DUBUQUE, IOWA (June 10, 2020) — In its third year, the John and Alice Butler Summer Research Fellowship continues to empower University of Dubuque students from all majors to conduct research, prepare for graduate examinations, and visit graduate schools in preparation for their post-university professional lives.
This summer, seven fellows will research a variety of topics including Dubuque’s microclimate changes; transitional justice, racial violence, and memorializing Nathaniel Morgan; and butterfly diversity in remnant and restored prairies in Dubuque County.
“The John and Alice Butler Summer Research Fellowship program provides students with the opportunity to do tailored scholarly work with University faculty and build professional relationships through activities such as mock interviews and networking that will enhance their post-graduate employment,” said Mark Sinton PhD, director of the John and Alice Butler Summer Research Fellowship.
Fellows will commit 400 hours of work on their research over a 10 week period during the summer. They will each receive a stipend of $4,500 and an additional $500 for research-associated supplies or travel costs. Fellows are required to present their research results during the following academic year at a local, regional, or national conference.
“I’m grateful to Alice and John Butler for their decades-long commitment to the University and their investment in, and care for, UD students. This incredible investment in direct support of student research and scholarship is a testimony to their belief in our Mission and its direct impact on students,” said Jeffrey F Bullock, president of the University.
The following students were named 2020 Butler Fellows:
Taiana Butler, a senior environmental science major from Dubuque, Iowa
Project: Dubuque’s Microclimate Changes
Advisor: Dale Easley PhD, professor of geology
Natalie Dienstbach, a senior biology major from St Louis, Missouri
Project: Evaluating Carbamide Peroxide and Vitamin D Effects of Teeth and Restorative Materials
Advisor: Adam Hoffman PhD, associate professor of environmental chemistry and head of the Department of Natural and Applied Sciences
Emily Highnam, a senior elementary education major from Cedar Falls, Iowa
Project: Dubuque School of the Wild: Curriculum Development and Implementation
Advisor: Angela Brandel EdD, professor of teacher education
Savannah Jones, a senior criminal justice and sociology double major from Dubuque, Iowa
Project: Transitional Justice, Racial Violence, and Memorializing Nathaniel Morgan
Advisors: Henry Grubb PhD, professor of psychology, and Brian Hallstoos PhD, associate professor of history
Aubrey Manders, a junior human health science major from Dubuque, Iowa
Project: A Survey of the Compounds Generated During Vaping
Advisor: Mark Sinton PhD, assistant professor of natural and applied sciences
Jenna Meyers, a senior biology major from Rockford, Illinois
Project: Butterfly Diversity in Remnant and Restored Prairies in Dubuque County
Advisors: Gerald Zuercher PhD, professor of biology and vertebrate ecology, and Michele Zuercher, teaching specialist
Samuel Zebarth, a senior environmental science, biology, and philosophy and ethics triple major from Dubuque, Iowa
Project: Connecting Dubuque: Developing Software to Analyze Local Climate Data
Advisor: Dale Easley PhD, professor of geology
