Belle Plaine student chosen for college research program

PELLA — A Belle Plaine resident is one of 16 students chosen for the Summer Undergraduate Research program at Central College in Pella.

Olivia Bohlen, a kinesiology major in the Class of 2026, is working with Sara Shuger Fox, associate professor of kinesiology.

Bohlen is delving into Blue Zone research collected from Greece and in Pella. Her research is funded by the Franks-Mahmood Fund and the Moore Family Foundation endowment.

Funding sources for the summer program include the National Science Foundation, Arthur J. Bosch Endowment for Student Research, The Moore Family Foundation, Franks-Mahmood Fund and the academic affairs summer undergraduate research fund.

The Arthur J. Bosch Endowment for Student Research provides financial support for undergraduate students to engage in professional research opportunities with faculty during the summer in preparation for graduate school or a chosen career. Bosch Fellows receive a stipend and housing support during the summer to support their research.

The Moore Family Foundation provides funding to support faculty with the opportunity to strengthen engagement with students in the classroom and other educational settings.

Elijah Belzer, a strength and conditioning major from Wapello, is conducting research with Katelin Valster, assistant professor of kinesiology, using the Catapult GPS accelerometer system to assess key athletic performance indicators.

Kenna Burgess, a biochemistry and biology double major from Waverly, is working on the National Science Foundation grant with Wackerly, exploring ring-shaped molecules and cambiarenes.

Grace Coates, a kinesiology major from Marion, is completing a religion research project with Terrence Kleven, Dr. Jacob and Gela Schnucker Sessler Chair in Philosophy and Religion and professor of religion.

Karsyn Lamm, a biology major from Mount Pleasant, is researching longevity from the public health perspective with Shuger Fox. This is a longitudinal study with data from Greece and Pella.

Sabrina Olsen, a chemistry major from Marion, is researching ring-shaped molecules and cambiarenes through the National Science Foundation grant with Wackerly.

Hannah Reynolds, a biology major from Burlington, is conducting research with Mena. Reynolds is also continuing Mena's research begun last summer mapping DNA of native bees in Big Rock Park, Pella.

Pella native, Zack Neumann, is participating in the National Science Foundation grant with Wackerly. He attends Baylor University.

The National Science Foundation supports fundamental research and education in all non-medical fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, including computer science and the social sciences.

This support advances knowledge to grow the U.S. economy and sustain global leadership. Central received funding for Wackerly's research focused on the synthesis and supramolecular properties of a novel class of supramolecular macrocyclic host molecules they have termed "cambiarenes."