Three exercise science undergraduate students, Matthew Bubak, Elizabeth Bracciano, and Chelsee James each earned $4,000 student fellowships from NASA.
Assistant Professor of Exercise Science, Jorge Zuniga, submitted the grants and said he is excited for the students. He explained that undergraduate student research is not very common, and he would like to apply to bring more undergraduate research opportunities to Creighton. He believes that the research work will help make the students stand out as they go on to professional school, and will teach them valuable lessons that will help them in their future careers.
Bubak’s research is called The Effect of Muscle Temperature in Neuromuscular Fatigue Thresholds. Bracciano’s research is titled Neuromuscular, Metabolic, and Muscle Morphology Contributions to Fatigue of the Quadriceps between Individuals with and without a History of Knee Injuries. James’ research is called New Submaximal Fatigue Threshold Tests for Muscular Function. All three focus on neuromuscular fatigue, explained Zuniga.
NASA is interested in better understanding the relationship between in-flight exercise, performance levels and muscle changes, according to Bracciano. The research that Bubak, Bracciano and James are currently pursuing should hopefully help NASA towards this goal.
Zuniga states that Bubak, Bracciano and James learn many valuable skills through participating in the research. They learn how to use the equipment involved, they undergo a lab certification process and they learn lab procedures and protocol. In addition, Bubak, Bracciano and James spend hours working on data analysis and will eventually write publishable research papers based off of their work.
“The research is for students, done by students, and designed by the students,” Zuniga said.
Bracciano believes that her research experience at Creighton will help her in her future studies.
“The experience will allow me to carry out more extensive research related to my area of graduate study which will help contribute to the profession,” Bracciano said.
Bubak states that he hopes that undergraduate student research at Creighton becomes more common. He said that the most valuable thing he has learned thus far while working on his research is how to solve problems.
“You always encounter problems, but have to be persistent and power through,” Bubak said.
The work these students are doing is difficult and strenuous, but it will be worth it once they have completed their research and are possibly even published as undergraduates, according to Zuniga.
Hopefully these students’ work will inspire more students and faculty at Creighton to become involved in undergraduate research.