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USC Aiken Scholars Tapped for Magellan Program

Aiken, SC (04/18/2018) — Several University of South Carolina Aiken undergraduate students have been chosen for the Magellan Scholars program.

The Summer-Fall 2018 cohort was just announced by USC Columbia.

With this group of students, USC Aiken has surpassed the 100th threshold, boasting a total of 113 Magellan Scholars throughout the history of the program. This exceeds the number for any other institution in the USC System outside of USC Columbia.

"I am so proud of these students who have been named Magellan Scholars," said Dr. Chad Leverette, director of sponsored research at USC Aiken. "This award is the highest undergraduate research award in the USC system."

"We are very proud that we have eclipsed this threshold as an institution.

"That is quite an accomplishment and is a testament to the dedicated faculty that serve as research mentors for these students."

Students chosen for the Summer-Fall 2018 cohort include:

Brandon Eberl, Senior, Mathematics/Computer Science Major

Mentor: Dr. Titan Paul, Department of Mathematical Sciences

Effect of Nanoparticle Shape on Thermal Conductivity of Ionic Liquid Based Nanofluids

Gabrielle Gray, Senior, Psychology Major

Sarah Przywara, Senior, Psychology, Anthropology Major

Mentor: Dr. Adam Pazda, Department of Psychology

Perspective Taking and Stigma Reduction toward Convicted Felons

Hector Lopez, Junior, Psychology Major

Mentor: Dr. Adam Pazda, Department of Psychology

Perception and Political Attitudes: Does Perceived Bias of News Networks Affect Attitudes Toward News Content?

Sara McCommon, Junior, Psychology, Literature Major

Mentors: Dr. Laura Swain and Dr. Alexandra Roach, Department of Psychology

The Effect of Acetaminophen on Mu Suppression During a Pain Empathy Task: an EEG Study

Rachel Saxon, Junior, Biology/Geology Major

Mentor: Dr. Kristina Ramstad, Department of Biology and Geology

Mitochondrial DNA analysis of nest parasitism in American wood storks

Rhianna Smith, Sophomore, Fine Arts, Art History Major

Mentor: Dr. Jeremy Culler, Department of Visual and Performing Arts

Dadaism in the Twenty-first Century: The Rise of Millennial Nihilist Humor and its Use as Social Critique

Students participating in the Spring 2018 cohort include:

Christian Adams, Junior, Psychology Major

Mentor: Dr. Keri Weed, Department of Psychology

The Effects of Anxiety Reappraisal and Mindfulness on Perceived Anxiety and EDA, During Arithmetic Verification

Catherine Haley Cave, Senior, Chemistry Major

Mentor: Dr. Ken Roberts, Department of Chemistry and Physics

An LC/MS Assay for the Quantification of Analytes in the DAD-Catalyzed Reaction

Michaela Day, Senior, Biology Major

Mentor: Dr. Kristina Ramstad, Department of Biology and Geology

Nest Monitoring and Behavior Analysis of American Wood Storks via Trail Cameras

Heather Nall, Senior, Psychology Major

Mentors: Dr. Derek Zelmer and Dr. Michelle Vieyra, Department of Biology and Geology

Comparison of a prototype remote rat monitoring system with conventional video observations for drinking behavior in rats.

Kristin Anna Kay Norris, Senior, English Major

Mentors: Dr. Todd Hagstette and Dr. Bill Claxon, Department of English

Female Soldiers in the American Civil War: A Novel Approach

Elizabeth Platt, Junior, Music Education Major

Mentor: Dr. Richard Maltz, Department of Visual and Performing Arts

Create a Just Intonation Tuning System and Employ it in an Original Musical Composition

McHale Rich, Senior, Biology Major

Mentor: Dr. Virginia Shervette, Department of Biology and Geology

Determination of invasive lionfish species composition in the Western Atlantic waters of Florida

The University of South Carolina created the Magellan Scholar program "to enrich the academic experience of our undergraduates through research opportunities in all disciplines from science, technology, and medicine, to theatre, music, and art," according to its website.

"By providing access to faculty mentoring relationships and a professional research experience, USC enables students to creatively explore their interests at a more in-depth level than can be attained in the classroom."

As Magellan Scholars, these students receive up to $3,000 to fund his or her research project.