The Summer Undergraduate Research program gives Central College students the opportunity to conduct research with a faculty mentor.
“Students who take advantage of a high-impact practice, such as independent research, find greater success at Central and after graduation,” says Aaron Roerdink, dean of faculty and 1997 Central graduate. “It is awesome our students are able to conduct research on our campus during the summer with some amazing Central faculty.
“The skills students develop during their experience — critical thinking, problem solving and grit when a project may not go exactly as planned — can be transferred to the student’s next step after Central,” Roerdink says. “It is great that students have the opportunity to research and learn beyond the typical classroom environment as it can impact the student’s career path. The students also have the opportunity to learn what others are doing in different majors and disciplines. Research in religion is conducted very differently than in chemistry.”
Central welcomes 16 students for summer undergraduate research projects on campus.
Elijah Belzer, a strength and conditioning major in the Class of 2026 from Wapello, Iowa, is conducting research with Katelin Valster, assistant professor of kinesiology, using the Catapult GPS accelerometer system to assess key athletic performance indicators.
Brady Birkenholtz, a Class of 2027 undeclared major from Carlisle, Iowa, is completing research on ring-shaped molecules and cambiarenes with Jay Wackerly, associate professor of chemistry, and the National Science Foundation grant. Birkenholtz’s summer research is also funded by the Moore Family Foundation endowment.
Olivia Bohlen, a kinesiology major in the Class of 2026 from Belle Plaine, Iowa, continues to work with Sara Shuger Fox, associate professor of kinesiology. Bohlen is delving into Blue Zone research collected from Greece and in Pella. Her research is funded by the Franks-Mahmood Fund and the Moore Family Foundation endowment.
Kenna Burgess, a biochemistry and biology double major in the Class of 2025 from Waverly, Iowa, is also working on the National Science Foundation grant with Wackerly, exploring ring-shaped molecules and cambiarenes.
Summer Chambers, a Class of 2027 undeclared major from Aurora, Illinois, is conducting biology and genetics research with Paulina Mena, Ruth and Marvin Denekas Endowed Chair in Science and Humanities and professor of biology. Chambers is continuing research begun last summer with Mena, doing a survey of native bees in Big Rock Park, Pella. The findings will allow researchers to expand their understanding of the species of bees found there. Her summer undergraduate research experience is funded by the Moore Family Foundation.
Grace Coates, a kinesiology major in the Class of 2025, from Marion, Iowa, is completing a religion research project with Terrence Kleven, Dr. Jacob and Gela Schnucker Sessler Chair in Philosophy and Religion and professor of religion. Coates’ research focuses on “Isaiah’s Prophetic Criticism of the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah.” Her summer undergraduate experience is funded by the Arthur J. Bosch Endowment for Student Research.
Hayden Hearne, a strength and conditioning major in the Class of 2026 from Urbandale, Iowa, is working with Valster, using the Catapult GPS accelerometer system to assess football player performance.
Jadyn Jacobs, a kinesiology and psychology major in the Class of 2025 from Washington, Illinois, is developing research evaluating congruence characteristics of coach and player with Keith Jones, Mark and Kay De Cook Endowed Chair in Character and Leadership Development and professor of psychology.
Karsyn Lamm, a biology major in the Class of 2025 of Mount Pleasant, Iowa, is researching longevity from the public health perspective with Shuger Fox. This is a longitudinal study with data from Greece and Pella, Iowa.
Katie Morrison, a biochemistry major in the Class of 2026 from Waukee, Iowa, is also working with Wackerly on the National Science Foundation grant exploring ring-shaped molecules and cambiarenes. Her summer undergraduate experience is funded by the Arthur J. Bosch Endowment for Student Research.
Sabrina Olsen, a chemistry major with the Class of 2025 from Marion, Iowa, is also researching ring-shaped molecules and cambiarenes through the National Science Foundation grant with Wackerly.
Hannah Reynolds, a biology major with the Class of 2026 from Burlington, Iowa, is conducting research with Mena. Reynolds is also continuing Mena’s research begun last summer mapping DNA of native bees in Big Rock Park, Pella. Her summer undergraduate experience is funded by the Arthur J. Bosch Endowment for Student Research.
Amber Reysack, a biology major with the Class of 2025 from Ankeny, Iowa, is also researching ring-shaped molecules and cambiarenes through the National Science Foundation grant with Wackerly.
Emma Rocha, a psychology major in the Class of 2025 from Franklin, Wisconsin, is conducting research in social psychology with Randy Renstrom, associate professor of psychology. The research focuses on how framing affects attitudes toward transgender youth in sports and is funded by the Arthur J. Bosch Endowment for Student Research.
Ethan Thomas, a kinesiology major in the Class of 2026 from Ankeny, Iowa, is conducting therapeutic exercise and sports science research with the Catapult GPS accelerometer system and athletes, supervised by Valster.
Fynn Wadsworth, an art major in the Class of 2025 from New Market, Iowa, is researching and developing a graphic novel focused on queer student history and experiences at Central. Mat Kelly, professor of art, is supervising the summer research project.
Pella native, Zack Neumann, is participating in the National Science Foundation grant with Wackerly on campus this summer. He attends Baylor University.
Funding sources include the National Science Foundation, Arthur J. Bosch Endowment for Student Research, The Moore Family Foundation, Franks-Mahmood Fund and the academic affairs summer undergraduate research fund.
The Arthur J. Bosch Endowment for Student Research provides financial support for undergraduate students to engage in professional research opportunities with faculty during the summer in preparation for graduate school or a chosen career. Bosch Fellows receive a stipend and housing support during the summer to support their research.
The Moore Family Foundation provides funding to support faculty with the opportunity to strengthen engagement with students in the classroom and other educational settings.
The National Science Foundation supports fundamental research and education in all non-medical fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, including computer science and the social sciences. This support advances knowledge to grow the U.S. economy and sustain global leadership. Central received funding for Wackerly’s research focused on the synthesis and supramolecular properties of a novel class of supramolecular macrocyclic host molecules they have termed “cambiarenes.”
Photo caption: Sara Shuger Fox, associate professor of kinesiology, (left) continues wellness research with Central College students Karsen Lamm ’25 and Olivia Bohlen ’26. They collected wellness data about Pella Manor resident Birdie Goemaat ’63 (second from left). Bohler, Lamm and Shuger Fox traveled to Greece to collect data on residents in June.
