Introducing Bailey Whitman from Vernon, TX

College: Engineering, Architecture & Technology
Major: Industrial Engineering and Management

What do you most anticipate about life at OSU?
I am really looking forward to meeting new people and being a part of campus life. I’m also really excited about the opportunities that I will have while at OSU to further my education and learn more about things that are interesting to me.

Pluto . . . Planet or Plutoid?
Planet

OSU football Coach Mike Gundy famously declared, “I’m a man! I’m 40!” When will you join the ranks of adulthood? How will you know?
I think that you officially become an adult when you are completely responsible for yourself, without assistance from others. I think that adulthood comes in stages. I’m becoming more of an adult because I’m moving away from home and will make more of my decisions by myself, but I still have ground to cover before I’m financially independent and have a stable job. I have a feeling that one day adulthood will just sneak up on me and I’ll realize I’ve become one without ever knowing it.

What’s your favorite Dr. Seuss book?
Horton Hears a Who

If you could have one superpower, what would you want? Why?
I would want to have teleportation as my superpower. I would love to be able to go anywhere quickly without having to pack and waste time traveling. Plus, I would probably be late less often!

Which Mythbuster is most like you: Adam, Jamie, Kari, Grant or Tory?
Adam Savage

What television family would you most want to be a part of? Why?
Probably the Robinsons from Meet the Robinsons. They are all quirky and a little strange, but they love and accept each other unconditionally, which is what family is all about.

What’s your favorite midnight snack?
Girl Scout Cookies

Star Wars, Star Trek, Stargate or Dancing with the Stars?
Star Wars

What do you hope to accomplish in FRS?
I hope to be able to learn and grow as a research student and discover what makes a project successful. I feel that FRS will give me important experience that will be invaluable as I continue studying, learning, and asking questions about how the world works.

Introducing SaraJane Koehler from Houston, TX

College: Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources
Major: Animal Science

What do you most anticipate about life at OSU?
Making new friends and overcoming the unexpected.

Pluto . . . Planet or Plutoid?
Plutoid

What’s your favorite Dr. Seuss book?
The Lorax

If you could have one superpower, what would you want? Why?
Being able to speak every language that has existed would be my superpower. I have learned that good communication is key to success.

What’s your favorite midnight snack?
Oreos!

What’s the best costume you’ve ever worn?
Snow White

Star Wars, Star Trek, Stargate or Dancing with the Stars?
Star Wars

What do you hope to accomplish in FRS?
My accomplishment will be finding answers through my research that will stir up further inquiry and exploration.

Introducing Kayla Barnes from Keller, TX

College: Human Sciencesimage
Major: Hotel and Restaurant Managment

What do you most anticipate about life at OSU?
I am so excited to start a new chapter of my life in an evnironment where I am passionate about what I am studying. I can’t wait to be a part of the Cowboy family!

Pluto . . . Planet or Plutoid?
Planet

OSU football Coach Mike Gundy famously declared, “I’m a man! I’m 40!” When will you join the ranks of adulthood? How will you know?
For me adulthood starts now. Being a state away from home next year will require handling independence with responsibility and also is the time to start planning and preparing for my future.

If you could have one superpower, what would you want? Why?
I would want to be able to instantaneously travel to wherever I wanted to. I love exploring different cultures.

Which Mythbuster is most like you: Adam, Jamie, Kari, Grant or Tory?
Adam Savage

What’s your favorite midnight snack?
Popcorn

What do you hope to accomplish in FRS?
My hope is that FRS will help me grow as a student and challenge me to think differently. I think this program is a great opportunity for me to explore my major and the industry I want to work in.

Introducing Matheus Barbosa from Stillwater, OK

College: Engineering, Architecture & Technology
Major: Civil Engineering

What do you most anticipate about life at OSU?
I can’t wait to begin all of my college classes and succeed in them. These next four years will decide my future career and I plan to make the most of them.

Pluto . . . Planet or Plutoid?
Planet

OSU football Coach Mike Gundy famously declared, “I’m a man! I’m 40!” When will you join the ranks of adulthood? How will you know?
The day that I am able to provide for myself on a daily basis, that is the day that I shall be called an adult.

If you could have one superpower, what would you want? Why?
If I could have one super power, I would choose the power of omniscence. Knowledge to me, is the greatest power anyone can have.

Which Mythbuster is most like you: Adam, Jamie, Kari, Grant or Tory?
Adam Savage

What television family would you most want to be a part of? Why?
I would most want to be a part of the Crane family in “Frasier,” simply because it is one of my favorite TV shows of all time.

What’s your favorite midnight snack?
My favortie midnight snack is excellence.

What do you hope to accomplish in FRS?
By joining FRS, I hope to expose myself to the university as a committed student. My work in this research project will serve as my handshake to Oklahoma State University.

Introducing Logan Kunka from Owasso, OK

College: Engineering, Architecture & Technologyimage001
Major: Aerospace/Mechanical Engineering

What do you most anticipate about life at OSU?
Being about to pursue my passions and be around like minded people at the same time. I also look forward to all the new experiences at OSU.

Pluto . . . Planet or Plutoid?
Planet

OSU football Coach Mike Gundy famously declared, “I’m a man! I’m 40!” When will you join the ranks of adulthood? How will you know?
I think a person joins manhood when they are fully responsible for themselves, and can accept the consequences of their actions. They should also be able to support their family, and be a role model to others.

What’s your favorite Dr. Seuss book?
Oh, the Places You’ll Go!

If you could have one superpower, what would you want? Why?
I would love to be able to fly, because it you could go anywhere you wanted and not have to worry about traffic!

Which Mythbuster is most like you: Adam, Jamie, Kari, Grant or Tory?
Adam Savage

What television family would you most want to be a part of? Why?
Probably the Robertsons off Duck Dynasty just because they are always having a good time, or part of the Big Bang Theory cast.

What’s your favorite midnight snack?
Ice Cream

What’s the best costume you’ve ever worn?
I was Mufasa from Lion King when I was younger.

If you had to live under the sea, which animal would you be? Why?
Either a dolphin or a seal. They just seem so chill and happy at the same time.

Star Wars, Star Trek, Stargate or Dancing with the Stars?
Star Trek

What do you hope to accomplish in FRS?
I hope to broaden my knowledge base any way I can, and gain valuable experience in the process. Hopefully my research will be able to impact someone’s life and I might find out what exactly I want to do in my future.

Anything else we should know?
I love learning and experiencing new things, being outdoors, and doing anything adventurous. I am easy going and generally laid back.

Introducing Baylor Wayne Morris from Choctaw, OK

College: Engineering, Architecture & Technologybaylor-and-trout
Major: mechanical aerospace engineering

What do you most anticipate about life at OSU?
I’m most excited for new friends and an education.

Pluto . . . Planet or Plutoid?
Planet

OSU football Coach Mike Gundy famously declared, “I’m a man! I’m 40!” When will you join the ranks of adulthood? How will you know?
I will reach manhood when I am able to solely support a family. I will know by having a stable family and career.

What’s your favorite Dr. Seuss book?
1 fish 2 fish red fish blue fish

If you could have one superpower, what would you want? Why?
I would like to have the power to fly. It would be cheaper than paying for gas.

Which Mythbuster is most like you: Adam, Jamie, Kari, Grant or Tory?
Jamie Hyneman

What television family would you most want to be a part of? Why?
The Roberton family from Duck Dynasty. They are down to earth and concentrate on the important things in life such as family.

What’s your favorite midnight snack?
buttered popcorn

What’s the best costume you’ve ever worn?
scarecrow costume

If you had to live under the sea, which animal would you be? Why?
I would be a dolphin because they are super smart. They look innocent yet are one of the strongest sea creatures. Dolphins are just plain awesome.

Star Wars, Star Trek, Stargate or Dancing with the Stars?
Star Wars

What do you hope to accomplish in FRS?
I hope to experience new things and make new friends. I want to learn more about the engineering industry.

Anything else we should know?
I’m a very easy person to get along with and I’m super excited to be in this group.

Introducing Nicholas Foster from Edmond, OK

College: Engineering, Architecture & TechnologyDSC_0480
Major: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

What do you most anticipate about life at OSU?
Everything. This is a new chapter in my life and I am excited to turn the page. The new people I will meet, the things I will learn, the doors of opportunity that will open, and much more. I anticipate that my years at OSU will be some of the best yet!

Pluto . . . Planet or Plutoid?
Plutoid

OSU football Coach Mike Gundy famously declared, “I’m a man! I’m 40!” When will you join the ranks of adulthood? How will you know?
Adulthood, like many aspects of life, I believe is relative. To my young cousins I may appear to already be an adult while those who have ridden this roller coaster we call life for much longer than I have, may look at me and only see a young child. As long as this is always the case, I will continue to grow and learn from my mentors as well as be a model to those who look up to me. In the end, though I may grow older physically, I hope that my spirit will always stay young.

What’s your favorite Dr. Seuss book?
Oh, the Places You’ll Go!

If you could have one superpower, what would you want? Why?
If I had one superpower, I would choose to fly because it would be fantastic for transportation and I imagine it would be a freeing feeling not to be constrained by the gravity keeping us stuck on Earth’s surface.

Which Mythbuster is most like you: Adam, Jamie, Kari, Grant or Tory?
Grant Imahara

What television family would you most want to be a part of? Why?
The Robertsons from Duck Dynasty. Not only are their morals ones I try to model as my own, but they know how to live life to the fullest every day. Life is an adventure, so go experience every moment!

What’s your favorite midnight snack?
Doritos Locos Tacos

What’s the best costume you’ve ever worn?
Leonard Hofstadter

If you had to live under the sea, which animal would you be? Why?
I would be a mimic octopus for multiple reasons. This octopus is intelligent and alters its shape and behavior to impersonate other sea creatures and protect itself from prey. One of the most interesting features about this animal is its ability to change color instantly, blending in with its surroundings or scaring off a potential predator. The mimic octopus is so fascinating to me because it shows that we are not the only creatures on Earth of intelligence and full comprehension of our surroundings.

Star Wars, Star Trek, Stargate or Dancing with the Stars?
Star Wars

What do you hope to accomplish in FRS?
I hope to further my learning experience by taking advantage of the opportunities presented to me and figuring out exactly what I want to do with the rest of my life. I hope to conduct research that will give me invaluable experience in the world of engineering and will open up doors that will take me far in my career.

Don’t miss River Crawford’s presentation at the FRS Colloquium on April 12, 2013

River Crawford (Derby, KS) will present “OSU vs. MLS: A Comparison Between the Fitness of Division I Female Soccer Players and Major League Soccer Referees ” at this year’s Freshman Research Scholars Colloquium on April 12, 2013.

Project Question

How does the fitness of elite referees compare to the fitness of elite soccer players?

Project Description

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The purpose of this research project is to compare the fitness of Major League Soccer referees to the fitness of division I women’s soccer players.

Project Mentor

Doug Smith


Freshman Research Scholars Colloquium
Friday, April 12, 2013 | 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.
Student Union Ballroom, Stillwater, OK 74078
For more information, visit FRS Colloquium 2013

Don’t miss Zekariah Cochran’s presentation at the FRS Colloquium on April 12, 2013

Zekariah Cochran (Blackwell, OK) will present “Magnetic Tweezers Studies of PYP” at this year’s Freshman Research Scholars Colloquium on April 12, 2013.

Project Question

PYP, a bacterial photoreceptor, unfolds partially when exposed to light, how does this help it express its signal?

Project Description

By creating a mutation at the 71st Amino acid, currently an Aspartic Acid, we replace it with a Cysteine by use of PCR reactions. We can then attach an AVI tag to it. The variation we start with already has a Histidine tag at the far end from the mutation site. Using this AVI tag and the Histidine Tag, we can attach the protein to a Magnetic Tweezers Machine, which can then be used to accurately measure the forces acting on, and the forces exerted by, the protein. This data is important for further experiments that will be more direct than this one.

Project Mentor

Wouter Hoff


Freshman Research Scholars Colloquium
Friday, April 12, 2013 | 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.
Student Union Ballroom, Stillwater, OK 74078
For more information, visit FRS Colloquium 2013

Don’t miss Josh Birdwell’s presentation at the FRS Colloquium on April 12, 2013

Josh Birdwell (Oklahoma City) will present “Smart Home Applications” at this year’s Freshman Research Scholars Colloquium on April 12, 2013.

Project Question

How to apply xbee hardware in the home environment?

Project Description

Using XBees for multiple application. First, I had to understand how to communicate voltage from one XBee to another. I learned from a PhD student as we went over an application for oil wells. XBee would uses sensors to monitor voltage, current, and power. I then used this new found knowledge to apply it to smart home applications. I will continue my research in this field now.

Project Mentor

Satish T.S. Bukkapatnam, Ph.D & Vignesh Rajamani, Ph.D


Freshman Research Scholars Colloquium
Friday, April 12, 2013 | 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.
Student Union Ballroom, Stillwater, OK 74078
For more information, visit FRS Colloquium 2013