SCO Summer Research Fellowship
The summer research fellowship program was designed to offer talented students who have completed their first year an opportunity to participate in faculty-directed research. Each selected student will be paired with a clinical research optometrist who will guide the fellow’s research experience.
The program provides opportunities for:
- Hands-on experience with ophthalmic research techniques and equipment
- Interaction with accomplished mentors
- Guidance for hypothesis development, research methodology and presentation of research results
Students are expected to:
- Commit at least 20 hours per week for 10 weeks during the Summer semester
- Attend the weekly noon lecture series provided by selected faculty
- Present their research results at a national optometric meeting in poster or paper format
The Fellowship offers a $2,500 stipend plus an additional $500 reimbursement for conference travel to present results.
Research Topics Include
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Anterior Segment
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Contact Lenses
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Dry Eye
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Ocular Pharmacology
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Pediatrics and Vision Therapy
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Regulation of choroidal blood flow in animal models
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Visual Perception
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Other topics as developed with a faculty mentor
All applications will be reviewed by the Research Committee. A minimum of six (6) finalists will be chosen for the program. Those students will be paired with faculty members in an area of interest.
Fellowship Presentations
2019 Feb. SECO
Alexis Williams-Smith (21’), Whitney Hauser and Mike Christensen had a Poster at SECO entitled: The Impact of Ocular Surface Disease Signs and Symptoms on Optical Remakes.
2019 April COVD
Patricia Cisarik, Kennedy Simmons (19”) and Jennifer Rider (19’) had a poster at the recent COVD meeting entitled: Effect of Monocular Blur on Basketball Free Throw Performance.
2019 May
Paul Harris, Torrie Garner (20’), Mehrdad Sangi, Peng Gao, Jason Turuwhenua and Ben Thompson presented a Poster at ARVO entitled: Visual Acuity Assessment in Adults using Optokinetic Nystagmus.
Patricia Cisarik and Johnathan Hoopes (21’) presented a poster at the Vision Sciences Society entitled: Effect of Magenta Filter on Cone Contrast Sensitivity.
2019 June
Alexis Williams (21’), Whitney Hauser and Mike Christensen had a Poster at the AOA entitled: The Impact of Ocular Surface Disease Signs and Symptoms on Optical Remakes
2019 Sept
Alan Kabat, Chris Lievens, Christina Newman and Jacob Weber (20’) published in Clinical Ophthalmology 2019:13. 1807-1813. entitled: Accuracy, speed and repeatability of the voice assisted subjective refractor (VASR).
2019 October American Academy of Optometry Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL
Makayla Porter (21’) and Kristina Haworth. The effect of UV-absorbing contact lenses on conjunctival ultraviolet autofluorescence after short-term simulated daylight exposure.
Boehme J (20’), Brown L (18’), Cisarik PM. Effect of Sleep Deprivation on Accommodation.
Stakeley C (21’), Ramos G (21’), Cisarik PM. (2019). CFF and History of Concussion: Effect of Stimulus Sweep Direction.
Ramos G (21’), Cisarik PM. Comparison of Visual Light Sensitivity Survey and Macular Pigment Optical Density in Young, Healthy Adults.
Karen Squier and Joseph LeMay (21’) presented a poster entitled: Does Visual function affect Scores of FES-1 Scales? A pilot Study
Julie Shalhoub, Shaleen Ragha, Lauren Watson (21’) and Melissa Zarn poster title was: Student Interprofessional Networking (SIP’n): Foundations of Student-Driven Interprofessional Education.
Morgan Ollinger and Natalie Nibert (21’) presented a poster: A comparison on Near Visual Acuity Optotype Validity within a Pediatric Population.
2020 July
Borgman, CJ, Follansbee, CJ (20’). Degree of excyclotorsion in an acquired trochlear nerve palsy. Clin Exp Optom. July 2020;103:550-551.
Feb 2021
Sparrow B. Dix J (22’) Bilateral Band Keratopathy in an asymptomatic patient. Heart of America Conference in Kansas City, KS
Jones, J. and Grycko A (22’) Morning Glory Syndrome vs Optic Nerve Head Coloboma. Heart of America Conference in Kansas, City, KS
Carter E (22’) and Jones, J. Neovascularization of the Disc vs Collateral Vessel Growth. Heart of America Conference in Kansas City, KS
2018 ARVO (Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology)
Drs. Chris Lievens, Christina Newman, Al Kabat and Jake Weber ’20
Comparison of the Vmax Voice Active™ Subjective Refractor (VASR) and Traditional Refraction in a Healthy Population
Drs. Christina Newman, Chris Lievens, Al Kabat and Jake Weber ’20
Repeatability of the Vmax Voice Activ™ Subjective Refractor (VASR) and Traditional Refractive Methods in a Healthy Population
Cori Jones ’20 and Dr. Kristina Haworth
Serotonin and Stress in Contact Lens-related Dry Eye
2018 AOA (American Optometric Association)
Dr. Patricia Cisarik and Lindsey Brise ’19
Evaluation of Anisocoria in Subjects with Dark Irides using a Custom-built Infrared Screening Device
2018 AAO (American Academy of Optometry)
Andrea Wester ’20, Drs. Michael Christensen and Christopher Borgman
Tonometry Measurements Over Soft Contact Lenses in Healthy Subjects
Kamil Hill ’19, Drs. Patricia Cisarik and Paul Harris
Exploring the Effect of a Notch Filter on Color Contrast Sensitivity in Color Normal and Color Deficient Young Healthy Adults – A pilot study
Dr. Kristina Haworth and Christianne Belair ’19
Comparison of Nasal and Temporal Conjunctival Ultraviolet Autofluorescence in Contact Lens Wearers
Drs. Morgan Ollinger, Jessica Lam, Sara Schwartz and Cori Jones ’20
Peripheral Visual Fields in Orthokeratology Patients
2017 AOA
Dr. Paul Harris, Zachary German ’19 and Laura Roberts ’18
Validation of the Effect of Glare on Contrast Sensitivity Under Mesopic and Photopic Conditions
Dr. Patricia Cisarik and Bradley Schuster ’18
Method Comparison for Blood Pressure Measurement: An Oscillometric Wrist versus LED Sphygmomanometer
Dr. Patricia Cisarik and Lauren Bruehl ’18
Brachial to Radial Systolic Blood Pressure Amplification in Young, Healthy Adults
2017 A AO
Kamil Hill ’19, Drs. Mike Christensen and Chris Borgman
Two Forms of Tonometry Measurements over 3 Types of Soft Bandage Contact Lenses in Healthy Subjects
Dr. Patricia Cisarik, Jessica Ward ’18 and Nicholas Sachse ’18
Effect of Rate of Stimulus Temporal Sweep Change on Measured CFF in Young, Healthy Adults
Jennifer Nguyen ’19, Lindsey Brise ’19, Kamil Hill ’19, Jennifer Stewart ’19 and Dr. Patricia Cisarik
Vertical Saccades in a Normal Adult Population: Subjective Assessment with Digit Naming – A Pilot Study
Christianne Belair ’19 and Dr. Kristina Haworth
Effect of UV-absorbing Contact Lenses on Conjunctival Ultraviolet Autofluorescence
Dr. Mary Hoang, Meagan Miles ’19 and Dr. William Edmondson
Fitting Daily Multifocal Contact Lenses for Near Point Problems in Non-Presbyopes
2017 ARVO
Genevive Schade ’19 and Dr. Malinda Fitzgerald, et. al.
Visual Evoked Potential Measure Luminance Contrast Masked by Color Noise