Undergraduate Student Research Projects

Spring 25
  • ​BIOL 399 Independent Research: Assessing the success of stream restoration efforts with Beaver Creek Hydrology at Goose Creek in Hestand, KY, with Reagan Scheffel (continuing).
  • ​BIOL 399 Independent Research: Assessing the success of stream restoration efforts with Beaver Creek Hydrology at Goose Creek in Hestand, KY, with Lauren Nesbitt (continuing).
  • ​BIOL 399 Independent Research: Investigating student misconceptions regarding climate change, with Violet Weaver (continuing). 
  • Honors CE/T Project: A capstone experience/thesis project. Presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Bachelor of Science in Biology with Honors College Distinction at Western Kentucky University.. Cultural Mobility: The biocultural impact of osteoarthritis on rural Kentuckians, by Alexandria Anderson. (proposal)
    • *Anderson, Alexandria. Comorbidity Differences Among Rural and Urban Patients with Osteoarthritis. Oral presentation at the 2025 WKU Student Scholar Showcase. April 5, 2005.
    • *Anderson, Alexandria. ​Influence of Distance on Hip Osteoarthritis Treatment in Southcentral Kentucky. Oral presentation given at Western Kentucky Heart and Lung Consortium, WKU and Med Center Health. Poster presented at the University of Kentucky School of Medicine – Bowling Green Student Research Showcase, Med Center Health. November 11, 2004. 
Fall 24
  • BIOL 399 Independent Research: Use of existing data set to further investigate the drivers of bacterial and fungal root endophyte community structure, with Sydney Reeves (view poster). 
Spring 24
  • ​BIOL 399 Independent Research: The use of protists as bioindicators of watershed health, by Abigail Bechert. (continuing)
  • BIOL 475 Special Topics: Biological Illustration Microscopic images of Protists Series for the BIOL 123 Online Lab Manual, by  Stephanie Massengale, (view series)
Fall 23
  • BIOL 399 Independent Research: Investigation of molecular and sampling techniques to analyze the season prey-base of lion sin Kruger National Park, South Africa, by Atiana Spivey. (view critique). 
Spring 23
  • BIOL 399 Independent Research: Metanalysis of freshman experience courses and exploration of the need and potential for a freshman seminar series in the biology department, by Janna James. ( (view paper and literature list)
  • BIOL 399 Independent Research. The research impact of body farms, by Berkely Walton. (view paper). 
  • BIOL 399 Independent Research: The affect of immigrant status and ESL on standard outcomes of maternal morbidity, by Rheanna Tes and Spencer Bass. (veiw paper)
  • BIOL 399 Independent Research: Establishment of a taxonomic key of mbuna cichlids and production of information cards to be used in inquiry-based learning, by Julia Howard. (view ID cards)
  • BIOL 399 Independent Research: Melanoma Incidence Rates and Outcomes in Rural vs. Urban Areas in Kentucky with Grace Alexander, Ruthie Eastham, Sadie Molina-Lopez, and Mason Towery
    • McElroy D., *Towery M., *Molina-Lopez S., *Eastham R., *Alexander S. G, Mountjoy N. J. Incidence Rates and Outcomes of Nodular and Superficial Spreading Melanoma along the Rural-Urban Continuum in Kentucky and Their Relationship to Provider Care Access. South Med J. 2024 May;117(5):235-240. 
    • *Eastham, R., *Molina-Lopez, S., and *Towery, M., Research Foundation Symposium, Western Kentucky Heart & Lung. April 14, 2023. (view poster)
    • *Towery, M., *Molina-Lopez, S., *Alexander, S., *Eastham, R., Melanoma Incidence Rates and Outcomes in Rural vs. Urban Areas in Kentucky. Research Foundation Symposium, Western Kentucky University Student Scholar Showcase, May 22, 2023. [preliminary]
  • Continued: Differences in NSTEMI Presentation: Analyzing Outcomes in Men vs. Women, by Caraline New and Dalton Webb.
    • *New, Caroline and *Webb, D. Differences in NSTEMI Presentation: Analyzing Outcomes in Men vs. Women. Research Foundation Symposium, Western Kentucky Heart & Lung. April 14, 2023.​​
​Spring 22
  • Honors CE/T Project: Student perspectives on inquiry-based learning. A capstone experience/thesis project. Presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Bachelor of Science in Biology with Honors College Distinction at Western Kentucky University. 2022.  By Shelby Robertson (view thesis).
  • BIOL 399 Independent Research: The effects of the quantity and quality of metacognitive study strategies on exam performance, by Alix Cross (view report). Manuscript in Progress.
  • BIOL 399 Independent Research: The Effects of Learning Assistants on Undergraduate Students in Introductory Biology Courses, by Macy Murphy & Taylor Boian (view Poster).
  • BIOL 399 Independent Research: Analysis of the Patient Coordinator Program at the Medical Center Bowling Green, by Madeline Skau, Jackson Horn, and Rheanna Tes.
    • *Skau, M, *Horn, J., *Tes, R., Mountjoy, N. J., McElroy, D., Joyce, M., Mountjoy, J. Rice, E., and Swiney, J., Analysis of the Patient Coordinator Program at the Medical Center Bowling Green. WKHL Research Foundation. Bowling Green, KY. May Meeting, 2022. (view presentation).
    • *Skau, M., *Horn, J., *Tes, R., [Pilot] Analysis Of The Patient Coordinator Program. WKU Student Research Conference, WKU, March 26, 2022. (view poster)​.
​Fall 21
  • BIOL 399 Independent Research: The impact of inquiry-based learning on the way students view science, by Emily Jones, Samantha Steward, & Shelby Robertson (view presentation).
    • Robertson, S., Inquiry Based Learning & The Impact on Student Perspectives. WKU Student Research Conference, WKU, March 26, 2022. (view presentation).
Spring 2021
  • BIOL 399 Independent Research: Literature review on the COVID vaccines and a vaccine questionnaire pilot-test analysis, by JT Newman (Products: Literature Review, introduction, timeline & infographic).
    • Johnson, J., Newman J.T., Bandy D., McElroy, D., Mountjoy, N. J., Singh, A., Joyce, M. Incidence and severity of COVID-19 vaccine side effects in a medically at-risk and vaccine hesitant community. Research Foundation Symposium, Impact Award, Western Kentucky Heart & Lung. April 22, 2022.
    • Joyce, M., Mountjoy, N. J., Johnson, J., Newman, J. T., Bandy, D., Atalla, N., Singh, A., McElroy, D. From trial to practice: Incidence and severity of COVID-19 vaccine side effects in a medically at-risk and vaccine-hesitant community. BMC Public Health 22, 2351. [LINK]
  • BIOL 475 Special Topics: Effects of COVID-19 on the Barren River Health District, by JT Newman. (view the timeline of policy and health initiatives surrounding  COVID-19  and the accompanying infographic).