Office of Admission

First Year Research Awards

First Year Research Awards are scholarships designed to match outstanding students with Wittenberg’s award-winning faculty. Please note that students must qualify for admission into the Wittenberg University Honors Program to be eligible for these awards.

Wittenberg StudentsStudents selected for First Year Research awards will work closely with a faculty member while pursuing exciting research opportunities in the first year at Wittenberg. The First Year Research Awards are for $2,000 ($1,000 per semester) for the student’s first year only. This is a non-renewable award. Students can only receive one First Year Research Award and one will be awarded per area listed below. First Year Research Awards can be combined with other Special Interest Awards.

  • Deadline: February 23

Students must be admitted to Wittenberg prior to submitting a First Year Research Award application. Students must also qualify for the Honors Program to be eligible. When clicking the link to apply for an award, please log in using your Wittenberg Admission Portal username and password.

Exploring tRNA quality control

tRNA are required by cells to make proteins. We are trying to learn what happens when tRNA are not properly made – are they repaired and/or destroyed? We are also trying to discover the proteins that participate in this tRNA quality control mechanism. For more information about Dr. Chatterjee’s current research activities please visit this website.

Apply Now for FYRA with Dr. Chatterjee

Using ion chromatography to measure anion content in water and other interesting samples

Water and soil contain salts that dissociate into ions with positive and negative charges. Anions (ions with negative charges) such as nitrate and phosphate are important nutrients, but at high levels cause environmental and health issues. Fluoride is often added to municipal water supplies to prevent dental caries, but is toxic at high levels. The FYRA scholar will continue a project that uses ion chromatography to detect and quantify anions in water, soil, and other interesting samples. The recipient will collect samples, make solutions, learn to use and maintain the ion chromatography instrument, and measure the anion content in the samples. Recipients should have an ability to work independently, good mathematical skills, good manual dexterity, an attention to detail, patience for repeating experiments, and a curiosity about how the physical world works.

Apply Now for FYRA with Dr. Cline

Experiential Learning and the Great Smoky Mountain Institute at Tremont

The First Year Research Award recipients will assist Dr. Michael Daiga, Associate Professor of Mathematics, Data and Statistics Education, in his research involving experiential learning in STEM education in partnership with the Great Smoky Mountain Institute at Tremont (GSMIT: https://gsmit.org/) during the annual Focused, Integrated, Reflective, Experience (FIRE: https://www.wittenberg.edu/connections/fireweek) which will occur at the beginning of March. GSMIT is an established STEM and outdoor education organization that for the past 54 years serves teachers and students across the country. Wittenberg University is cultivating a partnership with GSMIT by taking F.I.R.E Week trips to the Institute. FYRA Scholarships recipients will work as a team coordinate and develop a research project that supports the partnership. Recipients should be detailed oriented, motivated to learn, and be comfortable working outdoors. Depending on the recipients’ interest and level of involvement, there may also be the potential for co-authorship of manuscripts to be submitted for publication in an academic journal or presentations at professional conferences. For information about the current partnership, please contact Dr. Michael Daiga directly at daigam@wittenberg.edu.

Apply Now for FYRA with Dr. Daiga

First Year Research Scholar in Physics/Medical Physics

My current research involves positronium, which is an artificial “atom” consisting of an electron and a positron (the antiparticle of the electron). The goal of the research is to investigate differences between matter and anti-matter. Positrons are used in PET scans to image the body, and the techniques used in our research have applications to medical physics. Recipients will work with me to carry out laboratory experiments to study positronium decay and to design and run computer simulations to track high-energy particles from positronium and radioactive sources. Recipients should have good quantitative and problem-solving skills, a willingness to learn, and a curiosity about how things work.

Apply Now for FYRA with Dr. George

Healthcare Simulation Practices

The First Year Research Award recipient will assist Professor Jessie Johnson in her research on pedagogy of nursing in the laboratory and simulation settings as agreed upon in the FYRA Learning Contract. The FYRA Scholarship recipient will have the opportunity to be involved in many aspects of Professor Johnson’s research, including: conducting literature reviews, designing research studies, collecting data, conducting statistical analyses, and reporting results in a variety of formats. The FYRA recipient will be mentored in these research practices and will have an opportunity to present their work publicly at an undergraduate conference or colloquium at Wittenberg University, or a regional conference. Depending on the recipient’s interest and level of involvement, there may also be the potential for co-authorship of manuscripts to be submitted for publication in an academic journal or presentations at professional conferences. Recipients should have good critical thinking and writing skills and an interest in nursing education and simulation.

Apply Now for FYRA with Dr. Johnson

Learning Assistant Assessment

Wittenberg is awarded a large NSF grant to support students interested in becoming secondary STEM teachers.  Part of that grant has been the creating of a Learning Assistant program, and now there is a need to assess its efficacy.  Currently we use the COPUS (Classroom Observation Protocol for Undergraduate STEM).  This FYRA will be trained in the COPUS survey, but will also research other ways of assessing the amount of active learning in the classroom with the goal of making a recommendation of assessment techniques to the Grant Steering Committee.

Apply Now for FYRA with Dr. Parker

Tracking turtles in an urban landscape

The red-eared slider is one of the world's most invasive turtle species. However, little information exists on the turtle's distribution and abundance in Clark County, Ohio. I am looking for students to help me answer those questions. The project will revolve around three methods for determining turtle abundance and or distribution: visual survey, basking trap surveys and trapping surveys. Using these techniques, we will examine a variety of ponds across an rural to urban gradient to understand patterns of red-eared slider occurrence and abundance. The project will have a heavy field component with data analysis and report writing an important piece during the winter months. I am seeking students who are detail-oriented, comfortable in outdoor settings, and not easily frustrated.

Apply Now for FYRA with Dr. Phillips

Megalopae, microscopes and molecules, oh my! How do larval fiddler crabs find their adult habitats? 

Drs. Reinsel and Welch currently study the seasonal abundance, settlement site choice and behavior of larval fiddler crabs in North Carolina.   FYRA Scholarship recipients may assist Drs. Reinsel & Welch with various aspects of their research, including sorting zooplankton samples to isolate larval fiddler crabs and fish, and using molecular tools (DNA extraction, PCR, and gel electrophoresis) to identify the species of individual fiddler crab larvae.  In addition, there may be opportunities for literature review, data analysis and presentation of final products at Wittenberg events or regional or national scientific conferences.  Inclusion as co-authors on manuscripts submitted to scientific journals for publication is also possible, depending on level of participation.  Recipients should be critical thinkers, detail-oriented, reliable and interested in spending considerable time looking through a dissecting microscope.  No prior molecular experience is necessary, but willingness to learn those techniques is essential.

Apply Now for FYRA with Dr. Reinsel and Dr. Welch

First Year Research Scholar in Data Science

The First Year Research Award recipient will be working with Dr. Sachith Dassanayaka, Assistant Professor of Data Science, in his research on well-being as agreed upon in the FYRA Learning Contract. The FYRA Scholarship recipient will have the opportunity to be involved in many aspects of Dr. Sachith’s research, including analyzing disinformation campaigns on social media using machine learning, fake review analysis on online shopping platforms using NLP, data visualization, machine intelligence, and computer networks and security. Recently, Dr. Sachith has been working on building a predictive model in order to identify fake reviews on online shopping platforms such as Amazon and eBay, compare troll networks on social media streams, and implement a social media campaign detection system. Further, He welcomes any research ideas that students like to continue regardless of the subject area. The FYRA recipient will be mentored in these research practices and will have an opportunity to present their work publicly at an undergraduate conference or colloquium at Wittenberg University or a regional conference. Depending on the recipient’s interest and level of involvement, there may also be the potential for co-authorship of manuscripts to be submitted for publication in an academic journal or presentations at professional conferences. Recipients should have good critical thinking, writing skills, and an interest in topics related to data science/computer science.

Apply Now for FYRA with Dr. Dassanayaka

Exploration of effort and motivation using rats and deep learning tools

First Year Research Award (FYRA) recipient(s) will assist Dr. Nicholas J. Beacher, Assistant Professor of Psychology: Behavioral Neuroscience, in research using rat models of effort and motivation. This project involves firsthand lab experiences in customization, testing, and validation of a custom operant behavior system designed for 3D video tracking and deep learning analysis of rats self-administering rewards under increasing effort requirements. FYRA recipient(s) will receive mentored training in these methodologies and are expected to assist with collection and analysis of preliminary behavioral video data using rats. FYRA recipient(s) will learn and assist with proper rodent care strategies including welfare, safety, and aseptic surgical/care techniques/practices. We will simultaneously develop an additional research pipeline utilizing in vivo neuroscientific methods (e.g., chemogenetics and/or miniaturized microscopy) to pair with this behavioral data. FYRA recipients should have enthusiasm for science, excitement for learning, and a desire to engage in behavioral neuroscience research using rats.

Apply Now for FYRA with Dr. Beacher

First Year Research Scholar in Pre-Law / Political Science

The First Year Research Award recipient will assist Prof Leapley with an ongoing project primarily investigating the rapidly developing legal and regulatory landscape concerning the use of artificial intelligence in the insurance industry. The research will have particular focus on trends in various jurisdictions to limit, restrict or otherwise regulate its use as well potential legal risks facing carriers. This research will support the creation of practice guides and/or legal review articles. Students in this role should be efficient and self-motivated and capable of complex work with minimal supervision. Prior legal research experience or knowledge of the insurance industry and/or artificial intelligence is not required. Access will be provided to legal research databases for the student may undertake this work.

Apply Now for FYRA with Mr. Leapley

Educational Psychology in Global Perspective

Research on high school classroom practices and adolescent socialization in India and the United States, , which will include conducting literature reviews, analyzing video recordings of classroom interaction, qualitative data collection, statistical analysis, and reporting results in multiple formats.

Apply Now for FYRA with Dr. Crane

Environmental Modeling

The recipient will assist with my current research which focuses on addressing concerns related to the Laurentian Great Lakes using different environmental modeling techniques.

Apply Now for FYRA with Dr. Jaffe

Aerosol Pollution and Nutrient Cycling in Springfield

Despite their small size, aerosols (microscopic particles suspended in the air) have major impacts on human health, especially in cities like Springfield with significant sources of anthropogenic air pollution from manufacturing and agriculture. Aerosols also play a large role in nutrient cycling and regulating global climate. As a recipient, you will aid in maintenance and deployment of air quality sensors and analysis of real-time air quality data to identify pollution hotspots around our campus, city, and county. You will also assist with collection of aerosol samples and learn the intricacies involved in their preservation, processing, and compositional analysis. We will take a closer look at these microscopic particles to understand how they act as vehicles carrying nutrients from the air into our water and soil systems. The recipient should have an interest in environmental chemistry and willingness to work with local stakeholders in a variety of research settings. This position will involve data analysis, fieldwork, and laboratory sample processing. Recipients should have good quantitative reasoning skills and the ability to work independently.

Apply Now for FYRA with Dr. Elliott

Health and Illness in Art History

We will create a database of ancient, medieval, and early modern visual representations of health and illness. We will study the patterns that emerge to assess the development of disability representation in those historical periods.

Apply Now for FYRA with Dr. Gimenez-Berger

Work, Management, and Autonomy under Capitalism

The First Year Research Award recipient will assist Dr. Ross Jackson, Assistant Professor of Business, in his current research on management, organizational praxis, power dynamics and resistance, and business language and rhetoric as agreed upon in the FYRA Learning Contract. The FYRA Scholarship recipient will have the opportunity to be involved in many aspects of Dr. Jackson’s research, which may include data preparation, normalization and analysis, archival and library research, resource searches via electronic databases, literature reviews, annotated bibliographies, conference preparation, and all stages of the paper drafting process. The recipient will have the opportunity to work with Dr. Jackson as a research assistant, developing critical research skills in organizational theory, critical management studies, and textual analysis. Furthermore, there may be the potential for co-authorship of research that would be submitted for publication in an academic journal. Recipients should have excellent critical thinking, analytic, reading, and writing skills and an interest in business, management, and organizational dynamics.

Apply Now for FYRA with Dr. Jackson

First Year Research Scholar in Physics

Plasmas are the first of the four naturally occurring states of matter (with solids, liquids and gases) and are the most common of these states of matter, representing over 99% of the visible universe.  Most of these plasma systems contain particulate matter, known as dusty plasmas, which makes these systems notably more complex and allow for the study of a wide range of physical phenomena at the most fundamental level.  The Wittenberg University Plasma Laboratory (WUPL) works to understand the thermal and transport properties of dusty plasmas systems through the use of experimental measurements, computational studies and data analysis, as well as diagnostic and hardware development.  Students in the FYRA program will have the opportunity to be involved in a range of the research efforts of the WUPL (including local effort, work done at user facilities within the US and on the International Space Station), with the exact project determined based on student background and the current research priorities of the laboratory. For more information about the current research activities, please visit the website for the Wittenberg University Plasma Laboratory at https://jwilliams.wittenberguniversity.org. Students will be mentored in research practices and will have the opportunity to present their research in a public venue. Recipients should have good quantitative and problem solving skills, be detail oriented, have a willingness to learn, and a curiosity about how things work.  Previous exposure to physics, involvement in the DIY or maker communities, work with computers and coding are beneficial but not necessary. FYRA Scholarship recipients will receive priority consideration for paid summer research positions and research positions during the summer of 2026 and during the 2026-2027 academic year.

Learn More About FYRA With Dr. Williams
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