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Missouri S&T students exhibit research to state legislators

ROLLA, Mo. (April 10, 2023) – More than a dozen undergraduate students from Missouri University of Science and Technology traveled to Jefferson City, Missouri on Thursday, April 6, to participate in the annual Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol.

The event, which is designed to inform Missouri’s lawmakers about research at Missouri universities, welcomes undergraduate students from all four University of Missouri System campuses. Student participants work on research projects under the direction of faculty advisors and present their research.

Missouri S&T places an emphasis on providing research opportunities to undergraduate students. The following students represented S&T and shared their research at the Missouri State Capitol:

  • Erik Bergstrom, a junior in biological sciences from Riverside, Missouri, and Molly Ripper, a junior in biological sciences from Ballwin, Missouri, presented “Learning the Principles of Aging from Worms.” The work is directed by Dr. Andrea Scharf, assistant professor of biological sciences. Read more.
  • Samuel Hackett, a sophomore in chemistry from O’Fallon, Missouri, presented “Carbon Aerogels for High Capacity and Selective Absorption of Carbon Dioxide.” The work is directed by Dr. Chariklia Sotiriou-Leventis, chair and professor of chemistry. Read more.
  • Gabrielle Hightower, a senior in biological sciences and psychology from Kansas City, Missouri, and Shay Pelfrey, a senior in biological sciences from Rolla, Missouri, presented “Generating Strains of Brady Rhizobium Japonicum for Improved Crop Yields Under Drought Conditions. The work is directed by Dr. David Westenberg, Curators’ Distinguished Professor in biological sciences. Read more.
  • Isabella Kestle, a first-year student in chemical engineering from Rolla, Missouri, presented “Analysis of Detonator Efficiency in Initiating Sheet Explosive Based on Fragmentation Energy.” The work is directed by Dr. Catherine Johnson, Robert H. Quenon Associate Professor of Mining Engineering. Read more.
  • Caleb Moellenhoff, a junior in chemical engineering from Ballwin, Missouri, presented “Novel Supercritical Biodiesel Plant Design and Process Scale-up.” The work is directed by Dr. Joseph Smith, professor of chemical and biochemical engineering. Read more.
  • Three seniors in chemical engineering presented “Biogas Production from Industrial Wastewater Using Anaerobic Digestion.” The presenters included Jackson Oglesby of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, Justin Penn of Bonne Terre, Missouri, and Sarah Riley of Arnold, Missouri. The work is directed by Dr. Joseph Smith, professor of chemical and biochemical engineering, and Dr. Haider Al-Rubaye, visiting scholar in chemical and biochemical engineering.
  • Dustin Peterson, a senior in mining engineering from Grain Valley, Missouri, presented “Technological Innovations and Human Factors for Effective Miner Self-Escape from Underground Mine Emergencies.” The work is directed by Dr. Kwame Awuah-Offei, professor and chair of mining and explosives engineering. Read more.
  • Shelby Ply, a senior in environmental engineering from Rolla, Missouri, presented “Symbiotic Plan – Microbial Treatment of 1,4-Dioxane.” The work is directed by Dr. Joel Burken, Curators’ Distinguished Professor and chair of civil, architectural and environmental engineering. Read more.
  • Gabriel Riddle, a sophomore in physics from Kidder, Missouri, presented “Where the Rubber Hits the Road – Asphalt Rejuvenation with Used-tire Pyrolysis Oils.” The work is directed by Dr. Klaus Woelk, associate professor of chemistry.

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Student researchers pose for a group photo inside the Missouri State Capitol on April 6. Photo courtesy of the University of Missouri System.

Additional photos are available upon request and include:

  • Representative Bennie Cook with S&T students Gabrielle Hightower and Shay Pelfrey
  • Representative Don Mayhew with S&T student Isabella Kestle
  • Representative Tara Peters with Dr. Catherine Johnson and Isabella Kestle
  • Representative Tara Peters with S&T student Shelby Ply

About Missouri University of Science and Technology
Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) is a STEM-focused research university of over 7,000 students. Part of the four-campus University of Missouri System and located in Rolla, Missouri, Missouri S&T offers 101 degrees in 40 areas of study and is among the nation’s top 10 universities for return on investment, according to Business Insider. For more information about Missouri S&T, visit www.mst.edu.