Undergraduate Research Fellowship Spotlight: Wil Chapple

Each semester, Wyoming EPSCoR selects and funds 20 or more Undergraduate Research Fellowships. These fellowships are excellent opportunities for students to gain quality experience in research, to prepare for graduate programs, and obtain practical knowledge. Throughout the next few weeks, our blog will be highlighting various students participating in the EPSCoR Undergraduate Research Fellowships program.

Wil Chapple

Wil Chapple, a senior in the Rangeland Ecology and Watershed Management department is studying water and isotopes.

“I’m tracing water through the ecosystem in the Snowy Range,” says Wil. “And also, how the glacial history that helped shape the Snowies has affected the soils that similar ecosystems rely on.”

To trace the water, Wil is using various research methods to collect data.

“I’ve been collecting soil samples and taking isotope measures of the water in the Snowies,” says Wil. “I’m looking to see if there are similar isotopic signatures in certain depths of the soil.”

Wil has been working in the Stable Isotope Facility for three semesters. His faculty mentor is Dr. David Williams, a professor in the Departments of Botany and Ecosystem Science and Management and Team Lead in WyCEHG.

“I’m lucky to get a lot of support and help from Dave and fellow grad students,” says Wil. “I’m really thankful for that!”

Through his fellowship, Wil has gained many valuable experiences, but a few things stand out above the rest.

“I’ve gotten a glimpse into what graduate school would be like,” says Wil. “I’ve also learned what it takes to do good science. I’ve learned a lot of patience.”

By: Robin E. Rasmussen

Photo courtesy of Wil Chapple

On a mission to make a difference: Wyoming EPSCoR’s Project Coordinator

 Earlier this year we started a series of blogs about the EPSCoR office. The follow is part four of the series and focuses on Project Coordinator Rick Matlock. 

Rick Matlock has been with Wyoming EPSCoR since 2002.

Raging snow storms and a rural setting were not exactly Rick Matlock’s idea of a great college experience. Rick, who today is the Project Administrator at Wyoming EPSCoR, could not wait to leave Laramie and its winters behind.

“When I first moved here, I lived in the dorms,” Rick said. “I moved up here from New Mexico and the blizzards were just enormous the first couple of years. I just despised it. And, it was a small town, with absolutely nothing to do. I just despised that too.” Rick laughs at this now and adds, “But the way to live in Laramie is to accept your surroundings and to be part of the outdoor scene.”

And that is exactly what Rick has done. While today he enjoys snowboarding, snowshoeing, hiking and fishing in the surrounding mountains, those activities were not what brought him to the University of Wyoming. He came instead to pursue a degree in psychology, in order to reach his goal to help people.

“When I first got out of high school, I wanted to be a helping-people-person,” Rick says. “I wanted to help the seriously mentally ill and depressed.”

After finishing his degree, Rick worked in the medical field in a variety of areas including an inpatient psychiatric unit, a home for at risk youth and the local crisis center. While these experiences were rewarding, each in their own way, they also took their toll on him and after almost twelve years, Rick found himself  burnt out.

“I kind of found out that this wasn’t really my calling,” Rick says. “So, I decided to try to put my psychology degree to use somewhere else.”

He came to UW and worked at the graduate school administrative office wanting to start into academic advising.

“I enjoyed that experience,” Rick says. “But then the job opened up to run the undergraduate program here at EPSCoR and I decided to take it.”

Rick is in charge of EPSCoR programs, such as our Undergraduate Research Fellowships and Undergraduate research day, which support students going into the science fields, but he makes sure things run smoothly for our grant projects.

“What I do now is, I administer or organize the various aspects of the EPSCoR goals,” Rick says. “It is making sure that everything is staying on track, making sure the EOD (education, outreach and diversity) components are coming together, and making sure we stay on track with the budget.”

While he is no longer helping people in the way he originally set out to do, he is helping to make a difference in the lives of future scientists through his work with our undergraduate programs. This work is inspiring for several reasons.

“The most rewarding part is working with a diverse group of people,” Rick says. “I am able to work with scientists I wouldn’t ever normally meet and I get to work with a lot of great students through undergraduate research. I am amazed by all the different things the students are doing.”

As a student in college, Rick couldn’t imagine ever saying this, but today he loves living in Laramie. “It’s got the best of everything, essentially.” 

By Kali S. McCrackin

Photo by Leah Yetter

Investigating natural relationships: Tracing water pathways in the Snowy Range Mountain

Wil Chapple with the distillation system at UW

Challenging traditional thought is part of what science is all about. For one EPSCoR undergraduate fellow, challenging historical assumptions about the natural water system is the focal point of his research.

 “We’re trying to understand plant-water relationships and determine if the water that trees are consuming is also the water that contributes to stream flow,” says Wil Chapple, one of the first undergraduate researchers for WyCEHG.

Wil started at the University of Wyoming as a history major, but today he is studying the history of glacial events in order to better understand the water system in the Snowy Range Mountains. There were three glacial events which shaped the types of soil in the Snowies. Wil believes that these different types of soil are part of the key to understanding the water system. His motive for studying the water system comes from a discrepancy between traditional thought and recent discoveries.

“There’s a traditional thought that current precipitation mixes with old precipitation and that trees consume this and that it is part of the stream flow,” says Wil.

Recent research from another university indicates that this may not be the reality. This research shows that plants may consume water stored in soil pores from past precipitation while new precipitation goes to stream flow.

“So, some of the water that comes in as precipitation might fill up that small pores in the dry soil earlier in the season and sit there, and later snow melt events might just rush right past the trees,” says Dr. Dave Williams, Wil’s mentor for the project. “During the summer, when the plants are taking up water, they might be slowly drawing on that water from soil pores and not from the snow melt.”

In order to study this phenomenon in the Snowies, Wil is collecting samples of snow to analyze the isotope signature of the precipitation.

One of Wil's research sites

“We’re using isotopes to trace water and how that water partitions differently depending on the history of the glacial events that created the soil,” says Dr. Williams. “If the soils have no effect on the way the water moves, then water that the trees are taking up and their isotope signature is going to be the same as what the signature is downstream.”

Isotopes are useful tracers because the origin, type and temperature of precipitation determines the isotope composition, thus precipitation events have different isotope configurations. The configuration of isotopes follow some patterns in that heavy water molecules characterize summer and fall precipitation compared to that of the winter and spring. The isotope composition of a compartment of water is determined by the ratio of heavy to normal atoms, which Wil will be analyzing to determine isotope signatures.

Wil will determine the isotope ratios using the Laser Spectroscopy Isotope Analyzer in the Stable Isotope Facility at UW. This equipment vaporizes water samples and measures the absorption of different wave lengths of light. Different isotopes absorb different light frequencies. By going back and forth between frequencies, it is possible to determine the ratio of heavy to normal isotopes in the water. Wil is preparing to analyze snow samples from the last few months, which have been collected every morning there is new snowfall.

As his research continues, Wil is also busy working on the proposal for this next stage of his project. This summer he aims to collect and analyze samples of soil, water from streams and lodgepole pine. With the deadline for the summer fellowship one week away, Wil is focused on showing what he has learned and where he wants to take his work.  

“It’s been a good experience so far,” says Wil. “I feel like I’ve only kind of dipped my toes in and hopefully this summer I will really get a taste of this research and field work.”

This project has given Wil a glimpse into the life of a water scientist and helped him get a feel for what graduate school might be like, but it has also allowed him to go beyond the theoretical knowledge of the classroom and into the application of science.

A second research site

“It feels good to apply my knowledge,” says Wil. “Last semester I felt like I really came out with a lot of tangible knowledge and it was refreshing.”

Part of this knowledge came from Dr. Larry Munn, who, as Wil says, is the soil guru of UW. Dr. Munn has spent most of his life studying and developing the knowledge about the distribution of soils from the different glacial events in the Snowies. His research has been instrumental in Wil’s understanding of the Snowies.

“We’re quite fortunate that Wil has been able to work with Larry,” Dr. Williams says.

As is the goal of all WyCEHG research, Wil’s project is a collaborative process. It brings together knowledge from various fields and experts, looks at the complexities of the natural water system and aims to shed light on how historical events shape the present.

“I think this project is really cool because it brings forth this long history of glacial events and how that’s shaping how water moves in the landscape,” says Dr. Williams.

Wil’s research will shed light on the water movement and add to the body of research challenging traditional assumptions about water systems.

A look into 2013

Welcome back to Wyoming EPSCoR’s blog and Happy New Year! Last year was a great year for us and we are excited to begin another science-filled, event-packed and water oriented 2013.

Right now we are in the midst of work on both our Track I and Track II grants. Our Track I grant, WyCEHG, began at the end of last summer and while we are still in the process of equipment acquisition, the science is well underway. This spring we look forward to sharing some of this science with you!

This month marks the almost half-way point for our three year Track II grant, CI-WATER. This year we are looking forward to more water science and modeling, but also to workshops, outreach and conferences. Research on the grant has taken off the last few months and we’re thrilled to be sharing some of the findings at the Second Annual CI-WATER Symposium in May.

In addition to new events, our regular programs will continue. Here is a brief calendar for our year ahead. We hope you’ll be able to join us at our events and we’re happy to have you with us.

CI-WATER

            Toolbox pilot January 19

This is our outreach event of the year. Last fall, CI-WATER worked hard to put together water science toolboxes for K-12 schools. On January 19^th one of these toolboxes will be demonstrated in Salt Lake City, UT.

Second Annual CI-WATER Symposium May 29-30

Our first CI-WATER Symposium was in September 2012. It was a great time for collaboration and the sharing of information. During our second symposium we hope to continue in this vein but move our focus slightly to the topic of modeling, water and the future.

           

Teacher Workshop June 24-28

One of the goals of our CI-WATER grant is outreach and education. This summer CI-WATER is offering a workshop for Wyoming and Utah teachers about teaching water science. It will be held in Salt Lake City, UT. We will have more information about the workshop and registration soon! Look for it on the CI-WATER Facebook and website.

Toolboxes in Action July 9-11

CI-WATER toolboxes will be in use at the GEAR-UP camp this summer in Laramie, WY. GEAR-UP is a state program that helps pre-college students prepare for university. The program is open for 7^th-12^th graders. More information can be found at: http://www.uwyo.edu/gearup/

            Student Workshop July 22-26

In compliment to the teacher workshop, CI-WATER is offering an upper undergraduate and graduate student workshop. Details about this workshop are still being negotiated, but the premise will be water science and modeling. We will have more information in the coming month on Facebook and the CI-WATER website.

WyCEHG

            Equipment is coming in!

WyCEHG stands for the Wyoming Center for Environmental Hydrology and Geophysics. Along with research on water in Wyoming, the grant is creating a center full of equipment to be used at the University of Wyoming. The equipment is arriving and we are thrilled to start using it!

            Monthly brown bag lunch January-May

Starting at the end of January, the WyCEHG group will hold monthly brown bag luncheons and share their current research and projects. These luncheons are open to the public and we encourage you to come! We’ll post the time and place on our Facebook and Twitter the week of the luncheon.

Regular Happenings/Student Research

            WiMSE

The University of Wyoming Women’s Center will continue their Women in Math, Science and Engineering (WiMSE) speaker series beginning January 30^th. In collaboration, Wyoming EPSCoR will continue to write their Women in Science blog series with each WiMSE event.  We hope to see you there! More information about the Women’s Center and WiMSE can be found at: http://www.uwyo.edu/womenscenter/

           

            SACNAS/ASIES Lunch January 18

This fall, EPSCoR attended the SACNAS and AISES conferences with students from the University of Wyoming and from the Wind River Reservation. Next week, these students will share their experiences from the conferences and discuss the possibility of setting up a SACNAS/AISES chapter at UW. The lunch is scheduled for 12-1:30 in the Senate Chambers at the Wyoming Union January 18^th. Please RSVP to ccarlso9@uwyo.edu.

Proposal workshop February 5

Wyoming EPSCoR is offering a proposal writing workshop for undergraduate students. The goal of the workshop is to help students write proposals for research, including for EPSCoR’s Undergraduate Research Fellowships. We will provide more information in the coming weeks on Facebook and the Wyoming EPSCoR website.

Undergraduate Research Fellowships Applications March 8

Applications for EPSCoR’s Undergraduate Research Fellowships for the Summer 2013 are due March 8^th.  These paid fellowships are a great opportunity for students in the science fields to gain valuable research experience and work with faculty at UW. More information about the fellowships can be found at: http://www.uwyo.edu/epscor/fellowships-and-student-programs/undergraduate-research-fellowships/index.html. Applications for the Summer 2013 will be posted soon.

Undergraduate Research Day April 27

This year will be the 14^th annual Undergraduate Research Day. Undergraduate Research Day is a celebration and presentation of the amazing research conducted by UW undergraduates in science and social science fields. Students, including EPSCoR’s Research Fellows, give oral presentations of their work followed by a question-and-answer session. Last year we had almost 350 presentations and we are looking forward to another successful year. Registration opens in February. More information can be found at: http://www.uwyo.edu/epscor/events/undergraduate-research-day/index.html

           

SRAP June 9-July 19

The Student Research Apprenticeship Program is one of our oldest and most popular programs. Since 1985, high school students have been coming to UW to work on research with UW faculty and graduate students. Each student is paired with a mentor for the six week program and works on their own science research project which culminates in a presentation. Applications and information about the program can be found at: http://www.uwyo.edu/epscor/fellowships-and-student-programs/srap/index.html

Conferences of Interest

            EarthCube Domain End Use Workshop January 21-23

The National Science Foundation sponsors several workshops, include the EarthCubeDomain Workshops. Of possible interest is the EarthCube Domain Workshop: Engaging the Critical Zone community to bridge long tail science with big data in Newark, DE at the University of Delaware. The goal of the workshop is to look at the integration of data from across Earth-science disciplines and to set guidelines for such integration. Registration for virtual participants is still open and can be found at:  http://criticalzone.org/national/news/story/online-registration-now-open-for-critical-zone-earthcube-domain-workshop-ja/

Western Snow Conference April 15-18

This year is the 81^st annual Western Snow Conference. It will take place in Jackson Hole, WY and will feature panel discussions, presentations and a tour of the natural resource management facilities in the area. The deadline for the first call for paper abstract submissions is January 15^th. More information is available at: http://www.westernsnowconference.org/

            Climate Prediction Applications Science Workshop April 23-25

The 11^th annual Climate Prediction Applications Science Workshop (CPASW) will take place in Logan, UT this year. This workshop will provide a great opportunity for collaboration and knowledge sharing among researchers, developers and decision-makers of climate data and information. January 15^th is the submission date for abstracts. More information is available at: http://climate.usurf.usu.edu/CPASW/index.php

Have a great New Year! 

By Kali S. McCrackin

EPSCoR Undergraduate Fellow Publishes Paper and Presents at International Conference



 Richard works on the equipment that allows him to study gas hydrates

 Research, papers and presentations are all criteria graduate school applicants aim for, especially in fields like Chemical Engineering. This fall, Anthony Richard, a senior at the University of Wyoming, succeeded in completing all three goals.

Richard, originally from Louisiana, started his research in the summer of 2011 under Dr. Hertanto Adidharma in the area of gas hydrate inhibitors. Gas hydrates are similar to ice. They form when water molecules form a cage and trap a gas molecule inside. This can be dangerous in transmission pipelines moving oil or gas because gas hydrates plug up pipelines which can cause equipment failures. In his research, Richard works on developing inhibitors that will prevent the formation of methane gas hydrates. This research is a continuation of original research started by Dr. Adidharma.

“I just wanted to do research,” Richard said. “And I really wanted to work with Dr. Adidharma because he has done a lot of really good work and he’s a really great professor.”

When Richard approached Dr. Adidharma about research, he was offered the project about gas hydrate inhibitors. The only thing he needed was funding. For the summer 2011, Richard applied for the McNair scholarship and shortly after he applied for the fall 2011 EPSCoR Undergraduate Research Fellowship. Richard received both and was on his way to research, papers and presentations.

His research paper, The performance of ionic liquids and their mixtures in inhibiting methane hydrate formation, is the result of his hard work, dedication and innovation. The area of gas hydrate inhibitors is broad. There are multiple types of inhibitors which prevent gas hydrate formation in one of two ways. Either the inhibitor changes the conditions of hydrate formation (such as adding something into the process which stops the prevention of ice at a certain temperature) or the inhibitor slows down the formation process.

Richard worked with an inhibitor called ionic liquids, which prevent gas hydrate formation in both ways. Dr. Adidharma was the first to discover how ionic liquids work as inhibitors and, in his research, Richard worked on creating a synergy between different kinds of inhibitors. He mixed together different ionic liquids, mixed ionic liquids with conventional inhibitors and studied the effect of pressure on ionic liquid inhibition.

In October, Richard presented this research at the annual American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) conference in Pittsburgh, PA. The AIChE conference is one of the biggest in the world for Chemical Engineers.

“Presenting at a big conference has been on my list for quite a while,” Richard said. And when the opportunity to present came up, he jumped on it.

Richard gave a twenty minute oral presentation at the conference, which is rare for undergraduates, who usually give poster presentations at such conferences. Richard, however, was not worried, as his experiences with EPSCoR and McNair had given him presentation practice.

“Through McNair and EPSCoR and all the research I’ve been doing, I’m getting really familiar with this material,” Richard said. “So, presenting wasn’t that big of a worry. I didn’t mind presenting at all; it was great.”

Richard will graduate from UW this coming May. His graduate school applications are in and he’s looking forward to continuing research, either in the area of gas hydrate inhibitors or beyond. 

By Kali S. McCrackin

Photo by: Kali S. McCrackin