Ten Saint Vincent College Research Grants were awarded to 12 faculty members for the 2008-2009 academic year. The grants total more than $40,000 and cover a wide range of disciplines. The faculty who received research grants include: Dr. Steven Gravelle, Dr. Kristin Harty, Fr. Philip Kanfush, O.S.B., Dr. Tina Phillips Johnson, Dr. Jennifer Koehl, Dr. Michael Rhodes, Dr. Michael Krom, Br. Elliott Maloney, O.S.B., Dr. Dante Mancini, Ben Schachter, Dr. Jason Vohs and Dr. Cynthia Walter.

Dr. Gravelle, associate professor of chemistry, will work on a project titled “The Implementation of the Science Writing Heuristic in Chemistry Lab Courses at Saint Vincent College.” His research will enable him to write an article for publication regarding Saint Vincent College’s use of the Science Writing Heuristic (SWH), a writing-to-learn guided-inquiry method for laboratory courses.

Dr. Harty, assistant professor of education, and Fr. Philip, instructor in education, will work together on a project titled, “Using Systemic Reading Instruction to Improve the Comprehension Skills and Behavior for Children At-risk for these Deficits.” The purpose of their research is to determine if a Systematic Reading Intervention using regular classroom materials will increase reading comprehension and decrease the behavior problems of at-risk students or with behavior problems.

“Building the Nation through Women’s Health: Modern Midwifery in Early Twentieth Century China” will be the topic of Dr. Johnson’s research. The assistant professor of history will travel to China to examine midwifery and childbirth technologies introduced into China in the early 20th century in relation to national building, modernization, and changing gender ideologies.

 Dr. Koehl, associate professor of biology, and Dr. Rhodes, assistant professor of biology, will collaborate on a project titled, “Using Genetic Techniques to Further Characterize Bacterial Microflora Across Rat Estrous Cycle Stages.” The research, a continuation of a project started last academic year, will further characterize, using sequence analysis, cultivatable and non-cultivatable bacteria commonly found across different stages of the estrous cycle.

“Vain Philosophers and Ghostly Men: Philosophy and Religion in the Hobbesian Commonwealth” will be the focus of Dr. Krom’s research. The assistant professor of philosophy aims to consider the extent to which a political theory built upon the self-interested individual is sustainable by focusing on one of the earliest modern political theorists to assert such a view in a systematic way, Thomas Hobbes.

Br. Elliott, professor of theology, is working on a project titled, “Research on Contextual Presentation of the Theology of Saint Paul.” His research is necessary background for a new book on the theology of Saint Paul that he will write during 2009. Through the research grant, Br. Elliott will travel to São Paulo, Brazil to consult with scripture scholars and to peruse the great Catholic bookstores of São Paulo.

“A Comparison of Eating Disorder Symptomatology, Family Boundary Dissolution, Body Image Perception, and Genetic Taste Differences Between Samples of Female Undergraduate Students in All-Women Colleges and Coeducational Institutions” is the title of Dr. Mancini’s research. The assistant professor of psychology will investigate two questions: whether female college students in co-ed versus all-women colleges differ in eating disorder symptomatology, family boundary dissolution, and perceptions of body image; and whether differences in genetic taste perception are associated with eating disorder symptomatology.

Mr. Schachter, an assistant professor in fine arts, will work on a project titled, “An Aesthetic Application of Jewish Dietary Laws upon Painting, Drawing and Printmaking.” “Kosher Art” will apply the Jewish traditional dietary laws of Kashrut to the creation of art. Each step of the process including the tools and materials will follow these rules. In so doing, the project will find a new solution to the challenge that is inherent in all Jewish Art, namely the prohibition against graven images.

“Preparation and Use of Adamantyl-based Ligands in Group 13 Chemistry” is the title of Dr. Vohs’ research. The assistant professor of chemistry hopes to prepare specific chemical complexes of aluminum and gallium that contain adamantyl-based ligands to investigate their structural and chemical properties.

Dr. Walter, associate professor of biology, will complete a project titled, “Water Quality Research and Education in Lesotho, Africa.” Her research is part of a larger network of efforts to improve understanding of human impacts on the quality of freshwater resources. For more than 15 years, Dr. Walter has been engaged in research and education regarding human impacts on Pennsylvania streams and wishes to extend and adapt her work to African communities.

The Faculty Development Committee that reviews proposals for the annual research grants include: chair Dr. Peter Hutchinson, professor of economics; John Benyo, assistant professor of liberal arts and assistant librarian; Dr. Christopher McMahon, assistant professor of theology; Dr. Phyllis Riddle, professor of sociology, and Dr. Michael Sierk, assistant professor of bioinformatics.

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