For Immediate Release

Contact:
Melissa L. Johnson (mjohnson@honors.ufl.edu, 352-392-1519)

GAINESVILLE, FL - The winners of the Best Paper Awards for the University of Florida University Scholars Program were announced Friday, February 27, 2009, preceding the annual Undergraduate Research Symposium on Saturday, February 28, 2009. The winners were recognized at the symposium reception at the Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida Cultural Plaza. More than 200 students who conducted research through the 2008-2009 University Scholars Program were invited to submit papers about their projects to the competition, which also includes submission to the Journal of Undergraduate Research. Winners received a $250 stipend.

The following students were recognized as Best Paper Award winners:

William Conte is a senior majoring in Neurobiological Sciences with minors in Music Literature and Theory from Largo, Florida. His faculty mentor is Dr. Silvio J. dos Santos in the College of Fine Arts. His paper was entitled, “Understanding the Reception of Schoenberg’s Music from a Neuroscientist’s Perspective.”

William has submitted five papers for publication in internationally-recognized journals, including four as first author. His research recently was featured on the cover of Brain Research. His main research interest is about the neuroanatomy of hemispatial neglect and the development of related neuroanatomical methodologies. In the fall, he will be attending medical school in a combined MD-PhD program.


Mike Jones is a junior majoring in Food and Resource Economics and Political Science from Tallahassee, Florida. His faculty mentor is Dr. James Sterns in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. His paper was entitled, “Evaluating the Effects of Development Efforts on Small Potato Producer Net Incomes and Technological Diversification in Cayna, Huánuco, Perú: A Case Study.”

Mike is a John V. Lombardi Scholar and J. Wayne Reitz Scholar, as well as a member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity, Florida Cicerones, and Honors Ambassadors. Mike hopes to attend a graduate program focused on international agricultural development before working abroad in this field.


Alexander Riehm is a junior majoring in Anthropology and Religion with a minor in History from Lawrenceville, Georgia. His faculty mentor is Dr. Chuan-Kang Shih in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. His paper was entitled, “Separate Lives, Separate Visions: The Impact of Geopolitical Pressures on Community Relations in Belfast.”

Alexander travelled to Belfast in the summer of 2008 to collect data on community relations groups in post-conflict Belfast. He is the current vice-president of the Honors Ambassadors, and he has served as a Resident Assistant for the Department of Housing and Residence Education and a Peer Leader for the Honors Professional Development course for freshmen. He plans to pursue advanced degrees in Peace and Conflict Studies, while continuing to work with the communities and individuals that experience the daily effects of violence and reform.


Amanda Stone is a senior majoring in Biology from Daytona Beach, Florida. Her faculty mentor is Dr. Lisa Merlo in the College of Medicine. Her paper was entitled, “Attitudes of college students toward the use and misuse of psychiatric medications.”

Amanda has several publications in press, including work in the fourth edition of Principles of Addiction Medicine. She has been a research assistant in the Addiction Medicine Public Health Lab for two years, and she has been a teaching assistant for two courses in the Department of Psychiatry since 2006. She plans to continue her research in the Department of Psychiatry next year when she joins the University of Florida College of Medicine, Class of 2013.


For more information about the Best Paper Award winners, please contact Melissa L. Johnson, Assistant Director of the University of Florida Honors Program and coordinator of the University Scholars Program, at mjohnson@honors.ufl.edu or 352-392-1519.