WKU News

Gatton Academy students are participating in advanced research in a variety of academic fields this summer through the Gatton Research Internship Grant (RIG) Program. The RIG Program began in 2010 after receiving a gift from Mr. Carol Martin “Bill” Gatton to offer students a chance to pursue research internships across the Commonwealth of Kentucky, the United States, and the world. This year, 17 students were awarded funding and are working with researchers at Western Kentucky University (WKU), the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Purdue University, and Boston University School of Medicine during the summer between their junior and senior years at Gatton. In addition, three students were awarded funding provided through the GM Community Impact Grant awarded to The Gatton Academy. These students are working with researchers at Indiana University and Brown University.

The 20 students participating this year are most looking forward to engaging with young scholars with similar interests, conducting research on a scale greater than they can during the school year, and the mentorship of their faculty members. One student, Amelie Fuentes who is working with WKU’s Center for Energy Systems, shared, “The part of my research I am most looking forward to is collaborating with other researchers, as well as getting the opportunity to work in the grant writing process. I am very excited to learn more about the software and hardware systems that go into the development of machines and robots.”

The RIG Program is a fast-paced experience that allows Gatton Academy students to immerse themselves in research for only a few months. During that time, students must design and conduct their own original research project.

For some, it’s an opportunity to pursue a skill or subject area they would not normally have access to. Braeden Patrick, who is spending the summer in Bloomington, Indiana working with Gatton alumna Dr. Shelby Rader, shared, “As a young person in STEM, research means experience. I have a passion for science, but often feel scared about pursuing it or feel lacking in my abilities. Research allows me to gain that experience and confidence in the field.”

In its 14 years, this program has offered 216 students opportunities to study STEM problems in their areas of interest in a devoted, full-time research setting.

The following are this year’s recipients.

Tobi Akangbe (’24, South Warren HS) is examining the effects of glucocorticoids on responses to sleep loss with Dr. Noah Ashley of WKU’s Department of Biology.

Mykah Carden (’24, Russellville HS) is investigating the geological and hydrological aspects of the Hidden River Groundwater Basin with Dr. Pat Kambesis of WKU’s Department of Earth, Environmental, and Atmospheric Sciences.

Landon Carlton (’24, Rockcastle Co. HS) is exploring the role of V-Type ATPase in Drosophila wing development with Dr. Ajay Srivastava of WKU’s Department of Biology.

Tyler Clifton (’24, Corbin HS) is investigating how neuron-glia interaction is disrupted following a mild traumatic brain injury with Dr. Adam Bachstetter of the University of Kentucky’s College of Medicine.

Kal-El Cline (’24, Warren East HS) is developing novel, high-porosity polymer substrates to which photocatalyst compounds can be attached with Dr. Matthew Nee of WKU’s Department of Chemistry.

Amelie Fuentes (’24, Atherton HS) is developing a pressure sensor for autonomous robotic grip applications with Dr. Farhad Ashrafzadeh of WKU’s Center for Energy Systems.

Nikhil Kumar (’24, duPont Manual HS) is exploring the impact of BEM1 and BOI1 proteins on cellular morphology and polarity and their implications for human physiology with Dr. Joseph Marquardt of WKU’s Department of Biology.

Jacob Ladwig (’24, Owensboro HS) is synthesizing and analyzing 3d metal-organic coordination polymers with Dr. Bangbo Yan of WKU’s Department of Chemistry.

Albert Presley-Mbanfu (’24, Greenwood HS) is using the sea lamprey as a model for studying molecular mechanisms of successful spinal cord regeneration in vertebrates with Dr. Hilary Katz of WKU’s Department of Biology.

Sara Nath (’24, Larry A. Ryle HS) is developing deep learning models to predict Alzheimer's disease diagnosis accurately with Dr. Ritambhara Singh of Brown University’s Department of Computer Science. (Generally funded by GM Community Impact Grant)

Mara Neace (’24, Model Laboratory HS) is developing a water quality and quantity profile for Jennings Creek in Bowling Green, Kentucky with Dr. Jason Polk of WKU’s Department of Earth, Environmental, and Atmospheric Sciences.

Amy Pan (’24, Bowling Green HS) is developing an AR project that pairs live performance with AR elements in a traditional theatre space with Dr. Kristina Arnold of WKU’s Department of Art.

Om Patel (’24, Breckinridge Co. HS) is creating a fully functional and immersive game-like learning tool for American Sign Language that has a virtual reality application with Dr. Kristina Arnold of WKU’s Department of Art & Design.

Braeden Patrick (’24, Southwestern HS) is processing and studying the metal concentration in plants harvested from the Bismark Mine in Montana with Dr. Shelby Rader (’09, Estill County HS) of Indiana University in Bloomington’s Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. (Generally funded by GM Community Impact Grant)

Laurel Patterson (’24, North Oldham HS) is performing a computational investigation of dendritic spines with Dr. TaeYoon Kim of Purdue University’s Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering.

Sofia Sileo (’24, iLEAD/Henry County High School) is identifying and characterizing bacteriophage proteins with Dr. Rodney King of WKU’s Department of Biology.

Hunter Smith (’24, West Jessamine HS) is studying the role of impaired myocardial energetics in development of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with Dr. Ivan Luptak of Boston University’s School of Medicine.

Jacob Thomas (’24, Saint Xavier HS) is investigating the characterization of V-Type ATPase downregulation phenotype in the air sac primordium in Drosophila melanogaster with Dr. Ajay Srivastava of WKU’s Department of Biology.

Gracie Veith (’24, South Warren HS) is developing novel, high-porosity polymer substrates to which photocatalyst compounds can be attached with Dr. Matthew Nee of WKU’s Department of Chemistry.

Vivianna Weaver (’24, Garrard Co. HS) is using zebrafish to examine how exposure to per and polyfluoroalkyl substances affects brain development and seizure susceptibility with Dr. Jessica Plavicki of Brown University’s Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. (Generally funded by GM Community Impact Grant)

About The Gatton Academy: Established in 2007, The Gatton Academy is Kentucky’s first residential two-year program for gifted and talented juniors and seniors. The Gatton Academy’s students enroll as juniors and are full-time WKU students pursuing their interests in advanced science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The Gatton Academy is a recipient of the 2022 Inspiring Programs in STEM Award from Insight Into Diversity Magazine and the Innovation Partnership Award from the National Consortium for Secondary STEM Schools.