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 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 welcomed 24 students for summer undergraduate research projects on campus.
Alec Anderson-Conlon, a psychology major in the Class of 2026 from Madison, Wisconsin, researched the role of personality in person-situation interactions, with Keith Jones, Mark and Kay De Cook Endowed Chair in Character and Leadership Development and professor of psychology. Anderson-Conlon’s research was funded by the Arthur J. Bosch Summer Undergraduate Student Research Fellowship.
Tessa Bly, a Class of 2025 sociology major from Johnstown, Colorado, completed research with Shawn Wick, associate professor of sociology, on the complexities of youth substance use treatments. Bly’s research was funded by the Arthur J. Bosch Summer Undergraduate Student Research Fellowship.
Brady Birkenholtz, a Class of 2027 chemistry major from Carlisle, Iowa, continued synthetic organic chemistry research with Jay Wackerly, associate professor of chemistry. Birkenholtz is the son of the late Jill Egan Birkenholtz, a 1999 Central graduate, and Eric Birkenholtz, a 1998 graduate. Birkenholtz’ research was made possible through the National Science Foundation grant.
Olivia Bohlen, a kinesiology major in the Class of 2026 from Belle Plaine, Iowa, continued to work with Sara Shuger Fox, associate professor of kinesiology. Bohlen is completing a comparative study on Blue Zone research collected in Italy, Greece and Costa Rica. Bohlen is the daughter of Todd Bohlen, a 1988 Central graduate. Her research was funded by the Franks-Mahmood Fund and the Moore Family Foundation endowment.
Summer Chambers, a Class of 2027 environmental and sustainability studies and biology double major from Aurora, Illinois, conducted biology and genetics research with Russ Benedict, associate professor of biology. Chambers researched the geographic distribution of the Indiana bat in Iowa. Chambers is the daughter of John Chambers a 1998 Central graduate. The summer undergraduate research experience was funded by the Arthur J. Bosch Summer Undergraduate Student Research Fellowship.
Aniya Coleman, a biology and biochemistry double major in the Class of 2027 from Kansas City, Missouri, worked on synthetic organic chemistry research with Wackerly through the National Science Foundation grant.
Piper Eighmy, a biology and business management double major in the Class of 2027 from Birmingham, Alabama, also completed synthetic organic chemistry research with Wackerly. She is the daughter of Sunny Eighmy, vice president for advancement and 1999 Central grad and Nathan Eighmy, also a 1999 Central graduate. Eighmy’s summer undergraduate research experience was funded by the National Science Foundation Grant.
Lillian Fairchild, a Class of 2027 chemistry major from Eddyville, Iowa, also completed synthetic organic chemistry research with Wackerly and the National Science Foundation grant.
Gabrielle Fye, a biology major in the Class of 2026 from Brooklyn, Iowa, completed research alongside Paulina Mena, Ruth and Marvin Denekas Endowed Chair in Science and Humanities and professor of biology. Fye is continuing Mena’s research begun two summers ago mapping DNA of native bees in Big Rock Park, Pella. Her summer undergraduate experience was funded by the Arthur J. Bosch Endowment for Student Research.
Ava Goben, a Class of 2027 strength and conditioning major from Corydon, Iowa, researched force plate technology and its effects on athlete performance with Adam Bradley, assistant professor of kinesiology. Goben’s research was funded by the Arthur J. Bosch Summer Undergraduate Student Research Fellowship.
Hannah Higgins, a Class of 2026 environmental and sustainability studies and biology double major from Macomb, Illinois, conducted research with Benedict. Higgins’ research focuses on pollinating bees and the importance of flower redundancy. She is the daughter of 1988 Central grad Scott Higgins. Her research was funded by the Arthur J. Bosch Summer Undergraduate Student Research Fellowship.
Cole Johnson, a strength and conditioning major in the Class of 2027 from Norwalk, Iowa, researched the maximum and average acceleration possible in different football positions. Johnson’s research is being completed alongside Katelin Valster, assistant professor of kinesiology. This summer undergraduate experience was funded by the Arthur J. Bosch Summer Undergraduate Student Research Fellowship.
Lauren Knott, a Pella native biochemistry major from the Class of 2027, conducted synthetic organic chemistry research with James Shriver, professor of chemistry, through the National Science Foundation grant.
Logan Lursen, a Class of 2027 strength and conditioning major from Mason City, Iowa, conducted research on assessing athletic performance with force plate technology. His summer undergraduate research was funded by the Arthur J. Bosch Summer Undergraduate Student Research Fellowship.
Nathan McWilliams, a biology and psychology double major in the Class of 2026 from Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, conducted research with Shuger Fox. McWilliams’s research focuses on public health, a continuation of a study on Wesley-Life. His summer undergraduate experience was funded by the Arthur J. Bosch Summer Undergraduate Student Research Fellowship.
Teah Miller, a biochemistry major from the Class of 2027 from Iowa Falls, Iowa, completed synthetic organic chemistry research with Wackerly. This research was supported by the National Science Foundation grant.
Prashanthi Naidoo, a biology major in the Class of 2026 from Pella, Iowa, completed research with Benedict. Naidoo is researching annual prairie biodiversity through the Arthur J. Bosch Summer Undergraduate Student Research Fellowship.
Anna Newton, a strength and conditioning major with the Class of 2027 from Diagonal, Iowa, conducted Catapult sports science research with Valster. Newton’s summer undergraduate experience was funded by the Arthur J. Bosch Summer Undergraduate Student Research Fellowship.
Gavin Nolan, a strength and conditioning major in the Class of 2026 from North Aurora, Illinois, also conducted Catapult research with Valster. Nolan’s summer undergraduate experience was funded by the Arthur J. Bosch Summer Undergraduate Student Research Fellowship.
Hannah Reynolds, a biology major in the Class of 2026 from Burlington, Iowa, conducted research with Mena, continuing Mena’s research on native bee diversity in Iowa. Her summer undergraduate experience was funded by the Arthur J. Bosch Summer Undergraduate Student Research Fellowship.
Alivia Roerdink, a chemistry major in the Class of 2027 from Tiffin, Ohio, conducted synthetic organic chemistry research with Shriver. Roerdink is the daughter of Aaron Roerdink and Andrea Westra Roerdink, also a 1997 Central graduate. This research was supported by the National Science Foundation grant.
Taylor Thunstedt, a Class of 2026 business management major from Chaseburg, Wisconsin, conducted research under Terry Kleven, Dr. Jacob and Gela Schnucker Sessler Chair in Philosophy and Religion and Professor of Religion. Thunstedt’s research focuses on how the Book of John conveys Christ in comparison to the other gospel narratives in the Bible. His research was funded by the Arthur J. Bosch Summer Undergraduate Student Research Fellowship.
Lauryn Venema, a history major from the Class of 2027 from East Amana, Iowa, researched the history of Central College and Pella during and after World War II with Lori Witt, associate professor of history. Venema is the daughter of Micah Hershberger Venema, a 1994 Central graduate. Her summer undergraduate experience was funded by the Arthur J. Bosch Summer Undergraduate Student Research Fellowship.
Madison Whalen, an environmental and sustainability studies and biology double major from the Class of 2026 from Kansas City, Missouri, completed a video project. This project focused on creating educational videos about bats found in Iowa for elementary aged students. Whalen’s research is being done alongside Benedict through the Arthur J. Bosch Endowment for Student Research.
Funding sources include the National Science Foundation, Arthur J. Bosch Summer Undergraduate Student Research Fellowship, The Moore Family Foundation, Franks-Mahmood Fund and the academic affairs summer undergraduate research fund.
The Arthur J. Bosch Summer Undergraduate Student Research Fellowship 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 1 identification:
Students completing research at Central over the summer were: First row, from left: Hannah Higgins ’26, Summer Chambers ’27, Prashanthi Naidoo ’26, Madison Whalen ’26, Nathan McWilliams ’26, Olivia Bohlen ’26, Taylor Thunstedt ’26, Anna Newton ’27
Back Row: Tessa Bly ’25, Hannah Reynolds ’26, Gabrielle Fye ’26, Logan Lursen ’27, Cole Johnson ’27, Alec Anderson-Conlon ’26, Gavin Nolan ’26, Lauryn Venema ’27
Photo 2 identification: Seven students completed summer research supported by the National Science Foundation grant. From left: James Shriver, professor of biology, Lauren Knott ’27, Brady Birkenholtz ’26, Alivia Roerdink ’27, Lillian Fairchild ’27, Piper Eighmy ’27, Aniya Coleman ’27, Jay Wackerly, associate professor of chemistry, Teah Miller ’27
