Jamie Crait
Program Director, WRSP
Ag-C, Rm 5007
1000 E University Ave
Laramie, WY 82071
Email: craitj@uwyo.edu
__________________________
Tabatha Spencer
Project Coordinator, UW Science Initiative
A&S Rm 152A
1000 E University Ave
Laramie, WY 82071
Phone: 307-766-4447
Email: tspence5@uwyo.edu
Megan Andersen
Hometown: Whitewood, SD Major: Environmental Systems Science Megan is working with Dr. Karen Vaughan and Chelsea Duball (Ecosystem Science & Management). Through her research, she will consider the reduction rates of FeS in hydric soils, studying the amount of time needed for the IRIS (Indicator of Reduction in Soils) device to show maximum reduction of FeS. Results from this research aim to simplify the methods of calculating reduction-oxidization reactions in anaerobic conditions of wetland hydric soils, specifically regarding the reduction of iron monosulfides. Student 2020 Virtual Symposium Research Presentation Found Here |
Kyler Arriola
Hometown: Jackson, WY Major: Criminal Justice Kyler will be working with Dr. Bruns (Kinesiology and Health) within the HEART lab. He will be studying the impact of age on the failing heart, sex differences in heart failure development and treatment, exercise as medicine for heart failure and the identification of new therapies for the treatment of heart disease. |
Josh Arulsamy
Hometown: Laramie, WY Major: Computer Science
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Mercedes Bartels
Hometown: Burns, WY Major: Physiology Merceds is working in Doctor Todd Schoborg's lab. For her project, she is investigating the cellular basis for microcephaly - a reduction in brain size - which is a genetic disease in humans. They are doing this by by testing the hypothesis that a reduction in brain size is caused by a decrease in the number of neural cells. They are using Drosophila melanogaster as a model species through which we can examine microcephaly. ; Student 2020 Virtual Symposium Research Presentation Found Here |
Tyler Beddingfield
Hometown: Fremont, CA Major: Rangeland Ecology & Watershed Management, Environment & Natural Resources Tyler is working with Dr. Fabian Nippgen & Dr. Ginger Paige (Ecosystem Science & Management). Tyler hopes to improve understanding of how vegetation affects hyporheic zones and water balances in rangeland riparian areas. Rangeland watersheds are home to many small headwater streams that contribute a large portion of water to the arid and semiarid ecosystems of the western United States. This research aims to contribute to a larger project describing how riparian vegetation affects hyporheic zones in a small mountain rangeland watershed in southeastern Wyoming. Student 2020 Virtual Symposium Research Presentation Found Here |
Kyle Biehl
Hometown: Timnath, CO Major: Molecular Biology Kyle is working with Dr. Daniel Wall (Molecular Biology). His research on Self-nonself recognition between cells and how it serves as the basis of the immune system allowing for discrimination between self and nonself intrusive pathogens. He will use the model bacterium, Myxococcus xanthus, which uses self-nonself recognition to form multicellular structures in which cells recognize their neighbors and regulate social interactions between kin and non-kin. This study seeks to characterize TraB function using various genetic and microscopy methods. |
Michelle Bronstein
Hometown: Boulder, CO Major: Computer Science Michelle is working with Dr. Mike Borowczak (Computer Science) on a project through the UW Cybersecurity Education and Research (CEDAR) center. Her research focuses on auditory stimulus as a form of continuous authentication, with the goal of being able to use free speech for identification. Student 2020 Virtual Symposium Research Presentation Found Here |
Bradon Bryngelson
Hometown: Gillette, WY Majors: History, Secondary Education Bradon's project is focused on identifying potential reasons for gender disparagements in STEM educators. The hope is to find potential hypotheses to pursue and try to solve in order to boost the prevalence of female-oriented educators. Thereby promoting the success and attendance of female oriented in STEM fields and majors. Student 2020 Virtual Symposium Research Presentation Found Here |
Wren Buchenroth
Hometown: Jackson, WY Majors: Environment & Natural Resources, Microbiology Wren is working with Rachel Watson (Chemistry) to develop an efficient method of cleaning wastewaters, primarily agricultual effluent, using algae. Through this research, he aims to combat dead zones while providing economically viable byproducts. Student 2020 Virtual Symposium Research Presentation Found Here |
Kellyn Chandler
Hometown: Dubois, WY Major: Fish & Wildlife Kellyn has an interest in studying wildlife populations, habitat, and human influence as well as helping with conservation efforts and pushing to protect wildlife and wild places. Growing up in Wyoming has motivated her to be part of the solution and she hopes someday to be able to provide research that enables humans to understand and live more cohesively with native species. Student 2020 Virtual Symposium Research Presentation Found Here |
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Malea Christensen
Hometown: Buford, WY Major: Molecular Biology Malea is working with Dr. Todd Schoborg (Molecular Biology).
Student 2020 Virtual Symposium Research Presentation Found Here |
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Hanna Crockett
Hometown: Rock Springs, WY Major: Kinesiology & Health Hannah hopes to do research in either Kinesiology or Psychology. Kinesiology interests her because of the way that the body is interconnected and how healing injuries often goes much more in depth than the issues appear to be, and psychology interests her because of the connection between the physical and the mental processes. Student 2020 Virtual Symposium Research Presentation Found Here |
Kamaile DeLong
Hometown: Etna, WY Major: Zoology Kamaile is working with Dr. Lusha Tronstad (WYNDD) to assess pollinator population composition in tall forb communities. Tall forb communities are plant communities with tall, diverse wildflowers, and they are unique to high elevations of the Rocky Mountains from Montana to Utah. These plant communities provide food and shelter for many animals both large and small, and they may become increasingly important to pollinator conservation as the climate warms and human development expands. Very little is known about their native pollinator populations, however. Kamaile hopes to collect data that will begin to fill this information gab and allow resource managers to better conserve and restore these critical habitats for pollinators, wildlife, and watersheds for generations to come. Student 2020 Virtual Symposium Research Presentation Found Here |
Emma Dixon
Hometown: Lawrence, KS Majors: Environmental Systems Science, Outdoor Recreation & Tourism Management Emma is working with Dr. Ramesh Sivanpillai (WyGISC). They are analyzing peer-reviewed articles about the human-elephant conflict found near Coimbatore, India to create a synthesis article on the subject. She traveled to India in the summer of 2019 and conducted her own research on the human-elephant conflict by interviewing farmers and other citizens affected by this issue. Student 2020 Virtual Symposium Research Presentation Found Here |
Andromeda Erikson
Hometown: Laramie, WY Major: Exploratory Studies Andromeda is working with Dr. Catherine Wagner and master's student Lucia Combrink to determine the ecological and evolutionary impacts of introduced trout populations in Wyoming's Wind River Range. Fish stocking in alpine lakes is common practice for supporting recreational fisheries and provides an interesting case study for their effects. Andromeda is looking at trout diet through stomach content analyses to better understand these interactions. Student 2020 Virtual Symposium Research Presentation Found Here |
Eloise Fadial
Hometown: Laramie, WY Majors: Chemical Engineering, Music Eloise is working with Dr. John Oakey (Chemical Engineering). Her research involves the observation and understanding of how cells develop in vivo. She will study of the mechanics and interactions of cells and extracellular matrices using the Optimized Cell Response Microfluidic Chamber; a microfluidic device designed to grow and observe cells and cellular matrices in order to better understand their growth. She also hopes to create a new model of this device which will contain traps to allow the study of algae growth. Student 2020 Virtual Symposium Research Presentation Found Here |
Colin Finlay
Hometown: Jackson, WY Major: Microbiology Colin is working with Dr. Carmela Rosaria Guadagno & Dr. Mario Bretfeld (within the Ewers lab). He is looking at how soil microbes recover after a forest fire; specifically, he is looking for an interaction between fire intensity and the development of antibiotic resistance. Student 2020 Virtual Symposium Research Presentation Found Here |
Kaatje Fisk
Hometown: Salt Lake City, UT Major: Molecular Biology Kaatje Fisk is working with Dr. Jason Gigley (Immunology and Molecular Biology); her research focuses on the immune system's response to Toxoplasma gondii infection in mice models. She is working with the Gigley team to look closely at the relationship between the innate and adaptive immune responses in the host during acute Toxoplasma infection. Through this research, she hopes to uncover the regulation of IL-12 production by CD4 T cells. Student 2020 Virtual Symposium Research Presentation Found Here |
Sydnie Fossberg
Hometown: Las Cruces, NM Major: Biology Sydnie is working with Dr. Matthew Carling (Zoology & Physiology) to study the health of hybrid birds in the Great Plains area, specifically indigo and lazuli buntings. Isotopic analysis and physical evaluation is being used to determine how effectively the birds are able to devote energy to growth and physical maintenance. She is also observing the birds' behavior around molting and migration seasons to see if their hybrid nature is causing them to molt irregularly or migrate in a different direction than either parent species. Student 2020 Virtual Symposium Research Presentation Found Here |
Rebecca Franke
Hometown: Stillwater, MN Major: Zoology & Physiology Rebecca's research work with Dr. Patrick Kelley (Zoology & Physiology) focused on a project titled "Response of army ant-following birds to predation risk: an experimental test".
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Silas Goetz
Hometown: Lander, WY Major: Geology Silas is working with Dr. Simone Runyon (Geology & Geophysics). His research is focused on base and precious metals with overall hopes to help benefit the mining industry and continue to take steps to reduce our overall impact on the environment through technological advancements in the industry. Student 2020 Virtual Symposium Research Presentation Found Here |
Maille Gray
Hometown: Lander, WY Major: Environmental Geology & Geohydrology Maille is working with Dr. JJ Shinker on exploring the relationship between glacier recession and stream quality in the Wind River Range.
Student 2020 Virtual Symposium Research Presentation Found Here |
Natasha Heins
Hometown: Cheyenne, WY Majors: Botany, Biology Natasha is working with Dr. Ellen Currano (Botany) and PhD candidate Lauren Azevedo Schmidt, to calibrate the paleobotanical record utilizing modern forests such as Harvard Forest in the Smithsonian environmental research center (SERC). Measuring specific leaf traits, leaf mass per area (LMA) and insect herbivore percent damage to characterize differences within ecosystems and across various biomes. This work aims to better inform the scientific community about environmental filters (abiotic and biotic) influencing the paleobotanical fossil record. Her work is important because as human driven anthropogenic climate change continues to change our Earth, we need to understand trophic levels because humans are apart of the trophic pyramid and are heavily reliant on plant species. Student 2020 Virtual Symposium Research Presentation Found Here |
Sophia Helmkamp
Hometown: Parker, CO Majors: Mechanical Engineering, Music Sophia is working with Dr. Erica Belmont (Mechanical Engineering).
Student 2020 Virtual Symposium Research Presentation Found Here |
Zoe Hendricks
Hometown: Colorado Springs, CO Major: Physiology Zoe is working in Dr. Cynthia Hartung's Attention & Learning Lab (Psychology). As a lab assistant, Zoe is researching the baseline health differences in college students with and without ADHD in relation to obesity, aerobic capacity, handgrip strength, and health habits. Additionally, the lab is studying the positive effects of exercise on cognition as a potential treatment for ADHD. Student 2020 Virtual Symposium Research Presentation Found Here |
Theresa Higgins
Hometown: Cedar Park, TX Majors: Zoology, Physiology Theresa is working with Dr. Corey Tarwater (Zoology & Physiology) and Rebecca Wilcox researching Song Sparrow personalities and behavioral syndromes in an isolated island population (Mandarte island) off Vancouver, Canada. Student 2020 Virtual Symposium Research Presentation Found Here |
Alexandra Higley
Hometown: Parker, CO Majors: Physics, Astronomy & Astrophysics Alexandra works with Dr. Adam Myers and Brad Lyke (Physics & Astronomy) with quasar spectra by working on computational projects to understand outliers and their nature. Data collected from quasars is essential to cosmology and better understanding of dark energy. |
Caleb Hoopes
Hometown: Sheridan, WY Major: Chemistry Caleb works with Dr. Michael Taylor (Chemistry) and researches how organic compounds that interact with light can modify proteins.
Student 2020 Virtual Symposium Research Presentation Found Here |
Corinne Komlodi
Hometown: Gilbert, AZ Major: Physics & Astronomy Corinne is interested in theoretical and material physics, specifically how each subject can impact the future of humanity on both earth, and in space in any applicable field.
Student 2020 Virtual Symposium Research Presentation Found Here |
Ema Kurbos-Cooper
Hometown: Sylvania, OH Major: Environmental Systems Science
Student 2020 Virtual Symposium Research Presentation Found Here |
Ayda Lewis
Hometown: Cheyenne, WY Majors: Psychology Ayda is working with Dr. Cynthia Weinig Dr. Reilly Dibner (Botany). Her research will focus on exploring relationships between atmospheric and both terrestrial and aquatic microbiomes in several different areas and climates in Wyoming. She hopes to further research into the stratification of microbes in an environment, and how changes to those microbial environments impact overall ecosystem health and function. |
Hannah Linde
Hometown: Cheyenne, WY Major: Biology and Zoology Hannah will be working with Dr. Amy Krist (Zoology and Physiology) and her graduate student Elle Wimmer. She will be assisting with research exploring how chemical cues of crayfish predators affect phenotypic plasticity in freshwater snails from several populations around Laramie, WY. She will also be working on her own research contrasting growth rates of snails from different populations. Student 2020 Virtual Symposium Research Presentation Found Here |
Michael Lindman
Hometown: Cheyenne, WY Major: Astronomy and Astrophysics MJ is working with Dr. Chip Kobulnicky (Physics & Astrophysics). His research is focused on the study stellar bowshock nebulae and the stars that drive them. He plans to catalog and classify 180 bowshock stars to add to the current list of over 700 stars with the help of Dr. Kobulnicky and other astronomy students. Student 2020 Virtual Symposium Research Presentation Found Here |
Ian Lovell
Hometown: Ault, CO Major: Animal & Veterinary Science Ian is working with Dr. Cody Gifford (Animal Science). His study aims to assess shelf life characteristics that are influenced by microbiological growth and lipid oxidation in ground beef packages over time and to determine if photooxidation from package display under LED, fluorescent lighting or dark storage further influences microbiological and lipid oxidation once packages are opened and displayed in a traditional oxygenated retail display environment. Overall helping to determine storage factors that contribute to the differing levels of shelf life in ground beef and to identify time points that are optimal for human health. Student 2020 Virtual Symposium Research Presentation Found Here |
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Nesha Michaels
Hometown: Gillette, WY Majors: Wildlife & Fisheries Biology & Management, Environment & Natural Resources Nesha works with Dr. Kevin Monteith (Zoology & Physiology). Her research involves laboratory analysis of fetal eye diameter measurements and associated birth dates of bighorn sheep lambs. Her goal is to determine if birth dates can be better predicted based upon the measurable progression in fetus growth. Student 2020 Virtual Symposium Research Presentation Found Here |
Isabella Mijares
Hometown: Pagosa Springs, CO Major: Speech-Language & Hearing Sciences Isabella Mijares is working with Dr. Mark Guiberson (Communication Disorders) in the Dual Language and Preschool Laboratory for Speech and Language Disorders. Research is focused on clinical screening approaches and consistent early intervention for Latino and Native American preschool-age children, as well as looking at language barriers within communication disorders. Student 2020 Virtual Symposium Research Presentation Found Here |
Molly Murnane
Hometown: Crofton, MD Major: Energy Resource Management and Development Molly is working with Dr. Daniel Laughlin (Botany). Her research will be focused on investigating the changes in critical ecosystem functions such as nutrient cycling and water use, following the optimization of species assemblages for drought tolerance and invasion resistance. Student 2020 Virtual Symposium Research Presentation Found Here |
Sai Kit Ng
Hometown: Laramie, WY Major: Microbiology & Molecular Biology Kit is working with Dr. Jason Gigley (Molecular Biology) in investigating how immune factors such as non-classical MHC Qa-1b contributes to immunity by infecting mice with the obligate intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii in the presence or absence of Qa-1b antibody blockade. He will also investigate how Qa-1b contributes to the development of the immune response to Toxoplasma gondii. How immune factors such as non-classical MHC Qa-1b contributes to immunity to this parasite has never been tested. He will then determine the impact of Qa-1b blockade on infection and immunity to Toxoplasma gondii. He will use mice and flow cytometry in my experiments. Student 2020 Virtual Symposium Research Presentation Found Here |
Kianna Olson
Hometown: Laramie, WY Majors: Astronomy & Astrophysics; Physics
Student 2020 Virtual Symposium Research Presentation Found Here |
Maxwell Packebush
Hometown: Littleton, CO Major: Microbiology, Molecular Biology Max Packebush is working with Lusha Tronstad (WYNDD). His research will look into disease-causing pathogens that are leading to the critical loss of bumblebee populations in North America. He will be investigating bumblebees parasitized by ​Nosema bombi ​and other novel pathogens. Max is examining many species of Bombus, including the Western Bumble Bee, in hopes of discovering the pathogens parasitizing bumble bee populations based on Bombus species and environment. Using DNA extraction and DNA sequencing, Max aims to identify pathogens previously unobserved in multiple North American Bombus species. His research focuses on committing resources to benefit the health of massively advantageous North American pollinators, critical ecosystems, and agriculture. Student 2020 Virtual Symposium Research Presentation Found Here |
Brock Parker
Hometown: Gering, NE Major: Physics, Astronomy & Astrophysics Brock is working with Dr. Chip Kobulnicky (Physics & Astrophysics) and several other graduate and undergraduate students. Brock and his team are researching transiting exoplanets. Over the summer Brock collected data on dozens of targets and observed numerous transits using the Wyoming Infrared Observatory (WIRO). Brock is now reducing and compiling that data and using it to determine orbit period, planet radius, planet mass, orbital radius, and other planetary parameters. His overall goal is to either confirm or deny the existence of speculated exoplanets and add those targets and the parameters they find to the ever-growing exoplanet archive. Student 2020 Virtual Symposium Research Presentation Found Here |
Emily Purifoy
Hometown: Cheyenne, WY Major: Animal & Veterinary Science Emily works with Dr. Karen Mruk (Pharmacy). The lab does research into zebrafish spinal injury and regeneration. Emily's project has been centered around the effects of diet on recovery for injured fish, as well as if the diets affect growth and survivability.. |
Hannah Rhymes
Hometown: Oklahoma City, OK Majors: Physiology Hannah is working with Dr. Trey Todd (Neuroscience); their research focuses on the input and output pathways of the suprachiasmatic nucleus, which regulates circadian rhythms. Specifically, their research explores how dysfunction of these circadian pathways may be associated with temporal behavioral aggression such as “sundowning syndrome” as seen in Alzheimer’s disease. Student 2020 Virtual Symposium Research Presentation Found Here |
Tatiana Rice
Hometown: Casper, WY Majors: Physiology; Spanish Tatiana is working with Dr. Guanglong He (School of Pharmacy), studying the effects of e-cigarettes on the cardiovascular system of mice at the molecular, tissue, and system level. |
Benjamin Romanjenko
Hometown: Story, WY Major: Microbiology & Molecular Biology Ben Ben is working with Dr. Carmela Rosaria Guadagno (Ewers Lab) looking at how Brassica react to drought stress at the transcriptomic level. Specifically, the expression of genes associated with photosystem two. Student 2020 Virtual Symposium Research Presentation Found Here |
Aeriana Roth
Hometown: Sheridan, WY Major: Chemical Engineering Aeriana Roth is working with Dr. John Oakey (Chemical Engineering), in a Bioengineering laboratory. Her interest is in Biomedical Engineering research. Currently, she is working with other undergraduates, learning how to make Micro-fluidic devices, by filling a mold with PDMS (a type of plastic), cutting out the imprints, and bonding them to glass. These devices have a number of uses in medical and biomedical research. Student 2020 Virtual Symposium Research Presentation Found Here |
Ethan Rowe
Hometown: Asheville, NC Major: Zoology Ethan is working with Dr. Michael Dillon (Zoology & Physiology). His research on tropical environments aims to determine the hosts of Stylogaster flies and to determine the strategies these flies employ when selecting a host and how that may change based on biotic and abiotic factors. Results from this study will help us to better understand novel ecological interactions in the communities that flourish around the army ants in the neotropics. Student 2020 Virtual Symposium Research Presentation Found Here |
Chet Russell
Hometown: Laramie, WY Major: Computer Science
Student 2020 Virtual Symposium Research Presentation Found Here |
Lauren Sauley
Hometown: Palmer Lake, CO Major: Geology
Student 2020 Virtual Symposium Research Presentation Found Here |
Kaci Schmick
Hometown: Torrington, WY Major: Pre-Pharmacy |
Andrea Schmitt
Hometown: Parker, CO Major: Physiology Andrea is working with Dr. John Oakey (Chemical Engineering).
Student 2020 Virtual Symposium Research Presentation Found Here |
Kevin Schnedecker
Hometown: Berthoud, CO Majors: Microbiology, Molecular Biology Kevin is working with Dr. Ellen Currano (Botany). His research interests include microbiological and molecular biological research related to genetics. |
Jacob Schneider
Hometown: Cincinnati, OH Major: Petroleum Engineering Jacob is working with Dr. Tawfik Elshehabi (Petroleum Engineering).
Student 2020 Virtual Symposium Research Presentation Found Here |
Austin Stephen
Hometown: Cheyenne, WY Major: Computer Science Austin works in the MALLET lab helping a research group improve automated algorithm selection. Automated algorithm selection uses machine learning to take advantage of the complementary nature of existing algorithms that solve challenging problems by applying the optimal algorithm to a given problem. Student 2020 Virtual Symposium Research Presentation Found Here |
Rachel Sucharski
Hometown: Alamosa, CO Major: Physiology Rachel is working with Dr. Michael Dillon (Zoology & Physiology), whose primary focus is on bumble bees. Rachel is interested in researching how high altitudes affect different physiological processes. |
Hunter Swilling
Hometown: Cheyenne, WY Majors: Physiology, Molecular Biology Hunter works with Dr. Yun Li (Zoology & Physiology) to determine how neural activity in the prefrontal cortex carries information that guides behavior; including how neural activity is impacted by a variety of neural disorders such as dementia, depression, and autism. They then look at how these changes in neural activity caused by the disorders translate to changes in behavior. They use miniScope in vivo calcium imaging in freely behaving mice, as well as optogenetics and viral-genetic tools, to study this. Student 2020 Virtual Symposium Research Presentation Found Here |
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Alicia Thoney
Hometown: Sheridan, WY Major: Computer Science Alicia is working with Dr. Patrick Johnson (Chemical Engineering) on a project developing a diagnostic assay for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
Student 2020 Virtual Symposium Research Presentation Found Here |
Narisse Trippel
Hometown: Worland, WY Majors: Mechanical Engineering; Energy Systems Engineering Narisse is working with Dr. Erica Belmont (Mechanical Engineering) on using various types of biomass samples to create biochar and bio-oils to test the feasibility of a particular biomass for regular use as alternative fuels. |
Sarah Wannemuehler
Hometown: Mount Vernon, IN Major: Zoology Sarah is working with Dr. Michael Dillon (Zoology & Physiology). Her research focused on the study of aquatic invertebrate populations and how they are key indicators for a healthy water ecosystem. Through this research, she hopes to better understand the effects of climate change and limited oxygen availability on physiological processes such as development and energy allocation in various ecosystems and how it will have many implications in the fields of ecology, physiology, conservation, fisheries management, geography, the study of climate change, and many others. Student 2020 Virtual Symposium Research Presentation Found Here |
Tanner Warder
Hometown: Sheridan, WY Major: Wildlife & Fisheries Biology & Management Tanner is working with Dr. Matthew Kauffman (Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Unit) to research Wyoming's Red Desert to Hoback mule deer migration, which takes place every spring and fall. Some of these ungulates travel nearly 150 miles between their summer and winter range, and Tanner is looking to assess their interactions with fences and other barriers along their migration corridor using trail cameras. Student 2020 Virtual Symposium Research Presentation Found Here |
Jamie Crait
Program Director, WRSP
Ag-C, Rm 5007
1000 E University Ave
Laramie, WY 82071
Email: craitj@uwyo.edu
__________________________
Tabatha Spencer
Project Coordinator, UW Science Initiative
A&S Rm 152A
1000 E University Ave
Laramie, WY 82071
Phone: 307-766-4447
Email: tspence5@uwyo.edu