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Many of the following Graduate Students were sponsored by grants from the USDA-ARS National Research Incentive Competitive Grants Program, the USDA-ARS Grazinglands Research Laboratory, and UCO Office of Sponsored Research and Grants. Students completing Master’s Degrees with Dr. Bidlack performed research for these projects, as well as their own projects, in partial fulfillment for the requirements of their respective degrees. Additional Master’s Students were also employed, or enrolled in Independent Study Courses, to help with their applied knowledge and prepare them for employment or higher degrees after graduation.

Current Master’s Degree Students

• Zane Henderson (2022-current):  Working on a project involving a new gene locus for bile salt resistance and sensitivity in bacteria..

Completed Master’s Degree Students

• Ethan Strange (MS at UCO in 2022): Thesis:  "Integration of Silica-based Materials within a Dye-sensitized Solar Cell."  Currently working on a Doctoral Degree at Oklahoma State University under the direction of Dr. Donald French.

• Toby FitzSimons (MS at UCO in 2010): Thesis:  "Harnessing Solar Energy Using Photosynthetic and Organic Pigments."  Completed a Doctoral Degree at the University of Arkansas under the direction of Dr. Derrick Oosterhuis.

• Monty Porter (MS at UCO in 2005): Thesis: "Effects of a Cyclical Water Regimen and Variable Harvests on Vessel Development, Plant Biomass, and Morphological Characteristics in Pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.]."  Employed as Steams/Rivers Monitoring Coordinator for State of Oklahoma Water Resources Board.

• Mei-Chen Sung (MS at UCO in 1999). Literature Thesis: "Phytoremediation of Cadmium-, Chromium-, and Mercury-Contaminated Soil." After completing a Master’s Degree, Mei-Chen continued her education at Oklahoma State University and received a Master’s Degree in Environmental Engineering in 2001.

• Aaron Elmer (MS at UCO in 1997). Thesis: "Organelle-Specific Enzymes Related to Chlorophyll Biosynthesis in Mutant Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] Lines." After finishing a Master’s Degree, Aaron completed a Doctoral Program (Plant Physiology) at Washington State University and spent time as a Post-Doctoral Research Scientist at the Noble Foundation in Ardmore, Oklahoma.  He is currently a Biology Professor at Murray State University.

• Cassandra Meek (MS at UCO in 1997). Thesis: "Yield and Metabolism of Sweet Basil [Ocimum basilicum (L.)] as Affected by Harvest Date and Bacillus thuringiensis (Berliner)." After finishing a Master’s Degree, Casey completed a Doctoral Program (Agronomy) at the University of Arkansas.

• Paul Olson (MS at UCO in 1993). Thesis: "Metabolism, Quality Variation, and Production Aspects of Sweet Basil [Ocimum basilicum (L.)] Subjected to Natural Pest Control." After completing a Master’s Degree, completed a Doctoral Program (Botany) at the University of Oklahoma.  He is currently a Full-Time Instructor in the Biology Department at the University of Central Oklahoma.

• Greg Buck (MS at UCO in 1993). Thesis: "Reliability of Forest Tree Identification as Determined by Computer Analysis Using Morphological and Electrophoretic Data." After completing a Master’s Degree, Greg continued his education at the University of Arkansas and received a Ph.D. in Agronomy in 1998.

Master’s Students Involved with Sponsored Research Projects

• Stephen Frazee (2010): Contributed towards a project on gene transfer in bacteria.

• Ross Kiddie (2001): Initiated a project to investigate the use of plastid / thylakoid membrane / chlorophyll / carotenoid isolations for conversion of light to stored energy.

• Andy Middick (2001):  Completed USDA-ARS Internship with Dr. Bidlack.  Also participated in a three-year field study with the USDA-ARS Grazinglands Research Laboratory in El Reno, Oklahoma.   Published a paper in Field Crops Research with Dr. Bidlack and USDA-ARS Scientists on use of herbicides in wheat-pigeon pea cropping systems in Oklahoma.

• Anisse Saadi (1999): Initiated a project to evaluate the use of selected plant species in extraction cadmium from contaminated soils. Anisse has since been accepted into a graduate program at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.

• Hui-Ju Huang (1999): Completed a project, in partial fulfillment of an M Ed Program, to develop photomicrographs for use in teaching Plant Anatomy.

• Parissa Solatpour (1998): Completed a project, in partial fulfillment of an M Ed Program, to develop photomicrographs for use in teaching Plant Anatomy.

• Veronica Barabash (1997): Completed a literature review, in partial fulfillment of an M Ed / MS Program, to initiate a Research Thesis Project.

• Monty Porter (1996): Initiated a project, which would later become his Master’s Degree Project, to study water requirements in pigeonpea.

• Mei-Chen Sung (1996): Initiated a project, which would later become her Master’s Degree Project, to study bioremediation of heavy metals in contaminated soils.

• Casey Meek (1995): Initiated a project, which would later become her Master’s Degree Project, to study use of natural pest control, in sweet basil.

• Aaron Elmer (1995): Initiated a project, which would late become his Master’s Degree Project, to study enzyme activity of mutant soybeans.

• Liping Peng (1992): Completed a literature review and basic laboratory experiments, in partial fulfillment of an M Ed Program, to assist with teaching in Plant Biology.

• Mark Fuller (1992): Completed an Independent Study Course at the USDA-ARS Grazinglands Research Laboratory to help with his teaching duties at Putnam City High School.