Skip to Content

Monmouth College

  • Sign in to your Merit page
« Back to Recent News

Bigham a participant in Monmouth College's Kieft Summer Research Program

Monmouth, Ill. (07/30/2021) — Riley Bigham, a junior from O'Fallon, Illinois, was one of 12 Monmouth College students to participate in the school's Kieft Summer Research Program.

An intensive eight-week experience that gives students excellent preparation for graduate or professional school, the program was created after the College received an estate gift of $2.3 million from beloved chemistry professor Richard "Doc" Kieft, who died in 2009.

The title of Bigham's project was "Understanding the Aquatic Microbiome."

The microbiome is a unique set of microbes living in a particular environment. The microbes that make up the human microbiome are established at birth and evolve throughout life. These microbes are essential for our well-being by regulating our immune system, synthesizing vitamins and protecting us against certain disease-causing bacteria. As with the human microbiome, aquatic systems also contain a unique collection of microbes. The goal of Bigham's project is to evaluate the microbes present in aquatic systems and to correlate the presences of these microbes to the overall health of the aquatic ecosystems.

Monmouth has used Kieft's gift to fund several elements that the late professor believed were essential: attracting strong science students to Monmouth through scholarships; providing them robust research opportunities once they matriculated; and facilitating their travel to regional and national conferences where they could present their research.

"All of this research time is invaluable to a student's education," said Monmouth chemistry Audra Goach. "Doc Kieft knew how important this experience was for our students and we are grateful for him every day."

Media Attachments

Monmouth College

Duane Bonifer 309-457-2321, dbonifer@monmouthcollege.edu

Share this Story

  • Print
  • Email

Recent News

  • Monmouth College grads Krall, Harris are teammates on first-place Quad City Steamwheelers
  • Track & Field Teams, Individuals Earn USTFCCCA Academic Honors
  • Women's Basketball Team Earns WBCA Honor Roll
  • Monmouth College students learn more than just chemistry during eight-week Doc Kieft program
  • Monmouth Volleyball Team Earns AVCA Academic Award
  • Monmouth College's Zeta Beta Tau fraternity earns a national Chapter Award of Distinction from NIC
  • The milpa way: Co-existing part of the plan at Monmouth College's Educational Farm
  • Monmouth Student-Athletes Earn 200 Academic All-MWC Awards
  • Swim Teams Earn CSCAA Scholar All-America Status
  • Women's Tennis Season Starts August 30; Men in September
… View all recent news
Copyright © 2025 Merit Pages, Inc. • All Rights Reserved. • Terms of Service • Privacy Policy • Opt Out