Research | NMU Freshmanfellows

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 downloading our faculty research interests directory (currently unavailable due to maintenance).

2022/2023 Freshman Fellow Researchers

Alex Hopper

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

Research Project Description:

Anna Hill

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

Research Project Description:

Anne Carrier

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

Research Project Description:

Chloe Billington

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

Research Project Description:

Emily Lovasco

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

Research Project Description:

Emma Iles

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

Research Project Description:

Emory Fouch

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

Research Project Description:

Grace Listopad

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

Research Project Description:

Isaac Pifer

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

Research Project Description:

Jason Andary

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

Research Project Description:

Julia Drexel

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

Research Project Description:

Kourtney Bazhenow

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

Research Project Description:

Mikenna Weiler

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

Research Project Description:

Olivia Brill

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

Research Project Description:

Renae Cox

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

Research Project Description:

Marisa Hoover

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

Research Project Description:

Trinity Freriks

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

Research Project Description:

Grace Robinson

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

Research Project Description:

Chloe Patterson

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

Research Project Description:

Grace Wisniewski

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

Research Project Description:

Sydney Chrome

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

Research Project Description:

2021/2022 Freshman Fellow Researchers

Amanda Allee

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

Research Project Description:

Elisabeth (Asbel) Wells

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

Research Project Description:

Bianca Wiegerink

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

Research Project Description:

Caitlyn Nunn

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

Research Project Description:

Carlee Yon

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

Research Project Description:

Cecilia Anderson

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

Research Project Description:

Elizabeth Williams

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

Research Project Description:

Ella Bates

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

Research Project Description:

Ella Houwers

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

Research Project Description:

Emily Appleton

Hometown: Clay, MI
Major: Psychology
Mentor: Professor Heather Issacson

Research Project Description:

Isabelle Honkomp

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

Research Project Description:

Jaycee Harvath

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

Research Project Description:

Jenna Laway

Hometown: Cheboygan, MI
Major: Criminal Justice, Forensic Biochemistry
Mentor: Professor Chris MacMaster

Research Project Description:

Jenna Pasbrig

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

Research Project Description:

Jennifer Jenks

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

Research Project Description:

Keegan Sutton

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

Research Project Description:

Maeghan Cooley

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

Research Project Description:

Matthew Williams

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

Research Project Description:

Mia Strazny

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

Research Project Description:

Morgan Brown

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

Research Project Description:

Wren Konickson

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

Research Project Description:

2020/2021 Freshman Fellow Researchers

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

2019/2020 Freshman Fellow Researchers

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

2018/2019 Freshman Fellow Researchers

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

2017/2018 Freshman Fellow Researchers

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

2016/2017 Freshman Fellow Researchers

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

2015/2016 Freshman Fellow Researchers

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

2014/2015 Freshman Fellow Researchers

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

2013/2014 Freshman Fellow Researchers

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

2012/2013 Freshman Fellow Researchers

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

2011/2012 Freshman Fellow Researchers

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