Gardner-Webb Summer Scholar Fellows Study Clams, Alternative Therapies, Propaganda and Rwandan Genocide

Five Students Receive Grants to Work on Research Projects with Faculty Mentors

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—Gardner-Webb University awarded Summer Scholar Fellowships to five students this year. Through the program, they conduct original research under the guidance of a faculty mentor. Fellows are awarded room and board during a five-week summer term to complete their fellowship and receive a $500 stipend. They are required to present or publish the project by the end of next year.

In the first summer session, Caleb Hill, a biochemistry major, studied evolutionary changes in the Arcidae family of clams. Professor of paleontology Dr. David Campbell was his mentor. “By closely examining and comparing the DNA sequences of these organisms, we aimed to identify clear genetic markers that distinguish one species from another,” Hill assessed. “I chose to pursue this research opportunity because conducting research is what I ultimately hope to do in my future career. My long-term goal is to earn a Ph.D. and work in a research-focused role where I can contribute to meaningful scientific discoveries. I know that gaining hands-on research experience now is one of the most important steps I can take to prepare myself for the rigorous demands of a doctoral program.”

Jada Pittman worked with Associate Professor of biology Dr. Meredith Rowe to understand how redlight therapy supports the body’s natural healing processes. “Redlight therapy is becoming more popular, but many people still don’t fully understand how it works or how it compares to traditional treatments,” Pittman observed. “I’m curious about the science behind it and whether it can truly help people heal faster or feel better with fewer side effects.”

Pittman shared that working on the project helped her sharpen her research skills. She added, “I also learned that research often raises new questions as you go along, and it’s important to stay flexible and curious.”

McCoy Stowe was also on campus to explore alternatives to traditional chemotherapeutics. Rowe also served as his faculty mentor. He was inspired by personal experiences with loved ones and the financial barriers of cancer treatment. “I sought options that were affordable, non-synthetic, and translatable to clinical oncology,” Stowe offered. “What began as a broad review has now evolved into an investigation of a nanoparticle-based delivery system for dihydroartemisinin (DHA), a plant-derived pro-oxidant compound with strong cytotoxic behaviors.”

Stowe stated that the initial goal is to execute experiments that test the cytotoxicity of DHA in his chosen model. “The study will then begin assessing the stability of DHA in environments which mimic that of serum, under physiological conditions,” he related. “Moving forward, I aim to optimize conditions that enhance DHA’s therapeutic response while preserving compound stability. I hope to carry this project into medical school to do further research to prove DHAs efficacy as an independent alternative chemotherapeutic.”

Two students will be researching in the Summer II term, June 25-July 31. They are:

• Bethany Durham
  • Mentor: Dr. Elizabeth Amato
  • Research project: Durham’s research will examine women as perpetrators of genocide and how the media portrays their involvement. She will use the Rwandan Genocide as her case study. Durham is especially interested in this topic because there is a lack of mainstream research in this area and not much news that includes women being perpetrators of mass violence, especially in developing countries like Rwanda.

• Andrea Stampone
  • Mentor: Amato
  • Research project: Stampone will examine the propaganda and methodology that was used to implement an Italian fascist agricultural policy prior to World War II. She will study how the policy was never meant to propel the economic interests of the state, but was instead a way to uphold a weak fascist regime. Her family grew up in Italy, and she grew up hearing about the lack of resources in the country. She is interested in learning how the lack of natural resources affected the historical development of the country.

Gardner-Webb University is North Carolina’s recognized leader in private, Christian higher education. A Carnegie-Classified Doctoral/Professional University, GWU is home to nine colleges and schools, more than 80 undergraduate and graduate majors, and a world-class faculty. Located on a beautiful 225-acre campus in Boiling Springs, N.C., Gardner-Webb prepares graduates to impact their chosen professions, equips them with the skills to advance the frontiers of knowledge, and inspires them to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of others. Ignite your future at Gardner-Webb.edu.