Students Awarded Royal Scholar Summer Fellowships
From left: University of Scranton seniors Robert Rade, a biology major from Scranton; Jack Aversa, a biology and biomathematics double major from Gouldsboro; and Mili Patel, a neuroscience major from Scranton; were awarded Royal Scholar Summer Fellowships at the University.University of Scranton seniors Jack Aversa, a biology and biomathematics double major from Gouldsboro; Mili Patel, a neuroscience major from Scranton; and Robert Rade, a biology major from Scranton; were awarded Royal Scholar Summer Fellowships.
The summer fellowship is part of the University’s Royal Scholars Program, which was funded through a $645,000 National Science Foundation (NSF) grant awarded to the University last year. The grant funds scholarships and provides additional academic support during a five-year period to 25 undergraduate students at the University majoring in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The grant also supports student and faculty mentorships, internship and research opportunities for the students, as well as additional enrichment component such as peer- and faculty-mentoring programs.
Through the scholarship, Aversa studied variances in bat echolocation for two months in Panama. His faculty mentor is Gary Kwiecinski, Ph.D., professor of biology. He is a member of the University’s Magis Honors Program in STEM and is a graduate of North Pocono High School.
Patel said during the summer she “worked on a project that applied logistic regression and neural network analyses to compare the facial landmarks of public figures self-identified as having bipolar disorder or borderline personality disorder with control public figures who have not publicly expressed such conditions.” J. Timothy Cannon, Ph.D. professor of psychology, serves as her faculty mentor. She is a graduate of Scranton High School.
Over the summer, Rade studied the effects of temperature and acidity on bleaching in sea anemones. His faculty mentor is Janice Voltzow, Ph.D., professor of biology. He is a member of the University’s Magis Honors Program in STEM and is a graduate of Scranton Preparatory School.
Dr. Voltzow is the principal investigator for the competitive federal NSF grant. She works with her colleagues Stacey Muir, Ph.D., professor of mathematics; Declan Mulhall, Ph.D., professor of physics/electrical engineering; Christie Karpiak, Ph.D., professor of psychology; and Brian Conniff, Ph.D., dean of the University’s College of Arts and Sciences, to support the Royal Scholars Program at Scranton.
For additional information about the Royal Scholars Program, contact Dr. Voltzow at 570-941-4378 or janice.voltzow@scranton.edu.
