Three Creighton students have spent the past several months researching neuromuscular fatigue and will get the chance to present their findings later this semester.
The research was made possible through 3 $4,000 grants awarded to Elizabeth Bracciano, Chelsee James and Matthew Bubak from the NASA Nebraska Space Grant & EPSCoR offices.
The three separate projects are titled: “Neuromuscular, Metabolic, and Muscle Morphology Contributions to Fatigue of the Quadriceps between Individuals with and without a History of Knee Injuries” ; “The Effect of Muscle Temperature in Neuromuscular Fatigue Thresholds” ; and “New Submaximal Fatigue Threshold Tests for Muscular Function.”
The common goal of each project is to find variables that affect muscular endurance and to research how muscles fatigue. Each student heads his/her own project.
Elizabeth Bracciano, one of the recipients of the grant, expressed her enthusiasm for leading her own project.
“Once research started, I realized how much I enjoy it,” she said. “It has become a passion and something I feel is a major asset to my educational experience.”
According to Bracciano, there are six students total assisting with the three separate research projects. She, Bubak, and James are all responsible for their own project’s progress, but they all collaborate and collect research as a team.
At this point in the process, most of the data has been collected and preliminary analysis has been done. The students are also beginning work on their manuscripts, which will be published when they finish their projects. The team will continue to work on their projects until April, when they will present their research findings at Nebraska Academy of Sciences Annual Meeting.
Focusing on science and technology research, this multidisciplinary conference will help NASA identify topics of interest that require further research according to Dr. Jorge Zuniga, faculty preceptor in charge of the research.
Zuniga decided to specialize in undergraduate research when he came to teach at Creighton, and works very closely with the students. According to him, the idea behind undergraduate research is for students to be able to choose which graduate schools they wish to attend. For these specific students he said, resume builders such as a NASA fellowship award, a presentation at a national conference, and a first author publication will allow them to do just that.
Zuniga is passionate about the undergraduate research opportunities Creighton has to offer, but believes it is made special because of the diligence of the students who are a part of it.
“Here at Creighton the talent is walking around all over campus and the only thing needed is to provide them some guidance,” he said.
Each student plans to attend graduate school after they graduate from Creighton. Bubak plans to study exercise physiology, James will move one to physical therapy school, and Bracciano will study occupational therapy.
“I really hope that the passion I have gained for research, by participating in research, will inspire others to get involved with it,” Bracciano said.