Students participating in bird research.

Freshman Fellows Research Projects

Freshman Fellows work closely with NMU faculty and staff to gain hands-on experience in research and scholarship. The projects fellows undertake vary widely. Since projects are based on research currently undertaken by NMU faculty, students interested in the program should find out about faculty research interests at NMU by reading our faculty research interests directory

A'Mariya Peterson

Major: Biology

Mentor: Dr. Jill Leonard


Aiden Gilbert

Major: Forensic Anthropology

Mentor: Dr. Jane Harris


Camryn Nugent 

Major: Clinical Lab Science   

Mentor: Dr. Matt Jennings


Cassandra Davis 

Major: Clinical Lab Science

Mentor: Dr. Maryam Khaledi


Josephine Lesiecki

Major: Psychology

Mentor: Dr. Lin Fang


Kenzee DeFrenn

Major: Nursing  

Mentor: Sarah Jennings


Kira Smith

Major: Health & Human Performance

Mentor: Dr. Lukus Klawitter


Laney Pestrue

Major: Health & Human Performance

Mentor: Dr. Matt Kilgas


Lars Anderson

Major: Biology

Mentor: Dr. Jill Leonard


Lola Rigano

Major: Earth, Environmental & Geographical Sciences

Mentor: Dr. Jelili Adebiyi


Lucy Planica

Major: Theatre & Dance

Mentor: Lex Van Blommestein


Megan Mansheim

Major: Biology

Mentor: Dr. Kurt Galbreath


Natalie Molnau

Major: Health & Human Performance

Mentor: Dr. Maggy Moore


Paige Dolph

Major: Psychology

Mentor: Dr. Jon Barch


Samantha Holmes

Major: Chemistry

Mentor: Dr. Frankie McCormick


Tobias Morse

Major: Political Science & Public Administration 

Mentor: Dr. Ruth Watry

Alex Hopper

Hometown: Cass City, MI
Major: Pre-Medicine
Mentor: Dr. Matt Jennings


Anna Hill

Hometown: Port Sanilac, MI
Major: Fisheries and Wildlife Management
Mentor: Dr. Jill Leonard


Anne Carrier

Hometown: Shawano, WI
Major: Biology/Concentration Microbiology
Mentor: Dr. Josh Sharp


Chloe Billington

Hometown: Shelbyville, MI
Major: Speech and Language Pathology
Mentor: Dr. Maryam Khaledi


Emily Lovasco

Hometown: Kawkawlin, MI
Major: Elementary Education
Mentor: Dr. Derek Anderson


Emma Iles

Hometown: Appleton, WI
Major: Graphic Design
Mentor: Lee Xiong


Emory Fouch

Hometown: Leland, MI
Major: Anthropology/Geographic Information Science and Technology
Mentor: Dr. Scott Demel


Grace Listopad

Hometown: Mount Prospect, IL
Major: Sustainable Business and Enterprise Creation
Mentor: Dr. Jes Thompson


Isaac Pifer

Hometown: Appleton, WI
Major: Psychology/Communication
Mentor: Dr. Jacob Daar


Jason Andary

Hometown: Marquette, MI
Major: Clinical Laboratory Science/Concentration Diagnostic Genetics
Mentor: Dr. Paul Mann


Julia Drexel

Hometown: Royal Oak, MI
Major: Chemistry
Mentor: Dr. Alex Wilson


Kourtney Bazhenow

Hometown: Peoria, IL
Major: Secondary Education/Mathematics
Mentor: Dr. Carol Bell


Mikenna Weiler

Hometown: Muskegon, MI
Major: Psychology
Mentor: Dr. Joshua Carlson


Olivia Brill

Hometown: Albertville, MN
Major: Chemistry
Mentor: Dr. Paul Mann


Renae Cox

Hometown: Williamston, MI
Major: Clinical Laboratory Science
Mentor: Dr. Matt Jennings


Marisa Hoover

Hometown: Petoskey, MI
Major: Clinical Laboratory Science
Mentor: Prof. Emily Matthys


Trinity Freriks

Hometown: Fremont, MI
Major: CNC Technician
Mentor: Dr. Cale Polkinghorne


Grace Robinson

Hometown: Bellaire, MI
Major: Biology
Mentor: Dr. Neil Cumberlidge


Chloe Patterson

Hometown: Bloomfield Hills, MI
Major: Biology
Mentor: Dr. Philip Yangyuoru


Grace Wisniewski

Hometown: Rochester Hills, MI
Major: Clinical Laboratory Science
Mentor: Prof. Emily Matthys


Sydney Chrome

Hometown: Mason MI
Major: Biology/Botany Concentration
Mentor: Dr. Adam Naito

Amanda Allee

Hometown: Greencastle, IN
Major: Undecided (Planning on Medicinal Plant Chemistry)
Mentor: Dr. Donna Maki 


Elisabeth (Asbel) Wells

Hometown: Greensburg, PA
Major: Medicinal Plant Chemistry
Mentor: Dr. Lesley Putman


Bianca Wiegerink

Hometown: Comstock Park, MI
Major: Chemistry
Mentor: Dr. Jill Leonard


Caitlyn Nunn

Hometown: Carleton, MI
Major: Forensic Biochemistry
Mentor: Dr. Philip Yangyuoru


Carlee Yon

Hometown: Wakefield, MI
Major: Elementary Education Language Arts
Mentor: Dr. Christi Edge


Cecilia Anderson

Hometown: Linden, MI
Major: Biology
Mentor: Dr. Jill Leonard


Elizabeth Williams

Hometown: Appleton, WI
Major: Environmental Studies & Sustainability
Mentor: Dr. Ryan Stock


Ella Bates

Hometown: West Olive, MI
Major: Anthropology
Mentor: Dr. Ryan Stock


Ella Houwers

Hometown: Whitewater, WI
Major: Psychology
Mentor: Dr. Derek Marr


Emily Appleton

Hometown: Clay, MI
Major: Psychology
Mentor: Prof. Heather Issacson


Isabelle Honkomp

Hometown: Waconia, MN
Major: Environmental Studies
Mentor: Dr. Ryan Stock


Jaycee Harvath

Hometown: Farmington Hills, MI
Major: Pre-Nursing​​​​​​​
Mentor: Dr. Amber LaCrosse


Jenna Laway

Hometown: Cheboygan, MI​​​​​​​
Major: Criminal Justice, Forensic Biochemistry ​​​​​​​
Mentor: Prof. Chris MacMaster


Jenna Pasbrig

Hometown: Mayville, WI​​​​​​​
Major: Clinical Laboratory Science​​​​​​​
Mentor: Dr. Paul Mann


Jennifer Jenks

Hometown: Wild Rose, WI​​​​​​​
Major: Psychology​​​​​​​
Mentor: Dr. Lin Fang


Keegan Sutton

Hometown: Ruckersville, VA​​​​​​​
Major: Political Science​​​​​​​
Mentor: Dr. Petra Hendrickson


Maeghan Cooley

Hometown: Canton, MI​​​​​​​
Major: Biology/Zoology​​​​​​​
Mentor: Dr. Kurt Galbreath


Matthew Williams

Hometown: Kingsley, MI​​​​​​​
Major: Clinical Laboratory Science​​​​​​​
Mentor: Dr. Paul Mann


Mia Strazny

Hometown: Manitowoc, WI
Major: Biochemistry / Pre-Medicine​​​​​​​
Mentor: Dr. Robert Belton


Morgan Brown

Hometown: Stephenson, MI​​​​​​​
Major: Speech Pathology​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
Mentor: Dr. Maryam Khaledi


Wren Konickson

Hometown: Stillwater, MN
Major: Forensic Biochemistry​​​​​​​
Mentor: Dr. Evan Pratt

Jordan Brown

Hometown: Hamilton, MI
Major: Fisheries and Wildlife Management
Mentor: Dr. Diana Lafferty
Research Project Description: A natural history study on small mammal use of forensic cadavers at the FROST facility on campus. Included a deep literature review and observational data to determine where the need for additional research lies.


Margaret Lynch

Hometown: Grayslake, IL
Major: Biochemistry
Mentor: Dr. Robert Belton
Research Project Description: It is difficult to obtain human endometrial tissues for study. Uterine stromal cells are primary cells with a finite lifespan, so they cannot be grown in culture long-term. A stable, immortalized cell line that demonstrates hormone responsiveness is required to study the process of decidualization in vitro. A stable, immortalized HESC cell line was generated by researchers at Yale University in 2004 (Krikun et al). Our lab is testing cells from the same line to demonstrate their ability to respond normally to reproductive hormones.


Teagan Blohowiak

Hometown: Green Bay, WI
Major: Clinical Laboratory Science
Mentor: Dr. Paul Mann
Research Project Description: I did PNA-LAMP assays on 2 strands of PNA (peptide nuclei acids) oligomers of IDH1R132H mutation, a bio marker used to characterize glioblastoma, to determine the analytical sensitivity and specificity of the 2 strands.


Hunter Bault

Hometown: Saukville, WI
Major: Neuroscience: Behavior and Cognitive Sciences
Mentor: Dr. Maryam Khaledi
Research Project Description: We studied speech samples of subjects with fluent aphasia to determine how they differ morphologically and syntactically from “normal” and non-fluent utterances.


Margaret Lorenz

Hometown: North Muskegon, MI
Major: Biology
Mentor: Dr. Amber LaCrosse
Research Project Description: I helped analyze different grades of Glioblastoma, a highly malignant brain tumor, for Cannabinoid(CB) 1 and 2 receptors. The other project I was involved in was investigating Fluoxetine as a novel treatment for attenuating cognitive impairment caused by Cisplatin.


Riley Box

Hometown: 
Major: 
Mentor: Dr. Abigail Wyche


Trinity Hinshaw

Hometown: 
Major: 
Mentor: Dr. Diana Lafferty


Ania Hyatt

Hometown: 
Major: 
.Mentor: Dr. Gabrielle McNally


Claire Jorgensen

Hometown: 
Major: 
Mentor: Dr. Diana Lafferty


Mary Kelly

Hometown: 
Major: 
Mentor: Dr. Robert Legg


Heston Roberts

Hometown: 
Major: 
Mentor: Dr. Glenn Wrate


Scott Rose

Hometown: 
Major: 
Mentor: Dr. Matthew Jennings


Cora Siuda

Hometown: 
Major: 
Mentor: Dr. Kurt Galbreath


Benjamin Sternschuss

Hometown: 
Major: 
Mentor: Dr. Lin Fang


Luke Tschumperlin

Hometown: 
Major: 
Mentor: Dr. Gabrielle McNally

Grace Schumann

Hometown: West Chicago / Carol Stream, IL
Major: History
Mentor: Dr. Amy Hamilton


Brady Ruth

Hometown: Woodbury, MN
Major: Fisheries and Wildlife Management
Mentor: Dr. Brandon Gerig


Raquel Green

Hometown: Marquette, MI
Major: Environmental Science
Mentor: Center for Student Enrichment


Amber Essenmacher

Hometown: Ubly, MI
Major: English
Mentor: Center for Student Enrichment


Lily VandenLangenberg

Hometown: Greenbay, WI
Major: Secondary English
Mentor: Kim Smith and Renee Jewett


Dana Rinkel

Hometown: Royal Oak, MI
Major: Biology
Mentor: 


Brianne Cochill

Hometown: Warren, MI
Major: Biology
Mentor: Dr. Josh Sharp


Erin Matula

Hometown: Northern Wisconsin
Major: 
Mentor: Dr. Matt Van Grinsven


Joelle Gallagher

Hometown: 
Major: 
Mentor: Dr. Alan Rebertus


Maddie Voltz

Hometown: Alpena, MI
Major: Psychology
Mentor: Dr. Josh Carlson

Isabella Oldani 

Hometown: Chesterfield, MI
Major: Clinical Laboratory Science
Mentor: Dr. Paul Mann


Annika Desai 

Hometown: McFarland, WI
Major: Biology
Mentor: Dr. Kurt Galbreath


Julia Soma 

Hometown: Black Creek, WI
Major: Biology
Mentor: Dr. Neil Cumberlidge 

Eli Bieri

Hometown: Grandville, MI
Major: Biology
Mentor: Dr. Brent Graves - Biology


Mariah Goeks

Hometown: Lake Forest, Illinois
Major: Physics and French double major
Mentor: Dr. Rick Mengyan - Physics 


Felicia "Riley" Johnston

Hometown: Riverside, California
Major: Computer Science
Minors: Mathematics and Religious Studies
Mentor: Dr. Jeffrey Horn - Computer Science and Mathematics

Gwyneth Harrick

Hometown: Marquette, MI
Major: Public Administration
Mentor: Dr. Jon Barch


Tyler DeVos

Hometown: Caledonia, MI
Major: Wildlife Management
Mentor: Dr. Jill Leonard


Grace Grimes

Hometown: Plymouth, MI
Major: Zoology
Mentor: Dr. Jill Leonard

Kaitlynn Bortz

Hometown: Monroe, MI
Major: Biology
Mentor: Dr. Jill Leonard


Emma Schroeder

Hometown: Appleton, WI
Major: Secondary Education/French/Industrial Technology
Mentor: Dr. Erich Ottem


Nate Martineau

Hometown: Lansing, MI
Major: Ecology
Mentor: Dr. Alec Lindsay


Abigail Zeman

Hometown: Okinawa, WI
Major: English Writing 
Mentor: Dr. Caroline Krzakowski


Reagan McKay

Hometown: Wittenberg, WI
Major: Theatre Performance/English
Mentor: Prof. Ansley Valentine


Caleb Myers

Hometown: Alpena, MI
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Mentor: Prof. Michael Martin


Brooke Immel

Hometown: 
Major: Clinical Laboratory Science
Mentor: Prof. Cathy Bammert


Sarah Vertel

Hometown: 
Major: Clinical Laboratory Science
Mentor: Prof. Cathy Bammert


Carly Tuominen

Hometown: Marquette, MI
Major: Clinical Laboratory Science
Mentor: Prof. Cathy Bammert


Tristan Ruiz

Hometown: 
Major: Biochemistry
Mentor: Dr. Brandon Canfield


Chloe Rinkel

Hometown: Royal Oak, MI
Major: Chemistry/Forensic Biochemistry
Mentor: Dr. Lee Roecker

Alissa Chrisekos

Hometown: Clarkston, MI
Major: Earth, Environmental, and Geographical Sciences
Mentor: Dr. Susy Ziegler


McKensey Gariepy

Hometown: 
Major: Chemistry/Pre-Nursing
Mentor: Dr. Brandon Canfield


Page Queener

Hometown: Attica, MI
Major: Health and Human Performance
Mentor: Breanne Carlson

Patricia Rempala 

Hometown: 
Major: Clinical Laboratory Science
Mentor: Dr. Cathy Bammert


Erin McNabb

Hometown:
Major: Secondary Education/Social Studies
Mentor: Dr. Gabe Logan


Carlene Stovall 

Hometown: Crystal Lake, IL
Major: 
Mentor: Prof. Susanna Braman


Kathleen Kerber 

Hometown: 
Major: 
Mentor: Prof. Menard


Matt Trefilek

Hometown: Rockton, IL
Major: Computer Science
Mentor: Dr. Tireman


Autumn Palmer 

Hometown: Southfield, MI
Major: 
Mentor: Dr. Judy Puncochar


Christine Wilson 

Hometown: Baraga, MI
Major: 
Mentor: Dr. Judy Puncochar


William Mason

Hometown: Lake Orion, MI
Major: Chemistry
Mentor: Dr. Mark Paulson


Michelle Vander Hyde 

Hometown: Grand Rapids, MI
Major: Psychology
Mentor: Dr. Josh Carlson

Emily Nordlund 

Hometown: 
Major: Behavior Analysis
Mentor: Dr. John MacDevitt


Tanya Ladensack 

Hometown: 
Major: Biology
Mentor: Dr. Jill Leonard


Hallie Sutton 

Hometown: 
Major: Zoology
Mentor: 


Eric Martin

Hometown: 
Major: 
Mentor: Dr. Susy Ziegler


Jessica Anderson

Hometown: 
Major: 
Mentor: Dr. Williams


Amy Peterson 

Hometown: 
Major: 
Mentor: Dr. Neil Cumberlidge


Daniel Wilbern

Hometown: 
Major: 
Mentor:  Dr. Tireman


Melissa Orzechowski

Hometown: 
Major: 
Mentor: Dr. Alan Rebertus


Kaylee Rowe

Hometown: 
Major: Clinical Laboratory Science
Mentor: Dr. Cathy Bammert


Nathan Vertel

Hometown: 
Major: 
Mentor: Dr. Deb Homeier


Shaley Valentine

Hometown: 
Major: Zoology/Chemistry
Mentor:  Dr. Suzanne Williams


Olivia Crawford

Hometown: 
Major: Digital Cinema
Mentor:  Dr. Judy Puncochar

Andi Shepherd

Hometown: 
Major: Pre-Physical Therapy
Mentor: Dr. Mark Jacobs


Brianna Miller

Hometown: 
Major: Art and Design with a concentration in Photography
Mentor: Dr. Alex Ruuska


Bailey Pohl

Hometown: 
Major: Environmental Science
Mentor: Dr. Robert Legg