iFellows News

Two iUTAH students, Joydino Beyale and Luis Vidal, were among the many undergraduate students presenting research at the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) National Conference for Diversity in STEM in Long Beach, CA, on October 13-15, 2016.

Research for their presentations at SACNAS started last summer, when the two students were accepted into the iUTAH iFellows undergraduate research experience. This 11-week program culminated in the creation of a formal presentation and paper on the topics listed below.

• Joydino Beyale, USU Eastern in Blanding, presented on Determining the Quantity and Quality of Rainwater Drainage from Various Rooftops
• Luis Vidal, University of Utah, presented on Cross Cutting Relationships Among Community Concerns and Green Urban Infrastructure in the Jordan River Corridor
  
  

Ellen Eiriksson, iUTAH Education, Outreach and Diversity Coordinator, said “iUTAH is proud to not only provide research opportunities for undergraduate students from across Utah, but also support students in sharing their research at relevant conferences”

“It was a little intimidating at first with so many people” said Vidal, a junior studying Geology and Environmental Science at the University of Utah. “There was a great sense of inclusion in the conference and being around other students with similar backgrounds, especially when meeting other earth scientists of similar backgrounds.”

For Beyale, who is finishing his general studies at Utah State University Eastern in Blanding and plans to major in Environmental Engineering, the best part was the “many workshops and people to talk to, “ adding “being part of SACNAS has opened up a whole new beginning for me.”

While time was tight at the conference, which had record turnout with more than 4,000 attendees, and 1,000 student research presenters, students found opportunities to learn about graduate schools and internships, meet faculty and students from schools throughout the U.S., and get information about key resources and programs. The 2017 SACNAS National Conference will be held on October 19-21, 2017 in Salt Lake City, Utah, providing more Utah students and researchers a chance to attend.

“Both Luis and Joydino's iFellows research allowed them to connect with a wide audience” said Eiriksson. “Their iUTAH faculty mentors helped the students develop skills to share this research on a national scale, and we hope they now feel empowered to use this research and skills to positively impact their communities.”

When asked what advice they would give to other students interested in going to undergraduate conferences, Beyale said “work hard, get involve with your college, and most importantly be connected with your mentors and professors.”

Press: Utah State Today | UU News

iUTAH iFellows Undergraduate Research program and its participants were featured in a University of Utah news story. As the 11-week program concludes this week, students such as Georgie Corkey reflect on what they have learned.

The U’s article said “For the last 10 weeks, University of Utah student Georgie Corkery has investigated sustainable urban farming options for Salt Lake, and she will present her work at a symposium Wednesday, July 27, at the University of Utah Guest House, 110 S. Fort Douglas Boulevard, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Corkery is among 18 undergraduate students from universities across the state who were accepted to work as iFellows, a program designed to connect undergraduate students with faculty researchers whose work is part of the National Science Foundation funded-iUTAH project. iUTAH, which stands for innovative urban transitions and arid-region hydro-sustainability, is an interdisciplinary research and training program aimed at strengthening science for Utah’s water future. Part of that involves outreach projects that train the next generation of water scientists.”

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U student Georgie Corkery with plants growing using hydroponics. She is holding a kale plant. | Photo: Georgie Corkery

Kale and peppers growing in rock wool and soil. The fan and sticky traps (yellow papers) were used to successfully and quickly rid the starts from a potentially damaging gnat problem. | Photo: Georgie Corkery

iUTAH is working hard to address Utah’s need to help students grow their interest in STEM research fields. Through its iFellows program, undergraduate students are involved in cutting-edge research and scholarly work on water-related issues. This program, now in its fourth year, takes place over an 11-week period each summer, beginning in May. Since 2013, the program has funded 63 iFellows undergraduate researchers, bringing students from around the state to Utah’s premier research institutions: the University of Utah, Utah State University, and Brigham Young University.

One of the best parts of the iFellows program is that it stimulates interest among talented undergraduates in research science careers by introducing them to the work researchers are doing. Students are involved in a wide range of research topics, ranging from aquatic biology to urban planning to environmental engineering. A key component of the program is identifying and matching student interests to research projects and mentors. Once they are assigned to a faculty member, graduate and peer mentor, students become involved in current iUTAH research projects.

This year’s 18 iFellows represent iUTAH’s continuing commitment to STEM education and diversity with 71% female and 18% under-represented minority students participating. The 2016 iFellow undergraduate researchers are listed as follows, including hometown, current institution, and iUTAH faculty mentor:

• Joydino Beyale - Red Mesa, UT, USU Eastern – Blanding, with Ryan Dupont, USU
• Heather Bottelberghe - Grantsville, UT, Salt Lake Community College, with Sarah Null, USU
• Katelyn Boyer – Springville, UT, Utah State University, with Sam St. Clair, BYU
• Todd Brown – Hooper, UT, Utah State University, with David Rosenberg, USU
• Darcie Christensen – Tremonton, UT, Utah State University, with Christine Pomeroy, UU 
• Georgie Corkery – Salt Lake City, UT, University of Utah, with Steve Burian, UU
• Cynthia Elliott – Valencia, CA, Weber State University, with Mark Brunson, USU
• Andrew Hackett – Layton, UT, Weber State University, with Sarah Null, USU
• Greta Hamilton – Salt Lake City, UT, Salt Lake Community College, with Greg Carling, BYU
• Stacy Henderson – Salt Lake City, UT, Westminster College, with Joanna Endter-Wada, USU
• Rebecca Lee – San Diego, CA, Brigham Young University, with Zach Aanderud, BYU
• Gabriela Martinez – Salt Lake City, UT, Salt Lake Community College, with Sarah Hinners, UU
• Mitchell Steele – Orem, UT, Utah State University, with Ryan Dupont, USU
• Shanae Tate – Salt Lake City, UT, Brigham Young University, with Scott Jones, USU
• Luis Vidal – Logan, UT, University of Utah, with Mark Brunson, USU
• Lily Wetterlin – Midway, UT, University of Utah, with Diane Pataki, UU
• Adam Whalen – Draper, UT, University of Utah, with Sara Yeo, UU
• Sandra Udy (Young) – Vernal, UT, Utah State University, with Michelle Baker, USU

“This summer’s iFellows Program is off to a great start,” says Ellen Eiriksson, iUTAH Education, Outreach and Diversity Coordinator. “Students have arrived eager to contribute to iUTAH's multi-disciplinary research and to gain valuable experience working with the project's many inspirational faculty and near-peer mentors.” These students come from disciplines ranging from general studies and communications to environmental science and engineering. All are bringing new ideas and insights together to help address Utah’s future water concerns.

iFellow Rebecca Lee collecting soil samples in the Rush Valley, Utah, while working in Zach Aanderud’s lab at BYU. Credit Rebecca Lee.

 

Sandra Young of Vernal, UT, working on iUTAH research in Michelle Baker’s lab, is preparing sampling equipment before deployment in the upper Provo River to collect dissolved oxygen and light levels at the surface and river floor. Credit Sandra Young.

Enjie Li presented “Happy Baby, Frustrated Collaborator” at Ignite USU. Credit: USU Office of Research and Graduate Studies

Utah State University Research Week 2016 featured iUTAH researchers and graduate students Kshitij Parajuli, Elizabeth Ogata, and Enjie Li. Talks and poster presentations by USU undergraduates and former iUTAH iFellows include Viviane Baji, Matthew Barnett, Jesse Fleri, and Josh Gathro. The Office of Research and Graduate Studies hosts a series of events annually in April, showcasing exceptional research and researchers at USU.

The final event on the Research Week calendar, Ignite USU, is an atypical lecture series where nine graduate and undergraduate students, “enlighten us, but make it quick.” Students share the stories behind their research and what drives their success in five minute talks with presentation slides advancing every 15 seconds. Enjie Li, doctoral student in the Department of Environment & Society, opened the Ignite USU series with her talk “Happy Baby, Frustrated Collaborator.” 

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Press: Utah State Today | USU Statesman | The Herald Journal 

Sean Bedingfield was one of twelve Utah State University scholars selected for a 2016 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship. In 2013, Sean participated in iUTAH’s iFellows program, which places undergraduate students in the labs of iUTAH project scientists to gain first-hand research experience. He worked directly with iUTAH mentors David Rosenberg and Ryan Dupont, both of USU, during his 11-week program

“The discussions in our iFellows meetings gave me confidence in pursuing a graduate degree,” said Bedingfield, adding “iUTAH was my first experience with collaboration ...I have made collaboration a huge part of my graduate studies.”

Bedingfield, who earned a bachelor’s degree in biological engineering from USU in 2014, conducted research on producing biofuel from algae. Nowadays, he is designing biomaterials using antibodies, peptides and environment-responsive polymers to enable targeted, intracellular drug delivery. These delivery systems are intended to improve use of existing drugs and enable them to reach targets currently considered “undruggable.” Bedingfield is currently pursuing graduate work in Biomedical Engineering at Vanderbilt University.

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Sean Bedingfield, 2016 NSF GRFP recipient, working in USU lab. Photo credit: USU Office of Research and Graduate Studies