Jepson Fellows for 2023-24
Tyler Frankel, Assistant Professor of Earth and Environmental Science, “Assessing the presence, concentrations, and impacts of toxic trace metals near coal ash repositories in Virginia.” (deferred from 2022-2023)
Pamela R. Grothe, Assistant Professor of Earth and Environmental Science, named a Jepson Fellow to reconstruct tropical Pacific climate over the last 220 years using the geochemistry from fossil corals from Kiritimati Island to constrain the total warming and freshening trend since the industrial error. This work will further our understanding of climate impacts as the tropical Pacific shapes many aspects of our global climate. The project will support several UMW research students.
Ray J. Levy, Assistant Professor of English, named a Jepson Fellow to work on a creative project, “A Trans Comic Vision,” is a book-length prose manuscript. The research of this work examines comic genres and theories in search of forms for narrating and representing contemporary transgender life. The project goal is to generate an outline and first draft of the manuscript, and to secure publication for excerpts in literary periodicals. The research will be used in a proposal for a First-Year Seminar course on the uses and meanings of laughter.
Ginny R. Morriss, Assistant Professor of Biology, named a Jepson Fellow to study how Pvr signaling pathways involved in progression of the skeletal muscle wasting disease myotonic dystrophy type 1. This role will be evaluated by measuring gene and protein expression and physiological performance at baseline levels and how these variables change following altered signaling through genetic modulation. This work will increase student involvement and participation in an authentic research experience.
Robert L. Wells, Assistant Professor of Education, named a Jepson Fellow to investigates the theory and performance of “metric conflict” in the piano music of nineteenth-century composer Franz Liszt. This study will help bridge the gulf between theorist and performer by adapting mathematical music-theoretic results in Liszt’s music to practical strategies for the performer. Project products include articles, presentations, and public lecture-recitals.