Kansas State University

MANHATTAN -- Ten Kansas State University graduate students who are researching Kansas-related topics have been chosen to represent the university at the 11th Capitol Graduate Research Summit in early 2014.

The students were chosen based on their research presentations at Research and the State, an annual on-campus event that occurred Oct. 29 in the K-State Student Union. The graduate students are researching a variety of topics important to Kansas, including greenhouse gases, food pathogens, materials science and working environments, among other topics.

"By researching topics important to our state, these students are making a difference in Kansas and in their disciplines," said Carol Shanklin, dean of the Graduate School. "They will have the opportunity to interact with legislators, other statewide leaders, the Kansas Board of Regents and interested citizens to demonstrate the quality of research being conducted at Kansas State University and the impact the results will have on addressing key issues important to the state."

The Research and the State event involved 60 participants from six colleges and 20 departments. The event was sponsored by the Graduate Student Council, the Graduate School, the office of the president and the office of the provost. Each winner received a $250 scholarship from Dow AgroSciences LLC.

The 10 students will present at the Capitol Graduate Research Summit on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014, in Topeka. The annual statewide summit for Kansas legislators features current research of graduate students at Kansas State University, the University of Kansas, the University of Kansas Medical Center and Wichita State University. A university professor and an industry representative will judge the poster and student presentations. The top two presenters from each university will receive awards: One student will be chosen as a KansasBio winner and the other student will receive an award from his or her graduate school.

The Kansas State University graduate students selected to present at the summit include:

* Tim Hoffman, doctoral student in chemical engineering, Ellsworth, "Growth of HBN using metallic boron: isotopically enriched 10BN for neutron detection." Hoffman's faculty mentor is James Edgar, university distinguished professor and head of chemical engineering.

* Lance Noll, master's student in veterinary biomedical science, Greensburg, "A four-plex real-time PCR assay for the detection and quantification of Escherichia coli o157 in cattle feces." Noll's faculty mentor is T.G. Nagaraja, university distinguished professor of diagnostic medicine and pathobiology.

* Joseph Holste, doctoral student in civil engineering, Ludell, "Transfer bond test used to predict transfer length of concrete railroad ties." Holste's faculty mentor is Robert Peterman, professor of civil engineering.

* Bryan Cafferky, doctoral student in marriage and family therapy, Manhattan, "A meta-analysis of relationship factors impacting couples with IPV." Cafferky's faculty mentor is Jared Anderson, associate professor of family studies and human services.

* Joseph Chapes, master's student in mass communications, Manhattan, "Encouraging the adoption of E. coli control and prevention strategies: analysis of an online training intervention." Chapes' faculty mentor is Nancy Muturi, associate professor of journalism and mass communications.

* Mohammadreza Mirzahosseini, doctoral student in civil engineering, Manhattan, "Study of the feasibility of using combined glass particle sizes and types in concrete as partial cement replacement." Mirzahosseini's faculty mentor is Kyle Riding, associate professor of civil engineering.

* Andrew McGowan, doctoral student in agronomy, Prairie Village, "Impact of nitrogen rate on nitrous oxide emissions and life cycle greenhouse gas emissions in switchgrass-based cellulosic ethanol." McGowan's faculty mentor is Charles Rice, university distinguished professor of agronomy.

* Megan Brown, master's student in agronomy, Tehachapi, Calif., "Greenhouse gas footprints of two non-legume cover crops following winter wheat." Brown's faculty mentor is Peter Tomlinson, assistant professor of agronomy.

* Nichole Finke, master's student in interior architecture and product design, St. Louis, B; "Environment vs. productivity: a study on working environments and their psychological effects." Finke's faculty mentor is Vibhavari Jani, associate professor of interior architecture and product design.

* Keyla Lopez, doctoral student in animal sciences and industry, Tegucigalpa, Honduras, "Validation of washing treatments to reduce pathogens in fresh produce." Lopez's faculty mentor is Kelly Getty, associate professor of animal sciences and industry.