Undergraduate Scholars Program

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The Undergraduate Scholars Program (USP) is one of the largest multidisciplinary undergraduate research programs at MSU. We are here to help undergraduate students in all disciplines pursue research, scholarship, and creative projects.

The Undergraduate Scholars Program (USP) facilitates, supports, and promotes undergraduate research and scholarship by providing funding and logistical support directly to students.

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Assessing microbial nitrite oxidation from subglacial sediments
(Montana State Univeristy, 2017-04) Tunby, Paige
It has been shown that microbial communities are active at temperatures close to freezing (0-1˚C) in subglacial systems. These microorganisms are an integral part of the biogeochemical cycles that take place in subglacial environments and it has been argued that they may play a significant role in global biogeochemical cycles on glacial-interglacial timescales. Previous research at Robertson Glacier, Canada has shown that its subglacial sediments harbor diverse assemblages of potential nitrifying and nitrate reducing organisms. My research project has focused on an aspect of the aerobic portion of the nitrogen cycle in subglacial systems. I set up enrichment cultures for nitrite oxidizers at 4˚C, close in situ subglacial temperatures, using subglacial sediments from Roberson Glacier. Conversion of the added nitrite to nitrate in the biotic experiments and no change in the unamended control experiments demonstrated microbial nitrite oxidation. Multiple transfers of the enrichment culture were then undertaken to try and obtain a pure culture. The activity, through nitrite oxidation and cell biomass of these latter 4oC enrichments was measured, and showed activity but without significant increases in biomass. Ongoing work is focused on determining the identity of the nitrite oxidizing organism or organisms in the enrichments.
The Role of Humans and Climate in Historic Fire Activity on Tribal Forests of Northwestern Montana
(Montana State Univeristy, 2017-04) Snyder, Derek
Over the past several millennia, the severity of fires in mixed-conifer forests has varied greatly. Human interaction with these forest ecosystems has likely had an effect on this. In the past, the Salish and Kootenai tribes conducted seasonal burns south of Flathead Lake. Recently, the Confederated Tribes have taken measures of fire suppression. This project uses fire history data from one area of historically high human burning activity and another area that has been mainly isolated from human activity. Over the summer, I began the project as a Montana Institute on Ecosystems undergraduate researcher collecting data. This data was collected by taking tree-core samples from the root collar of trees, noting fire scars on trees, and measuring the diameter. The samples are now being analyzed and cross-dated to model fire history. Comparing fire regime data from each of these areas may reveal the effect of human activity on fire severity. The ultimate goal is to use this information to inform future forestry management of the historical drivers of mixed-severity fires in the mixed-conifer forests of the tribal lands of the Northern Rocky Mountains.
Drinking Water Resources in Western Kenya
(Montana State University, 2017-04) Ratcliff, Jeana
The aim of this study was to investigate and characterize existing drinking water resources in the Khwisero sub-county area of western Kenya, with the goal of informing future water resource decisions made by the Montana State University chapter of Engineers without Borders (EWB@MSU), local stakeholders, and government officials. Data collection was performed using handheld GPS systems, and scope was narrowed during the study period to an area surrounding the Eshibinga community. Data collected included recording of location, condition, perceived potability, and accessibility of existing surface and groundwater drinking water sources (excluding rainwater catchment systems). The collected information was analyzed using GIS systems to create maps which provide visual and quantitative understanding of local conditions. These tools can be used to increase understanding of spatial distribution and functionality of local systems, and to influence decision making for future water supply projects. Research results will be shared with the EWB@MSU water development team and relevant stakeholders in Khwisero. These findings may be used to reduce redundancy in local water supply projects and to increase collaboration and understanding between Khwiseran community and government entities and EWB@MSU project teams in future water development projects and decision making.
Swimming Capabilities of Arctic Grayling
(Montana State University, 2017-04) Jones, Audrey
Arctic Grayling, Thymallus arcticus, is a fish species native to Montana. The last vestige of this Fish of Special Concern is found in the Big Hole River drainage in Montana. One reason for its decreased presence appears to be barriers to mobility. In order to facilitate mobility in streams with artificial barriers, such as low-head dams at irrigation diversions, one critical factor is the fish’s swimming ability. In this study, fish were placed singly in a variable-flow swim chamber. The flow velocity was increased until the fish could no longer hold its position and was swept downstream by the current. The velocity at which this occurs is referred to as the sprint speed or Usprint. The US Fish and Wildlife Service Bozeman Fish Technology Center maintains a swim chamber and was host to this experiment. A group of forty fish, all hatchery-raised in a constant flow environment (artificial stream), was separated into two groups of twenty fish each. The first group, Cohort 1, was subjected to the experiment once per week for three consecutive weeks, beginning immediately after their removal from the artificial stream. The second group, Cohort 2, was tested one time in the swim chamber, sixteen weeks after removal from the artificial stream. Each fish was placed in the chamber at a flow of low velocity and then, at regular intervals, the flow was increased until the fish impinged on the screen at the back of the chamber. The average Usprint for both cohorts over all trials was 5.41 ft/s. Cohort 1 (all trials) had an average Usprint of 5.28 ft/s, and Cohort 2 had an average Usprint of 5.80 ft/s. There was not a significant difference in Usprint between the two cohorts. There was no apparent trend in Usprint between the successive trials using Cohort 1.
ECIV 101 Case Study Research and Development
(Montana State University, 2017-04) Hoskins, Reece
Effective solutions to modern challenges in civil engineering, ranging from environmental change to gentrification, require engineers who engage with the political, societal and technological aspects of problems. As a first step in educating the holistic engineers that today's world requires, the Department of Civil Engineering is developing interdisciplinary case studies for use in a newly revamped Introduction to Civil Engineering course. The case studies developed use historical examples to explore the interactions between society, engineering and the material world, while introducing engineering methodologies in an applied example. The development of these studies requires extensive research and mentorship from both the Department of Civil Engineering and the Department of History. Background research was conducted into existing and pertinent civil engineering case studies as well as issues of note in the Bozeman community. Simultaneously, faculty mentors from both involved departments assisted in identifying six key topics that would be best communicated through a case study. Once the topics were identified, extensive background research was conducted to identify and highlight important points embodied by the case study. The case studies were then fully developed to include additional reading materials, discussion points, pedagogical frameworks and associated activities. A final portfolio will be developed containing the key ideas to be communicated, materials, exercises and discussions for use in the Introduction to Civil Engineering Class.
Road Network Analysis
(Montana State University, 2017-04) Grudzien, Maia
As infrastructure is rebuilt, or as new roads are being designed, safety should be at a top priority. This project has been looking at understanding accident prone areas in a particular region, such as Montana, as well as larger cities like Seattle. As crash data was collected, maps were generated from the data and then layers were applied. Layers, or sorting factors, could include population density, clusters, city regions (i.e. sporting event complexes, shopping centers), etc. The goal of this project is to provide examples to engineers and city planners of safe and accident-prone roads and intersections, and in the long term, these data sets will be used to create better network comparison algorithms.
Microfludic particles as a tool for monitoring oxygen levels in biofilms in magnetic resonance microscopy
(Montana State University, 2017-04) Carter-Gibb, Jacob
Microfluidics is a rapidly growing field with many biological applications that have not yet been fully utilized. This project aims to create biologically compatible microparticles that, when used with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), will allow researches to monitor the oxygen during the growth of biofilms. The goal of this project will be to make double emulsions (drops within drops) of fluorinated oil encapsulated by a biologically compatible shell made of a hydrogel, such as agarose, that will serve as a surface for the biofilm to grow. To accomplish this, microfluidic devices will be used to create these particles quickly and in large numbers, at the rate of hundreds of thousands in minutes. A secondary goal will be to fine tune the devices to allow custom sizes of the agarose shells and the fluid encapsulated. Future research will include tuning these microparticles to better understand the diffusion of oxygen through biofilms as they grow, which will allow us to understand the role of oxygen in chronic wound biofilms. The hypothesis of this experiment is that the particles that we create for use in NMR will function better and provide a higher resolution than the polydisperse, or varying in droplet size, basic emulsion system currently being used.
Calcium Precipitation and Trace Metal Co-Precipitation During Fluid Flow and Mixing
(2017-04) Burt, Kevin
This project observes calcium precipitation and trace metal co-precipitation during fluid flow and mixing. Observations are made by utilizing a dual influent flow cell system, which mimics subsurface conditions. The environment being recreated for the analysis simulates the remediation of contaminated groundwater using microbial induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP). The fluid flow and mixing within the flow cell represent the interaction between groundwater contaminated with heavy metals, and the injected remediation solution containing urea and microbial nutrients. The metals examined include two alkaline earth metals, strontium (Sr) and barium (Ba). In addition to being common contaminants of hydraulic fracturing, Sr and Ba radionuclides are the product of uranium fission, and are present in nuclear waste. By comparing crystal size and formation of the precipitate within the flow system, results suggest that more calcium/heavy-metal precipitate formed when flow rates were similar throughout the system. Optimal flow conditions for the remediation of contaminated groundwater through MICP were evaluated using precipitation rates and a parameter for the removal of trace metals from the liquid phase into the solid phase relative to calcium precipitation. These results will be presented. These results have the potential to aid in the optimization of MICP and its use in the field of environmental remediation. Ultimately this research asks the question of how simultaneously operating varied flow rates in a dual influent flow cell during MICP affects calcium, strontium, and barium precipitation rates and the occurrence of precipitation spatially within the system.
San Juan El Espino Road Crossing
(2013-03) Zundel, Brent; Kevane, Bridget
Development efforts in Central America confront cultural, historical, and language barriers that threaten the sustainability of projects. Many engineering projects have been completed that merely reinforce dependency and fail to engage community members in a meaningful way. Montana Tech’s chapter of Engineering Without Borders (MT-EWB) has begun initial assessments for a project in the Atiquizaya region of El Salvador that will reroute an eroded road, replace a too-small culvert that passes underneath the road, and halt the erosion from the water that falls 30 feet down a ravine after passing through the culvert. While these form substantial engineering challenges, this project seeks to produce a basic cultural history of the area. It further lays the groundwork for understanding the area’s social dynamics, placing them in important historical context, and achieving community participation in the development efforts. The nature of community participation and the impact of groups of “gringo” engineers, most of whom do not speak Spanish, will further be assessed. The primary method that will be used to examine these many factors will be in-depth interviews, conducted in Spanish, with various members of the community -- from average townspeople to leaders. Results will be presented after the assessment trip in mid-March, although this project will hopefully extend multiple semesters. The project will provide MT-EWB with a basic understanding of the area that serves to encourage community empowerment, rather than mere dependence on U.S. technological expertise.
Computer Education in Sanambele, Mali
(2013-03) Mosdal, Tessa; Rolph, Bronwyn; Blaskovich, Christie; Hinckley, Samantha; Giusti, Ada
The village of Sanambele, Mali currently possesses a laptop but the villagers do not know how to operate a computer. Those in Sanambele have requested help with learning how to use their computer. I developed a basic user manual for Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint which are three programs that I believe the teachers, students and other villagers will find the most useful. An English and translated French version of the manuals will be taken to the village and left with the community for further reference. The manuals are also going to be used by the members of the Altas Cultural Foundation (ACF) in Zawiya Ahansal, Morocco. I am traveling to Morocco in March to conduct computer education workshops for the ACF members. A copy of the manuals will be left with them for additional guidance. Providing manuals for both the communities in Mali and in Morocco will prevent the members of the community from losing the knowledge they will have received. I hope I will have offered these people a lasting method of improving their education.

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