Biology

Ecological Controls of Water Clarity at the Southern End of Cayuga Lake Faculty Contact: Professor Meghan Brown, Biology Department (mbrown@hws.edu) In this project, the student will work on Cayuga Lake to investigate the role of zooplankton grazing on water clarity. The project involves a significant amount of lab work processing samples and assisting with experiments. Some field work is also involved. Requirements: Strong background in biological science, limnology, and/or field biology. Preferred experience with plankton sampling and identification. Student will live in Ithaca. Length and start date: 10 weeks starting in early May Sediment transport and invasive species establishment on Seneca Lake Faculty Contact: Professor Meghan Brown, Biology Department (mbrown@hws.edu) In this project, the student will work on Seneca Lake to investigation the distribution of sediment and the resting stages of invasive zooplankton. The project involves a significant amount of field work on the William Scandling with state-of-the-art equipment, and equally demanding time in the laboratory processing samples. This position involves study from both a geoscience and biological science perspective. Requirements: Strong background in biological science, limnology, and/or field research. Preferred experience with plankton sampling or sediment collection and processing. Length and start date: 8 weeks, starting date negotiable Exploiting a Chemosensory Signal Transduction System that Controls Twitching Motility and Virulence in Xylella fastidiosa Faculty Contact: Professor Patricia Mowery, Biology Department (mowery@hws.edu) Xylella fastidiosa is a bacterium that causes an economically devastating disease on grapevines known as Pierce’s disease. We are trying to understand how this bacterium induces the disease in order to limit its impact. Depending on interest, students may work on experiments involving microbiology, molecular biology, cloning, protein production, microscopy, and/or in planta analysis. Requirements: Background in molecular techniques: coursework such as Genetics, Cell Biology, Microbiology or Molecular Biology. Length and start date: 8 weeks, starting date negotiable

Applied and Basic Biology at the NYS Agricultural Experiment Station Faculty Contacts: Professors Tom Glover & Patricia Mowery, Biology Department (glover@hws.edu; mowery@hws.edu) These projects may include work in

Plant and insect genetics Horticultural science Bioinfomatics Plant pathology / microbiology Genomics Applied ecology / integrated pest management Insect behavior and phenology Toxicology Food science

We anticipate 4 to 6 internships this Summer and will place students according to their general interests and academic backgrounds. Projects will be completed in the laboratories and field plots of the world-renowned NYS Agricultural Experiment Station and students will live on the HWSC campus. Start and end dates: may vary with position Audubon’s Seabird Restoration Student Intern Program Faculty Contact: Professor Mark Deutschlander, Biology Department (deutschlande@hws.edu) Hobart and William Smith students have the unique opportunity to participate in the internationally-known Audubon Seabird Restoration Program (a.k.a. “Project Puffin”). Students will participate in behavioral studies and monitoring breeding colonies of seabirds such as puffins and terns. This project requires tent camping on small isolated islands off the coast of Maine for the summer. Students must be in good health, good shape, willing to “rough it”, and prepared to live on a small island with one or a few other individuals for the summer. Interns will begin June 1 and end August 14. The position includes a stipend of $200/week, room and board, and transportation to the islands. For more information about the program, visit www.projectpuffin.org. Interested students should contact Prof. Deutschlander for more information before applying. THIS INTERNSHIP IS AVAILABLE TO GRADUATING SENIORS AS WELL AS OTHER STUDENTS. Do bacteria need to attach to host plants to cause disease? Faculty Contact: Professor Sigrid Carle, Biology Department (carle@hws.edu) Agrobacterium vitis is a bacterium that causes the debilitating disease in grape plants known as crown gall disease. This tumor-like growth reduces the productivity of mature vines and kills young vines. The disease has major economic consequences for vineyards worldwide, including the Finger Lakes region of New York. The A. vitis strain F2/5 prevents crown gall formation by another bacterium when both co-infect grape vines. This phenomenon is known as biocontrol. We hypothesize that biocontrol requires attachment of A. vitis to grape plants. Using molecular tools, several attachment mutants have been generated. A student will test these mutants for biocontrol using grape vines, and use molecular tools to generate new attachment mutants. Length and start date: 8 weeks, May start date (negotiable) Development of a cell-culture assay to test anti-cancer compounds Faculty Contact: Professor Sigrid Carle, Biology Department (carle@hws.edu) Members of the Biology and Chemistry Departments will be introducing a joint laboratory experiment into Cell Biology (Biol 232) and Organic Chemistry II (Chem 241). Organic Chemistry II students will synthesize potential anti-cancer drugs called HDACi and these compounds will be tested by Cell Biology students. This summer the biological assay using cells and a known HDACi will be developed for use in Cell Biology this coming Fall semester. A student will use mammalian tissue culture, different concentrations of a known HDACi, and an ELISA plate reader to develop the biological assay. The student will also help with writing and revising the lab manual for use in the Cell Biology course. Length and start date: 8 weeks, May start date (negotiable) Rapid evolution of new species through sexual selection on chemically mediated mating communication systems Faculty Contact: Professor David Droney, Biology Department (droney@hws.edu) How new species evolve has been a central question in evolutionary research since Darwin, but surprisingly, speciation still is not clearly understood. It is especially puzzling how species can sometimes evolve very rapidly and without significant genetic differentiation. My work, in cooperation with researchers at the NYSAES at Cornell University, focuses on how sexual selection (not natural selection) on mating communication signals might lead to rapid behavioral mating (and genetic) isolation among individuals of genetically similar populations. Students will primarily conduct mating experiments using European (Ostrinia nubilalis) and Asian (O. furnacalis) corn borer moths. Because Ostrinia has speciated extensively and rapidly, and shows large differences in pheromone-based mating communication, this genus is an ideal model system for our research. Corn borers are also major agricultural pests and this basis research might also have important practical applications. Length and start date: 8-10 weeks starting in mid-May 2011.

Community Dynamics and Inventory of Aquatic Stream Communities Faculty Contact: Professor Susan Cushman, Biology Department (cushman@hws.edu) ���Little is known about the aquatic communities that inhabit streams in the Seneca Lake watershed, particularly organisms that are not considered game species. Considering the unique topography around the lake, and the stream channels that run through it, significant information will be gathered through macroinvertebrate and fish (electrofishing) surveys. The student will be responsible for both working together as a team in the field as well as independently in the lab. This project involves intensive field work, which will require carrying heavy equipment, as well as lab work processing samples. Students with interest and experience in aquatic biology are encouraged to apply but must have a background in biological sciences. Start and end dates: 8 weeks, mid-May starting date.

Chemistry

Measurement of the Rates of Indium Mediated Allylation Faculty Contact: Professor Walter Bowyer, Chemistry Department (bowyer@hws.edu) Our research explores the kinetics and mechanism of indium mediated allylations, a Green chemistry reaction that is an important substitute for the Grignard reaction. We measure the rate of reaction of allyl halides at indium surfaces. The techniques we are developing for the measurement are of interest to analytical chemists, and the results are interesting to physical organic chemists. Recently we have developed three ways to increase mass transport in order to measure fundamental heterogeneous rate constants. We also continue recording NMR spectra in an effort to detect and characterize the transient intermediates. Requirements: Open to first-, second-, and third-year students with at least one year of chemistry by Summer, 2011. Synthesis and Characterization of Molecular Wire Candidates Faculty Contact: Professor Christine de Denus, Department of Chemistry (deDenus@hws.edu) Students will synthesize organometallic complexes that may find application in molecular devicetechnology. These complexes will then be characterized by a number of spectroscopic techniques. The properties of these materials will vary with their composition but they will be investigated and tested for their electronic properties. Requirements: Open to first-, second-, and third-year students with at least one year of chemistry by Summer, 2011. Developing New Synthetic Methods in Heterocyclic Chemistry Faculty Contact: Professor Erin Pelkey, Department of Chemistry (pelkey@hws.edu) Project Description: The objective of this research is to design and develop new synthetic methods that can be utilized in the preparation of nitrogen heterocycles with demonstrated biological activity. This summer, we will attempt to apply our methodology towards the synthesis of novel analogs of staurosporinone. Staurosporinone is a potent inhibitor of protein kinase C (potential anti-cancer agent) and an important building block used in the synthesis of the indolocarbazole alkaloids. Requirements: Open to first-, second-, and third-year students with at least one year of chemistry by Summer, 2011. [tentative dates are May 23 – July 22] Determination of Aggregation Phase Diagram for Amyloid-like Peptides via Computer Simulation Faculty Contact: Professor Alan van Giessen, Chemistry Department (vangiessen@hws.edu) Research in the van Giessen group uses theoretical and computational techniques to understand the structure and thermodynamics of both complex and simple systems. One area of focus is the understanding of the formation and behavior of protein aggregates that play a crucial role in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). We use Molecular-Dynamics-based multicanonical simulations of a coarse-grained peptide model to determine the aggregation behavior of small oligomers with the goal of determining the pathway or pathways by which the aggregates form and of identifying the dominant forces during the aggregation. Our goal is to understand the aggregation behavior of proteins in terms of their underlying potential energy surface. In addition, we are determining a concentration-temperature phase diagram of Amyloid-like peptides in order to indentify under what conditions the peptides form stable, b-sheet aggregates similar to those seen in patients suffering from AD. Requirements: Open to all first-, second-, and third-year students with at least one semester of chemistry by Summer, 2011. Familiarity with programming in C is preferred. The Role of Fluctuations in the Surface Free Energy of a Liquid-vapor Interface Faculty Contact: Professor Alan van Giessen, Chemistry Department (vangiessen@hws.edu) Research in the van Giessen group uses theoretical and computational techniques to understand the structure and thermodynamics of both complex and simple systems. One area of focus of our research is on the energetic properties of curved interfaces, such as liquid drops or micelles. We are primarily interested in the dependence of the surface free energy, often referred to as the surface tension, on the principle radii of curvature. We study simple systems, such as those containing a single species of molecule, as well as more complicated systems, such as those involving surfactants or nanoparticles. This project involves both computational and a theoretical

methods and focuses on the role that fluctuations play in the surface free energy of a planar liquid-vapor interface. Requirements: Open to all first-, second-, and third-year students with at least one semester of chemistry by Summer, 2011. Familiarity with programming in C is preferred. Solid-Phase Synthesis of Cysteine-Containing Potential Anticancer Compounds Faculty Contact: Professor Justin S. Miller, Department of Chemistry (jsmiller@hws.edu) Students will synthesize potential anticancer chemotherapeutics using new synthetic methodology that has been developed in the Miller laboratory. The new methodology is based on solid-phase resins capable of supporting the synthesis of peptidic molecules containing at least one cysteine residue. Along with the synthesis of potential anticancer agents, these resins will find a range of applications involving efficient synthetic routes towards other valuable, biologically relevant targets and their analogs. Requirements: Open to first-, second-, and third-years with at least one year of chemistry by Summer, 2011. Solid-Phase Synthesis of Cysteine-Containing Potential Anticancer Compounds Faculty Contact: Professor Justin S. Miller, Department of Chemistry (jsmiller@hws.edu) This student will synthesize potential anticancer chemotherapeutics using new synthetic methodology that has been developed in the Miller laboratory. The new methodology is based on solid-phase resins capable of supporting the synthesis of peptidic molecules containing at least one cysteine residue. The goal of this project will be to develop a functional Intermediate Organic Chemistry laboratory protocol to be used beginning Fall, 2011. You might be designing the lab that you get to do in class! Requirements: Open to first-, second-, and third-years with at least one year of chemistry by Summer, 2011

Education Computational Thinking Across the Disciplines Faculty Contact: Professor Paul Kehle, Education Department (kehle@hws.edu) Students will conduct applied research on topics in computational thinking, including topics such as stable matchings, internet privacy, resource allocation, textual analysis, and the NFL draft. The work will involve three components: 1) research on an unsolved problem in one the above areas, 2) development of introductory activities and lessons in computational thinking for high school students, and 3) working as teaching assistants during a 2-week prototyping workshop, working alongside computer scientists, authors, teachers, and high school students exploring ways to attract high school teachers and students to the study of computational thinking. The emphasis on these three activities can be tailored to student interest. Requirements: Curiosity and interests in real-world problem solving, teaching, mathematics, computer science, and strong inter-personal skills. CPSC 120 is desirable.

Environmental Studies Implementation of the HWS Climate Action Plan (CAP) Faculty Contact: Professor Tom Drennen, Environmental Studies (drennen@hws.edu) The Colleges have committed to climate neutrality by 2025. The Climate Action Plan lists a broad range of initiatives necessary for meeting this goal. Summer research students will work on several ongoing initiatives, including: 1) developing a wind power feasibility study for campus; 2) developing a plan for integrating organic farming options with campus dining options; and 3) conducting testing of several smaller identified green ideas products in suitable test situations. Student(s) will work under guidance of Prof. Drennen (Economics/Environmental Studies) and Jamie Landi (HWS Sustainability Coordinator). Requirements: Preference will be given to students majoring in Environmental Studies with a proven interest in implementing green initiatives on campus. Proposed Development of Natural Gas Resources in the Marcellus Shale Region Faculty Contact: Professor Beth Kinne, Environmental Studies (kinne@hws.edu) The student research assistant will conduct research on the impacts of and responses to the proposed development of natural gas resources in the Marcellus Shale. The Marcellus Shale underlies the southern tier of NY as well as parts of PA, WV, MD and OH, and is estimated to one of the largest shale gas resources in the United States and the world. Research assignments will focus on several of the following issues: economic, social, environmental health, watershed and groundwater impacts, and regulatory responses to concerns about negative impacts of shale development. In addition, the research assistant will aid in the execution of a conference on the same topic and the creation of educational documents which will eventually be posted on the FLI website as a community resource. Requirements: Ability to work independently and conduct in-depth documentary research. Legal research skills a plus.

Integrated Dam Assessment and Modeling Faculty contact: Professor Darrin Magee, Environmental Studies Program (magee@hws.edu)   The goal of the project is to develop the theoretical framework and software tool for assessing and visualizing the socioeconomic, biophysical, and geopolitical impacts of dams. The tool can then be used as a decision-support tool for dam development, siting, and operation. Requirements: Research assistant (RA) will be expected to synthesize and organize data gleaned from media sources, corporate websites, and academic journals. RA should also be proficient in presentation software (PowerPoint or equivalent) and/or web design. Ability to read Chinese highly desirable. Asian Environmental Studies Initiative Faculty contact: Professor Darrin Magee, Environmental Studies Program (magee@hws.edu)   Two positions will support work on a new Asian Environmental Studies initiative funded by the Henry Luce Foundation. The goal of the initiative is to enhance the study of environmental and human health issues in East Asia at HWS. Requirements: RA’s will be expected to carry out a variety of tasks to assist Professor Magee (and perhaps other involved faculty) in advancing the AES initiative, including research, web design, preparation of presentations, establishing and maintaining contacts with faculty at other liberal arts institutions who are working on AES topics, and other tasks as required. Environmental Studies or Asian Languages and Cultures major/minor preferred.

Finger Lakes Institute  Finger Lakes Regional Stream Monitoring Program: Engaging Students in field-based learning and the application of water quality data FLI Contact: Sheila Myers (smyers@hws.edu) In this project, the student will work with the Finger Lakes Institute Education Outreach Coordinator to assist in the development of educational programs on aquatic science for teacher trainings and science camp programs. In addition, the student will assist in fieldwork at regional stream sites to develop baseline data for a regional stream monitoring program. Requirements: Background in aquatic sciences and stream ecology is preferred, and a background in education is desirable. Ecological Restoration of Seneca Lake State Park FLI Contact: Sarah Meyer (smeyer@hws.edu) In this project, the student will research the potential ecological restoration of the park’s natural areas and aquatic resources and explore restoration techniques useful for maximizing the biological value of the site. This project may also include developing interpretive materials and conducting field studies, biological surveys and inventories of the flora and fauna at the current site. To understand whether this project has long-term viability, the student may investigate the geomorphology of the site and begin preliminary fieldwork and preparation to investigate the hydrologic regime (water supply and flow) of the restoration site. The student will pursue communication with experts in the fields of ecological restoration, fish and wildlife management, environmental education and botany to gather knowledge and understanding of the site and to compile deliverables. Requirements: Student should be an independent worker proficient in MS Office with a driver’s license. GIS/GPS experience a plus. Biology and hydrology fieldwork experience a plus. Pursuant of a degree in the natural sciences, natural resource management or related field preferred. Environmental Assessment of Seneca Lake and its Watershed FLI Contact: Lisa Cleckner (cleckner@hws.edu) In this project, the student will work at the Finger Lakes Institute assisting with the development of analytical chemistry standard operating procedures for total mercury analysis in sediment and biota tissues. Some field activities in aquatic ecology are anticipated. The student will also assist with research and drafting text for the purpose of updating the Seneca Lake Watershed Management Plan, a collaborative project currently being conducted with local planning and governmental organizations. Requirements: Hands-on experience in science labs, including the use of an analytical balance, is required. Strong interest and experiences in aquatic sciences are preferred. Desirable attributes include attention to detail and interest in science as it informs policy.

Geoscience

Climate Reconstruction using Leaves: Australia

Faculty Contact: Professor Nan Crystal Arens, Lansing 111, Geoscience Department (arens@hws.edu) Paleontologists use a variety of methods to reconstruct the climates of the past. One of these looks at the size and shape of leaves. Over the years, paleobotanists have collected leaves from forests all over the world and correlated their form with local climate. From this large data set, statistical patterns emerge that allow us to infer past climate from fossil leaves. One drawback of this approach is that most of the data comes from Northern Hemisphere forests. During December 2010, Prof. Arens and her team collected leaves from the rainforests of Queensland in Australia. These data are important because Australia’s evolutionary history is quite different from that of the north. Research this summer will focus on analyzing these data toward answering the following questions: Do Australian forests show relationships with climate different from those familiar from the Northern Hemisphere? What effect does Australia’s long and isolated evolutionary history have on these plant-climate relationships? Applicants should have good computer and statistical skills. Watershed/Lake Hydrogeochemical Interactions Faculty Contact: Professor John Halfman, Lansing 112, Geoscience Department (halfman@hws.edu) Students will work on environmental/hydrogeochemical/water quality problems associated primarily with Seneca Lake, and its watershed, but the investigations also include a survey of the neighboring Finger Lakes. The project involves a significant amount of field and laboratory work, at times in inclement weather, and is in cooperation with the Finger Lakes Institute, and other watershed protection agencies. Requirements: Strong background in geoscience/environmental science and desire to work outside in wet environments. Length: 10 weeks.

Mathematics and Computer Science

Mathematical Modeling of Viral Infection Faculty Contact: Professor Jonathan Forde, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science (forde@hws.edu) Two students will work as a team with the supervisor to develop a functional mathematical model of the interaction between a viral pathogen and the host’s target and immune cell populations. The specific virus to be studied is flexible, and can be tailored to the students’ interests. Requirements: Those interested should have a good knowledge of differential equations, and interest in applied mathematics, and some knowledge of computer programming. Testing and Extending a Compiler Compiler Faculty Contact: Professor Marc Corliss, Department of Math and Computer Science In this project, the student will test and extend an existing "compiler compiler". A compiler compiler is a tool for generating compilers (software for translating high-level programs into machine code) from a concise programmer specification. The student will work with the COGS compiler compiler, which was developed at HWS. The student will first demonstrate the utility of COGS by generating at least one compiler with it. Next, the student will design and implement techniques for evaluating COGS as well as the generated compiler. Finally, based on the experience gained in working with COGS, the student will look at ways for extending and improving COGS. Requirements: The student must be currently taking CPSC 433 (offered this semester) and be performing well in the course. Building Automatic and Scalable Tools for Improving Environmental Recycling Faculty Contact: Professor Marc Corliss, Department of Math and Computer Science (corliss@hws.edu) In this project, the student will investigate new ways for improving environmental recycling. In particular, the student will design and implement a hardware and software system to reduce garbage/recycling sorting error (i.e., putting recycling in a trash bin rather than a recycling bin). The software will be networked to improve scalability and ease of use. If there is enough time, the student will test and evaluate their implementation. Requirements: The student must have taken CPSC 226 and CPSC 441 and received an A- or higher in both courses. Computational Discrete Mathematics Faculty Contact: Professor Paul Kehle, Education Department (kehle@hws.edu) This summer, work on this ongoing project will focus on properties of circulant and hybrid circulant graphs in relation to graph Ramsey Theory. In addition to collecting and analyzing computer-generated data for numerical patterns, we will also be creating definitions for how to combine circulant graphs to obtain highly symmetric graphs with certain properties. Work will involve intensive use of Mathematica. Requirements: CPSC 124, MATH 135 and a love of mathematics, computer programming, problem solving; and preferably a course in graph theory or combinatorics and/or a strong interest in teaching mathematics.  

Physics Gravitational Physics Faculty Contact: Professor Steve Penn, Department of Physics (penn@hws.edu) Our research group is part of the LIGO Project (Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory), which operates two observatories in the US and works closely with observatories in Europe. Our goal is to make a first detection of gravitational waves, first predicted by Einstein in 1916. Once we have the sensitivity to measure gravity waves, we will engage in observations of the many energetic phenomena in the universe that can only be seen using gravity waves. To get a sense for the LIGO Project you may watch the movie "Einstein's Messengers" which is located at http://www.ligo.caltech.edu/einstein.ram. In our laboratory, we work on understanding and lowering the thermal noise in LIGO. Thermal noise is the main limiting factor to increasing the observatory's sensitivity. Thus our work has significant impact on the entire project. Yet the work is basically materials physics and the experiments can be successfully performed by undergraduate physics majors. While we all work together on lab projects, each student will have a project for which they will be mainly responsible and which will lead to publishable research work. In addition, students will learn many of the techniques useful to experimental physicists and engineers, including electronics, vacuum technology, optics, machining, and data analysis. Requirements: You must be a physics major with a good GPA and a strong desire to do research. Coherent Backscattering from an Optical Microscopic Dipole Trap Faculty Contact: Professor Pasad Kulatunga, Department of Physics (kulatunga@hws.edu) Experimental work on detecting Coherent Backscattering (CBS) of light from ultracold atoms in microscopic dipole traps. Student(s) will conduct experiments on detecting CBS from atoms in microscopic dipole traps. The work involves setting up and optimizing optical setups needed to observe CBS. Students will collect data and run data analysis routines. This is a continuation of an existing project. Must be comfortable working with electronics, computer control systems, or willing to learn the same. Requirements: Qualified candidates must have completed Calculus I and II, and a physics course beyond PHYS 160 (PHYS 270 or higher). Some knowledge of electronics and computer programming is preferred.

Psychology

Examining  Associations  between  Adolescents’  Peer  Experiences  and  their  Social,  Emotional,  and  Academic  Adjustment   Faculty  Contact:  Julie  Newman  Kingery,  Ph.D.,  Assistant  Professor  of  Psychology  (kingery@hws.edu)    This  summer  science  research  opportunity  will  focus  on  several  related  projects.  The  first  project  involves  analyzing  data  from  a  study  exploring  the  relationship  between  college  students’  friendships  and  their  academic,  emotional,  and  social  adjustment.  After  analyzing  the  data,  we  will  write  a  paper  based  on  this  project  for  a  psychology  journal  and  submit  a  poster  abstract  to  the  2012  Society  for  Research  on  Adolescence  conference.  The  second  project  will  examine  social-­‐cognitive  factors  predicting  early  adolescents’  adjustment  across  the  transition  to  middle  school.        The  summer  student  who  works  with  Professor  Kingery  will  assist  with  a  variety  of  research  tasks,  including  conducting  literature  searches,  summarizing  and  critically  evaluating  published  research,  analyzing  data  using  SPSS,  and  writing  up  research  results.  For  the  poster  submission,  the  student  will  generate  a  research  question  that  is  of  interest  to  him/her  and  complete  the  analyses  and  poster  abstract  with  the  assistance  of  Professor  Kingery.  There  will  also  be  opportunities  to  learn  about  community  based  research  collaborations  by  attending  meetings  with  organizations  that  serve  youth  and  families  in  Geneva.      Requirements:  Students  who  apply  for  this  position  should  have  some  prior  experience  conducting  literature  searches  with  PsycINFO,  familiarity  with  SPSS,  excellent  writing  and  organizational  skills,  and  a  strong  interest  in  gaining  applied  research  experience  in  the  fields  of  developmental  and  clinical  psychology.      Stress  and  Obesity-­related  Disease  among  African  Americans   Faculty  Contact:  Jamie  S.  Bodenlos,  Ph.D.,  Assistant  Professor  of  Psychology  (bodenlos@hws.edu)    This  summer  science  research  experience  involves  using  an  epidemiological  data  set  to  statistically  test  a  model  of  psychological  stress  and  obesity-­‐related  disease  among  a  large  sample  of  African  American  adults.  Compared  to  Caucasians,  African  Americans  have  higher  rates  of  obesity  and  related  diseases  including  hypertension,  type  2  diabetes,  and  cardiovascular  disease  (CVD).  The  life  expectancy  of  African  Americans  also  continues  to  be  significantly  lower  than  Caucasians.  Higher  levels  of  stress  stemming  from  socioeconomic  disadvantage  among  African  Americans  have  been  proposed  as  a  contributor  to  the  elevated  rates  of  obesity  and  its  related  diseases.  In  this  project,  we  will  be  testing  a  theoretical  model  of  socio-­‐environmental  stress  and  obesity-­‐related  disease  among  a  large  sample  of  African  Americans.          The  student  who  fills  this  position  will  work  with  Professor  Bodenlos  on  the  project  described  above  as  well  as  other  ongoing  research  activities.  The  student  will  get  the  opportunity  to  learn  about  various  aspects  of  the  research  process  including  how  to  use  and  manage  large  databases  and  conduct  statistical  analyses.  There  will  be  opportunities  for  the  student  to  further  develop  her/his  skills  in  conducting  literature  searches  and  critically  analyzing  the  literature.  The  student  will  learn  how  to  use  Endnote  for  formatting  the  references  in  manuscripts.      Requirements:  Students  who  apply  for  this  position  should  have  prior  experience  conducting  literature  searches  with  PsycINFO  and  using  SPSS,  well-­‐developed  writing  skills,  and  strong  organizational  skills,  and  an  interest  in  health  psychology.    

Mood  and  Social  Behavior  

Faculty  Contact:  Portia  Dyrenforth,  Assistant  Professor  of  Psychology  (dyrenforth@hws.edu)  

This  summer  science  project  will  examine  how  mood  affects  social  attention,  empathic  accuracy,  and  social  behaviors.    A  primary  goal  for  the  selected  student  will  be  to  obtain  and  catalogue  existing  empirical  evidence  from  the  literature.    In  addition,  throughout  the  summer  the  student  will  help  to  design  and  prepare  new  studies  regarding  the  influences  of  positive  emotion  on  perceiving  and  interpreting  social  information.      

The  student  will  work  with  Professor  Dyrenforth  on  a  variety  of  tasks  related  to  the  research  program  described  above.    Daily  tasks  will  include  conducting  literature  searches  for  relevant  articles  and  study  measures,  creating  summaries  of  relevant  research,  and  collecting  and  designing  materials  for  additional  studies.    The  position  offers  an  opportunity  to  gain  experience  in  several  steps  of  the  research  process,  including  literature  reviews,  and  designing  new  measures  and  research  protocols  for  studies  of  positive  emotion.  

Requirements:  Strong  interest  in  research  (both  experimental  and  literature  reviews),  creativity,  and  attention  to  detail.    Some  experience  with  SPSS  is  preferred.  

All positions are tentative and subject to final funding and approval from the faculty and the Provost’s Office.