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Kathryn Lynn, a senior biology major from Meadville, Pa., earned a Drinko Center for Undergraduate Research Grant for her capstone research project that examined the effects of a forever chemical on the common green bean plant.
Two Westminster College students used grant funding from the Drinko Center for Undergraduate Research to strengthen their individual senior art projects.
Westminster College neuroscience major Taylor Harman earned a Drinko Center for Undergraduate Research grant to analyze amphetamine and nicotine use and examine how those stimulants influence anxiety in male rats.
Harman, a senior honors student from Edinburg, Pa., used the grant to fund her research project “Does Stimulus History Affect the Anxiety-Like Response to Nicotine in Male Rats?”
Harman examined how the history of amphetamine exposure can influence the anxiety-like response to nicotine in male rats.
“I was interested in studying these effects and how they relate to an ADHD model. The results of this study could be used to evaluate why individuals who have ADHD, and use amphetamine, are more likely to use nicotine and how the use of amphetamine and/or nicotine could cause anxiety-like behavior,” said Harman.
The grant enabled Harman to conduct personal research and further her education through hands-on experiences and investigation.
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Westminster College student Samantha Reed earned an individual Drinko Center for Undergraduate Research grant for her research project, “The Effects of Caffeine on Emotional Memory.”
Reed, a senior psychology major and honors student from Zionsville, Pa., used the grant to fund three semesters of research. She studied how caffeinated versus non-caffeinated beverages affect emotional memory. Reed distributed a memory test to 40 participants over two sessions to collect data based on the participants' ability to remember positive, negative and neutral words.
Dr. Eric Fields, assistant professor of psychology at Westminster, mentored Reed throughout the research.
“I think this experience has greatly helped me by giving me the chance to work alongside my adviser. I have learned more through this research process than in any class. It has taught me to work individually and problem solve,” said Reed.
Westminster’s Drinko Center for Undergra