Two Bridgewater College juniors win summer research awards

The Dr. John W. Martin Jr. Summer Research Endowment for 2016 has been awarded to two juniors at Bridgewater College.

The award, which supports summer research projects in the natural sciences, is provided through the Martin Science Research Institute and has been accepted by Michelle Alty, a junior applied physics major from Fredericksburg, Va., and Rachel Kreiger, a junior biology major from Amissville, Va.

Alty is the daughter of Jon and Kim Alty of Fredericksburg and Kreiger is the daughter of Robert and Cathy Kreiger of Amissville.

The award honors Dr. John W. Martin Jr., who taught in the chemistry department at Bridgewater from 1961 until his retirement in 1985. A stipend and free housing on campus enable students to make their summer job one of research and exploration.

This summer, Alty, who is working with assistant professor of physics Jason Ybarra, will study young stars in the center of the famous Rosette Nebula. Kreiger, who is teaming with associate professor of biology Moshe Khurgel, will pursue the discovery of proteins that accompany stem cell-based organ regeneration.

Bridgewater College is a private, four-year liberal arts college located in the Central Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Founded in 1880, it was the state’s first private, coeducational college. Today, Bridgewater College is home to more than 1,800 undergraduate students.