Two USU undergraduate research fellows graduate

Three years ago, in fall 2004, the inaugural class of University Undergraduate Research Fellows at Utah State University was selected. At the university’s May 5 commencement ceremony, two of them graduated – both with honors – after just three years of study. Earning degrees were Amanda Marinello and Nathan Carruth.

USU’s undergraduate research fellow program identifies ambitious students early in their careers, according to Joyce Kinkead, associate vice president in the Office of Research.

“These are students who want to engage in research, scholarship or creative activity from day one of their undergraduate careers,” Kinkead said. “Undergraduates can enter a research track at any point in their studies, but there are some students for whom immediate immersion is very important.”

Kinkead said some students have turned down Ivy League admission to come to Utah State because they know they can be in a lab immediately.

Amanda Marinello of Orem, Utah, graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in English and a minor in psychology. Although only at Utah State three years, she established an impressive academic record, including being awarded an Undergraduate Research and Creative Opportunities Grant (URCO) from the Office of Research, Kinkead said. Her project on J. M. Barrie, author of “Peter Pan,” took her to Glasgow, Scotland, for study abroad. While there, she studied in libraries and met fellow Barrie scholars.

“Because the Victorian autograph album is a new field of study within literary criticism, a lot of my research consisted of drawing my own conclusions based on evidence found in previously unexamined sources, and then discussing my conclusions with various academics,” Marinello said.

Marinello’s mentor was English department faculty member Evelyn Funda.

“Mannie has moved from working on my projects to developing an independent track of her own research,” Funda said. “It’s exactly the path we want to see our students follow.”

Marinello’s honors thesis, “Vivisection and Pastries: Mis/Reading the Confession Albums of J.M. Barrie and Willa Cather,” was also the basis for presentations she made at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research, the Utah Conference on Undergraduate Research and Utah State’s Student Showcase.

Marinello moves to Scotland following graduation to pursue graduate studies in Victorian literature.

Nathan Carruth of Logan graduates summa cum laude with a bachelor of science in mathematics. Home schooled, Carruth brought to Utah State 24 credits from Stanford’s continuing studies program in math.

Carruth’s mentor was math department faculty member Lance Littlejohn.

“Nathan is one of the best students I have seen in my 23 years at Utah State,” Littlejohn said. “He is going to go to one of the best graduate programs in the country.”

Carruth will pursue graduate studies at Princeton and visited the campus this spring. He will enroll following a two-year leave for humanitarian service. Early in his academic career, Carruth and Littlejohn traveled to Europe to present a professional paper.

Carruth was awarded an honorable mention in the National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowship competition. He undertook both undergraduate and graduate studies in physics in addition to his emphasis in mathematics.

“Nathan advanced further and faster in his studies in physics than I imagined,” said physics professor David Peak.

“We are extremely proud of Mannie and Nathan as exemplars of the Research Fellows Program,” Kinkead said.

The fourth group of Research Fellows enters Utah State University fall 2007, having been interviewed by faculty at Scholars Day March 29.

Those invited into the program include Kevin Cope, Spanish Fork High School; Kyle Heywood, Morgan High School; Riley Wilson, West Jordan High School; Hollie Krambule, Star Valley High School (Wyoming); Matthew Krambule, Logan High School; Isaac Allred, Viewmont High School; Ashley Hansen, Mountain Crest High School; Broderick Klemetson, Pleasant Grove High School; Jacob Lambert, Mackay High School (Idaho); Scarlet Fronk, Mountain Crest High School; Andrew Izatt, Madison High School (Idaho); Aurora Wallis, Preston High School (Idaho); Kyle McKenna, Viewmont High School; Kayla Woodring, Weber High School; Rebecca Tanner, Spanish Fork High School; Jylisa Doney, Logan High School; Elaine Taylor, Logan High School; Kevin Fifer, Viewmont High School; Cyri Dixon, Ririe High School (Idaho); Colby Kearl, Box Elder High School; Lydia Howes, Taylorsville High School; Steven Mosher, Bonneville High School (Idaho); Lauren Pugh, James Wood High School (Virginia); Jordan Pitchord, Roy High School; Thomas Anderson, Madison High School (Idaho); Chance Christensen, Skyline High School (Idaho); Matthew Petersen, Layton High School; and Rachel Porter, Skyline High School.

For information on the Undergraduate Research Fellows program, contact Kinkead at (435) 797-1706, joyce.kinkead@usu.edu.