Augustana student, Jimmy Wiebler, conducts summer research project

2013 Jul 25

This summer nine Augustana College students are participating in full-scale scientific research projects under the guidance of their faculty advisors, gaining experience to utilize in graduate school and careers after college. Each summer research project is funded through an Augustana Summer Student Research Fellowship.

A Davenport, Iowa, student, Jimmy Wiebler is working alongside Dr. Tim Muir, assistant professor in the biology department. Wiebler is a senior majoring in biology.

Jimmy Wiebler has been collaborating for more than a year on a research project with Dr. Tim Muir. They are studying the cold-conditioning response in Vertebrate Ectotherm. Specifically, Wiebler and Dr. Muir will work to determine the thermal dynamics necessary to elicit the cold-conditioning response in hatching painted turtles by changing the duration at which they experience a subzero temperature before a subsequent cold-shock. This research project will allow Wiebler to discover something new about animal physiology and how it has adapted to withstand such extreme environmental conditions. Wiebler suspects that turtles possessing the highest levels of brain and liver glucose will be the most cold-hardy. In working with Dr. Muir, he said, “I have been able to learn many of the generalized techniques useful to a biologist, as well as some tricks of the trade I wouldn’t find in any textbook.”. This project will be combined with a complementary project from last year led by Manisha Kumar ’13, and ultimately will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

For a photo of Wiebler, click here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/daisyhoang/9357418743/

To encourage students to immerse themselves in their subject matter and engage in hands-on practice, Augustana College provides students of all disciplines opportunities through the Summer Student Research Fellowships. The program encourages research or artistic projects under the guidance of a faculty member. Students may apply for a maximum stipend of $3,000, plus additional funding for project expenses. Students' contributions to these projects can inspire them to conduct even more cutting-edge research in their later years of study, and also direct them to the post-graduate field of study they would like to pursue.

About Augustana: Founded in 1860, Augustana College is a selective four-year residential college of the liberal arts and sciences. Augustana College is recognized for the innovative program Augie Choice, which provides each student up to $2,000 to pursue a high-impact learning experience such as study abroad, an internship or research with a professor. Current students and alumni include 146 Academic All-Americans, a Nobel laureate, 13 college presidents and other distinguished leaders. The college enrolls 2,500 students and is located along one of the world's most important waterways, the Mississippi River, in a community that reflects the diversity of the United States.