Student researchers, faculty share impact of their work in Regionals at the Rotunda

Student researchers and faculty at Indiana University Kokomo solve problems – from reducing plastic waste to preventing health hazards from bacteria in automotive plants. They add to existing knowledge as well, exploring topics such as unusual characteristics in binary stars, causes of inter-tribal conflicts among indigenous people, and growth and development of snapping turtle eggs.

The contributions of six IU Kokomo students, along with those from IU’s four other regional campuses, were showcased at the Indiana Statehouse during the first-ever Regionals at the Rotunda.

Ken Iwama, IU’s vice president of regional campuses and online learning, said IU’s impact extends far beyond Bloomington and Indianapolis—a world of research, artistic innovation and economic opportunity is happening on regional IU campuses throughout the state.

“We're all together almost 18,000 students strong,” he said. “We collectively contribute over $1 billion in economic impact to the state and to our communities. Each regional campus has its own personality, history and uniqueness.”

“This event was one of the highlights of this academic year,” Chancellor Mark Canada said. “Undergraduate research is the epitome of IU Kokomo’s KEY initiative. These students are getting their hands on their learning by doing research in the lab or on primary historical documents. They are learning by doing and developing invaluable skills not only in research, but also in communication.”

Twenty-five poster presentations – five each from IU Kokomo, IU East, IU Northwest, IU South Bend, and IU Southeast – filled the marble-lined space under the majestic dome of the Indiana Statehouse. Student researchers and their faculty mentors were on hand to answer questions from IU leaders, state government officials, and visitors.

IU Kokomo’s representatives included Alex Carie, Noblesville; Lea Mummert, Fort Wayne; Benjamin Earl, Noblesville; Brandy Hayes-Manning, Winamac; Cristian Juarez Mora, West Lafayette; and Ashlynn Morrical, Kokomo.

Carie said he and Mummert were honored to be selected to present their work with Christian Chauret, professor of microbiology. They examined biofilm formation by Mycobacterium immunogenum within metalworking fluid-like mediums to understand which medium provided the most growth. Their goal is to prevent it from causing health hazards within the automotive industry.

“Being able to contribute to the scientific field was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up,” he said. “I am so appreciative of how much we learned in such a small amount of time. I give tremendous credit to Dr. Chauret for the opportunity and the tremendous leadership role he played for us over the entirety of this project.”

He hopes it is a steppingstone to more research in the future.

“Being able to spread awareness to other people of some of the problem discovered through research is such a privilege,” he said. “Familiarizing the public with some of the hidden issues in society is crucial for making the world a better place.”

Mummert hopes their project brought awareness to the topic and leads to solutions.

“We want to find solutions to improve the working environment of the workers,” she said. “Our end goal is to find ways to prevent this bacterium from harming employees of the automotive industry.”

Earl is thankful to have had the chance to research with faculty as an undergraduate and to share what he’s learned.

“With my goal of being a professor, being able to present research is going to be very important during my graduate studies and my time as a professor,” said Earl, who studied contact binary stars with Patrick Motl, dean of the School of Sciences and professor of physics. They hypothesize that sharing of material between stars explains unusual characteristics observed in contact binary stars.

Regionals at the Rotunda allows people outside the university to see what students and faculty are accomplishing, he said.

“This is a wonderful chance for us to show legislators what we are working on in all the campuses, which I believe can strengthen the support that IU receives from the state,” he said.

Hayes-Manning said being chosen “not only validates the hard work and dedication I’ve put into my project but also highlights the importance of indigenous histories.”

She worked with Peter Sposato, associate professor of history, analyzing factors that caused inter-tribal conflicts in areas such as the Great Lakes region. Her goal was to gain a richer understanding of the social, cultural, and political impacts these conflicts had on the indigenous communities within this region, as well as the long-term implications.

Regionals at the Rotunda gave an opportunity for conversation about the topics students researched, she said.

“This event provides a valuable platform for scholars to engage with policymakers and the community by presenting valuable research,” she said. “I hope to create greater awareness and appreciation of the region’s rich cultural heritage. I believe these discussions can inspire more respectful and accurate representations of indigenous communities in both policy and education.”

Juarez Mora feels a sense of accomplishment in being selected to represent IU Kokomo, and to show the campus’s impact.

“It has shown me how far I’ve come since the first day I walked into the science building,” he said.

With Hisako Masuda, associate professor of biochemistry, he researched biodegrading and repurposing nylon 11 plastic using fungi as a degrader. He also successfully repurposed nylon 11 into polyurethane foam, which is most used as insulation or cushioning.

“I believe the impact of this event will make people realize the different types of plastic pollution,” he said. “My goal is to leave an impact in people’s minds to realize that nylon 11 is used everywhere worldwide, and how this type of plastic is no exception in contributing to plastic pollution.”

Morrical was excited not only to present her work with Michael Finkler, professor of physiology, but also to learn from other presenters. She studied why snapping turtle embryos in large eggs grow bigger than embryos in smaller eggs.

“Everyone participating and going will be able to hear about tons of different research journeys and could learn something new or ideas you would not have thought about before,” she said. “It’s amazing to think of what changes could be made because of our research.”

Education is KEY at Indiana University Kokomo.