U.Va. Doles Out First Double ’Hoo Research Awards

April 9, 2004 -- Sixteen University of Virginia students, who are working on eight research projects ranging from SUV advertising to archeology in Africa and Britain to tungsten dearomatization reagents, were honored April 1 in ceremonies marking the debut of U.Va.’s Double ’Hoo Research Awards.

The unique awards fund projects that allow graduate students to work with undergraduates on research.

“One of the strengths of the University is the quality of our graduate students,” said Nicole F. Hurd, assistant dean of the Center for Undergraduate Excellence, which serves as a clearing-house for undergraduate research projects. “Our undergraduates see this as an opportunity to work with graduates in a mentoring relationship.”

The awards were created at the urging of the student-run Undergraduate Research Network and funded by the Office of the Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies, the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, the College of Arts & Sciences and the School of Engineering and Applied Science.

There were 78 applications for the grants, which Hurd said was “well beyond all expectations.”

The students will receive $5,000 per pair. The research will be completed by April 2005.

The winners are:

• Christina Berry, Westchester, Pa., and Matthew W. Hughey, Charlottesville, “The Culture of Patriotic Commodity Production and Consumption”;
• Matt M. Heitz, Darien, Conn., and Kenneth C. Wilbur, Charlottesville, “SUV Quality and Advertising Content”;
• Jason M. Wise, Leesburg, Va., and Stacey L. McGowen, Charlottesville, “When Cultures Collide: The Archaeology of the Sacred in Roman Britain”;
• Christina M. Danko, Oakton, Va., Natalie H. Brito, Stafford, Va., Cynthia Chiong of Chicago, Ill., Vanessa LoBue, Holmdel, N.J., “From ‘G’ to Giraffe: Young Children’s Ability to Generalize Novel Words and Facts from Picture Books to the Real World”;
• Yunqing Lin, Nanning Guangxi, China, and Peter M. Graham, Richmond, Va., “Tungsten Dearomatization Reagents”;
• Laura E. Erban, Wakefield, Mass., and Meredith Ferdie, Coral Gables, Fla., “Coastal Study in Mozambique”;
• Derek R. Miller, Forest, Va., and Neil L. Norman, New Haven, Conn., “The Archaeology of Memory and Enslavement in Southern Benin, West Africa”; and
• Michael H. Jones, Afton, Va., and Orion N. Scott, Pearis, Va., “Patterned Thin Metal Film Electrodes on Elastomer and Polymer Actuators.”

Contact: Nicole F. Hurd, (434) 924-7727

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Contact the Office of University Relations at (434) 924-7116. Television reporters should contact the TV News Office at (434) 924-7550.

SOURCE: U.Va. News Services

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