This summer, 15 Northwestern College professors will conduct research and pursue further study with funding from the Northwestern College Scholarship Grants program. Ranging from $2,800 to $5,300, the awards are designed to encourage scholarly work for publication and distribution beyond Northwestern’s campus.
In addition to excellent classroom teaching, Northwestern prioritizes scholarship and research as vital parts of its Christian academic community. “We are thankful to be able to invest in these projects of discovery,” says Dr. D. Nathan Phinney, vice president for academic affairs. “As our faculty come to know and love God’s world more fully, they deepen their love of the world’s creator and redeemer.”
Biology professor Dr. Laurie Furlong will continue and expand her research into genetic drift among stream insects on California’s Santa Cruz Island and the mainland. Building on earlier sabbatical work involving mayflies, Furlong will study additional aquatic insects to determine whether species with stronger dispersal abilities show fewer genetic differences between island and mainland populations.
Dr. Jie Hu, assistant professor of engineering, will research ways to detect moisture in concrete structures using radar imagery and machine learning. His work aims to develop tools capable of identifying hidden structural decay before it becomes visible on the surface.
Philosophy professor Dr. Randy Jensen will continue work on his sabbatical book project, “Ethics Without God.” His research explores how both theists and atheists can develop compelling moral frameworks while fostering greater understanding and charitable dialogue between differing worldviews.
Dr. Hyunsung Jun, associate professor of math and physics, will collaborate with researchers at Seoul National University on a long-term study of distant quasars—extremely bright objects powered by black holes. Using infrared data collected over the past decade, the team hopes to better understand how these galaxies change and evolve over time.
Music professor Dr. Juyeon Kang will spend the summer preparing a performance of Camille Saint-Saëns’ “Septet for Piano, Trumpet, and Strings, Op. 65.” She will also continue her “Joyful Seasons” project, which focuses on arranging hymns for solo piano. The project seeks to create accessible hymn arrangements in response to growing demand from pianists and churches.
Dr. Han-Yen Kao, associate professor of economics, will participate in collaborative research investigating how physical education courses affect college students’ academic performance. The project will examine the relationship between PE participation and grade-point averages, as well as whether taking a PE class influences performance in courses scheduled immediately afterward.
History professor Dr. Michael Kugler will research Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” and its relationship to natural theology. Kugler plans to explore whether the novel reimagines the traditional creation-fall-redemption-restoration narrative as a satire of arguments about God’s goodness and providence common in debates of Shelley’s era.
The Northwestern Scholarship Grant awarded to management professor Dr. Mjumo Mzyece will support his continuing research on innovation in next-generation wireless networks. His current work focuses on how future 6G systems that combine satellite and ground-based technologies can more effectively manage and share resources.
Dr. Cody Rozeveld, assistant professor of biology, will continue his work with the international SEA-PHAGES research program. Collaborating with a student researcher and building on previous work with a biology department colleague, Rozeveld plans to expand experimental workflows, train students, and continue annotating and publishing bacteriophage genomes.
Dr. Rajat Emanuel Singh, assistant professor of kinesiology, will investigate neuromodulatory changes in individuals with spinal cord injuries who are receiving epidural stimulation therapy. Applying advanced analytical techniques, Singh hopes to better understand neural recovery and sensorimotor improvements in clinical populations.
Dr. Sara Sybesma Tolsma, professor of biology, and Jolene Harris, instructor of anatomy, will collaborate on projects involving bacteriophage research and interviews with people who experienced the polio epidemic firsthand. In addition to preparing phage genome research for publication, they plan to work with student researchers to record and preserve the experiences of individuals who remember the impact of polio on their communities and daily lives.
Biology professor Dr. Todd Tracy will continue research on bumblebee diversity in public parks, restored prairies and suburban gardens. Building on earlier studies conducted with Northwestern students, Tracy will investigate how different habitats support native pollinators and how far bumblebees travel to find resources.
Molly Wiebe Faber, assistant professor of theatre, will explore the role of theatre in peacemaking and truth-telling. Drawing on previous research and experiences, she plans to write a feature article for “Direction,” a Mennonite Brethren journal, examining how theatre can respond to violence, injustice and conflict while promoting reconciliation and peace.
Dr. Rachael Wittern, assistant professor of psychology, will continue research on the mental health of Ukrainian refugees living in the United States. Expanding on previous findings related to trauma, displacement and psychological distress, Wittern plans to collect long-term data, share findings with mental health professionals and prepare research for publication.
