University Letter

UND's faculty and staff newsletter

Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity awards announced

Funded by a generous endowment established by UND alumni Suezette Rene Bieri, ’69, ’70, ‘89 and Mike Jacobs, ’70, ‘14, the Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research & Creative Activity Awards provide undergraduate students with research and creative activity experiences that enhance their learning.

Faculty apply for these grants to support projects that include undergraduate students and may involve data collection and analysis, journal article development, student travel associated with presentations at conferences, performances, productions, or workshops, as well as other professional development experiences, and more. Additional support for travel is provided by the Vice President for Research & Economic Development.

The College of Arts & Sciences recently awarded the following Undergraduate Research & Creative Activity grants for calendar year 2021:

RaeAnn Anderson, assistant professor in the department of Psychology, for a proposal titled “Eliminating Barriers to Ascertaining the Epidemiology of Rape Perpetration: Validity of Measures in Men, Women, and LGBTQIA+ Individuals.”

Susan Felege, associate professor in the department of Biology, for a proposal titled “Evaluating Impacts of UAS and Traditional ATV Nest Searching on Duck Behavior and Nesting Success.”

Camilla Morrison, teaching assistant professor in the department of Theatre Arts, for a proposal titled “Researching Historical Wig Styling Techniques and Implementation.”

Robert Newman, professor in the department of Biology, for a proposal titled “Taking a closer look at wildlife habitat and landscape structure to improve conservation planning.”

Ty Reese, professor in the department of History & American Indian Studies, for a proposal titled “Creating a Compendium of Electronic Sources for Studying the History of North Dakota from the Fur Trade to Statehood.”

Rebecca Simmons, professor in the department of Biology, for a proposal titled “Communities within communities: Investigating the Biodiversity of Prairie Pollinators and Their Endosymbionts.”

Irina Smoliakova, professor in the department of Chemistry, for a proposal titled “Palladium-Catalyzed Arylation of Boronic Acids Using Triphenylphosphine.”

Vasyl Tkach, professor in the department of Biology, for a proposal titled “Swimming with schistosomes: identity, circulation, and evolution of pathogens behind ‘swimmer’s itch’.”

The UND College of Arts & Sciences offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs and certificates in a variety of traditional and emerging disciplines in the fine arts, sciences, social sciences, and humanities. Students are challenged to work alongside faculty and with the community to explore and expand the boundaries of knowledge and their own creativity. The research, scholarship, and creative activities of the nationally and internationally recognized faculty enhance teaching and learning as well as contribute to the state of North Dakota, the country, and the world.