Senior Thesis Writers Discuss Research with Wesleyan Community

On Nov. 6, four Wesleyan seniors spoke to members of the Wesleyan community about their thesis topics and research. The event, “Celebrating Seniors: Research Excellence at Wesleyan and Abroad" took place in Judd Hall, and was moderated by the Class of 2016 Dean David Phillips. The student presenters were Tahreem Khalied ’16, Claire Wright ’16, Simon Chen ’16 and Kate Cullen ’16, and their projects varied widely. (Story by Margaret Curtis '16, photos by Rebecca Goldfarb Terry '19) (more…)

Psyche Loui, assistant professor of psychology, assistant professor of neuroscience and behavior, assistant professor of integrated sciences, is the co-author of a new study, "Rhythmic Effects of Syntax Processing in Music and Language" published in Frontiers in Psychology in November. The article's lead author is Harim Jung '16, and it is also co-authored by Samuel Sontag '14 and YeBin "Shiny" Park '15. According to Loui, the paper grew out of her Advanced Research Methods in Auditory Cognitive Neuroscience course, and is the precursor to Jung's senior and master's theses. The study uses a behavioral test to look into how music…

From Nov. 4-7, Gabriel Lipton Galbraith '16 participated in the 67th annual Student Conference on United States Affairs (SCUSA) at the United States Military Academy at West Point. The conference, titled "Confronting Inequality: Wealth, Rights and Power" brought together students, scholars and members of the military to talk about pressing challenges currently facing U.S. policy makers. Student delegates were split into roundtables to discuss specific topics touching on this broader theme. Lipton Galbraith's roundtable focused on international trade and inequality. Over the four day conference they authored a position paper focusing on the possible consequences of the recently signed Transpacific Partnership (TPP) on inequality.…

Chloe Nash ‘16, a double major in biology and environmental studies, contributed to groundbreaking research on the mysterious Flatback sea turtle — a species with only two photographs in the wild, both of the same individual turtle. While studying abroad in Australia last spring, Nash volunteered at James Cook University for a project that involved raising 30 flatbacks from hatchlings and attaching GPS devices to their shells. The turtles were released in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef and seven are being tracked by satellite. This research is the first time Flatbacks, only found in Australia, have been monitored underwater.

Phoebe Keegan '16, an economics major from Palisades, N.Y., has been passionate about real estate since she was a young child. She passed the exam to get her real estate license in New York at age 18, the youngest age allowed. After coming to Wesleyan, she also became a licensed agent at William Raveis in Middletown. This summer, Keegan worked at the Quantitative Analysis Center with Assistant Professor of Economics Karl Boulware to analyze data from the New York City Housing and Vacancy Survey, specifically looking at conditions before and after the rezoning of downtown Brooklyn. They are studying how rezoning affected…

In this News @ Wesleyan story, we speak with Robert Ramos from the Class of 2016. Q: Robert, where are you from and what is your major? A: I’m from Philadelphia, and I’m a biology and earth and environmental sciences double major. Q: This summer you did a SEA Semester program, “Aloha ‘Aina: People & Nature in the Hawaiian Islands.” How did you become involved in the program? A: I learned about the program from another Wesleyan student who had done it a few years ago. As a biology and E&ES double major, it sounded like it was right up…

Two Wesleyan students and a former visiting professor have just wrapped up a seven-week-long research project on kangaroo behavior in Bathurst, Australia. Working with Liv Baker, an animal studies postdoctoral fellow in the College of the Environment in 2014-15, Angus McLean '16 and Mariel Becker '18 have collected "more than 600 pages of data recording kangaroo behavior in response to daily changes and threats in their environment," according to an article in Western Advocate.

Three key players in Wesleyan baseball’s fantastic run over the last three years have signed professional baseball contracts this summer. Gavin Pittore ’16 signed a free-agent contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers; alumnus Nick Cooney ’15 signed a contract with the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks in the independent American Association; and Donnie Cimino ’15 was drafted in the 37th round by the Chicago Cubs.

In this News @ Wesleyan story, we speak with Miranda Haymon from the Class of 2016. #THISISWHY Q: Miranda, what are you majoring in and why? A: I am a German studies and theater double major but when I started at Wesleyan, I thought I was going to create my own linguistics major under the University Major option. I remember very clearly the Wesleyan Admissions Dean telling me I could take four languages for all four years if I wanted to — I was instantly sold. Instead of doing that, I ended up taking a few theater classes, a German language class and a First Year…

In this News @ Wesleyan story, we speak with Gavin Pittore of the Class of 2016. This summer, Pittore played with the Bourne Braves of the prestigious Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL), the foremost of the dozen or so wooden-bat summer collegiate baseball leagues sanctioned by Major League Baseball. A second-team all-NESCAC pick in 2015, Pittore posted a 7-2 record with a 1.54 ERA and seven complete games over his 10 starts during Wesleyan's 30-11 baseball season. Pittore had 12 relief appearances for the Braves (22-20-2 overall, playoff semifinalist), throwing 17 innings while giving up a mere eight hits and no earned runs with…

More than 185 Wesleyan students are employed in various campus departments over the summer. Of those, about 78 are work-study eligible. Students earn money that can be contributed to the cost of their education, while learning skills that will benefit them in the classroom and beyond. Employers benefit from students' skills, insight and enthusiasm. (more…)

An independent study project by Michael Greenwald ’16 was chosen as one of two winners of the 2015 SIT Study Abroad Undergraduate Research Award. The project, titled, “Cracks in the Pavement: The Street Boys of Kathmandu,” was one of more than 2,000 independent study projects (ISPs) completed over the past three semesters, and among 20 nominated for the award. SIT has additionally nominated Greenwald’s project for the prestigious Forum on Education Abroad’s 2015 Undergraduate Research Award. The winners, who will be announced in December, will be invited to present their research at the Forum’s annual conference in Atlanta in April 2016.

Senior Thesis Writers Discuss Research with Wesleyan Community

Loui, Jung ’16, Alumni Authors of Article in Frontiers in Psychology

Lipton Galbraith ’16 Attends Confronting Inequality Conference at U.S. Military Academy

While Studying Abroad, Nash ’16 Works with Rare Turtles in Australia

Keegan ’16 Studies Real Estate in the Quantitative Analysis Center

Ramos ’16 Studies Oceanography, Marine Policy in Hawaii

Students Study Kangaroo Behavior in Response to Environmental Changes

3 Wesleyan Baseball Players Sign Professional Contracts

Mellon Mays Fellow Haymon ’16 is Double Majoring in German Studies, Theater

Gavin Pittore ’16 is Playing in the Prestigious Cape Cod Baseball League this Summer

Students Gain Skills, Help Departments While Working on Campus this Summer

Greenwald ’16 Honored for Study of ‘Street Boys’ in Nepal