Parasca Science Research Award
2010 PARASCA SCIENCE RESEARCH AWARD
Mechanical Engineering major, Stephen Sutton, was selected as the 2010 winner of the Parasca Award along with group members Sarah Aiken, Timothy Eby, and Jens Jensen. Thier research is entitled "Mechanical Hand". They will be working with faculty members Muhammad Ali, Todd Peterson and Dave Pfeiffer.
2009 PARASCA SCIENCE RESEARCH AWARD
Engineering major, Cheyenne Alabanzas, was selected as the 2009 winner of the Parasca Award. Her research is entitled "The Microstructural and Biomechanical Property Differences of Spinal Rods from Different Lots." She will be working with Dr. Anthony Paris, a faculty member in Engineering.
View Microstructural & Biomechanical Property Differences Proposal
2008 PARASCA SCIENCE RESEARCH AWARD
Engineering major, Raphael Wunderle, was selected as the 2008 winner of the Parasca Award. His research is entitled
"Constant-Force Compliant Gripper Mechanism". He will be working with Dr. Nicolae
Lobontiu, a faculty member in Engineering.
View Constant-Force Compliant Gripper Mechanism Proposal
2007 PARASCA SCIENCE RESEARCH AWARD
Engineering major, Athea Alabanzas, was selected as the 2007 winner of the Parasca Award. She will be researching the
treatment of Alaska water using Titanium Dioxide Photocatalyst. She will be working
with Dr. Nyree McDonald, a faculty member in Engineering.
View Athea Alabansas' Final Report
2006 PARASCA SCIENCE RESEARCH AWARD
University Honors student and Biological Sciences major Summer Engler was selected as the recipient of the 2006 UAA Parasca Science Research Award. Engler
will research copper homeostasis in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae under the supervision
of her faculty mentor, Dr. Jocelyn Krebs, in the Biological Sciences Department. The
proteins involved in regulating copper levels within the cell have been conserved
throughout evolution and are therefore very similar between yeast and human.
Engler’s research may open the way to greater insights involving copper homeostasis.
This, in turn, will foster a clearer understanding of copper homeostasis diseases
in humans involving copper overload and copper deficiency, such as Wilson’s (http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ ddiseases/pubs/wilson/ ) and Menkes diseases. Her research will extend through the spring 2007 semester.
The results of the project will be presented at the Spring 2007 Undergraduate Research
and Discovery Symposium.