ACRE
Through the Albright Creative Research Experience (ACRE), Albright students have the opportunity to conduct research or creative activity in partnership with nurturing faculty mentors.
How ACRE Works
- Students from all majors are invited to submit an application for the ACRE program.
- A faculty committee reviews the proposals and recommends awards.
- Accepted participants receive a stipend and free room and board during the summer or January interim.
- Students and faculty from all disciplines meet each week to share their experiences and learn from each other.
- Many collaborative teams of students and faculty present their research at academic conferences and publish their results in professional journals.
For more information, please contact Dr. Matt Fotis, Assistant Professor of Theatre, at (610) 921-7873 or mfotis@albright.edu, or contact Director of Experiential Learning, Kim Justeson at kjusteson@albright.edu or 610-921-7630.
Deadlines (2019-2020)
ACRE Interim
- Application deadline: October 25, 2019
- Notification date: November 15, 2019
ACRE Summer
- Application deadline: February 28, 2020
- Notification deadline: March 27, 2020
Student Travel Grants
- 9/15/19
- 10/15/19
- 11/15/19
- 12/15/19
- 1/15/20
- 2/15/20
- 3/15/20
- 4/15/20
- 5/15/20*
Applications submitted after the event attended will not be processed.
*The May 15 deadline is the last date to apply for activities through Sep 15 of the next academic year.
Download the Student Travel Expense Form
Summer 2020 ACRE Projects
| Student Name | Faculty | Project |
| Faith Miravich | Kristen Woodward | Dance of the Devils: Art Inspired by the Boruka |
| Julie Schrey | Adam Hersperger | Understanding the Nature and Function of the Epidermal Growth Factor Ortholog Expressed by Ectromelia Virus |
| Daniel Petersheim | Nicholas Piro | Ambiphilic Ferrocene-Bridged Ligands for Metals with Expanded Coordination Spheres |
| Ryan Kelly | Nathan Henceroth | Getting Ready to Run: How Congressional Floor Speeches Precede Campaigns for Higher Office |
| Krystal Perez | Joycelen Burdett | Charles James Study |
| Matthew Ortiz | Matt Fotis | “Yes, and…” Creating an Improv Curriculum to Help Children with ASD Increase their Social and Behavioral Communication Skills |
| Stephanie Vargas-Hemmings | MeeAe Oh-Ranck | Sustainable Fashion: Upcycling, Reusing and Sustainability |
| Abigail Shoemaker | Stephen Mech | The Short and Long-term Effects of Anthropogenic Habitat Disturbance on the Geographic Range Distribution of Terrapene Carolina |
| Jacob Gragg | Heidi Mau | Logos International: A Look into the Design Philosophies of Eight Different Countries |
| Emily Lenkevich | Stephen Mech | The Effect of the Non-native Microstegium Vimineum on Small Mammal and Insects |
| Jaquan Harley | Amy Greene | Inhibition of Contractile Vacuole Cycling in Vorticella Convallaria |
| Suzanne Spriggs | Ian Cost | A Comparative Analysis of the Remote Touch Mechanism in Birds |
| Brooke Schlott | Gwen Seidman | Narcissism and Attributions of Blame Following Romantic Relationship Break-Up |
| Natalie Buck | Denise Meister | Examining the Algebra I Keystone Exam: Its Purpose, Five-Year Results, and Remediation Efforts |
| Dana Fielding | Justin Couchman | The Effects of Virtual Reality and Stress on the Misinformation Effect |
| Jennifer Vasquez | Elizabeth Kiester | Status, Detention, and Deportation: Uncertainty Among Immigrant Communities in the US |
Interim 2020 ACRE Projects
| Student Name | Faculty | Project |
| Abigail Army | Marian Wolbers | Side Effects: A Memoir about Family, Cancer, and Making it Work |
| Alex Hermans | Matt Fotis | New Play Development for Traditional and Non-Traditional Plays |
| Autumn Blalock | Bridget Hearon | Theater for Change: Predicting Risk Behavior Change Using Theater, Prototype Willingness Model, and Theory of Planned Behavior |
| Blake Reed | Michael Armato | Rural Areas and Public Good Distribution in Pennsylvania |
| Bridgett Connolly | Suzanne Palmer | Organic and Sustainability Certifications in the Hemp Industry |
| Cynthia Thorngate | Susan Hughes | Eye Gaze Patterns and Preferences of Dating App Profile Pictures |
| Elijah Bowers | Guilluame de Syon | The World’s Longest Hatred in its Polish Context; How Does it Relate to Today’s Controversies About Poland’s Role in the Holocaust? |
| Erin Smith | Keith Feigenson | Effects of 3-Day Meditation |
| Ginger Hill | Andrew Samuelsen | Conditional Lethal Plasmid Building for E. coli and Agrobacterium |
| Grace Coleman | Bridget Hearon | Predictors of Emotion-Induced Eating Behaviors |
| Isha Shah | Bryce Brylawski | The Effects of P-phenylenediamine on Bean Beetles, Callosobruchus Maculatus, Larval Tissue Survival |
| Jacob Gragg | Lesley Goodman | Road to the New Weird: The Postmodern Legacy of Gothic and Cosmic Horror |
| Jed Paolo Dela Torre | Nick Ungson | The Effect of Perceived Costs and Benefits Willingness to Dissent: A Normative Conflict Perspective |
| Jessica Zamora | Gwen Seidman | The Dark Triad of Personality and Moral Decisions |
| Robert Schwartz | Ian Cost | Functional Anatomy of the Perching Mechanism and Implications for its Evolution in Dinosaurs and Birds |
| Sarajean Reinert | Michael D’Errico | The Music Products Industry After #MeToo |
| Tyler Stauffer | Nicholas Piro | Metal Complexes of an Ambiphillic Ferrocene-Bridged Ligand |
Summer 2019 ACRE Projects
| Student Name | Faculty | Project |
| Ryan Brett | Stephen Mech | Regional Differences in Ectoparasite Density and Survivorship and Reproduction of Peromyscus leucopus |
| Maya Fares | Nicholas Piro | Reaction Profiles of an Oxygenated Copper Intermediate |
| Zachary Hendricks | Justin Couchman | Cross-Cultural Differences in Memory, Beliefs, and Mental Schemas |
| Ashley Hillegass | MeeAe Oh-Ranck | A Study in Japanese Couture Techniques: Sustainability and the Geometric Organic Shapes of the Japanese Aesthetic |
| Sarah Hosler | Jacque Fetrow | Exploration of the Phosducin Superfamily and its Categorization by the MISST Method |
| Samantha King | Keith Feignenson | Examining Stress Markers During Restricted Environmental Stimulation |
| Madelyn Loftus | Matt Sonntag | Synthesis of Noble Metal Nanoparticles for Single-Molecule Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy |
| Joey Love | Matt Fotis | The History & Practice of Sketch Comedy |
| Nhu Nguyen | Amy Greene | Chemical Crosslinking of Magnetic Beads for Studies of Feeding Preference in Vorticella Convallaria |
| Stephanie Pinel | Elizabeth Kiester | How Do Colors Effect Political Opinion? |
| Mikhayla Reilly | Amy Greene | Temperature Effects of Vorticella convallaria Endocytosis and Contractile Vacuole Formation Rates – Conrad Weiser Science Research Institute Mentorship |
| Julie Schrey | Christian Hamann | Sesquiterpenes Database |
| Caitlyn Verhaaren | Lennie Amores | Teaching Global Hispanophone Literature in High School Spanish Classroom |
| Abbi Waltz | Stephen Mech | The Short and Long-term Effects of Anthropogenic Habitat Disturbance on the Geographic Range Distribution of Terrapene carolina |
| Alexis Willis | Jayanthi Rajan | The Conscious Consumer’s Catwalk: Sustainability of Thrifting and the Consumer Profile of Second-Hand Shoppers |
| Cecilia Wishneski | Susan Hughes | The Age of Neoteny: The Retention of Childhood Cuteness as Related to the Solicitation of Care |
Interim 2019 ACRE Projects | ||
| Student | Faculty | Project |
| Alyssa Kates | Keith Feigenson | The Effect of the Hollow Mask Illusion on Children |
| Anthony Casselli | Bonnie Rohde | Transformational Leadership in Smart City Collaboration |
| Ashley Hillegass | MeeAe Oh-Ranck | Curating the Couture Corset: Victorian Couture Methods Meets Modern Day Sustainable Fashion |
| Carolyn Cortes | Kennon Rice | Beach Community Representation by Individuals and Municipal Actors |
| Claire Kilpatrick | Huy Tran | Corporate Social Responsibility & Firm Performance: The Moderating role of National Culture |
| Cody Stetson | Farhad Saboori | An Economic & Political Analysis of the US-China Trade Relationship |
| Dominic Marfisi | Bonnie Rohde | Lessons Learned in Public Private Partnerships for Small Smart Cities |
| Drake Jacobs | Farhad Saboori | An Economic & Political Analysis of the US-China Trade Relationship |
| Emily Curley | Teresa Gilliams | Unsung Voices: The Othering of Japanese Americans Post World War II |
| Emily Durell | Heidi Mau | Les Petities & Die Postkarten: Children & Family in Great War Postcards |
| Francis Mele | Andrew Samuelsen | Evaluating Rhamnose Promoter Leakiness Using the Green Fluorescent Protein |
| Hei Tung(Tiffany) Ng | Jay Rajan | Tapping into the Craft Beer Trend |
| Joseph Holowko | Elizabeth Kiester | Assessing the Co-Creation of an FYS |
| Karen Alejandres | Bridget Hearon | Physician & Limited English Proficiency in Parent’s Perception on Childhood Asthma in Primary Care |
| Kaylyn Haan | Adam Hersperger | Characterization of the Growth Factor Analog Expressed by Ectromelia Virus |
| Lauren Hudak | Gwen Seidman | The Motivations for and Effects of Active and Passive Social Media Use |
| Maya Fares | Nicholas Piro | Characterizing an Oxygenated Intermediat in O-atom Transfer Reactions of a Bis(guanidinyl)pyridine Copper Complex |
| Mckenzie Derby | Kennon Rice | Beach Community Representation in Commercial Media |
| Nhu Nguyen | Amy Greene | Vorticella endocytosis rates with magnetic beads conjugated to different food sources |
| Sarah Hohl | Justin Couchman | Fantasy and Reality Distinction in Young Children |
| Sarah Hosler | Jacque Fetrow | Exploration of Thioredoxin Fold Superfamilies and Their Molecular Function |
| Zoe Gehman | Nicholas Piro | An Asymmetrical Ferrocene-Bridged Ligand to Hold Dissimilar Metal Ions |
Summer 2018 ACRE Projects | ||
Student | Faculty | Project |
| Allison Ulaky | Lennie Amores | Nuestra Comunidad Latina: An Open Source Spanish Textbook for the Liberal Arts |
| Frank Kobe | Justin Couchman | Meditation for Memory Recall & Focus |
| Rebecca Davis | Keith Feigenson | The Effects of Restricted Environmental Stimulation on Optical Illusion Perception |
| Joseph Holowko | Beth Kiester | Co-Creating an FYS: ‘Star Wars: The Good, The Bad, and The Sociology’ |
| Joey Love | Matt Fotis | The Streets are Paved in Gold: History & Practice of Satiric Fake News |
| Allison Roberts | Gwen Seidman | The Role of Narcissistic Admiration & Rivalry in Perceptions of Romantic Partners & Relationship Outcomes |
| Thalia Williamson | Karen Campbell | Observing the Effect on Human Disturbance on Bird Behavior |
| Sayge Martin | Samira Mehta | Women, Print Media, and the Searchable Database: A Digital Humanities Archive |
| Alexandra Close | Jesse Clark | Sourcing Non-Western Inspiration for American Popular Music |
| Soloman Bailey | Brian Buerke | Collective Motion Using Drones |
| Mara Trifoi | Erin Ventresca | Increased Sugar Ingestion Causes Premature Adult Stem Cell Loss Due to Increased PI3k-Dependent Cell Proliferation in Drosophila melanogaster |
| Briana Samuel | Bridget Hearon | Health Halo Effects & Misperception of Calorie Content |
| Lauryn Gwathmey | David Osgood | Disturbance & Its Effect on Plant Species Diversity Within Newly Disturbed & Previously Disturbed Communities |
| Rebecca Morgis | Adam Hersperger | MHCII Cross-Presentation as a Driver of CD4 T-cell Responses to Poxviruses |
Hearst Scholars
Students who apply to the ACRE program who are the most outstanding in terms of quality of project and academic standing in the Sciences, will be selected as Hearst Scholars. These students will be recognized as such at the annual Scholarship Luncheon, when all scholarship recipients and their families are invited to campus to celebrate their success.
| Student Name | ACRE Year | Class Year | Faculty Mentor | Project |
| Zoe Gehman | Interim 2019 | 2019 | Nicholas Piro | An Asymmetrical Ferrocene-Bridged Ligand to Hold Dissimilar Metal Ions |
| Sarah Hosler | Interim 2019 | 2020 | Jacque Fetrow | Exploration of Thioredoxin Fold Superfamilies and Their Molecular Function |
| Francis Mele | Interim 2019 | 2019 | Andrew Samuelsen | Evaluating Rhamnose Promoter Leakiness Using the Green Fluorescent Protein |
| Lauryn Gwathmey | Summer 2018 | 2019 | David Osgood | Disturbance and Its Effect on Plant Species Diversity Within Newly Disturbed & Previously Disturbed Communities |
| Mara Trifoi | Summer 2018 | 2020 | Erin Ventresca | Increased Sugar Ingestion Causes Premature Adult Stem Cell Loss Due to Increased PI3K-dependent Cell Proliferation in Drosophila melanogaster |
| Thalia Williamson | Summer 2018 | 2019 | Karen Campbell | Observing the Effect of Human Disturbance on Bird Behavior |
| Sandy Lee | Interim 2018 | 2018 | Pam Artz | NMR Studies of the Interaction of Luciferase with Substrates (Luciferin) and Cofactors (ATP, ADP, & AMP) |
| Paige Naseef | Interim 2018 | 2018 | Bryce Brylawski | A Nutritional Analysis of Green Beans Grown in an Aquaponics System vs. Grown Commercially vs. Grown Organically |
| Brittany Slaughterbeck | Interim 2018 | 2018 | Pam Artz | Analytical chemistry methods to investigate the identity and levels of paraben preservatives in cosmetics including a comparison with regulation levels in the European Union |
| Stephanie Dea | Summer 2017 | 2018 | Steve Mech | Effects of Bot Flies on Survivorship & Reproduction of White-Footed Mice |
| Zoe Gehman | Summer 2017 | 2019 | Nicholas Piro | A Biomimetic Scaffold for Supporting Two Dissimilar Metal Centers to Enhance Chemical Reactivity |
| Theresa Shafto | Summer 2017 | 2018 | Erin Ventresca | Characterization of Isoflavone Binding to the Estrogen-Related Steroid Receptor in Drosophila melanogaster Following Ingestion |
| Tiffany Frey | Interim 2017 | 2017 | Adam Hersperger | Differential Double-Stranded RNA Formation Impacts Immune Detection of Viruses |
| Elizabeth Rohde | Interim 2017 | 2017 | Andrew Samuelson | The Effects of NSAIDS in Vitro |
| Maura Sheehan | Interim 2017 | 2017 | Matt Fotis | Cover Your Mouth! Using Theatre to Teach Healthy Habits to Kids Aged 3-5 |
Mellon Scholars
Students who apply to the ACRE program who are the most outstanding in terms of quality of project and academic standing in the Humanities, will be selected as Mellon Scholars. These students will be recognized as such at the annual Scholarship Luncheon, when all scholarship recipients and their families are invited to campus to celebrate their success.
| Student Name | ACRE Year | Class Year | Faculty Mentor | Project |
| Emily Curley | Interim 2019 | 2020 | Teresa Gilliams | Unsung Voices: The Othering of Japanese Americans Post World War II |
| Ashley Hillegass | Interim 2019 | 2021 | MeeAe Oh-Ranck | Curating the Couture Corset: Victorian Couture Methods Meets Modern Day Sustainable Fashion |
| Joey Love | Summer 2018 | 2020 | Matt Fotis | The Streets are Paved in Gold: History & Practice of Satiric Fake News |
| Sayge Martin | Summer 2018 | 2020 | Samira Mehta | Women, Print Media, and the Searchable Database: A Digital Humanities Archive |
| Emily Durell | Interim 2018 | 2019 | Guillaume de Syon | The Fatherland and Fatherhood: German Postcards depicting Family and Children during the Great War |
| Kiersten Stark | Interim 2018 | 2018 | Lawrence Morris | A Typological Geography of Irish Irreführen Stories |
| Elizabeth Eberwein | Summer 2017 | 2018 | Lesley Goodman | Kids These Days-An American Tradition of Ephebiphobia |
| Natalie Torpey | Summer 2017 | 2019 | Jeff Lentz | The Constellation Project-Charting a Course for the Future of Acting |
| Kristina Goshorn | Interim 2017 | 2018 | Guillaume de Syon | The Preservation of Memory in a Post-Dictatorship Society: Chile’s Remembrance of Its Past |
| Kristina Schnell | Interim 2017 | 2017 | Guillaume de Syon | Disproving Myths Surrounding Sisterhood in Nazi Concentration Camps |
| Brittany Mayne | Summer 2016 | 2017 | Victor Forte | A Graphic Novel of the Historical Buddha’s Early Life and Renunciation |
| Leah Williams | Summer 2016 | 2017 | Karen Jogan | Revolution and Art in the 1980’s: Nicaragua and Cuba |
| Alfredo Diaz | Interim 2016 | 2016 | MeeAe Oh-Ranck | The Magic of Geometric and Organic Shapes in Fashion: A Study in Haute Couture |
| Rabiul Sany | Interim 2016 | 2017 | Guillaume de Syon | Of Paperclips, Astronauts, and Medicine: Hubertus Strughold and the Moral Responsibility of the Physician, 1940-1960 |
Animal Care and Use Committee
Mission Statement
Principle
The advancement of both pure and applied knowledge requires scientific experimentation and educational instruction using animals. The necessary use of animals requires proper oversight and ethical considerations.
Mission
The Animal Care and Use Committee (ACUC) of Albright College is charged with the institutional oversight of animals and animal care personnel involved in research and teaching. The goal of the ACUC is to verify, on sound scientific and ethical principles, the prudent use of animals and minimize the pain and discomfort of animal subjects in experiments and teaching exercises. ACUC is also responsible for ensuring all personnel involved in such experiments are informed of, and in compliance with, approved protocols and applicable guidelines for humane care and use of animals.
Jurisdiction
Any project involving vertebrate animal use by faculty, staff or students of Albright College must receive approval by ACUC.
Further information may be found at http://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/legislat/usdaleg1.htm.