Scholarship and Practice of Undergraduate Research
Student retention is important to any university, especially keeping commuter students who are tr... more Student retention is important to any university, especially keeping commuter students who are traditionally less anchored in campus life. Even more at risk, given the leaky STEM pipeline, are STEM commuter students. In 2016, Valparaiso University launched the Establishing Practices Integrating Commuter Students (EPIC) program, centered around engaging students in undergraduate research. Students participate in a research laboratory for their four academic years, and take part in one summer of funded research. This program has achieved its goal of providing scholarships, research opportunities, and cohort support to over 30 commuter and residential students while preparing them for research-oriented careers. This article shares successes and lessons learned, along with data demonstrating the program’s impact on broadening participation in STEM and increasing retention.
Postmortem interval estimations can be complicated by the inter-individual variation present in h... more Postmortem interval estimations can be complicated by the inter-individual variation present in human decomposition. Forensic entomologists may especially face challenges interpreting arthropod evidence in scenarios that are not “by the book”, or that vary in unexpected ways. Therefore, it is important to report instances where blow fly colonization does not align with expected soft tissue decomposition as blow fly larvae are often used to produce a time of colonization (TOC) estimation to infer a minimum PMI. We followed the decomposition and blow fly activity of three human donors at the Anthropology Research Facility (University of Tennessee). Delayed oviposition occurred on one donor 115 d post-placement, whereas two donors experienced blow fly re-colonization after cessation of the consumption phase, one 22 d and one more than 200 d after blow fly larvae were last observed. A null hypothesis model tested whether the entomological TOC and anthropological total body score (TBS) e...
Hua Bai Jay S. Bancroft Christopher M. Barker Donald Barnard Jeffrey K. Barnes Roberto Barrera Ly... more Hua Bai Jay S. Bancroft Christopher M. Barker Donald Barnard Jeffrey K. Barnes Roberto Barrera Lyric Bartholomay Nigel W. Beebe Brenda T. Beerntsen John Beier Romeo Bellini Mark Q. Benedict Robb Bennett Gary L. Benzon Brooke Bissinger Carina Blackmore Mark S. Blackmore Carol D. Blair Mariangela Bonizzoni Warren Booth Christopher F. Bosio Walter Boyce Marieta A. Braks Aaron C. Brault Robert J. Brinkerhoff William G. Brogdon Kristi N. Bugajski Ian F. Burgess Thomas R. Burkot
This study sought to: (1) observe differences in blow fly activity between fresh and frozen-thawe... more This study sought to: (1) observe differences in blow fly activity between fresh and frozen-thawed carcasses, (2) observe the effects of chemicals on the timing of blow fly life events, and (3) observe differences among treatments in blow fly species composition. To answer the first objective, seven pigs, frozen for 2 months and then thawed prior to the experiment, were
The hairy maggot blow fly, Chrysomya rufifacies (Macquart 1844; Diptera: Calliphoridae) is native... more The hairy maggot blow fly, Chrysomya rufifacies (Macquart 1844; Diptera: Calliphoridae) is native to Australia but has been spreading to a worldwide distribution and has become established in the United States. This paper presents the first documentation of the species in Indiana, specifically in Valparaiso, Indiana. The species was found in September 2017 and again in October 2019. Its presence is variable in Northwest Indiana, but it seems to be found in the fall when the temperatures are at least 30°C prior to collection.
Forensic entomology applies data gained from insects to aid the criminal justice system. Blow fli... more Forensic entomology applies data gained from insects to aid the criminal justice system. Blow flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) are usually the first insects to arrive and oviposit (lay eggs) on carrion. Their quick appearance is the foundation for post mortem interval estimations, making any factors that influence their oviposition crucial. This study examined the effects of habitat (forest vs. prairie) on blow fly oviposition timing. Research was conducted in 2015 at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute in Barry County, Michigan. No significant differences were found in oviposition timing or frequency between prairie and forest habitats. Temperature and humidity were not correlated with oviposition timing, which contradicted previous studies. Lucilia coeruleiviridis (Macquart) was the dominant species found, comprising about 90% of collected specimens. The data confirm previous reports that Lucilia species are the first to arrive on carrion.
Scholarship and Practice of Undergraduate Research
Student retention is important to any university, especially keeping commuter students who are tr... more Student retention is important to any university, especially keeping commuter students who are traditionally less anchored in campus life. Even more at risk, given the leaky STEM pipeline, are STEM commuter students. In 2016, Valparaiso University launched the Establishing Practices Integrating Commuter Students (EPIC) program, centered around engaging students in undergraduate research. Students participate in a research laboratory for their four academic years, and take part in one summer of funded research. This program has achieved its goal of providing scholarships, research opportunities, and cohort support to over 30 commuter and residential students while preparing them for research-oriented careers. This article shares successes and lessons learned, along with data demonstrating the program’s impact on broadening participation in STEM and increasing retention.
Postmortem interval estimations can be complicated by the inter-individual variation present in h... more Postmortem interval estimations can be complicated by the inter-individual variation present in human decomposition. Forensic entomologists may especially face challenges interpreting arthropod evidence in scenarios that are not “by the book”, or that vary in unexpected ways. Therefore, it is important to report instances where blow fly colonization does not align with expected soft tissue decomposition as blow fly larvae are often used to produce a time of colonization (TOC) estimation to infer a minimum PMI. We followed the decomposition and blow fly activity of three human donors at the Anthropology Research Facility (University of Tennessee). Delayed oviposition occurred on one donor 115 d post-placement, whereas two donors experienced blow fly re-colonization after cessation of the consumption phase, one 22 d and one more than 200 d after blow fly larvae were last observed. A null hypothesis model tested whether the entomological TOC and anthropological total body score (TBS) e...
Hua Bai Jay S. Bancroft Christopher M. Barker Donald Barnard Jeffrey K. Barnes Roberto Barrera Ly... more Hua Bai Jay S. Bancroft Christopher M. Barker Donald Barnard Jeffrey K. Barnes Roberto Barrera Lyric Bartholomay Nigel W. Beebe Brenda T. Beerntsen John Beier Romeo Bellini Mark Q. Benedict Robb Bennett Gary L. Benzon Brooke Bissinger Carina Blackmore Mark S. Blackmore Carol D. Blair Mariangela Bonizzoni Warren Booth Christopher F. Bosio Walter Boyce Marieta A. Braks Aaron C. Brault Robert J. Brinkerhoff William G. Brogdon Kristi N. Bugajski Ian F. Burgess Thomas R. Burkot
This study sought to: (1) observe differences in blow fly activity between fresh and frozen-thawe... more This study sought to: (1) observe differences in blow fly activity between fresh and frozen-thawed carcasses, (2) observe the effects of chemicals on the timing of blow fly life events, and (3) observe differences among treatments in blow fly species composition. To answer the first objective, seven pigs, frozen for 2 months and then thawed prior to the experiment, were
The hairy maggot blow fly, Chrysomya rufifacies (Macquart 1844; Diptera: Calliphoridae) is native... more The hairy maggot blow fly, Chrysomya rufifacies (Macquart 1844; Diptera: Calliphoridae) is native to Australia but has been spreading to a worldwide distribution and has become established in the United States. This paper presents the first documentation of the species in Indiana, specifically in Valparaiso, Indiana. The species was found in September 2017 and again in October 2019. Its presence is variable in Northwest Indiana, but it seems to be found in the fall when the temperatures are at least 30°C prior to collection.
Forensic entomology applies data gained from insects to aid the criminal justice system. Blow fli... more Forensic entomology applies data gained from insects to aid the criminal justice system. Blow flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) are usually the first insects to arrive and oviposit (lay eggs) on carrion. Their quick appearance is the foundation for post mortem interval estimations, making any factors that influence their oviposition crucial. This study examined the effects of habitat (forest vs. prairie) on blow fly oviposition timing. Research was conducted in 2015 at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute in Barry County, Michigan. No significant differences were found in oviposition timing or frequency between prairie and forest habitats. Temperature and humidity were not correlated with oviposition timing, which contradicted previous studies. Lucilia coeruleiviridis (Macquart) was the dominant species found, comprising about 90% of collected specimens. The data confirm previous reports that Lucilia species are the first to arrive on carrion.
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Papers by Kristi Bugajski