Project Title: Foam coarsening in curved surfaces 

Project description: Aqueous foams, the familiar collection of tightly packed soap bubbles, conceal an intricately rich dynamics that have captivated scientists for a long time. In this project, we aim to observe bubble growth in dry foams confined to curved spaces. In flat surfaces, von Newman’s Law postulates that the growth rate depends exclusively on the number of neighbors of each bubble. Curved surfaces, by contrast, impose different geometrical constraints that lead to more complex growth rates and unexpected stable points. Our goal is to measure the bubble growth rate in curved surfaces of constant and varying curvatures to explore the unique dynamics imposed by the enhanced complex geometry. This experimental study has direct applications to industries where input materials exhibit similar dynamics to aqueous foams, such as the chemical, petroleum, and pharmaceutical sectors. 

Research keywords: physics, soft materials, membranes, diffusion, differential geometry  

Preferred skills: Basic knowledge of physics, some programming experience (preferably in Python), and a strong enthusiasm for working in a lab setting. 

Project web link: Not available

Expected starting date: Fall of 2025 

Advisor name: Klebert Feitosa 

Home department: Physics and Astronomy 

Contact email address: feitoskb@jmu.edu  

Contact phone number:  540-568-8817 

Project Title: Wildlife and ecosystem responses to climate change in the tropical high Andes, Peru

Project description: I study nutrient transfer by vicuñas, wild relatives of alpacas, upslope into the rapidly expanding deglaciated zone on high Andean mountains. In these barren, rocky soils, vicuña dung piles may be an important nutrient source and facilitate the colonization of microbial and plant communities. Vicuña latrines may accelerate primary succession in these barren, proglacial landscapes by 150 years or more. Herbivore-facilitated succession likely provides a crucial mechanism by which tropical alpine grassland plants and animals can colonize newly ice-free areas on timescales relevant to climate change.

Research keywords: wildlife, mammals, ecology, climate change, mountains

Preferred skills: No experience necessary. We can train you. Access to a reliable internet connection is needed.

Project web link: https://kelseyreider.weebly.com/

Expected starting date: Summer 2025

Advisor name: Kelsey Reider

Home department: Biology

Contact email address: reiderke@jmu.edu 

Contact phone number:  Not available

Project Title: Perspectives on Objectives: Developing science communication learning objectives for STEM undergraduates

Project description: There is often a disconnect between science and society, where people within the community think about science differently than scientists themselves. STEM undergraduates often talk to people within their communities about science. In this way, they are boundary spanners, they are reaching between this divide and sharing scientific information. However, students often use ineffective communication strategies when they talk about science. This can include presenting themselves as the authority and/or shaming those who disagree with them, or with the broader scientific consensus. It is important for undergraduates to learn how to communicate about scientific topics effectively because they can reach audiences that are frequently inaccessible to scientific researchers. While science communication is recognized by educators as an important competency, many scientists and science instructors have never been trained to communicate with non-scientists. Instructors who have limited experience in science communication struggle to teach effective science communication skills. The goal of this project is to develop learning objectives (LOs) that can be used to train undergraduate students in science communication. It will involve working with a team of researchers across the U.S. to find, collate, and develop new LOs, and to test them by surveying and interviewing science communication experts.

Research keywords: science communication, learning objectives, surveys, interviews, literature searches

Preferred skills: No formal research experience is required. I will help you learn how to conduct research with human subjects, recruit research participants, create surveys in Qualtrics, and analyze qualitative data. My only expectation is that you come in excited to learn and are willing to push yourself to try new things. I will help you to develop all the skills that you need to be successful.

Project web link: Not Available

Expected starting date: Spring 2026

Advisor name: Rosario Marroquin Flores

Home department: Biology

Contact email address: marroqra@jmu.edu

Contact phone number: 540-568-5692