Wittenberg University

Opportunities for Wittenberg University students to partner with faculty members in research abound each year, including during the summer months. New projects are now underway across all disciplines, so check back regularly to see the latest collaborations, insights, and findings. In the meantime, enjoy a look at some of last year's research both on campus and off.

From spotted turtles, antibacterial agents, tRNA, fallen angels, OCD, and more, students and faculty illuminated understanding and made important connections as they engaged in collaborative research each year.

Environmental science majors Douglas McClure, class of 2025 from Springfield, Ohio, and Delaney Watts, class of 2027, from Centerville, Ohio, are taking advantage of a hands-on, collaborative research opportunity with Tim Swartz, assistant professor of biology, this summer at Wittenberg’s Conrad Balliet Family Nature Preserve. Located only 10 miles from campus near Clifton, Ohio, the unique location allows the trio to study how non-native plants fit into the local ecosystems.

Leonardo Juarez ’26 worked with Professors of Physics Paul Voytas and Elizabeth George to study antimatter particles called positrons, which are best known for being used in medical PET scans. “The goal of our experiment was to get a better understanding of the differences between matter and antimatter, hoping to help solve the mystery of why antimatter is so rare in the universe,” George explained.

Paige Rudolf '25 and Andy Dozal '26 studied under the direction of Daniel Marous, associate professor of chemistry. Both are chemistry majors and worked on investigating antibacterial agents. Rudolf investigated the antibacterial strength of combining essential oils and during that process, she learned that she’s smarter, more determined, and more passionate than she thought she was.

Derek Stinefield ’25 and Alex Callahan ’25 studied with Stephanie Eveland Parrot, assistant professor of chemistry, to investigate the effects of heavy metal substitution in the gemstone corundum. “Our research used open-source software called Quantum Espresso to investigate the role of post transition metals in the stability and structure of metal-doped Corundum-type minerals,” Eveland Parrot said.

Maddie Pawlak '26 and Victoria (Pip) Pipinich '25 studied with Ray Dudek, professor of chemistry. The two of them measured the seasonal production of oleuropein (an insecticide) in fringe trees, and Pipinich measured the amount of lead and cadmium in dark chocolate as her summer project. “Getting the opportunity to explore Springfield with my classmates and growing closer to the chemistry department was what I enjoyed most with this summer research,” Pipinich said.

Guille del Rio Gonzalez '24 recently worked with Kelley Annesley, assistant professor of philosophy, on a research project that touches two academic subject areas. Del Rio Gonzalez and Kelley Annesley conducted research that works at the intersection of philosophy and psychology, a place where the student has been exploring questions about the relationship between empirical studies of character and virtue and the ethical concept of virtue.