SPUR at MVNU: Discover, Present, Excel

Why just take a class when you can create new knowledge? The Summer Program for Undergraduate Research (SPUR) is a fully funded, 8-week summer immersion where you will complete an intensive, faculty-mentored research project.

As a SPUR researcher, you will:

Dive Deep into a research topic you're passionate about.
Excel by honing critical writing skills through a final summary report.
Present Your Work by showcasing a poster to the campus-wide community and during Homecoming weekend in the fall after your summer research as well as delivering an oral presentation at MVNU's annual spring Symposium for Undergraduate Research and Creative Works (sURC).
Go Beyond: Many students even present their findings at regional, national, or international professional conferences in their field!

This is more than a summer job; it's a comprehensive experience designed to build your confidence, refine your skills, and make your resume stand out for graduate schools and future employers.

Projects of investigations this past summer included:

Effect of Caffeine on the Capacitance of a Phospholipid Monolayer by Emily Howie
Electrochemical Study of Phospholipid Monolayers at Organic-Water Interfaces by Samuel Stevens
Impact of Physicochemical Parameters and Crayfish Occurrence on Hellgrammite Population by Liberty Pennington and Sam Wilson
Birds of the Mayan World: Research Study by Tucker Dougherty
Perceived Parental Effectiveness of Peers Program on Young Adults: A Mixed Method Inquiry by Hayden Moore
Machine Learning-Based Solar Panel Cooling Optimization System by Assol Abasova, Aiken Barahira, Blair Karamaga, and Red Madero
Determining Preschool Students’ Development Achievement Based on Ohio’s Early Learning and Development Standards in Rural Ohio by Abigail Crumbacher
A Qualitative Study of Student Behaviors in Extracurricular Activities by Allison Fahy
Performance of Density-Functional Tight-Binding Models in Describing the Interaction Between γ-Graphyne-n (n = 1, 2, 3) with Various Molecules by Alyssa McPhee

Projects from past summers:

SPUR 2024

Investigating the effectiveness of Aqua Veta Liquid Catalyst for improving soil viability by Daniel Daly
Study of Phospholipid Monolayers at Organic-Water Interfaces by Emily Howie and Erin King
Impact of Physico-chemical Parameters and Crayfish Occurrence on Hellgrammite Populations by Hanna Humphrey and Gabrielle Joyce
Free Energy Landscape of Knotted and Unkontted Homologous Proteins by Alyssa McPhee, Cailey Bubis, and Mason Lewis
Computational Study of Water Filtration through Graphynes’ Pores by Alyssa McPhee
Prevention of Lipid Oxidation Damage in Model Membranes by Antioxidant Supplementation by Marrisa Kunes, Kiersten Winey, and Abbey Niemesh

SPUR 2023

Computational study of Water Filtration through Graphynes’ Pores by Hannah Crouse
Improvements in the Identification of Obstructed Images by Samuel Riffle and Spencer Riffle
Electrochemical Study of Zinc Adsorption on Zirconia-Water Interfaces by Raegan Gurney
Electrochemical Study of Interactions Between Alkali Ions and Phospholipid Monolayers at Organic-Water Interfaces by Cole Custodio and Evan Hodkinson
Proteins Induce Membrane Permeability in a Hydrophobicity and Surface Charge Dependent Manner by Colton Sisler, Jeremiah Archer, Noah Humphrey, Andrew Pfau, and Zachary Wigton
Assessing the accuracy of Density Functional Based Tight-Binding calculations for the structure and energetics of amino acids on gold nanoclusters by Jerhett Morehouse
Local Freshwater Population of C. cornutus by Marcus Whaley
Mayan World Bird Profiles by Sidney Van Fossen
Hydration of Cubic Zirconia at 111, 110, and 100 Surfaces: A Computational Study by Daniel Daly

SPUR 2022

Local Freshwater Population of C. cornutus (pilot study) by Chase Hall
Mayan World Wildlife Field Guide Survey by Cole Lape
Controlling Membrane Permeability through Protein-Lipid and Cation-Lipid Interactions by Hannah Crouse, Alyssa Fraley, Cassandra Petrey, and Colton Sisler
Electrochemical Study of the Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia-Water Interfaces by Austin Brown
Electrochemical Study of the Phospholipid Monolayers at 1,2-Dichloroethane-Water Interfaces by Alyssa Fraley
Prototyping for a Wireless Multimodal Sensor System on Contact Lens using Near-Field Communication (NFC) for Real-Time On-Field Concussion Assessment by Owen Paulus, and Caleb Syler
Assessing the Knotting and Unknotting Mechanism of Proteins by Hannah Crouse
Zinc Adsorption and Hydration Structures at Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia Surfaces by Daniel Daly
Improvements in the Identification of Obstructed Images: Analysis and Modification of the Obstruction Codebase’s Preprocessing, Exemplar Building, and Code Matching Sections by Sam Riffle and Daisy Latham

Would you be willing to sponsor a summer student researcher?

Your contribution directly empowers students to engage in transformative, faculty-mentored research, turning classroom theory into real-world discovery. By funding SPUR, you're not just giving a scholarship; you're providing the tools for students to present at national conferences, develop critical skills, and launch high-impact careers. Your support fuels the intellectual vitality of MVNU and creates a legacy of excellence that attracts the brightest minds. Partner with us to cultivate talent and shape the future.

Be sure to specify your gift is for "Summer Student Research" or “SPUR”.

Give now

“By participating in this research, I have learned the value that running multiple tests and perfecting techniques can have on the overall data collected for a specific experiment. These techniques will allow me to be better equipped when entering graduate school in the near future. It has also shown me the value of collaborating with other members of the research team.”

Cassandra Peters '23

“SPUR is one of my favorite aspects of MVNU. It is incredible that we can research God’s wonderful creation at our very own university... After completing this research, I feel more confident in my ability to effectively conduct experiments, collect data, analyze data, and make evidence-based conclusions. The SPUR program has helped make me a better scientist and a stronger student; I feel more prepared to continue my education in professional school after my time at MVNU.”

Colton Sisler ’24

“Overall, my experience this summer caused me to have more confidence in being able to do graduate school, along with being able to see that I could lead my own research lab in the future. It also caused me to think outside of the box more than I would in a regular chemistry course or lab. This experience will not be forgotten and will help me with my future career.”

Hannah Crouse ’24

“This summer was challenging and stretched me beyond what I had known was possible but I am so thankful for the experience, growth and knowledge gained throughout.”

Allison Fahy ’27

“Having the ability to explore and explain creation via research is a great opportunity to be in awe of God’s greatness. This research also serves as a foundation for any future research that I have the opportunity to participate in. Additionally, having research experience will be great addition to my medical school application and a potential talking point for any interviews I may be offered."

Noah Humphrey ’24

“Getting the privilege to be a part of MVNU’s SPUR has been on the highlights of my academic career so far…SPUR set me up for success as I apply to graduate schools and look to further my education. SPUR gave me confidence in a lab setting and knowledge about differing techniques and instruments typically used.”