by Isabel Whitehead | Mar 10, 2025 | Research Projects
By Brynnen Beck
My name is Brynnen Beck and I’m a senior Environmental, Soil, & Water Science major in Bumpers College with minors in Geology & Sustainability. My mentor is Dr. Shannon Speir in the Crop, Soil, & Environmental Science Department in. We focus on water quality research, and my undergraduate honors thesis investigates how road salts and their “eco-friendly” alternatives impact an important ecosystem process, denitrification. I was funded for the Spring 2024 and Fall 2024 semesters. My future includes pursuing graduate school and getting my master’s degree to continue research with water quality and water resources.
My research is on how urban streams are impacted by anthropogenic activities. Specifically, how different types of road salt impacts stream ecosystem processes, such as nitrate removal via denitrification. This research directly involved anthropogenic impacts on stream ecosystem nutrient processing, which is a still developing research area. I have learned a lot about nutrient cycling in streams and how unique streams are in the way they transport nutrients. It is very complex as the streams are flowing and the rate of consumption/transformation can easily be impacted by a multitude of influencing factors. That is what I have learned to love about stream ecology and water quality. There are so many components and interacting factors that create a very complex and interesting puzzle to put together. I like how everything interacts with and impacts everything else. I’ve learned a lot about denitrification, lab work, machine analysis, and data analysis through this process.
I knew that I wanted to do a project related to water quality, so I reached out to Dr. Speir as she is the only water quality lab within the department. I was really interested in the biogeochemistry and nutrient cycling projects her lab does. Dr. Speir is extremely knowledgeable in her field and is a very hands-on mentor. She has guided me through researching my topic, through the experiment/field work preparation, and through the sample and data analysis. She is readily available and wants to be very involved with her students and their well-being. The culture in her lab is very supportive and when Dr. Speir wasn’t available to help, I felt I could ask any lab member, and they would help in any way they could or were willing to learn with me. I would recommend everyone interested in working with Dr. Speir because she not only has very interesting research areas, but she also has high expectations of her students that have only made me grow as a scientist, researcher, and writer.
Many mistakes have been made and many things have not gone according to plan through the course of my thesis work, but I have learned that it is always best to talk about it. Talk through problems and solutions, admit when mistakes have been made, and rely on your support system to get you through it. Next, I plan to defend my thesis and graduate in Spring 2025 and attend graduate school.
by Isabel Whitehead | Feb 17, 2025 | Research Projects
By Claire Meara
My name is Claire Meara, an honors Environmental Soil & Water Science student in the CSES Department. My mentor is Dr. Shannon Speir (CSES). I successfully defended my thesis in October 2024 and am graduating this Fall. As my portion of the research is complete, we have plans to potentially continue working on the project, adding minor details, with the goal of eventual publication.
I chose my honors thesis topic after finding Dr. Speir as a mentor. I took her Wetland Soils class as a sophomore during the spring semester and I was encouraged to approach her by my academic advisor, Dr Wood. Soon after meeting with Dr. Speir, I knew I wanted to join her lab. I had an interest in water science, and as we have a limited number of classes on the topic, I thought doing my honors thesis on the subject would be beneficial. Dr. Speir had many great projects for me to work on and choose from, which I really appreciated. I have learned a lot about my honors thesis topic, including the effect of urbanization on our urban streams, due to pollutants being washed into water from paved surfaces. I have also learned a lot about winter salt application, and how beet juice is used as an “environmentally friendly” alternative, when this may not actually be the case.
Some challenges that I have faced in my research are scheduling conflicts and organization. I have learned how difficult it can be at times to schedule field dates or meetings, and the importance of utilizing technology tools with a group like a shared calendar. I have grown and learned a lot regarding communication, as well as labeling and the importance of organization in research. I have been assisted throughout this project by Dr. Speir, as well as my graduate student mentor, Caroline Ascombe, and Brynnen Beck, an undergraduate working on this project with me.
During my time working on this project, I was lucky enough to travel to two conferences out of state to present my research. I traveled with my lab group to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the summer of 2024 to the Society for Freshwater Science Conference where I presented a poster. Additionally, I travelled to San Antonio, Texas this Fall with a part of my lab and Brye’s lab to the Tri-Society’s Annual Meeting where I was able to do a virtual 15-minute presentation. Both of these opportunities were excellent ways to meet other students from other parts of the country, learn about neat research going on, and generally just expand my horizons. I have enjoyed working on an honors thesis during my time as an undergraduate because it gave me extremely valuable experience in research, and helped me to get a taste of what graduate school is like.
After I graduate in December, I plan to travel to Argentina, explore Patagonia, as well as participate in a medical mission trip in Africa. As far as future career plans, I am hoping to find an environmental job based out of Northwest Arkansas.
by Isabel Whitehead | Jan 27, 2025 | Research Projects
by Alexus Inthanosay
I was able to study the cell viability and cell apoptosis-inducing abilities of Apio leaves under the guidance of research coordinator Dr. Sun-Ok Lee and PhD student Inah Gu. I also conducted total phenolic and antioxidant scavenging activity assays prior to the grant. Apio leaves come from South American tuberous crops and are often thrown out for waste. I was interested in researching if the leaves from the crops have the properties to be considered a functional ingredient and have potential in reducing colon cancer while reducing plant waste.
As a pre-med and dietetics student, I became passionate and eager to learn about research processes to further my understanding of information I have learned in my courses and to gain hands-on experience. For this phase of my research, I spent most of my time conducting MTS assays to measure cell viability of Caco-2 cells. I then used ELISA kits to study cell-apoptosis properties. With the help from Inah Gu, I was able to learn about these processes and gained the ability to modify specific steps of my research to ensure my studies were as efficient as possible. I was able to experience the trial and error that one may come across in lab work but also how to learn from it. The funds from the grant were distributed amongst multiple areas in my research which helped me carry out my experiments. The funds were used to purchase the following: nitrogen gas cylinders for dehydrating samples, and a variety of other lab supplies, reagents and kits for my assays and cell culture
By the end of the research term, I was able to conclude that specific concentrations of Apio leaves demonstrated to have antioxidant activities, the ability to reduce cell growth and have potential effect in inducing cell apoptosis in Caco-2 cells. The present findings indicate that with further research, Apio leaves can potentially be used as a functional food ingredient.
by Isabel Whitehead | Jul 7, 2024 | Research Projects
by Jacob Major
Under the guidance of my mentor, Dr. Shannon Speir from the Department of Crop, Soil, and Environmental Sciences, I delved into the complex world of sediment-phosphorus sorption dynamics. Please join me as I share the insights gained and challenges faced throughout the course of my project.
Legacy phosphorus (P), or the P stored by stream sediments in agricultural regions, can have lasting impacts by maintaining elevated soluble reactive P (SRP) concentrations, diminishing the effects of conservation practices, and degrading water quality long after terrestrial P inputs decline. My project assessed sediment-P sorption dynamics in Brush Creek by quantifying key indicators of the potential for stream sediments to serve as sinks or sources of P, including the equilibrium P concentration (EPC), P saturation ratio (PSR), and particle size distribution of stream sediments. By assessing the capacity of stream sediments to serve as sinks or sources of phosphorus (P) and relating my findings to land use and water quality data, I hope to improve understanding of the sediment-P sorption dynamics that control cycling of legacy P in Brush Creek, a subcatchment of the Beaver Lake Watershed in Northwest Arkansas (NWA).
I conducted bimonthly synoptic sampling of Brush Creek at four sites distributed longitudinally (lengthwise) throughout the watershed over the course of one year. Synoptic sampling describes the collection of samples from multiple locations over a short period of time. Like taking a “snapshot” of the watershed, synoptic sampling captured spatial variations in data collected between sites within Brush Creek. By sampling bimonthly, my project captured temporal and seasonal variations as well. On each sample date, I measured indicators of surface water quality, took filtered grab samples for SRP analysis, and collected unfiltered site water and sediment cores for determination of sediment EPC, PSR, and particle size distribution. I determined sediment EPC, a key indicator of the potential for sediments to either bind or release P, through a series of in-lab EPC assays which provided me with some interesting challenges.
EPC assays are used to determine the EPC of sediments by allowing sediments to equilibrate in a series of aqueous solutions with known initial SRP concentrations, then measuring post-equilibration SRP, and finally, regressing the change in SRP (∆SRP) of the solutions against the initial SRP of the solutions to find the x-intercept, where ∆SRP is equal zero. If the EPC of the sediments is less than the ambient SRP concentration of the solution, then sorption will occur, while if it is greater, P will be released. The initial concentrations I used in my EPC assays (0, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mg/L–P) were a challenge to attain and standardize across all assays. My mentor, Dr. Speir, guided me toward using precisely calibrated volumetric flasks and electronic pipettes. By using Dr. Speir’s recommended approach, I was able to overcome this obstacle in my research, achieving precise and consistent concentrations across all EPC assays.
Although my research is not yet finished, I feel as though I have already learned so much, and I’m not referring only to my project’s area of interest. The opportunities and challenges this work has presented with me so far have taught me a lot about project management, collaboration within a team, and scientific communication that I think will serve me very well in my future endeavors, whatever those may be. I can’t thank my faculty mentor, Dr. Speir, and the rest of the Speir Lab enough for their substantial contributions to this project, as well as the Bumpers College Honors Program for the funding they provided for this research.
by Isabel Whitehead | Jun 23, 2024 | Research Projects
by Jimena Rodriguez
My research looks to investigate the current beef industry practices and their implications on final beef quality. I became involved after the summer of 2022, after attending the Reciprocal Meats Conference in Des Moines, IA. There I was able to converse with meat science professionals from all across the nation and hear about the innovative work being done. This shortly led me to working with Dr. Derico Setyabrata, a recent addition to the meat science team in the Animal Science department. He needed a student to work in the lab, and I am beyond grateful that he took a chance with me.
In the beef industry, there are three topics that are most investigated, including juiciness, tenderness, and flavor. According to data collected from the National Beef Tenderness Survey, conducted by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), consumers have expressed these areas are what should be improved in beef products. In this study specifically, we looked at the industry’s practices when it comes to aging, or the tenderization of the product, and its effects on the final product quality. Aging allows for enzymes called calpains, specifically calpain-1, to cut other proteins in the meat and make these fragments more water-soluble. The longer you allow for the product to age, the more protein fragments, resulting in a very tender steak. As previously stated, consumers prefer a tender product. Though, with extended aging, like any other food product, there is an onset of spoilage which is also followed by a change in the physical appearance of the product. It has been studied that consumers prefer a cherry red color and will likely not reach for the product if there is any deviation from this. Therefore, we investigated how these microorganisms affected the color change in beef and how long a product would last on the shelf.
Our findings were along the lines of what we hypothesized. With longer aging treatments, we found more spoilage bacteria and very bad color quality found in the beef products. This is ultimately where we are at in the study. We have collaborated with other scientists in the department to aid in profiling the microbes, which is equally as rewarding as it is challenging. We have experienced delays in the timeline we have set due to mechanical issues, however I have learned to work around them. We are still working on further investigating the correlation between the specific type of organisms and how they induce a color change in products. The importance of this work is to hopefully address the issue of food waste. Again, any deviation from a cherry red color will result in a discount and ultimately discarded. This is a big issue for the beef industry as a study conducted found that roughly $3.73 billion is lost due to this. It becomes more than just a food waste issue, but also an economical one There are currently innovations being applied to educate consumers about beef’s color change, but also how to maintain a cherry color so that consumers do not reject the product.
While I did not travel for the project specifically, I was able to attain a travel scholarship, from NCBA, to attend their annual Beef Safety Summit in Denver, CO. There I was able to network with a wide range of professionals in the beef industry, including feedlot managers, plant operations managers, USDA, and FDA specialists, from all across the nation. There I was able to talk to them more about this project and hear how their respective area is addressing this issue. This was particularly interesting because I was able to see how my research is being applied in a real-world setting.
A key component to completing this project was the mentorship received. This was my first time immersing myself in a lab to conduct research, which came with a lot of anxiety. Though, Dr. Setyabrata expressed great patience and freedom throughout my time in the lab. He enabled me to gain confidence in myself, which was beyond rewarding. Through his mentorship, I have been able to accomplish more than I thought I could. Dr. Setyabrata has had an everlasting impact on my career trajectory. I have found a passion for meat science and the meaningful work of providing safe and wholesome products to everyone. He along with the other faculty in the Animal Science department have been a huge part in my success both in and out of the lab. Through this rewarding experience, I began to entertain the idea of graduate school post-graduation. While it was a very tough decision, I have decided to continue my education at Texas Tech University, in Lubbock, TX. There I will continue to further investigate the beef industry’s practices and their impact on beef quality.
by Isabel Whitehead | May 15, 2024 | Research Projects
by Amadeo Scott
Water quality of streams in urban areas, such as the university campus, is often severely degraded due to runoff from impervious surfaces such as roads and parking lots. This results in pollutants and other substances entering streams in these places, especially during storms. This lowers the water quality, and the excess stormwater can change the shape of the streambed and erode the banks. To get streams back to a healthier state, we often carry out restoration projects, which might include planting native streambank vegetation to decrease erosion and increase filtration of runoff, or placing rock structures and gravel in the streambeds to restore the original streambed shape. These were both techniques used in a restoration on campus at Mullins Creek in 2012. Unfortunately, most stream restorations are not monitored, so it’s actually rare to know whether a restoration worked. Mullins Creek had qualitative monitoring done after the project, but no quantitative study. I decided to study the water quality in Mullins Creek, 10 years after the stream restoration, hoping to find whether the restoration goals were met and to determine if the methods used were effective. I looked at the physical, chemical, and biological water quality of sites above the restoration, at it, and below it to compare unrestored and restoration site quality. After a year of monitoring and analysis, I determined that 2 out of 3 studied goals of the restoration—increased nutrient uptake and more aeration and pool habitats—had been met. The third goal, decreased erosion and turbidity, was not met, as turbidity was highest at the restoration site. This study has shown that the methods used for the other two goals, which included rock structure and gravel placement, were effective, but that anti-erosion methods should be reevaluated in future restorations. This project helps contribute to our adaptive management of stream restorations, in which researchers constantly test and improve their methods in ecological restoration.
I chose this topic because I have always been interested in aquatic ecosystems, and finding ways to combat the negative effects of urbanization on the world around us is a quickly-growing field. I heard about the Mullins Creek restoration during an environmental science lab and decided to discuss a potential project on the subject with the professor, Dr. Lisa Wood. She suggested looking at water quality, and after I developed my proposal to determine the efficacy of the restoration, she introduced me to Dr. Shannon Speir, who became my project mentor.
During this project, I learned that the results of stream restoration are generally unknown, and that both designing and assessing restorations are confusing topics with no one scientific approach or consensus. Restorations have thousands of factors, and nuance is very important when trying to answer a question that sounds so black-and-white: “Did the restoration work?”. Throughout the year-long project, I was constantly discovering new aspects of stream quality, interactions between the campus environment and the stream, and the layered effects of continuing urbanization on a restoration. A particularly challenging aspect of the project for me was interpreting some of the water chemistry results. The water chemistry could be influenced by anything in the stream’s aboveground or belowground environment, so it was difficult to find specific possible reasons for a certain result. I gathered literature on each parameter I was measuring to find the mechanisms that could be causing my results, and then went through them methodically and reasoned out which could apply to Mullins Creek and which couldn’t. This made the task much easier, and now when a project feels like too much to focus on, I use this method to break it down into smaller parts.
My mentor, Dr. Speir, guided me throughout the project, helping me to design procedures, choose statistical analyses, edit my writing, and much more. Besides directly working with students, she facilitates a collaborative environment within her lab, and so other students in the Speir Lab also helped me, whether through coming on sampling trips, helping me troubleshoot field techniques, or providing feedback on papers and posters. I also had help from Dr. Brad Austin at the AWRC, who worked with me to analyze my water chemistry samples. Finally, of course, I also received crucial suggestions and feedback from my thesis committee.
After I graduate, I am hoping to work as a laboratory or research technician with an aquatic or marine lab for a year or two. I eventually want to get my Master’s in coastal ecology, and hopefully a Ph.D. after that. I am passionate about conserving our species, particularly those that don’t get a lot of attention, such as aquatic invertebrates. I hope that I’ll be able to spend my life researching and protecting our lesser-known animals.
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