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Archeology
- Chemistry - Mathematics
- Physics Psychology & Biology - Psychology
& Trauma Sociology - English
- Psychology & Law Psychology & Personality
Biological
Foundations of Behavior
Dr. John Eisler's research laboratory is the site of innovative research
being conducted by UNF undergraduate students in psychology and biology
as well as psychology graduate students. Eisler is supervising several
student research projects addressing a wide array of questions that all
relate to enhancing the understanding of the biological foundations of
behavior. Eisler, an Assistant Professor, has witnessed an increased effort
in the Department of Psychology to involve undergraduate students in research.
He cites evidence of improved laboratory facilities, development of innovative
research-based curriculum, and support from the administration, such as
funding for lab equipment and scholarships. "We are starting to develop
a strong research culture at UNF, one that identifies the value and importance
of research at the level of the students as well as the faculty and administration,"
says Eisler.
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Characterization
of Semiconducting Crystals
Dr. Tom Pekarek, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Natural Sciences,
has been undertaking ground-breaking research in the field of physics.
His research involves Layered III-VI Diluted Magnetic Semiconductor (DMS)
crystals, which are known for their remarkable nonlinear optical properties.
These semiconductors are promising materials for photoelectronic applications
such as an optical switch for the fiber optic telecommunications industry.
The purpose of Pekarek's research is to characterize the properties of
semiconductors so new devices can be engineered for optimal performance.
Pekarek and his students have given several presentations at national
and international conferences on the subject. Pekarek has been aided in
his research by three undergraduate students majoring in Physics: Melissa
Duffy, Alex Graf, and Reggie Lewis. The University of North Florida began
offering a Physics major just last year and Duffy and Graf will be among
the first to graduate with a degree in Physics from UNF in the class of
2000.
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Chemical
Analysis Addresses Environmental Problems
The recent rise in concern
over the cleanliness of the St. Johns River has many researchers and local
officials searching for solutions to the river's pollution problems. Research
being conducted by Dr. Stuart Chalk, Assistant Professor of Chemistry
in the Department of Natural Sciences, may have an impact on the health
of the St. John's River as well as the health of the global environment.
Chalk is conducting research in the area of Flow Injection Analysis (FIA),
an automated wet chemical analysis technique that can be used to detect
levels of various pollutants within bodies of water. While the technique
has been used for almost twenty-five years, FIA in its current form has
limitations. Chalk's developments in the area eliminate many of FIA's
shortcomings and broaden its diagnostic potential.
Chalk's
current research into FIA techniques is a continuation of his graduate
research, and it consists of three distinct areas-basic research, instrumentation,
and application. Chalk's students play a vital role in each of these areas.
Chalk has created a Continuously Variable Volume Chamber (CVVR), which
would replace the mixing coil (chamber) in a conventional FIA manifold.
The addition of the CVVR to a FIA manifold allows it to be completely
automated. This provides the opportunity to design a remote that could
perform analyses on its own and send the results back to the laboratory
via a modem. Chalk's device has the distinction of being the first invention
by a UNF faculty member to have a University-sponsored patent pending.
Improved FIA techniques would enable more proactive monitoring of pollution
than is currently possible. At present, most industrial plants take samples
for analysis on a monthly basis, but Chalk's analyzer could, theoretically,
process a sample every 15 minutes, allowing early detection of potential
problems.
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Digging
Up the Past
Archaeologist
Robert Thunen, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology,
Anthropology and Criminal Justice, and four UNF undergraduate students
- Amy Bennett, Kelly Connolly, David Nelson, and Nate Smith - began an
archaeological survey of Big Talbot Island in order to record and inventory
all prehistoric and historic resources on the island. The first written
record of inhabitants of Big Talbot Island came when the French observed
the Timucua Indians in 1562. It is believed that native peoples have occupied
the island for at least 5000 years. Thunen received a grant from the Florida
Department of State, Division of Historical Resources to conduct an archaeological
survey on Big Talbot Island in order to establish a chronology for the
island and set the stage for future archaeological investigations. In
the first phase, Thunen and his assistants surveyed the southern one third
of Big Talbot Island, digging 500 different test holes, each one being
a meter deep. They analyzed 2500 native pottery shards as well as shell,
bone, and stone tools. From this, they documented and defined eight prehistoric
and historic archaeological sites. Thunen teaches students the techniques
of carefully uncovering remnants of the past using tools varying from
trowels to dental picks so artifacts can be removed with caution and precision.
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Early
Intervention Improves Older Adults' Quality of Life
With
the hope of ensuring that the elderly people of Northeast Florida are
well provided for, Dr. Adam Shapiro, Assistant Professor of Sociology,
is working in conjunction with the Community Partnership on Older Adult
Services (CPOAS), a two-year project funded by the United Way of Northeast
Florida and Baptist/St. Vincent's Health System, to find out how the delivery
of select social services impacts the quality of life of older adults.
Shapiro is part of a team of UNF researchers, including Drs. Jeffry Will
and Henry Camp, working on the evaluation component of the project under
the auspices of the Northeast Florida Center for Community Initiatives
(CCI). Also working on the CCI team with Shapiro is undergraduate student
Miles Taylor. The UNF researchers hope to improve the lives of elderly
people in the Jacksonville community and conserve funds. Elements such
as life satisfaction, environmental mastery, satisfaction with social
relationships, and depression are being taken into consideration as areas
for improvement when providing social services. Although the study is
still in progress, researchers are pleased with the results to-date which
support their original claim that earlier services reduce eventual needs.
Shapiro's research assistant, Miles Taylor, a senior majoring in sociology,
has contributed several hours a week to the study. Taylor is conducting
research, coding information, and running basic statistical analysis which
explains results.
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Finding
Meaning Through Imagery
The research of Dr.
Allen Tilley, Professor of English, focuses on plot theory and imagery
with specific interest in the literature of the medieval period as well
as modern constructivist psychology and Renaissance drama. Tilley says,
"My research field is narrative theory, especially theory of plot."
From his research, Tilley says, "I became aware of how meaning arises.
One way is through plot, the other is through synchronic patterns of imagery.
Most modern philosophies of meaning," Tilley adds, "assume that
all meaning is verbal, syntactical, and logical. But, many things are
understood in terms of images." In addition to his own research,
Tilley also plays a vital role in the research pursuits of his students.
Linda Howell and Carolyn LaChapelle are conducting research projects that
employ Tilley's theories on plot, meaning, and imagery. Howell and LaChapelle's
research projects have drawn from Tilley's plot (or snake) theory which
defines the stages of a plot. Tilley compares the plot of a story to the
biological stages of a life: birth, puberty, adult status, mid-life crisis,
the final binding, death, and to whatever follows. Between the high points
(birth, adult status, and the reflection of a completed life), there are
low periods (puberty, the midlife transition) experienced in every life
as in every story, and not one climax, but three.
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Let
the Jury Decide
Dr. Linda
Foley, Professor of Psychology, and seven students have been researching
how factors such as race and position of authority of trial participants
effect a jury's award of monetary damages to plaintiffs who sue for negligence.
Foley and her students collected data from mock juries comprised of approximately
200 student volunteers and jury-eligible citizens viewing a mock lawsuit.
Foley and her research assistants are also studying other factors that
may influence case judgements, including who is chosen to be the fore
person, why and how he or she is chosen, and if that person influences
the decision made. It is also important to understand which jurors are
more likely to do most of the speaking during the trial. The research
that Foley is overseeing also gives her student assistants insight into
the court system and racial differences or biases that exist within it.
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Personality
Plays Role in Success of Relationships
By engaging students in his research, Dr. Christopher Leone, Professor
of Psychology, profits from their assistance as they, in turn, acquire
skill in research techniques. Leone and his students sought to determine
whether an individual's personality affects the way he or she deals with
conflict in relationships. Leone and his students have conducted several
studies to better understand how people deal with conflict and whether
people's personalities play a significant role in how they react to conflict.
Leone and his student assistants began by conducting a variety of surveys
that were completed by nearly 500 volunteers. In the survey, volunteers
were given a series of hypothetical situations describing some common
areas of conflict in close relationships. After the questionnaires were
completed, volunteers filled out several personality tests. This was done
in order to compare people's personalities with their reactions to see
if there was a correlation between the two. In their series of studies,
Leone and his student assistants wanted to see if they could predict which
personality types cause conflict to escalate through blame or other means
and which personality types smooth over conflict by sharing blame and
avoiding common pitfalls in communication. Through analyzing the data
collected by student assistants, Leone and his students are searching
for patterns in relationships. One of the greatest benefits Leone's students
received from working on this study was learning how to analyze results.
Students learned to understand data-how to properly read the data compiled
and determine what the best statistical technique is for a particular
type of study.
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'Proof'
of Progress
Dr.
Jingcheng Tong, Professor of Mathematics, believes that research teaches
students important lessons that otherwise might go unlearned in school.
"Teaching involves the old, research involves the new, " Dr.
Tong said, "and even students with limited knowledge of mathematics
have good ideas and ask questions that lead to new research, new solutions."
30 mini-research articles and an additional seven have been submitted
recently, most of which provide new proofs of the Pythagorean Theorem.
Today, there are approximately 400 proofs of the Pythagorean Theorem -
the first proofs being found more than 2000 years ago. In the past four
years, with Tong's guidance, UNF students have created more than 35 of
today's existing proofs - an incredible accomplishment.
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Psychological
Impacts of Trauma
Assistant
Professor in the Department of Psychology, Dr. David Sandberg 's research
interests include trauma, posttraumatic stress, revictimization, and personality
disorders. Sandberg recommends that students get involved in research
early in their undergraduate education (i.e., prior to their junior year),
especially if they plan to attend graduate school. Currently, Sandberg
is advising a large research team, comprised of three graduate students
and seven undergraduate students. Four of the undergraduates are in the
UNF Honors Program and plan to attend doctoral programs in clinical and
school psychology. Sandberg meets with his students weekly to discuss
pertinent issues concerning trauma research, including statistics, research
methodology, ethics and sensitivity. Besides regular meetings, students
dedicate their personal time to the research. Back
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Return to Undergraduate Research Home Page
Copyright © 2000 University
of North Florida.
All Rights Reserved.
For more information on Undergraudate Research
opportunities at UNFcontact Mary Borg at 620-1095
mborg@unf.edu. Or visit the Admissions
web site.
Modified: Friday June 2, 2000