg Sells, Brookville, Indiana. “Fear and Trembling, Indiana.” Secondary English Education major working with Brodeur.

Sells will revise his poetry manuscript that he drafted as a 2016 Summer Research Scholar. After the revisions, he will submit individual poems to literary journals and magazines. Sells’ ultimate goal is to publish his manuscript, “Fear and Trembling, Indiana,” in its entirety.